What refresh rate means
Your screen redraws the picture many times every second. That rate, measured in hertz (Hz), is the refresh rate. A 60 Hz screen updates 60 times per second, one frame every 16.7 milliseconds. A 144 Hz gaming monitor updates every 6.9 ms, so motion looks smoother and feels more responsive.
Common refresh rates
| Refresh rate | Frame time | Where you find it |
|---|
| 60 Hz | 16.7 ms | Most office monitors, many laptops and TVs |
| 75 Hz | 13.3 ms | Budget "smooth" monitors |
| 90–120 Hz | 11.1–8.3 ms | Recent phones, tablets, MacBook Pro, TVs with game mode |
| 144–165 Hz | 6.9–6.1 ms | Gaming monitors and gaming laptops |
| 240 Hz+ | 4.2 ms or less | Competitive esports monitors |
How to get the full refresh rate
- Set the highest refresh rate in your display settings.
- Use a DisplayPort cable or a high-speed HDMI cable that supports the rate.
- On desktops, plug the monitor into the graphics card, not the motherboard.
- Turn off battery saver modes, which often limit laptops to 60 Hz.
- Update your graphics driver.
Dropped frames
The dropped frames counter shows how often your browser missed a refresh, for example when the computer was busy. A few drops now and then are normal. Many drops while nothing else is running can mean your system is struggling or a power-saving mode is active.
Check the panel itself with the dead pixel test.
Last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How does this measure my refresh rate?
Your browser draws a new frame each time your display refreshes. The test times hundreds of those frames and takes the typical gap between them, so a 60 Hz screen shows about 60 frames per second and a 144 Hz screen about 144.
Why does it show 60 Hz on my 144 Hz monitor?
Check that the higher rate is turned on in your operating system: on Windows, Settings → System → Display → Advanced display → Choose a refresh rate; on a Mac, System Settings → Displays. Also use a cable that supports it (usually DisplayPort or a recent HDMI cable), and plug into the graphics card rather than the motherboard.
What is the difference between FPS and Hz?
Hz is how many times per second your screen refreshes. FPS (frames per second) is how many new images your computer or game produces. If a game runs at 200 FPS on a 144 Hz screen, you only see 144 updates per second.
Why does my result jump around?
Battery saver modes, background tabs, other heavy apps and variable refresh rate (G-Sync, FreeSync, ProMotion) can lower or change the frame rate. Plug in your laptop, close other apps, keep this tab in front and test again.
Can I see the difference between 60 Hz and 120 Hz?
Most people can, especially with fast motion. Watch the moving blocks: on a high refresh rate screen, the full-speed block looks noticeably smoother and sharper than the 30 and 60 FPS blocks.