Check whether your display is really running at 120Hz, and see what 120Hz means in frame time and smoothness.
A 120Hz display refreshes 120 times per second, showing a new frame every 8.33 ms, 2.0× as often as a 60Hz screen.
Current FPS
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Frames in the last second
Refresh rate
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Nearest standard rate
Average FPS
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Since the test started
1% low FPS
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Slowest 1% of frames
Frame time
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Typical (median)
Jitter
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Lower is smoother
Dropped frames
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Frames that arrived late
Frames
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Measured so far
FPS over the last 10 seconds. The dashed line is your refresh rate; red marks are dropped frames.
Speed
Adds drawing work to every frame. Raise it until the FPS drops to see how much your device can draw at full speed.
120Hz in numbers
Refreshes per second
120
Time per frame
8.33 ms
Compared with 60Hz
2.00× as many frames, 8.33 ms less per frame
FPS needed to use every refresh
120
Half-rate V-Sync cap
60 FPS
Is 120Hz good?
Yes. 120Hz is a true high-refresh rate and a common sweet spot for gaming: much smoother than 60Hz, with graphics cards able to reach it in many games.
You'll find 120Hz on flagship phones, tablets, recent TVs and current game consoles.
Getting a steady 120Hz
Choose 120Hz in your operating system's display settings; many monitors ship set to 60Hz.
Use a cable and port with enough bandwidth. High refresh rates at high resolutions usually need DisplayPort or HDMI 2.1.
In games, aim for at least 120 FPS, or turn on G-Sync/FreeSync so lower frame rates still look smooth.
Run the test above: the refresh rate box should read 120 Hz with low jitter.
At 120Hz a new frame appears every 8.33 ms (1000 ÷ 120).
Is 120Hz good for gaming?
Yes. 120Hz is a true high-refresh rate and a common sweet spot for gaming: much smoother than 60Hz, with graphics cards able to reach it in many games.
How many FPS do I need for 120Hz?
To use every refresh, your game should render at least 120 frames per second. Below that, the monitor shows some frames twice; variable refresh rate (G-Sync or FreeSync) keeps that smooth.
How do I check if my monitor is running at 120Hz?
Run the test on this page: the "Refresh rate" box shows the rate your display is actually using. If it reads lower than 120Hz, select 120Hz in your display settings and check that your cable supports it.