How to compare monitor overdrive settings at different refresh rates
Test each overdrive level at the refresh rate you actually play at, with the same motion speed every time. Pick the level with the shortest dark trails before bright halos start to appear.
Most gaming monitors have an overdrive setting with names like Normal, Fast and Extreme. The right one depends on your panel and your refresh rate, and the best level at the top refresh rate can overshoot badly at a lower one. This guide gives you a repeatable way to compare settings with the Motion check, so you choose by looking rather than by the label.
By TechCompare · Updated
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Motion. Trails behind the moving blocks, bright or dark halos around edges (overshoot), and text you can't read while it moves.
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How this is calculated
Overdrive pushes each pixel past its target for a moment so it gets there faster. The right amount depends on how much time the pixel has, which is one frame. At a high refresh rate each frame is short, so stronger overdrive helps. At a lower refresh rate the same setting has more time than it needs and overshoots, leaving bright or colored halos. That's why many monitors look best on a stronger setting at their top refresh rate and a milder one at 60 Hz, and why variable refresh rate, which changes the refresh rate constantly, can make a strong setting look inconsistent. Some monitors adjust overdrive automatically with the refresh rate. Here's a repeatable method. Set your operating system to the refresh rate you'll use. Open the Motion check and pick a speed you can follow comfortably, like 960 px/s, and keep it fixed. Start with the lowest overdrive setting and watch the target cross each band for a few passes. Note the length of dark trails and any bright edges. Move up one level and repeat. Then change the refresh rate and do it again. Pause between settings so you compare fresh, and give the monitor a moment after each menu change.
Verdict
There's no universal best overdrive level, even for one model, since your refresh rate and how sensitive you are to halos both matter. Choose the strongest level that doesn't show bright outlines on any of the three bands at the refresh rate you use most. If you play with variable refresh rate at changing frame rates, favor a milder level, since overshoot gets worse when the frame rate drops.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the highest overdrive setting always the fastest?
Why does overdrive look different with G-Sync or FreeSync?
Does this test measure response time?
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