Frame skipping test
The grid lights one cell per frame as soon as the page loads. Photograph it with a long exposure and look for a gap in the run of lit cells.
Frame skipping test workspace
How to use
4 short steps.
Set the refresh rate you want to check
Apply the overclock or refresh rate in your system settings first. The grid runs on its own; wait for the READY badge.
Go full screen
Click the field or press Full screen so nothing else is drawn on the monitor.
Take a long-exposure photo
Use a camera or phone in manual mode with an exposure of about 1/4 to 1 second. Hold it steady and fill the frame with the grid.
Look at the run of lit cells
The photo should show a continuous run of lit cells. A dark cell inside the run is a skipped frame. Take several photos before deciding.
What the result means
Match what you see to one of these.
If the lit cells form an unbroken run, no frames were skipped
If every cell between the first and last lit one is also lit, the monitor showed every frame at this refresh rate.
If a dark cell sits inside the run, the monitor skipped that frame
If the same kind of gap appears in several photos, the monitor is dropping frames, usually because the refresh rate is above what the panel or cable can handle.
If the photo shows only one or two cells, the exposure is too short
If you cannot see a run of cells, lengthen the exposure or lower the room light. The test needs several frames in one photo.
Troubleshooting
If the test fails, try these in order.
Lengthen the exposure
Set the camera to 1/4 second or longer and turn off any night mode or HDR. Photograph the grid again.
Step the refresh rate down
If the gaps repeat, lower the refresh rate by one step in your system settings and photograph the grid again until the gaps stop.
Use a cable rated for the rate
A cable that cannot carry the bandwidth makes the system silently drop frames. Try DisplayPort or a certified HDMI cable and photograph again.
Confirm the rate with the refresh rate test
Open the refresh rate test to check the browser is actually running at the rate you set, then photograph the grid again.
What this test can't tell you
Where a browser check stops.
- The page cannot read the photo or detect skipped frames for you; you judge the run of lit cells yourself.
- A screenshot shows one frame and can never show skipping, and a rolling shutter or a shaky camera can add gaps of its own.
FAQ
Common questions about this test.
Why is my monitor skipping frames?
Usually because it is set to a refresh rate it cannot really show, most often after an overclock. The panel accepts the signal but drops some frames. A cable that cannot carry the bandwidth or a driver problem can do the same.
How do I fix frame skipping?
Lower the refresh rate one step at a time in your system settings until the photographed run has no gaps. Use a cable rated for the rate and update the graphics driver.
Why do I need a long-exposure photo?
The camera combines several frames into one image, so the lit cells form a run. A missing cell inside that run is a frame the monitor never showed.
Can I use a screenshot for a frame skipping test?
No. A screenshot captures one frame from the computer, not what the monitor displayed over time.