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Monitor Response Time vs Frame Time Calculator
Compare monitor response time (GtG) to frame time at your FPS. Determine if your monitor's response time causes ghosting and motion blur at your refresh rate.
ms
Frame Time⧉
6.94 ms
At 144 FPS
Ghosting Ratio⧉
0.720
< 1.0 = no ghosting
Verdict⧉
Borderline — slight ghosting
Acceptable
Max Clean FPS⧉
200
Where GtG ≤ frame time
Motion Clarity⧉
Acceptable
Ratio: 0.72
Overshoot Risk⧉
Normal
Normal OD
GtG vs Frame Time
5ms GtG
0msFrame: 6.9ms7ms+
Planning notes, formulas, and examples
About the Monitor Response Time vs Frame Time Calculator
Monitor response time (GtG — gray-to-gray) determines how quickly pixels transition between colors. If the response time exceeds the frame time (1000ms ÷ FPS), the previous frame's image hasn't fully faded before the next frame appears — causing visible ghosting and smearing.
At 60Hz, each frame lasts 16.67ms, so a 5ms GtG response time is fine. But at 240Hz, frames last only 4.17ms — a 5ms response time means constant ghosting. This calculator compares your monitor's response time against your frame time.
Enter your monitor's GtG response time and your FPS to see if ghosting is expected. Lower response times relative to frame times mean cleaner, sharper motion.
Use the estimate as a planning baseline and adjust it once you have real session data from the game you are playing.
When This Page Helps
Marketing spec sheets list impressive response times, but what matters is whether that response time is fast enough for YOUR refresh rate. This calculator reveals whether your monitor's pixel speed actually keeps up with the frames your GPU delivers.
How to Use the Inputs
- Find your monitor's GtG response time (check reviews for real measurements, not specs).
- Enter the response time in milliseconds.
- Enter your typical in-game FPS.
- Review whether ghosting is expected.
- Try different FPS values to see at what target your monitor becomes the bottleneck.
Formula used
Frame Time = 1000 / FPS (ms)
Ghosting occurs if Response Time > Frame Time
Ghosting Severity = Response Time / Frame Time (ratio > 1.0 = ghosting)Example Calculation
Result: Frame time: 6.94ms — no significant ghosting
At 144 FPS, frame time = 1000/144 = 6.94ms. Your 5ms response time is under the frame time, so pixels have enough time to transition. Ghosting ratio = 5/6.94 = 0.72 — comfortably under 1.0. At 240 FPS (4.17ms frames), the same monitor would ghost.
Tips & Best Practices
- Always use measured GtG times from review sites — manufacturer specs are best-case and often misleading.
- Fast IPS panels achieve 3-5ms real-world GtG, suitable up to 240Hz.
- VA panels typically have 8-15ms GtG and show ghosting in dark transitions.
- OLED displays achieve under 1ms GtG — essentially ghosting-free at any refresh rate.
- Overdrive settings can reduce response time but may introduce inverse ghosting (overshoot).
- Response time varies by color transition — dark-to-light is always slower than light-to-light.
Understanding Pixel Response
When a pixel needs to change color (e.g., from a dark tree to bright sky as you pan the camera), it takes time. During this transition, the pixel displays an intermediate color — a mix of the old and new frames. This creates a visible smearing effect called ghosting, most noticeable on high-contrast edges in fast motion.
Panel Technology Comparison
TN panels: 1-3ms real GtG (fast but poor colors/viewing angles). IPS panels: 3-6ms real GtG (good colors, good speed). VA panels: 8-20ms real GtG, worst in dark transitions (best contrast). OLED: <0.5ms GtG (best in every motion metric, premium price).
Matching Monitor to Use Case
Competitive FPS gamers: prioritize response time — IPS or OLED at 240Hz+. RPG/story gamers: VA's contrast enhances atmosphere, and slower response is acceptable at 60-100 FPS. Content creators who also game: IPS offers the best balance of color accuracy and speed.
Sources & Methodology
Last updated:
Frequently Asked Questions
Gray-to-gray measures how long it takes a pixel to change from one shade of gray to another. It's the standard metric for monitor speed. Lower is better. Real-world GtG varies by the specific transition — some are fast, others (dark transitions) are slower.
Advertised "1ms" is usually the best-case measurement with aggressive overdrive enabled (which causes inverse ghosting). Real average GtG is typically 3-5ms for fast IPS panels and 8-15ms for VA panels. Marketing response times are not reliable.
VA panels have excellent contrast but slower pixel response, especially in dark scenes. At 60-144Hz, modern VA panels are acceptable for most gamers. At 240Hz+, IPS or OLED is recommended for clean motion. It depends on your sensitivity to ghosting vs your preference for contrast.
Overdrive applies a voltage boost to speed up pixel transitions. At moderate levels, it reduces GtG by 20-40% with minimal side effects. At maximum, it causes inverse ghosting (bright trails) that's worse than the original ghosting. Use the "medium" or "normal" overdrive setting.
OLED pixels switch states in under 0.5ms — essentially instant. This eliminates ghosting at any refresh rate. Combined with per-pixel light control (infinite contrast), OLED provides the best motion clarity available. The main concerns are burn-in risk and cost.
A ghosting ratio (response time / frame time) under 0.7 means minimal ghosting. Between 0.7-1.0, ghosting becomes increasingly visible. Above 1.0, the pixel literally cannot transition fast enough between frames, causing persistent blur on moving objects.
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