Does Your Monitor Ghost or Smear?
Moving objects at different speeds reveal pixel response time issues. Ghosting or trailing behind the objects indicates slow pixel transitions — all rendered locally via Canvas at your display's refresh rate.
This test renders moving objects across your screen at configurable speeds so you can visually detect ghosting, smearing, and trailing artifacts caused by slow pixel transitions.
Pixel response time (gray-to-gray) typically ranges from 1ms on fast TN panels to 25ms on older VA panels — anything above 8ms produces visible ghosting at 60 Hz.
Watch the moving objects. Ghosting or trailing indicates slow pixel response time.
What Do Your Results Mean?
| Result | Range | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Good | No visible trails or shadows behind the moving object | Your monitor has fast pixel response time (likely under 5ms GtG) — suitable for fast-paced gaming and motion-heavy content without ghosting artifacts. |
| Warning | Faint trail visible at high speed but not at medium speed | Your monitor has moderate response time (5-10ms GtG). Enable the overdrive/response time setting in your monitor's OSD to reduce ghosting. |
| Bad | Clear ghosting or smearing visible even at medium speed | Your monitor has slow pixel transitions (10ms+ GtG). This is common on VA panels. If overdrive is already enabled, the panel itself is the limiting factor. |
Common Issues and How to Fix Them
Ghosting visible despite a monitor rated at 1ms response time
Manufacturer specs often measure best-case transitions. Enable the overdrive setting in your monitor's OSD menu (usually labeled Response Time, Overdrive, or Trace Free). Avoid the maximum overdrive level as it causes inverse ghosting (overshoot).
Moving object stutters instead of moving smoothly
This is a frame rate issue, not a response time issue. Close background tabs, disable V-Sync if your frame rate is below your refresh rate, and ensure hardware acceleration is enabled in your browser settings.