Refresh Rate Test

Test your monitor's refresh rate, motion clarity, and check for screen tearing

How to Use This Test

Important: Make sure your monitor is set to its highest refresh rate in display settings. Also disable V-Sync in graphics settings for accurate results.

Test Patterns:

  1. 1.
    UFO Motion Test: Classic moving object
  2. 2.
    Scrolling Text: Text clarity in motion
  3. 3.
    Vertical Lines: Tearing detection
  4. 4.
    Square Wave: Response time test

What to Look For:

  • •
    Motion Blur: Objects leave trails
  • •
    Stuttering: Inconsistent motion
  • •
    Tearing: Horizontal splits in image
  • •
    Ghosting: Duplicate trailing images

Common Refresh Rates:

60Hz
Standard, office work
120Hz
Smooth, console gaming
144Hz
Competitive gaming
240Hz+
Esports, pro gaming

Understanding Refresh Rates

What is Refresh Rate?

Refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), indicates how many times per second your monitor updates the image. A 144Hz monitor refreshes 144 times per second, providing smoother motion than a 60Hz display.

Refresh Rate vs Response Time

Aspect Refresh Rate Response Time
Measures Updates per second Pixel color change speed
Unit Hertz (Hz) Milliseconds (ms)
Higher is Better (smoother) Worse (more blur)
Affects Motion smoothness Motion clarity

Benefits by Use Case

  • 60Hz: Sufficient for office work, web browsing, movies
  • 120Hz: Noticeable improvement in smoothness, good for casual gaming
  • 144Hz: Sweet spot for gaming, very smooth motion
  • 240Hz+: Diminishing returns, mainly for competitive FPS

Frame Rate Matching:

Your GPU needs to output enough frames to benefit from high refresh rates. A 144Hz monitor won't help if your game only runs at 60 FPS.

Common Issues & Solutions

Monitor Shows 60Hz Despite Being 144Hz+:

  • • Check display settings in OS
  • • Use DisplayPort instead of HDMI
  • • Verify cable supports high refresh rates
  • • Update graphics drivers

Screen Tearing Issues:

  • • Enable V-Sync (adds input lag)
  • • Use G-Sync/FreeSync if available
  • • Cap frame rate to match refresh rate
  • • Check for driver updates

Motion Blur Problems:

  • • Reduce response time setting (overdrive)
  • • Disable motion blur reduction if causing issues
  • • Check for "Game Mode" settings
  • • Consider monitor with better response time

Related Resources

Other Screen Tests

Backlight Bleed Test

Check display uniformity

Dead Pixel Test

Find defective pixels

Gaming Monitor Guides

144Hz vs 60Hz Guide

Is high refresh worth it?

Best Gaming Monitors

Top high refresh picks

Complete Refresh Rate Testing Guide

Understanding Refresh Rates

Refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), indicates how many times per second your display updates its image. Higher refresh rates provide smoother motion, reduced blur, and better gaming performance.

Common Refresh Rates Explained:

  • 60Hz: Standard for office work and casual use
  • 75Hz: Slight improvement, budget gaming
  • 144Hz: Competitive gaming standard
  • 165Hz: Premium gaming sweet spot
  • 240Hz: Esports and professional gaming
  • 360Hz+: Cutting-edge competitive advantage

How to Test Your Monitor's Refresh Rate

Step 1: Enable High Refresh Rate

Windows 11/10:

  1. Right-click desktop → Display settings
  2. Advanced display settings
  3. Display adapter properties
  4. Monitor tab → Screen refresh rate dropdown
  5. Select highest available rate

macOS:

  1. System Preferences → Displays
  2. Hold Option key and click "Scaled"
  3. Select refresh rate from dropdown

Step 2: Verify with UFO Test

  • Use our refresh rate test tool above
  • Look for smooth motion without stuttering
  • Check if displayed Hz matches your setting
  • Test at different refresh rates to see differences

Step 3: Gaming Performance Test

  • Enable FPS counter in games
  • Ensure FPS matches or exceeds refresh rate
  • Test fast motion scenes for tearing
  • Verify G-Sync/FreeSync is working

Refresh Rate vs Response Time

Specification What It Measures Impact on Experience
Refresh Rate (Hz) Updates per second Smoothness, motion clarity
Response Time (ms) Pixel color change speed Ghosting, motion blur
Input Lag (ms) Signal processing delay Responsiveness feel

Gaming Performance by Refresh Rate

60Hz Gaming

  • Suitable for: Casual gaming, RPGs, strategy games
  • Frame time: 16.67ms between frames
  • Pros: Universal compatibility, lower GPU requirements
  • Cons: Motion blur in fast games, competitive disadvantage

144Hz Gaming

  • Suitable for: FPS, racing, competitive gaming
  • Frame time: 6.94ms between frames
  • Pros: Smooth motion, competitive advantage
  • Cons: Requires powerful GPU, higher cost

240Hz Gaming

  • Suitable for: Esports, professional gaming
  • Frame time: 4.17ms between frames
  • Pros: Minimal input lag, maximum smoothness
  • Cons: Diminishing returns, very expensive

360Hz+ Gaming

  • Suitable for: Top-tier competitive play
  • Frame time: 2.78ms or less
  • Pros: Ultimate competitive edge
  • Cons: Extreme GPU requirements, very limited game support

Adaptive Sync Technologies

NVIDIA G-Sync

  • Hardware-based solution with dedicated module
  • Premium option with best performance
  • Variable refresh range: 1Hz to max refresh
  • Compatible only with NVIDIA GPUs

AMD FreeSync

  • Software-based, no hardware module needed
  • More affordable option
  • Variable refresh range varies by monitor
  • Works with AMD GPUs, some NVIDIA support

G-Sync Compatible

  • NVIDIA-certified FreeSync monitors
  • Best value for NVIDIA GPU owners
  • No G-Sync module but validated performance
  • Growing list of compatible displays

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Monitor Not Reaching Advertised Refresh Rate?

  • Wrong cable: Use DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1 for high refresh rates
  • GPU limitations: Older GPUs may not support high refresh at high resolutions
  • Windows settings: Must manually enable in display settings
  • Game settings: V-Sync or frame limiters may cap refresh rate
  • Resolution trade-off: May need to lower resolution for highest refresh

Cable Requirements by Resolution & Refresh Rate

Resolution 60Hz 144Hz 240Hz
1080p HDMI 1.4 HDMI 2.0 HDMI 2.1
1440p HDMI 2.0 DP 1.2 DP 1.4
4K HDMI 2.0 DP 1.4 DP 2.0

Is High Refresh Rate Worth It?

Worth It For:

  • • Competitive FPS gaming (CS:GO, Valorant, Apex)
  • • Fast-paced games (racing, fighting games)
  • • Content creation with motion graphics
  • • Users sensitive to motion blur
  • • Future-proofing your setup

Not Essential For:

  • • Office work and productivity
  • • Slow-paced strategy games
  • • Movie watching (24fps content)
  • • Photo editing
  • • Budget-conscious buyers

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my eyes see the difference between 144Hz and 240Hz?

Most people can perceive the difference, especially in fast motion. However, the jump from 60Hz to 144Hz is more noticeable than 144Hz to 240Hz. Professional gamers report feeling the difference more than seeing it.

Does high refresh rate reduce eye strain?

Yes, higher refresh rates can reduce eye fatigue by providing smoother motion and reducing flicker. Many users report less eye strain during extended use with 120Hz+ displays.

Will 144Hz improve my gaming performance?

It can help by providing more visual information and reducing input lag. Studies show measurable improvements in reaction times and accuracy, but individual skill remains the primary factor.

Do I need a powerful GPU for high refresh rate?

Yes, to fully utilize high refresh rates, your GPU must output frames matching the refresh rate. For 1080p 144Hz gaming, a mid-range GPU is sufficient. 4K 144Hz requires high-end GPUs.

Should I choose higher refresh rate or higher resolution?

For competitive gaming, prioritize refresh rate (1080p 240Hz over 4K 60Hz). For immersive single-player games or content creation, higher resolution may be preferable. 1440p 144Hz offers a good balance.

Refresh Rate Test Methods Comparison

Method Accuracy Ease of Use Best For
Our UFO Test High Very Easy Quick verification
TestUFO.com High Easy Detailed analysis
In-Game FPS Medium Easy Gaming performance
Slow Motion Camera Very High Hard Professional testing

Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we've tested or believe will help with monitor testing.

Recommended Testing Equipment

Recommended: ASUS ROG Gaming Monitor (144Hz)

Price Range: $300-500

View on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I test my monitor's refresh rate?

Use our refresh rate test tool to verify your monitor is running at its maximum refresh rate. The test will show moving objects and frame counters to help you identify the actual refresh rate.

What refresh rate is best for gaming?

For competitive gaming, 144Hz or higher is recommended. For casual gaming, 75Hz is sufficient. Higher refresh rates provide smoother motion and reduced input lag.

Why is my 144Hz monitor only showing 60Hz?

Check your display settings, ensure you're using the correct cable (DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0+), and verify your graphics card supports the resolution at 144Hz.