Refresh Rate Test

Your monitor's refresh rate is how many times per second it can redraw the image, measured in hertz (Hz). Standard laptops run at 60 Hz, gaming laptops at 120, 144, 165, or 240 Hz, and pro displays as high as 480 Hz. Our free Refresh Rate Test uses the browser's requestAnimationFrame API to measure exactly how many frames your display actually delivers per second — not just what the spec sheet claims. If you paid for a 144 Hz panel but Windows is only outputting 60 Hz, this test will tell you in seconds.

How to use the Refresh Rate Test

  • Close any other tabs, videos, and heavy apps so your GPU is idle.
  • Plug the laptop in — most laptops throttle refresh rate on battery.
  • Click Start Test. A moving object will scroll across the screen for several seconds.
  • Wait for the average FPS reading to stabilize.
  • Compare the reading to your display's advertised refresh rate.
  • If the numbers differ, update your Windows refresh setting or GPU driver.

How to interpret your results

The measured average should be within 1-2 Hz of your display's spec (a 144 Hz panel will typically show 143-144 FPS). If it reads much lower — for example, a 144 Hz panel measuring 60 Hz — Windows or macOS is not configured to use the full refresh rate. If the minimum is far below the average, your GPU is dropping frames (usually due to background load or thermal throttling).

Common issues and what they mean

Reads 60 Hz on a 144 Hz laptop

On Windows: Settings > Display > Advanced display > Refresh rate. Change it to the maximum available. On macOS: System Settings > Displays > Refresh rate.

Reading drops sharply on battery

Many laptops force 60 Hz on battery to save power. Check power settings — on Dell, Lenovo, ASUS this is typically in the vendor's app or in Windows Graphics Settings.

FPS unstable, jumps around

Close other tabs, disable Chrome hardware acceleration temporarily, and test again. Browser throttling is the most common cause.

Reading above rated refresh

Some panels support overclocked refresh rates. Check whether you enabled 165 Hz overclock or G-Sync/FreeSync overdrive in your GPU control panel.

When to run this test

  • Right after buying a laptop advertised as 120/144/240 Hz.
  • After connecting a new external monitor by HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C.
  • When a game feels less smooth than expected despite a high frame counter.
  • After a Windows update or GPU driver install.

When the advertised refresh rate is not on offer

If the measured value sits at a steady 60 on a 144 Hz panel, the system is sending 60: fix the setting, not the monitor. Laptops with hybrid graphics sometimes list the full rate only when the display is set as primary, and ProMotion Macs show ProMotion, a variable rate up to 120 Hz.

If the operating system does not offer the advertised rate at all, check the cable first: older HDMI versions and many bundled or cheap cables cannot carry 1440p at 165 Hz, so use DisplayPort where possible or a certified high-bandwidth HDMI cable, and avoid passive adapters. Some monitors reach full refresh on only one input, and some laptops route only one output through the discrete GPU.

Many monitors ship with the high-refresh mode switched off in their own menu (labelled as overclock or a DisplayPort 1.2/1.4 mode, for example), and after GPU driver updates custom refresh modes sometimes vanish until the driver is reinstalled.

Spotting frame skipping

A display can accept 165 Hz and still drop frames silently, most often on overclocked panels (144 Hz panels sold as 165 Hz) and cheap high-refresh monitors. Even, smooth motion in the test is healthy. Rhythmic hitching at a regular interval means frames are being skipped; if it appears only at the overclocked rate, go back to the native rate, because a steady 144 Hz beats a stuttering 165 Hz.

Occasional random hitches usually come from the computer rather than the display: background tasks, thermal throttling or the browser. Close other tabs and retest. The classic external check is to photograph a moving pattern with a slow shutter; a skipping display leaves gaps in the motion trail.

What high refresh buys you, and laptop gotchas

At 144 Hz a moving object is redrawn 2.4 times as often as at 60 Hz, and each frame is on screen for 6.9 ms instead of 16.7 ms, so motion looks smoother and input feels more immediate. The jump from 60 to 120 or 144 Hz is dramatic; 144 to 165 is subtle; beyond 240 Hz the gain is marginal for most people. The GPU still has to produce the frames: a 165 Hz monitor fed 70 fps runs as a 70 Hz display, which is the mismatch adaptive sync (G-Sync or FreeSync) smooths over, so leave it enabled.

Many gaming laptops switch to 60 Hz on battery and can stay there after you plug back in, and Windows Dynamic Refresh Rate trades smoothness for battery life on supported panels. USB-C hubs and docks often cap bandwidth, so a dock that handles 4K at 60 Hz may refuse 1440p at 165 Hz; connect the display directly to establish a baseline.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my 144 Hz laptop show only 60 Hz?

Windows defaults many new displays to 60 Hz. Go to Settings > Display > Advanced display and change the refresh rate to the maximum offered.

Is 144 Hz worth it over 60 Hz?

Yes for gaming, competitive shooters, and fast scrolling. For office work, video, and browsing, the difference is nice but not essential.

Can this test detect frame skipping?

Yes — a wide gap between the minimum and average FPS indicates skipped frames. For pixel-level frame skipping, use a UFO test alongside our tool.

Does the test work on external monitors?

Yes. Move the browser window to the external display, then start the test.

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