Refresh Rate Test
This test measures your display's actual refresh rate by counting frames per second.
Common Refresh Rates
How to Use This Test
- Wait a few seconds for the test to stabilize after the page loads -- the refresh rate and frame time will update automatically.
- Compare the detected refresh rate with your monitor's advertised specification to confirm it is running correctly.
- Watch the moving box animation to visually confirm smooth motion at your display's refresh rate.
What This Test Checks
This refresh rate test uses the browser's requestAnimationFrame API to count how many frames your display renders per second, giving you an accurate real-time measurement.
- Actual display refresh rate in Hz (hertz) as reported by the browser
- Frame time in milliseconds, showing the interval between each frame
- Visual motion smoothness through an animated element
- Whether your monitor is running at its full rated refresh rate
Troubleshooting
If you're having issues with the test results:
- Ensure your operating system display settings are set to the highest available refresh rate for your monitor.
- Check that your HDMI or DisplayPort cable supports your monitor's maximum refresh rate.
- Disable any battery-saving or power management modes that may throttle the display.
- Close other browser tabs and resource-heavy applications to avoid frame drops during the test.
Related Display Checks
If your monitor reports a lower Hz than expected, the GPU test can confirm whether your graphics card is outputting the right signal. Pair with the screen test for color/banding and the brightness test for panel uniformity.
Measured 60 Hz But Expected 144? Here's Why & How to Fix It
If this test reports 60 Hz on a monitor or laptop you know is rated for 120, 144, 165 Hz or higher, the panel is almost always fine -- something upstream is capping it. Work through these common causes in order:
- The cable can't carry the bandwidth. This is the most frequent culprit. At 1440p, plain HDMI 2.0 tops out around 144 Hz and DisplayPort 1.2 around 165 Hz (8-bit), while 4K at high refresh rates needs HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 1.4. An old HDMI cable, a KVM, or a USB-C dongle can silently fall back to 60 Hz. For high-Hz gaming, DisplayPort is usually the safest choice.
- Windows or macOS defaulted to 60 Hz. Operating systems often pick a conservative default and never raise it on their own -- you have to select the higher rate manually (steps below).
- Mirror / duplicate-display mode. When you mirror two screens, the system runs both at the lowest common refresh rate. Switch to Extend instead of Duplicate so each display runs at its own maximum.
- Battery-saver throttling. On a laptop, power-saving profiles frequently drop the panel to 60 Hz to save energy. See the dedicated FAQ below.
- GPU output vs. display. If the rate still looks wrong, the GPU test helps confirm your graphics card is the one driving the panel and outputting the right signal.
Set the refresh rate on Windows 11
- Right-click the desktop → Display settings.
- Scroll down and open Advanced display.
- If you have more than one screen, pick the correct display at the top.
- Under Choose a refresh rate, select the highest value offered, then re-run this test to confirm.
Set the refresh rate on macOS
- Open the Apple menu → System Settings → Displays.
- Select the display you want to change.
- Use the Refresh Rate dropdown to choose the highest available rate. If you only see 60 Hz, check your cable and that the display is not being mirrored.
What 144, 165, 240 & 360 Hz and ProMotion Actually Mean
Refresh rate is simply how many times per second the panel redraws the image. Higher numbers make motion look smoother and reduce perceived input lag, with the biggest jump felt going from 60 Hz to 120/144 Hz:
- 120 / 144 Hz -- the popular sweet spot for PC gaming and fast scrolling; a clear, noticeable upgrade over 60 Hz.
- 165 Hz -- a common factory-overclock step above 144 Hz on competitive monitors.
- 240 / 360 Hz -- aimed at fast-paced esports, where smaller frame-time gains matter to high-level players.
- Apple ProMotion (120 Hz) -- found on recent MacBook Pro, iPad Pro and iPhone Pro models. It is adaptive: the display ramps between low rates and 120 Hz depending on content, so a momentary reading below 120 Hz on a static page can be normal.
To get those high rates in motion, your frame rate has to keep up too -- a 240 Hz monitor only looks like 240 Hz if the GPU is feeding it that many frames. Adaptive-sync technologies like NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync help here: they let the monitor vary its refresh rate to match the GPU's output frame by frame, removing tearing and stutter within a supported range.
If you have just bought or are about to buy a used monitor, this test is a quick way to confirm it genuinely reaches its advertised Hz rather than quietly running at 60.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my refresh rate show lower than expected?
Your browser or operating system may be limiting the refresh rate. Check your display settings to ensure the highest refresh rate is selected, disable any power-saving modes, and make sure your cable (HDMI/DisplayPort) supports the desired refresh rate.
What refresh rate do I need for gaming?
For casual gaming, 60Hz is sufficient. Competitive gamers typically prefer 144Hz or higher for smoother motion and reduced input lag. Professional esports players often use 240Hz or 360Hz monitors for the ultimate competitive edge.
Is there a difference between refresh rate and frame rate?
Yes. Refresh rate (measured in Hz) is how many times per second your monitor updates the image. Frame rate (measured in FPS) is how many frames your GPU renders per second. Ideally, your frame rate should match or exceed your refresh rate for the smoothest experience.
Why is my 144Hz monitor running at 60Hz?
Almost always one of three things: the operating system defaulted to 60 Hz and you need to select 144 Hz manually (Windows: Display settings > Advanced display > Choose a refresh rate; macOS: System Settings > Displays > Refresh Rate); the cable or port can't carry the bandwidth (at 1440p you generally need at least HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2, and DisplayPort is the safest pick for high refresh rates); or you're mirroring two displays, which forces both to the lowest common rate, so switch to Extend instead. After changing any of these, re-run this test to confirm the new rate.
Does my laptop run at 144Hz on battery power?
Often not by default. Many laptops drop the screen to 60 Hz on battery to save power, even if the panel supports 144 Hz when plugged in. Switch to a high-performance or balanced power mode, check the manufacturer's display or graphics control panel for a refresh-rate or 'dynamic refresh' setting, and disable any battery-saver mode, then re-run this test while unplugged to see the real rate.
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