This 144Hz test answers two questions: is your monitor actually running at 144 Hz, and what does that look like next to 60 Hz? It measures your screen's refresh rate from the frames your browser draws and shows the result in the 144 Hz check. Two lanes then move the same craft at the same speed, one at 144 frames per second and one at 60, so you can see the difference. On 165, 240 Hz and faster monitors a third lane shows your top rate. A frame skipping grid catches monitors that accept 144 Hz but quietly drop frames. This 144Hz monitor test works on Windows, Mac, Linux and ChromeOS.
How to run the 144Hz test
- Open this page on the 144 Hz monitor. If you use two screens, drag the window onto the right one; the test measures again.
- Read the 144 Hz check. Yes means the screen draws 144 frames per second or more.
- Follow the craft in the 144 fps lane with your eyes, then the 60 fps lane. The fast lane should look smoother and sharper.
- If the check says No, work through the fixes below, then reload the page to test again.
- For an overclocked monitor, or one that looks no smoother than 60 Hz, turn on the Frame skipping check and take a photo of the grid.
Reading the results
| Readout | What it tells you | What you want to see |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh rate | The rate the screen is drawing at | 144 Hz, or your monitor's top rate |
| 144 Hz check | Whether 144 frames per second reach the screen | Yes |
| Pixels per frame | How far the craft moves each refresh | About 7 at 960 pixels per second and 144 Hz |
| Skipped frames | Frames the browser missed in the last 2 seconds | 0 |
| 144 fps lane | The craft drawn 144 times per second | Smooth, even steps, little blur |
| 60 fps lane | The craft drawn 60 times per second | Visibly steppier and blurrier |
The 144 Hz test shows 60 Hz
When the check reads No, something between the computer and the panel holds the rate down. Check these in order:
- Windows is set to 60 Hz. Open Settings, System, Display, Advanced display, pick the 144 Hz monitor at the top and choose 144 Hz in Choose a refresh rate. New monitors often start at 60 Hz.
- The port or cable cannot carry 144 Hz. The connection needs enough bandwidth for your resolution at 144 Hz, as the table below shows. Use the DisplayPort cable that came with the monitor and plug it straight into the computer.
- An adapter, dock or hub sits in the path. HDMI to DisplayPort adapters, USB-C hubs and many docks stop at 60 Hz. Test with a direct cable first.
- The cable is in the motherboard. On a desktop with a graphics card, the monitor must plug into the card. The ports on the motherboard use the processor's graphics.
- The graphics driver is missing or old. Install the latest driver from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel. Without it Windows uses a basic driver that may offer only 60 Hz.
- The monitor menu needs a setting. Some models reach their top rate only with an overclock or a newer DisplayPort mode turned on in their own menu.
- The game sets its own rate. Some games in exclusive full screen use their own refresh rate setting. Set it to 144 Hz in the game's display options.
On a Mac, open System Settings, Displays, select the monitor and pick 144 Hz under Refresh Rate. If it is missing, the Mac's port, the adapter or the cable is the limit.
Which ports and cables carry 144 Hz
| Connection | Carries 144 Hz at |
|---|---|
| HDMI 1.4 | 1080p, on some monitors only |
| HDMI 2.0 | 1080p and 1440p |
| HDMI 2.1 | 1080p, 1440p and 4K |
| DisplayPort 1.2 | 1080p and 1440p |
| DisplayPort 1.4 and 2.1 | 1080p, 1440p and 4K (4K needs compression on DP 1.4) |
Both ends count: the graphics card's port, the monitor's port and the cable. Many monitors limit their HDMI ports to a lower rate than their DisplayPort input, so check the manual for the top rate of each port.
It runs at 144 Hz but games do not look smoother
The screen can only show what the game sends. If a game runs at 60 fps, a 144 Hz monitor shows 60 different pictures per second and looks only a little better than a 60 Hz one. Watch the game's frame rate with an overlay, such as Xbox Game Bar on Windows (Win + G). Lower the graphics settings until you reach close to 144 fps, and turn on G-Sync or FreeSync so the frames you do get arrive evenly. The fps test shows how 60, 90, 120 and 144 fps compare, so you can decide what frame rate to aim for.
Frame skipping on overclocked monitors
Some monitors, especially ones overclocked past 144 Hz with a menu setting or a custom resolution, accept the faster signal but drop frames inside the monitor. The refresh rate test still reads the high rate, because the computer sends every frame. Only a camera can see the skipped ones:
- Turn on Frame skipping check. One cell in the grid lights per refresh, moving along in order.
- Set a camera or phone to a shutter speed of 1/15 second or longer, or use a long exposure mode.
- Photograph the grid. With no skipping you see one unbroken run of lit cells, all equally bright.
- A dark cell inside the run, or a regular pattern of gaps, means the monitor skips frames. Lower the overclock one step or go back to the monitor's standard rate, then test again.
Make sure Skipped frames reads 0 when you take the photo, so a browser hiccup is not mistaken for a monitor fault.
Limits of a browser 144Hz test
The test shows the rate your browser draws at, and a battery saver or a busy computer can make that lower than the screen's setting. Close other apps and plug in a laptop before you trust a No. It cannot read your monitor's maximum rate or its variable refresh range, and it does not measure input lag; the input lag test explains how to compare that between two screens. For an exact reading with frame times and saved results, use the refresh rate tester, and to check how sharp 144 Hz motion is on your panel, run the ghosting test monitor page.
144Hz questions
How do I know if my monitor is running at 144Hz?
Run this test: the 144 Hz check reads Yes when the screen draws at 144 Hz or faster. You can also look in Windows under Settings, System, Display, Advanced display, or open your monitor's own menu, which usually shows the incoming signal and its refresh rate on an information page.
Why is my 144Hz monitor only running at 60Hz?
The most common reasons are the Windows setting left at 60 Hz, an HDMI port or cable that cannot carry 144 Hz, an adapter or dock in the path, or the cable plugged into the motherboard instead of the graphics card. The section on the 144 Hz test showing 60 Hz walks through each one.
Does HDMI support 144Hz?
HDMI 2.0 carries 144 Hz at 1080p and 1440p, and HDMI 2.1 also carries it at 4K. HDMI 1.4 manages it only at 1080p, and only on some monitors. Many monitors list a lower top rate for their HDMI ports, so DisplayPort is the safest choice on a PC.
Can you see the difference between 60Hz and 144Hz?
Most people can, straight away. Move the mouse in circles or scroll a long page and 144 Hz looks smoother and sharper. In this test the 144 fps craft blurs less than half as much as the 60 fps craft at the same speed.
Do I need 144 FPS in games to benefit from 144Hz?
No. The desktop, scrolling and the mouse pointer all run at 144 Hz, and games at 90 or 100 fps still look smoother than on a 60 Hz screen, especially with G-Sync or FreeSync on. The full benefit comes when the game reaches 144 fps.
What is frame skipping on a 144Hz monitor?
Some monitors accept a 144 Hz or overclocked signal but quietly drop frames, so motion looks no better than at a lower rate. A refresh rate test cannot see it. The frame skipping grid in this test, photographed with a slow shutter, shows every skipped frame as a gap.