Screen Refresh Rate Test (Hz)
Accurately measure your monitor's true vertical refresh rate (60Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz, 240Hz, 360Hz+) with sub-millisecond hardware timestamp precision and frame pacing stability analysis.
How to Use This Test
- Allow the tool to run for 2–3 seconds to calculate your display's vertical refresh timing.
- Click "Fullscreen Test" for maximum accuracy (running fullscreen eliminates desktop window manager overhead).
- Check the large Hz Readout: standard values include 60Hz, 75Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz, or 240Hz.
- Observe the Frame Pacing Jitter graph: a steady, flat line shows that your display is refreshing at consistent, smooth intervals without stutter.
Why Higher Refresh Rates Feel Smoother
A standard 60Hz monitor displays a new frame every 16.6 milliseconds. A 144Hz monitor updates every 6.9 milliseconds, and a 240Hz monitor updates every 4.1 milliseconds. This faster refresh cycle cuts motion blur in half, makes mouse cursor tracking feel instant, and dramatically reduces eye fatigue when scrolling web pages.
Why Is My 144Hz or 240Hz Screen Showing 60Hz?
If you own a high-refresh monitor but this test detects 60Hz, check these common fixes:
- Windows Display Setting: Open Settings > System > Display > Advanced Display. Many new monitors default to 60Hz until you manually switch the dropdown to 144Hz or higher.
- Display Cable Type: Older HDMI 1.4 cables or budget adapters often cap displays at 60Hz. Use a modern DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0/2.1 cable connected directly to your dedicated GPU.
- Multi-Monitor Mirroring: If you duplicate your laptop display onto an external monitor, both screens will lock to the lowest refresh rate (usually 60Hz). Press Win + P and select "Extend" instead.
Variable Refresh Rate (G-Sync & FreeSync)
If you use NVIDIA G-Sync or AMD FreeSync, the monitor matches its refresh rate dynamically to your GPU output. In browser windows, VSync locks the test to the maximum desktop refresh rate configured in your graphics control panel.