Refresh rate test
Counts the actual frames your monitor produces in five seconds. If you set Windows to 144Hz and the cable is throttling, this is how you find out.
What "refresh rate" actually means
Refresh rate is how many times per second your monitor draws a fresh image, measured in Hertz (Hz). A 60Hz monitor draws 60 frames a second; a 144Hz monitor draws 144. Higher numbers mean smoother motion, less perceived blur, and lower input lag — but only if everything in the chain (graphics card, cable, display setting, application) supports the higher rate.
Why this is more reliable than the Windows display setting
Windows reports the rate it has asked for, not the rate the monitor is actually showing. If your HDMI cable cannot carry 144Hz at your resolution, the monitor will silently fall back to 60Hz — but Windows still shows 144Hz in settings, and you have no idea anything is wrong. The test above counts frames as they actually arrive, so it catches the cable-throttle bug.
Common refresh rates and what they are for
- 60Hz — every laptop and monitor by default. Fine for office work, browsing, video. Most people cannot reliably tell 60Hz from 90Hz in everyday use.
- 75-90Hz — light gaming, slightly smoother scrolling. Common on budget gaming monitors and mid-tier laptops.
- 120Hz — Apple's "ProMotion" rate. Noticeably smoother for scrolling, mouse movement and 60+fps gaming.
- 144Hz — the long-standing "gaming sweet spot". Very visible upgrade from 60Hz for fast-moving content.
- 165-180Hz — modest bump over 144Hz, mostly cable-limited rather than panel-limited.
- 240Hz, 360Hz, 540Hz — competitive esports. Diminishing returns beyond 240Hz unless you play CS, Valorant or similar at a high level.
If the test shows the wrong number
Step 1 — set the rate in your OS
Windows 11: Settings → System → Display → Advanced display → Choose a refresh rate. Pick the highest your monitor lists.
macOS: System Settings → Displays → click your display → Refresh Rate.
Step 2 — check the cable
This trips up more people than anything else. Rough rules:
- 1080p 144Hz: HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.2 or any "high speed" certified cable.
- 1440p 144Hz: DisplayPort 1.2 (just), DisplayPort 1.4 with comfort, or HDMI 2.1.
- 4K 120Hz: DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, or HDMI 2.1 (note: must be a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable).
- 4K 240Hz: DisplayPort 2.1.
Step 3 — disable browser throttling
Chrome and Edge throttle requestAnimationFrame to 60fps when the laptop is on battery and battery saver is on. Either plug in or disable battery saver before re-running the test.
Related
- FPS test — how many frames your browser actually renders
- 60fps vs 120fps — does it actually matter?
- What is FPS, refresh rate and frame time?