Refresh Rate Test
This test reads the refresh rate your monitor is actually running at, right now, by timing every frame your browser draws. Tell it what your monitor is rated for and it will tell you whether Windows is holding it back. A 144 Hz or 240 Hz monitor left at 60 Hz is one of the most common settings mistakes on a gaming PC.
Your refresh rate
Measuring… keep this tab in front for a couple of seconds.
Motion test
Same speed, three frame rates: every refresh, every 2nd, every 4th. On a working high-refresh monitor the top UFO is clearly smoother and sharper than the one below it.
Found your monitor running below its rating? It is rarely the only default Windows got wrong.
How to set your monitor to its highest refresh rate
Windows 11
- Open Settings → System → Display and select the gaming monitor at the top if you have more than one.
- Click Advanced display.
- In Choose a refresh rate, pick the highest value, then click Keep changes.
Windows 10
- Open Settings → System → Display → Advanced display settings.
- Under Refresh rate, pick the highest value. On older builds, click Display adapter properties → Monitor and set it there.
If the higher rate isn't in the list
- Check the cable and port. Use DisplayPort, or the HDMI version your monitor's manual lists for its full refresh rate. Older HDMI cables and ports often top out at 60 Hz.
- Plug into the graphics card, not the motherboard's video output, on a desktop with a dedicated GPU.
- Lower the resolution or turn off 10-bit colour if the cable is near its bandwidth limit; some monitors only offer their top rate at certain settings.
- Update the GPU driver and, for some monitors, install the manufacturer's monitor driver so Windows reads the right list of modes.
- On a laptop, plug in the charger and turn off battery saver; some laptops also drop the panel to 60 Hz on battery by design.
Already at the top of the list? You can sometimes push a little past it: see the monitor overclocking guide, and use the motion test above to check for skipped frames after each step.
Refresh rate and frame time
Each refresh rate sets how long a single frame stays on screen. Lower frame time means clearer motion and less display latency.
| Refresh rate | Frame time | Saved vs 60 Hz |
|---|---|---|
| 60 Hz | 16.67 ms | – |
| 75 Hz | 13.33 ms | 3.33 ms |
| 100 Hz | 10.00 ms | 6.67 ms |
| 120 Hz | 8.33 ms | 8.33 ms |
| 144 Hz | 6.94 ms | 9.72 ms |
| 165 Hz | 6.06 ms | 10.61 ms |
| 180 Hz | 5.56 ms | 11.11 ms |
| 240 Hz | 4.17 ms | 12.50 ms |
| 280 Hz | 3.57 ms | 13.10 ms |
| 360 Hz | 2.78 ms | 13.89 ms |
| 480 Hz | 2.08 ms | 14.58 ms |
| 540 Hz | 1.85 ms | 14.81 ms |
When the browser reads the wrong number
- Two monitors at different rates: drag this window onto the monitor you want to test and reload. Some browsers sync to the main monitor's rate wherever the window is.
- Battery saver or power-saving mode can cap the browser at 30 or 60 frames per second on laptops.
- A background tab or minimised window is throttled; the test pauses and restarts when you come back.
- A busy PC shows up as late frames. A few are normal; a steady stream means something is hogging the CPU or GPU.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the test say 60 Hz when my monitor is 144 Hz?
Almost always because Windows is still set to 60 Hz. A new monitor often starts at 60 Hz until you pick a higher rate yourself. Open Settings → System → Display → Advanced display and choose the highest rate in "Choose a refresh rate". If that list has no higher rate, check the cable: use DisplayPort, or the HDMI version your monitor's manual lists for its full refresh rate. On a laptop, battery saver and the integrated GPU can also hold the screen at 60 Hz.
How accurate is a browser refresh rate test?
Browsers draw one frame per display refresh, so timing those frames gives the refresh rate of the monitor the window is on to within about 1 Hz. The number is wrong when the browser itself is limited: battery saver or power-saving modes can cap it at 30 or 60, a background tab is throttled, and with two monitors at different rates some browsers sync to the main monitor. If the reading looks off, drag the window onto the monitor you are testing, plug a laptop in, and reload.
How do I check my refresh rate in Windows?
On Windows 11, open Settings → System → Display → Advanced display; the current rate is shown under "Choose a refresh rate". On Windows 10, open Settings → System → Display → Advanced display settings. The NVIDIA Control Panel (Change resolution → Refresh rate) and AMD Software (Display tab) show it too.
Does G-Sync or FreeSync change the result?
On the desktop, no: a browser window is not a full-screen game, so the monitor runs at its fixed maximum and the test reads that. If you have G-Sync enabled for windowed apps the reading may move around slightly. Variable refresh only follows the frame rate inside games, and it can't raise the monitor above the rate Windows is set to.
What does the motion test show?
Three identical UFOs move at the same speed. The top one updates every refresh, the middle one every second refresh and the bottom one every fourth, so you can see what each frame rate looks like on your screen. On a working high-refresh monitor the top UFO looks clearly smoother and sharper. If the top two look the same, your monitor is probably running at a lower rate than you think.
Is a higher refresh rate actually better for gaming?
Yes, as long as your PC can produce matching frame rates. Each step up shortens the time a frame stays on screen (16.7 ms at 60 Hz, 6.9 ms at 144 Hz, 4.2 ms at 240 Hz), which makes motion clearer and cuts display latency. The jump from 60 to 144 Hz is the one most people notice immediately; 240 Hz and above are smaller, mostly competitive gains.