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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchCheck your monitor’s active refresh rate in your operating system, then check your game’s FPS separately with an in-game counter or a trusted platform or graphics-driver overlay. Refresh rate (Hz) describes how often the display refreshes; FPS describes how many frames the game renders. They do not have to be the same number: V-Sync and variable refresh rate (VRR) affect how those frames are shown.
How do I check my monitor’s refresh rate?
Windows 11 and Windows 10
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Open Start > Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
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If you use more than one monitor, select the display you want to check in the display selector.
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Read the current resolution and refresh rate in the information panel. Windows also indicates whether the selected display supports variable refresh rate (VRR).
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To change the rate, use the menu beside Choose a refresh rate. Windows lists modes supported by the display and current configuration. Check the resolution shown with the mode: Microsoft warns that a rate marked with an asterisk is not supported at the current resolution, and selecting it changes the resolution. Microsoft’s refresh-rate instructions explain the options.
Windows 11 Dynamic Refresh Rate
Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) is a separate automatic feature, not a setting available on every PC. Microsoft says it requires a VRR-capable display with a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz. DRR can limit the maximum refresh rate of some games; if a game appears to run at a lower refresh rate, Microsoft suggests disabling DRR. Windows 10 does not support DRR. See Microsoft’s compatibility and setup notes.
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macOS and supported displays
On supported MacBook Pro models and Apple displays, open Apple menu > System Settings > Displays and choose a value from Refresh Rate. On older macOS versions, the path begins Apple menu > System Preferences > Displays. Options depend on the device; Apple lists examples including 120 Hz, 60 Hz, 59.94 Hz, 50 Hz, 48 Hz and 47.95 Hz, but not every display offers every rate. Apple’s refresh-rate guidance describes the supported options.
External Adaptive Sync displays on Mac
Apple documents Adaptive Sync support for compatible external displays on macOS Monterey or later with Apple silicon Macs and a specified set of Intel Macs. On macOS Ventura or later, select the external display in System Settings > Displays and choose Variable or Adaptive from the Refresh Rate menu, if available. The display determines its supported range. Apple recommends a Thunderbolt, USB-C or other DisplayPort-enabled cable for best performance with this Adaptive Sync setup and says not to use HDMI for it; this is Apple’s guidance for the documented Mac compatibility, not a rule for all monitor connections. Check Apple’s compatibility and setup details.
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How do I check my game’s FPS?
FPS is a game-performance reading, not the refresh-rate value shown in Display settings. Enable the game’s own FPS counter if it has one, or use a trusted platform or graphics-driver overlay. The exact menu depends on the game and platform, so consult the current instructions for that game rather than assuming one universal path. Read the counter while the game is running; comparing that reading with the selected display’s active refresh rate helps explain what synchronization can do.
How do FPS and refresh rate work together?
Microsoft defines refresh rate as how many times per second the screen image refreshes. FPS is how many frames the game renders each second. A fixed-refresh display does not necessarily show a different newly rendered frame on every refresh when the game renders below the display’s rate. If the game renders faster than the display refreshes, the display cannot show every rendered frame in a single refresh interval.
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What reaches the screen also depends on synchronization settings. There is no universal requirement to make FPS equal Hz, and higher rendered FPS can still be useful for measuring hardware performance even when the display cannot show every frame. NVIDIA’s FrameView guide notes that disabling V-Sync can allow frame rates beyond monitor refresh, with possible tearing. NVIDIA FrameView 1.1 user guide explains the behavior.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should I use V-Sync, VRR or neither?
| Option | What it does | Compatibility and tradeoffs |
|---|---|---|
| V-Sync on | Synchronizes the game’s frame rate with the monitor refresh rate and limits frames that can be displayed. | Use it if you want synchronized output; it can constrain the displayed frame rate. NVIDIA documents this behavior in its FrameView guide. |
| V-Sync off | Can allow the game to render beyond the monitor’s refresh rate. | May result in visible tearing. The display still cannot show every rendered frame in one refresh interval. |
| VRR / Adaptive Sync | On compatible hardware, varies display refresh dynamically in response to the game’s frame rate within the display’s supported range. | Requires compatible display, computer or GPU, connection, operating system and settings. Apple notes that unsupported configurations can cause flicker in its Adaptive Sync setup; see its compatibility guidance. |
For a practical check, first confirm the active Hz for the correct display, then inspect the FPS counter in the game. Choose V-Sync or VRR according to your hardware support and your preference about synchronization and tearing; do not assume every game needs a fixed FPS cap or an exact Hz-to-FPS match. Microsoft reports VRR status in Windows Advanced display, while Apple describes Adaptive Sync for supported Mac setups.
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When is a monitor upgrade relevant?
Check the highest refresh-rate mode available at the resolution you want before treating the display as a limitation. If the desired mode is not offered by the current monitor and configuration, a high-refresh-rate gaming monitor is an optional hardware upgrade—not a prerequisite for checking refresh rate or understanding FPS. Gaming benefit depends on the display’s capability and the content, as Microsoft notes.
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