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How do I check my monitor’s refresh rate?
Windows 11 and Windows 10
- Open Start > Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
- If you use more than one display, select the monitor you want to check in the display selector.
- Read the current resolution and refresh rate in the information panel. Windows also indicates whether the selected display supports variable refresh rate (VRR).
- To change the rate, choose an option beside Choose a refresh rate. The available modes depend on your display and current configuration.
Check the resolution alongside a listed refresh rate. Microsoft notes that a rate marked with an asterisk is not supported at the current resolution; selecting it changes the resolution to reach that rate. See Microsoft’s Windows refresh-rate instructions.
Supported MacBook Pro and Apple displays
Open Apple menu > System Settings > Displays (or System Preferences > Displays on older macOS versions), then choose a setting from Refresh Rate. The available fixed options depend on the Mac and display. Apple lists examples including 120 Hz, 60 Hz, 59.94 Hz, 50 Hz, 48 Hz and 47.95 Hz; do not expect every option on every device. Details are in Apple’s guide to changing the refresh rate.
External Adaptive Sync displays on supported Macs
Apple documents external-display Adaptive Sync support on macOS Monterey or later for Apple silicon Macs and certain Intel Macs. On macOS Ventura or later, open System Settings > Displays, select the external display, and choose Variable or Adaptive from the Refresh Rate menu if offered. The display determines its supported range. For this Adaptive Sync setup, Apple recommends a Thunderbolt, USB-C or other DisplayPort-enabled cable for best performance and says not to use HDMI. This is Apple’s compatibility guidance for the documented setup, not a rule for every monitor connection. See Apple’s Adaptive Sync instructions.
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Windows 11 Dynamic Refresh Rate is a separate option
Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) is an automatic feature for supported Windows 11 hardware, 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 support page.
How do I check my game’s FPS?
FPS is not shown by the Windows or macOS refresh-rate setting. Turn on a clearly labeled FPS counter in the game, or use a trusted platform or graphics-driver overlay, and check it while the game is running. The exact menu depends on the game and platform, so consult that game’s current instructions rather than relying on a universal click path.
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Compare the game’s FPS reading with the active refresh rate you checked for the display the game is using. With multiple monitors, make sure you selected the correct display in Windows; also confirm the game is actually running on that display.
How do Hz and FPS work together?
Refresh rate describes how many times per second the display refreshes; FPS describes how many frames per second the game renders. A 60 Hz display refreshes 60 times per second, for example, but that does not guarantee a newly rendered game frame will be ready for every refresh. If a game renders below a fixed refresh rate, some refreshes may not show a new frame. If it renders above that rate, the display cannot show every rendered frame in a single refresh interval.
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Synchronization settings affect which frames reach the screen. NVIDIA’s FrameView 1.1 user guide explains that Vertical Sync (V-Sync) synchronizes the game’s frame rate with the monitor’s refresh rate, limiting the frames that can be displayed. Turning V-Sync off can allow the game to run beyond the display’s refresh rate, but can also cause visible tearing. A higher FPS reading can still be useful for assessing what the hardware is rendering, even when the display cannot show every frame at once.
Which setting should I use: V-Sync, off, or VRR?
| Setting | What it does | Compatibility and trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| V-Sync on | Synchronizes the game’s frame rate with the display’s refresh rate and limits displayed frames. | Use it if you prefer synchronized output; it can affect the FPS rate shown. NVIDIA notes that disabling it can allow tearing. |
| V-Sync off | Allows the game to render beyond the display’s fixed refresh rate. | May permit tearing. The display still cannot show every rendered frame in a single refresh interval. |
| VRR / Adaptive Sync | Changes the display’s refresh dynamically in response to the game’s rendered frame rate. | Requires compatible display, computer or GPU, connection, operating system and settings. It works within the display’s supported range; Apple notes unsupported configurations can cause flicker. |
VRR can make a strict fixed Hz-to-FPS match unnecessary when the game’s frame rate is within the compatible display’s range. It is not guaranteed simply because a monitor advertises a feature: verify the operating system’s VRR status and that the relevant hardware and connection support the configuration. Apple describes Adaptive Sync as matching refresh to GPU-rendered content and documents its compatibility conditions in its setup guidance.
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Should I set FPS equal to refresh rate?
Not as a universal rule. First confirm the display’s active refresh rate and the game’s actual FPS, then choose synchronization according to the result and your preference for tearing versus synchronization. With fixed refresh, V-Sync can limit displayed frames to synchronize with the display; with compatible VRR, refresh can adapt within its supported range. There is no single FPS cap that is right for every game, display and system.
If the monitor lacks the refresh-rate mode you want at your preferred resolution, the hardware may be the constraint. A higher-refresh-rate display is an optional upgrade, not a prerequisite for checking settings or understanding FPS; Microsoft notes that gaming benefits depend on the display’s capabilities and the content.
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