Frame Skip Test
An incrementing counter rendered every requestAnimationFrame. If numbers jump non-sequentially, frames are being dropped. Record with a phone camera to verify.
What does frame skipping look like?
If the counter jumps from 45 to 47 (skipping 46), a frame was dropped. On a smooth display you will see every integer in sequence. Frame skips can be caused by GPU overload, VRR stutters, driver issues, or thermal throttling.
How to use this test
- Open this page in your browser and close background applications.
- Record the screen with your phone camera in slow-motion (120-240fps).
- Play back and look for non-sequential numbers.
- Any skipped integer is a dropped frame.
Refresh rate vs frame rate
Refresh rate (Hz) is how often the monitor redraws the screen. Frame rate (FPS) is how fast your system sends new frames. At 144Hz, the monitor refreshes 144 times per second. If your GPU only produces 90 fps, each frame is shown roughly 1.6 times. VRR (G-Sync/FreeSync) dynamically matches the two to eliminate stutter.
Check your actual refresh rate with our Refresh Rate Test.