FPS test
The same object moving at the same speed, updated at different frame rates. The more frames per second, the smoother and easier to follow it is, as long as your monitor can show them.
Detected refresh: . The bottom lane runs at that rate. If it says 60 on a high-refresh monitor, see the refresh rate test.
What you're looking at
Each lane moves its craft at exactly the same speed. The difference is how often its position is updated. At 15 fps it jumps in big steps; at 60 fps the steps are smaller; at your monitor's full rate they are as small as your display allows. Follow each one with your eyes: higher frame rates are easier to track and look less blurred, because each frame is held on screen for less time.
| Frame rate | Time per frame | Step at 960 px/s |
|---|---|---|
| 24 fps | 41.7 ms | 40.0 px |
| 30 fps | 33.3 ms | 32.0 px |
| 60 fps | 16.7 ms | 16.0 px |
| 120 fps | 8.3 ms | 8.0 px |
| 144 fps | 6.9 ms | 6.7 px |
| 240 fps | 4.2 ms | 4.0 px |
| 360 fps | 2.8 ms | 2.7 px |
The frame rate you see in games is also limited by your GPU. If the game renders fewer frames than your monitor refreshes, you will see the lower number however fast the panel is.
Questions people ask
Can the human eye see more than 60 fps?
Yes. Most people can see a clear difference between 60 and 120 fps in motion, mainly as reduced blur and smoother tracking. The benefit shrinks as you go higher, but many people still notice 144 vs 240 in fast games.
Why do all lanes look the same?
The top lane can only run as fast as your display refreshes. If your monitor is set to 60 Hz, the 60 fps lane and the full-rate lane are identical. Check the refresh rate test and your OS display settings.
Is 30 fps really that bad?
For fast motion, 30 fps shows visible stepping, as the 30 fps lane shows. Films at 24 fps look acceptable because cameras capture motion blur in each frame, which hides the steps; games render sharp frames, so low frame rates look choppier.