A method of adjusting a virtual machine GPU refresh rate to match a given remote desktop stream frame rate is described. The GPU refresh rate of a virtual machine in a virtual machine server environment can be adjusted to a value stored either in the virtual machine GPU or a graphics driver of the virtual machine. The value represents a desired refresh rate or desired frame rate and can be determine by a plurality of parameters that characterized a remote desktop client or a hypervisor in the virtual machine server environment based on network conditions and/or other factors. A guest operating system of the virtual machine receives the frame rate information, and adjusts a refresh rate of a virtual machine GPU, which uses the adjusted refresh rate to draw framebuffers to create a portion of a remote desktop image for transmission to the remote desktop client.