FPS or Frames Per Second is the rate at which a certain number of images are displayed on your screen at a given second.
Simply put, FPS measures how quickly and smoothly still images pass through on your computer screen at a given time.
Let’s say a video is played at 30fps. This means that 30 image frames appear on your screen every second.
How FPS Works?
Step 1: GPU Rendering
It starts with your GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), which receives the software’s instructions and renders them into visual frames.
Step 2: Frames Sent to Monitor for Display
The rendered frames from the GPU are then sent to your monitor. Every monitor has a refresh rate (frequency at which an image is updated on the screen) measured in Hertz (Hz). The monitor then refreshes images on the screen at a refresh rate set by the manufacturer or user.
| Media Type | Average FPS |
|---|---|
| Cinema | 24 FPS |
| TV Shows | 30 FPS |
| Games | 30-120 FPS |
| Sports (Broadcast) | 60 FPS |
| Animation | 24-60 FPS |
| Slow Motion | 120-1000 FPS+ |
What Factors Affect the FPS?
- Graphics Card: As your graphics card has to do a lot of rendering work, it sets the ground for the average FPS you will get while playing games or animations. Make it this way, a powerful graphics card can render frames at a higher rate, which results in higher FPS gain.
- Graphical Settings: Some programs allow you to tweak the graphical settings to achieve maximum FPS. For example, you can lower in-game settings like textures, shadows, resolution, etc., to reduce the load on your GPU while increasing the average FPS.
- Refresh Rate: The monitor refresh rate directly impacts the average FPS in gaming. Even if you have a powerful graphics card, the lower refresh rate of the monitor limits the frame rates, resulting in choppiness or stuttering.
- Hardware: The GPU alone is not responsible for boosting your FPS; other PC parts like the CPU and RAM also affect the overall FPS.
Read About: How to Check FPS in Gaming
How to Measure FPS?
Frames per second, often shortened to FPS, is simply the count of how many distinct images or “frames” flash before your eyes in a single second, creating the illusion of motion. Imagine flipping through a stack of photos—each frame is like one of those pictures, and the faster you flip, the smoother the motion appears.
For gamers and graphics enthusiasts, this metric is crucial. Built-in frame counters, or sometimes nifty third-party tools, keep a real-time tally of the FPS, ensuring your gaming experience flows as seamlessly as possible. It’s all about making sure those on-screen visuals move like butter, right?
Difference Between Frame Rate and Refresh Rate
| Attribute | Frame Rate | Refresh Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The number of individual frames (images) captured or displayed per second. | The number of times the display refreshes (updates) per second. |
| Unit of Measure | Frames Per Second (FPS) | Hertz (Hz) |
| Role | Determines how smooth motion appears in video or gameplay by controlling how many frames are shown each second. | Dictates how often the display updates the image, influencing overall smoothness and responsiveness. |
| Motion Clarity | Higher FPS results in smoother, more fluid visuals, especially for fast-moving scenes. | Higher refresh rates reduce motion blur, offering better clarity, especially in fast-action scenes or gaming. |
FAQs
What FPS rate is good?
Generally, the higher the FPS, the smoother the performance you can expect from your system. 60fps at 1080p resolution is the bare minimum when it comes down to decent gameplay performance.
Is 120 FPS good for gaming?
Yes, getting 120fps means you will have an optimal gaming experience. The overall visual quality of the game would be much smoother without any motion blur or stuttering.
What are the most common frame rates?
Some of the most common FPS rates are 24fps, 30fps, 60fps, 120fps, and 240fps. 30fps is the standard for watching video content like movies, whereas 60fps and above is the minimum standard for gaming and animations.
Mosaab Jamal Ahmed is a seasoned technology enthusiast with a passion for gaming and PC upgrades. His journey began in 1998 with a Pentium 1 PC, igniting his lifelong fascination with computer hardware.
Over the years, Mosaab has honed his skills in upgrading and optimizing PCs with the latest components, ensuring peak performance for gaming and other demanding applications.
Through his insightful articles, Mosaab shares his extensive knowledge on building and enhancing gaming PCs.