FPS and Hz are the two numbers everyone throws around when talking about gaming performance, but they measure two different things. Mixing them up leads to spending money on the wrong upgrade.
1. What FPS actually measures
FPS (frames per second) is the number of individual images your graphics card renders each second. A game running at 60 FPS delivers 60 distinct frames every second. Higher FPS means smoother motion and lower input lag.
Your GPU determines your FPS. A faster graphics card, lower graphics settings, or a lower resolution all increase FPS.
2. What Hz actually measures
Hz (hertz) is the refresh rate of your monitor — how many times per second the display can change its image. A 60 Hz monitor refreshes 60 times per second. A 144 Hz monitor refreshes 144 times per second.
Your monitor determines your Hz. This is a fixed hardware limit. A 60 Hz monitor cannot display more than 60 unique images per second, no matter how many FPS your GPU produces.
3. Why matching matters
If your GPU outputs 120 FPS but your monitor is 60 Hz, you only see 60 of those frames. The extra frames are wasted — the monitor cannot keep up. You may also notice screen tearing, where two different frames are visible on screen at once because the monitor was halfway through a refresh when the GPU sent a new frame.
If your GPU outputs 40 FPS on a 144 Hz monitor, motion looks choppy because the monitor is refreshing faster than the GPU can feed it.
4. Measure your setup
Use our Refresh Rate & FPS Test to see both numbers in real time. The tool reports your monitor’s actual refresh rate and your current frame rate. If FPS is significantly below your monitor’s Hz, you are GPU-limited. If FPS is above your monitor’s Hz and you see tearing, you need V-Sync or a variable refresh rate technology.
5. Which to upgrade
The answer depends on where the gap is:
- FPS below Hz: Upgrade your GPU or lower your graphics settings.
- FPS above Hz without tearing: You are fine as-is. The extra FPS still reduces input latency.
- FPS above Hz with tearing: Enable V-Sync, or upgrade to a monitor with FreeSync or G-Sync.
The bottom line
Open Refresh Rate & FPS Test to see your actual numbers. FPS is your GPU output. Hz is your monitor input. The ideal is to keep FPS at or just below your monitor’s refresh rate for smooth, tear-free motion.