Hardware Testers
Refresh Rate Test
What refresh rate is your screen actually running at? This refresh rate test measures the real time between frames your browser draws and reports your monitor's Hz — the quickest way to confirm a new 120/144/165/240 Hz display is set up correctly.
What is refresh rate?
Your monitor's refresh rate, measured in hertz (Hz), is how many times per second it redraws the image. 60 Hz means 60 redraws a second; 144 Hz means 144. A higher rate shows motion more smoothly and feels more responsive — which is why gamers chase 120, 144, 165 and 240 Hz panels.
How this refresh rate test works
The test asks the browser to draw frames as fast as the display allows and times the gap between them. Because that animation timer is locked to your monitor's refresh, the time between frames is the refresh interval:
refresh rate (Hz) = 1000 ÷ frame time (ms)
So a measured 6.9 ms per frame is ≈ 144 Hz; 16.7 ms is ≈ 60 Hz. We take the median of many frames for a stable figure.
Why your monitor may not run at its rated Hz
Bought a 144 Hz monitor but measuring 60? Check these in order:
- Windows display settings → Advanced display → choose the higher refresh rate.
- GPU control panel (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel) — set the rate there too.
- Cable & port — older HDMI can cap high resolutions to 60 Hz; DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0+ is safer.
- Active tab — browsers throttle background tabs, so keep this one focused while testing.
For the cleanest reading
- Run it on the monitor you want to test (drag this window onto it).
- Close GPU-heavy tabs and apps.
- Measure twice — trust the “nearest standard” value.
More hardware testers here.
Frequently asked questions
How does this refresh rate test work?
It records how long each frame takes using the browser's animation timer (requestAnimationFrame), which runs in lock-step with your display. The median frame time converts to Hz: 60 Hz ≈ 16.7 ms, 144 Hz ≈ 6.9 ms per frame.
It shows 60 Hz but I have a 144 Hz monitor — why?
Common causes: the high refresh rate isn't enabled in Windows display settings or the GPU control panel, you're using a cable/port that caps the rate (e.g. HDMI version), the browser tab isn't the active/focused one, or a power-saving mode is limiting it.
Is the result 100% exact?
It's very close for a clean reading. Background tabs, heavy CPU/GPU load and browser frame-pacing can introduce small errors. Close other tabs and run it a couple of times — the 'nearest standard' value is usually your true rate.
Refresh rate vs. frame rate (FPS) — what's the difference?
Refresh rate (Hz) is how many times per second the monitor redraws; FPS is how many frames the GPU produces. Your monitor can't show more FPS than its Hz, and this test measures the Hz the browser is actually rendering at.
Does a higher refresh rate really matter?
Yes for fast motion — 120/144 Hz looks noticeably smoother than 60 Hz for gaming and scrolling, with lower motion blur and input lag. Beyond ~240 Hz the gains get smaller.