Monitor Ghosting Test
Detect motion blur, pixel response issues, and overdrive artifacts
What to Look For
Good (No Ghosting)
Moving objects have clean, sharp edges. No visible trail or shadow behind them. Colors are consistent as objects move.
Ghosting
A faint trail or shadow follows the moving object. The "ghost" is usually darker than the object. Common on VA panels and older IPS displays.
Inverse Ghosting (Overshoot)
A bright halo or corona appears ahead of or around moving objects. Caused by overdrive set too high. Reduce your monitor's "Response Time" or "Overdrive" setting.
How to Use This Test
- 1 Click Fullscreen - For accurate results, run the test in fullscreen mode to eliminate browser interference.
- 2 Track the UFO with your eyes - Follow the moving object smoothly. This is how you'll notice ghosting in real games.
- 3 Look for trails - A shadow or trail behind the object indicates ghosting. A bright halo indicates overdrive overshoot.
- 4 Test all backgrounds - Ghosting often shows more on certain color transitions. Dark-to-light (gray background) often reveals issues.
- 5 Adjust overdrive - If you see ghosting, increase your monitor's overdrive setting. If you see overshoot, decrease it.
Understanding Your Results
Panel Type Expectations
| Panel Type | Typical Performance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OLED | Excellent - No ghosting | Near-instant pixel response |
| Fast IPS | Very Good | Minimal ghosting, watch for overshoot |
| TN | Good | Fast but can have color shift |
| VA | Variable | Dark transitions may show smearing |
Overdrive Settings Guide
Most monitors have an overdrive/response time setting. Here's what each typically does:
- Off/Slow: Minimal overshoot, may have noticeable ghosting
- Normal/Medium: Best balance for most users - start here
- Fast/High: Reduces ghosting but may introduce slight overshoot
- Extreme/Fastest: Often causes inverse ghosting - avoid this
Frequently Asked Questions
What is monitor ghosting?
Monitor ghosting is a visual artifact where a faint trail or shadow follows moving objects on screen. It happens when pixels can't change color fast enough to keep up with motion. The "ghost" image is the previous frame lingering as the new frame appears.
How do I test for monitor ghosting?
Use our free ghosting test tool above. Watch the moving objects and look for trails or shadows behind them. Test at different speeds and backgrounds. A good monitor shows clean edges with no trailing. Enable fullscreen for accurate results.
Can ghosting be fixed?
Sometimes. First, try adjusting your monitor's Overdrive/Response Time setting - usually "Normal" or "Fast" works best. Avoid "Extreme" modes which cause inverse ghosting. If ghosting persists at all settings, it's a hardware limitation of your panel type.
Is ghosting the same as motion blur?
They're related but different. Ghosting is caused by slow pixel response times - you see a trail behind objects. Motion blur is caused by your eyes tracking movement during the frame display (sample-and-hold blur). Higher refresh rates reduce motion blur; faster pixel response reduces ghosting.