You bought a high-refresh-rate gaming monitor, but the motion still feels choppy. Or you just want to confirm your display is actually running at the refresh rate you set. Instead of trusting the settings alone, you can measure the real refresh rate directly in your browser.
What is refresh rate (Hz)?
Refresh rate measures how many times per second your monitor redraws the image. 60Hz means 60 times per second; 144Hz means 144 times. Higher refresh rates make motion look smoother, which matters most for gaming, scrolling, and cursor movement.
| Refresh rate | Feel | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 60Hz | Standard | Office work, web browsing, video |
| 144Hz | Noticeably smoother | FPS games, fast scrolling |
| 240Hz | Ultra-smooth | Competitive FPS, esports |
Test your refresh rate with Dagochim
- Open the Screen Refresh Rate Test tool.
- The test starts automatically. It uses the browser's requestAnimationFrame API to measure the actual screen update frequency.
- After a few seconds, your current refresh rate is displayed in Hz.
- Change your display settings and re-test to confirm the change took effect.
How to change your refresh rate
Windows
- Right-click the desktop → Display settings
- Scroll down and click Advanced display settings
- Under Refresh rate, select the desired Hz from the dropdown
- Click Keep changes
Mac
- System Settings → Displays
- Select the desired refresh rate from the dropdown (if available for your display)
Why your refresh rate might not match
- Cable limitation: HDMI 1.4 only supports up to 120Hz at 1080p (60Hz on some monitors). Use DisplayPort 1.2+ or HDMI 2.0+ for 144Hz and above.
- GPU driver settings: NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings may have a separate refresh rate limit.
- Power saving mode: Laptops often lower the refresh rate on battery. Check power settings.
- Browser limitation: Some browsers throttle the refresh rate for power saving. Make sure hardware acceleration is enabled in Chrome.
Refresh rate vs. FPS
FPS (Frames Per Second) is how many frames your GPU renders. Refresh rate (Hz) is how many times your monitor can display a new frame. If your game runs at 60 FPS on a 144Hz monitor, you won't see the full benefit of the higher refresh rate. Ideally, your FPS should match or exceed your monitor's Hz.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see the difference between 60Hz and 144Hz?
Yes. The difference is clearly visible when moving the mouse cursor quickly, scrolling web pages, or rotating the camera in a game. It's less noticeable during static tasks like reading documents.
Does a higher refresh rate reduce eye strain?
Many people report less eye fatigue with higher refresh rates. The screen flickers less and motion appears more natural, which can feel easier on the eyes over long sessions.
My monitor supports 165Hz but the test shows 144Hz
Check your display settings. Some monitors default to a lower refresh rate. You may need to manually select 165Hz in your OS display settings and use a compatible cable.