Many gamers who purchase high refresh rate monitors do not actually experience the smoothness that 144Hz or 240Hz should deliver. The problem is often not the monitor itself, but rather system settings, cable bandwidth, or driver configuration that has not been properly set up. Refresh rate testing can not only be used to verify a new purchase, but also helps troubleshoot issues such as screen stuttering, tearing, and input lag.

This article will provide a detailed introduction to how to use the UFO refresh rate test, system settings, and frame rate detection tools to confirm whether your monitor is truly running at the target refresh rate. It will also compare the actual smoothness differences between 60Hz, 144Hz, and 240Hz to help you find the setup that works best for you.

1. Using the UFO Test to Initially Determine If the Refresh Rate Is Normal

The UFO refresh rate test is currently one of the most intuitive online detection tools. It uses a fast-moving UFO graphic and white squares to help users determine the monitor's actual refresh rate. When testing, pay attention to the following points:

  • Browser hardware acceleration: Make sure hardware acceleration is enabled in your browser. Otherwise, the page may only render at a lower frame rate, leading to inaccurate test results. Chrome and Edge are usually the most compatible options.
  • Observe the real-time frame rate: After opening the UFO Test page, the top of the page will display the maximum frame rate the browser can currently achieve. If the monitor is correctly set to 144Hz, the page should display approximately 144fps; if it only shows 60fps, it means the system or browser may still be running in 60Hz mode.
  • Check motion smoothness: If the fast-moving UFO graphic appears very smooth with no obvious ghosting, it indicates a higher refresh rate. If the movement trajectory shows stuttering or afterimages, it may mean the refresh rate is not up to standard or the monitor's response time is too slow.
  • Smartphone slow-motion verification: Use your phone's slow-motion mode to record the white squares on the screen. When playing back frame by frame, the white squares should appear continuously and regularly. If the squares jump with large gaps, it may indicate that the refresh rate is lower than the rated value.

It is recommended to close high-load background programs before testing to prevent system resource usage from affecting the browser's rendering frame rate and interfering with test results.

2. Confirming the Current Refresh Rate in the System

Online tests can only reflect the frame rate the browser can achieve, while system settings directly determine the actual refresh rate output by the monitor. The confirmation methods vary slightly across different operating systems:

  • Windows 10/11: Right-click on a blank area of the desktop, select "Display settings," go to "Advanced display settings," and check and select the target refresh rate in the "Choose a refresh rate" drop-down menu, such as 144Hz or 240Hz.
  • Graphics card control panel: In the NVIDIA Control Panel, go to "Change resolution" and select the correct value under the "Refresh rate" option. In AMD Software, configure this in the "Display" or "Display Specs" page.
  • macOS: Open "System Settings" > "Displays," hold down the Option key and click the "Scaled" button to expand the refresh rate options and confirm whether it is currently running at 120Hz or higher.
  • Monitor OSD menu: Most monitors' built-in menus will also display the current input resolution and refresh rate. This can be viewed via the physical buttons, which is also the most direct verification method.

After completing the settings, it is recommended to run the UFO test again to confirm that the system-level settings have actually taken effect rather than merely existing as an option.

3. Cables and Interfaces: The Hidden Barrier to High Refresh Rates

Many users purchase a 240Hz monitor but find they can still only use it at 60Hz. The cause is often insufficient bandwidth from the connecting cable or interface. Different interfaces and cable versions vary greatly in their support for high refresh rates:

  • HDMI 1.4: Supports up to 1080p 120Hz or 144Hz (achievable on some monitors), but typically cannot support 2K high refresh rates.
  • HDMI 2.0: Supports 1080p 240Hz and 2K 144Hz, and is a common configuration on entry-level high refresh rate monitors.
  • HDMI 2.1: Supports 4K 144Hz and above, making it more suitable for high-end monitors and next-generation gaming consoles.
  • DisplayPort 1.2: Supports 1080p 240Hz and 2K 144Hz, and is the mainstream choice for esports monitors.
  • DisplayPort 1.4: With DSC compression technology, it can support 2K 240Hz, 4K 120Hz, and even 4K 144Hz.

You should also confirm that the cable is plugged into the graphics card's output port rather than the video port on the motherboard. Use the original cable that came with the monitor or a certified high-quality cable. Poor-quality cables may cause unstable signals and automatically reduce the refresh rate.

4. Comparing Dynamic Smoothness Differences Between 60Hz, 144Hz, and 240Hz

The higher the refresh rate, the stronger the sense of continuity in the image, but the actual perceived difference between tiers is not identical. Looking at refresh intervals:

  • 60Hz: Refreshes every 16.7ms. During fast movement, objects shift more on the screen with each refresh, making ghosting and stuttering more noticeable.
  • 144Hz: Refreshes every 6.9ms. Compared to 60Hz, smoothness improves by approximately 2.4 times, with noticeable improvements in FPS games and fast document scrolling.
  • 240Hz: Refreshes every 4.2ms. There is still an improvement over 144Hz, but the perceived difference is smaller and is more apparent in professional esports and high-speed aiming scenarios.

For daily office work and video entertainment, 60Hz is generally sufficient. However, in competitive gaming, fast scrolling, and rapid movement scenarios, the difference between 144Hz and 60Hz is almost qualitative, while the jump from 144Hz to 240Hz is a more subtle optimization that average users may find difficult to perceive clearly.

5. The Relationship Between Refresh Rate and Frame Rate Detection

Many users easily confuse "refresh rate" and "game frame rate." Refresh rate is the number of times a monitor can update the image per second, measured in Hz, while frame rate (FPS) is the number of frames rendered by the GPU per second. The two are in an upstream-downstream relationship but also affect each other:

  • Frame rate higher than refresh rate: If the game frame rate is much higher than the monitor's refresh rate, excess frames will be dropped, which may cause screen tearing, especially when synchronization technology is not enabled.
  • Frame rate lower than refresh rate: If the game frame rate is lower than the refresh rate, the monitor will repeat the same frame, and the player will experience stuttering or choppiness.
  • Using frame rate detection tools: You can use MSI Afterburner, NVIDIA GeForce Experience, or the built-in FPS counter in games to view the game frame rate in real time and compare it with the current refresh rate.
  • Variable refresh rate technology: Enabling G-Sync or FreeSync allows the monitor's refresh rate to dynamically follow the game's frame rate, eliminating tearing and reducing input lag. This is currently the best solution for balancing smoothness and stability.

Therefore, refresh rate testing and frame rate detection should be used together to fully determine whether the cause of screen stuttering is improper monitor settings or insufficient GPU performance.

6. Common Causes of Refresh Rate Test Failures and Solutions

If you find that the refresh rate cannot reach the rated value during testing, troubleshoot in the following order:

  • Browser hardware acceleration not enabled: In Chrome or Edge's "System" settings, enable the "Use hardware acceleration" option, then restart the browser.
  • Mixed multi-monitor interference: When multiple monitors with different refresh rates are connected to the same graphics card, the system may limit the primary monitor's refresh rate. It is recommended to connect only the primary monitor for testing.
  • Game window mode issues: Some games cannot output high refresh rates in borderless window mode. Switch to exclusive fullscreen mode before testing.
  • Outdated graphics card driver: Update to the latest graphics driver and check whether the refresh rate setting in the control panel has been reset.
  • Monitor OSD high refresh mode not enabled: Some monitors require manually enabling the "high refresh rate" or "response time acceleration" feature in the menu.
  • System power saving mode interference: Windows' "Dynamic Refresh Rate" or certain power saving settings may automatically lower the refresh rate. Disable the relevant options before testing.

7. Summary

Verifying your monitor's refresh rate is not complicated. The key is to troubleshoot in the order of "system settings → cables and interfaces → browser testing → frame rate comparison." First, ensure at the system level that the monitor is running at the target refresh rate, then observe actual performance through the UFO test and frame rate detection tools. For most users, the perceived improvement from upgrading from 60Hz to 144Hz is the strongest, while the jump from 144Hz to 240Hz is more of a marginal gain. Whether it is worth the investment depends on your specific use case. Proper cables, drivers, and system configuration are the prerequisites for a true high refresh rate experience.