The number of frames per second has become the main value for measuring the performance of a computer or game console in games. You all know that the higher the frame rate, the higher the performance, and you are aware that this is always “better”, but not everyone is clear on what exactly they are and why more is better.

Frame rate is important, but so is there are other keys we need to consider when we talk about these like synchronization and correct generation of each frameand also Refresh rate the monitor we are using. All these elements are deeply interconnected and ultimately necessary to enjoy a good experience in our favorite games.

We will explain it in this article everything you need to know about frames per second, refresh rate, and the various settings and technologies that can affect both. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments and we’ll help you out. Without further ado, let’s get started.

What are frames per second and why do they matter?

When we talk about frames per second, we mean the number of frames generated in the game in one second. Normally, a frame will be generated in a certain number of milliseconds, and depending on the time you need, it will be possible to achieve a lower or higher value. For example, if a frame is generated in 33.33 milliseconds, we will have a speed of 30 frames per secondbut if it is generated in 16.66 milliseconds, we will have a speed of 60 frames per second.

To create a frame it is necessary for the CPU to supply the GPU with basic information about the game scene, and that the latter does the heavy workload (geometry, texturing and shading, etc.). The performance of both components will determine the maximum number of frames per second that our device is capable of producing, although this can be affected by a number of factors such as the difficulty of the game, the resolution we use and the technologies we have activated.

A higher frame rate is better because it makes us perceive moving scenes with greater fluidity. On the contrary, the low frequency of frames per second will make us feel it the game crashes and this can affect our responsiveness and our performance in a given game. Forget the myth that the human eye can’t perceive more than 30 frames per second, in fact the opposite is true and going from 30 to 60 frames per second makes a huge difference.

Frame rate: minimum and optimal values

To enjoy a minimally acceptable experience in games, it is necessary to achieve a minimum frame rate per second, which, depending on the requirements of each person, must be between At least 25 and 30 FPS. However, the ideal to enjoy an optimal experience is to have at least 60 frames per second.

There is a range between these two extremes middle level which make a significant difference and which deserve a detailed analysis in order to be clear about what experiences we can expect:

• Less than 25 FPS: low fluidity and very pronounced twitching. We can’t really enjoy the game.
• Between 25 and 30 FPS: acceptable smoothness and no tearing that seriously affects playability. We can enjoy the game properly.
• Between 40 and 50 FPS: very good fluidity and no tearing. Exceeding 40 FPS already makes a huge difference in terms of smoothness.
• Average 60 FPS: This is the optimal level for gaming, and compared to playing at 30 FPS, it makes a huge difference in terms of smoothness in general.
• Over 60 FPS: It’s ideal for competitive play, though not essential for everyone.

What is refresh rate and why is it important?

The refresh rate shows how many times the image refreshes in one secondand it’s a value that is deeply tied to GPU and frames per second. A monitor with a 30 Hz refresh rate will only refresh the image 30 times per second, while a 144 Hz monitor will be able to refresh the image 144 times per second. The difference is staggering and also affects the sense of fluidity we will have in the games.

As we said, the refresh rate is important because it will allow us to display a greater number of new images per second, namely not only will it improve the feeling of flow, but it will help us too avoid the feeling of eye fatigue this happens when we move below 60 Hz. However, we must keep in mind that in order to take advantage of the high refresh rate, we need high frame rate.

By combining both values, high refresh rate and frames per second, we will have more visual information per second and we’ll enjoy that increased fluidity we’ve already mentioned, two keys that will obviously give us an important advantage. With a lower refresh rate and a high frame rate some of them will be “useless”and we will miss important visual information.

Let’s look at an example. If we have a 144 Hz monitor, but our computer can barely keep up 30 frames per second we will not notice any difference from the result we would have obtained using a 60 Hz monitor because the monitor would not receive enough new frames to update the image. On the other hand, if our device was able to generate 144 frames per second, the difference the monitor would make would be very large, since it could update the image 144 times per second and use 144 brand new frames. It would certainly be ideal.

Refresh rate: minimum and optimal values

In general, we should avoid 30 Hz monitors, although thankfully those are “endangered” and it is not normal to find models with such a low refresh rate. However, I do remember that it is still possible to find some very cheap 4K models that have that refresh rate (hence their low price). From 60 Hz we can enjoy a good experience, although it will improve significantly in higher models if our device is able to achieve a high frame rate per second.

• 30Hz frequency: It’s a level to avoid, as we’ve already said.
• 60Hz frequency: It is the minimum we should be looking for today.
• 75Hz frequency: It’s a level that doesn’t make much of a difference from the previous one. Commonly used with low-end gaming monitors.
• 90Hz frequency: a higher level than the previous one, which already represents a considerable leap.
• Frequency between 120 Hz and 144 Hz: it’s the optimal level for those who want to enjoy the perfect gaming experience, if the equipment is up to the task, as we said before.
• Refresh rate higher than 144 Hz: They are monitors designed for competitive gaming, i.e. for professional players. We managed to achieve 360 ​​Hz a long time ago.

Issues and technologies that can help us improve the experience

As we have seen, frames per second and refresh rate are two values ​​that are deeply connected, and it is quite normal because the monitor will use the frames generated by the graphics card to refresh the image with each one. Ideally, both values ​​should be identical.but this is something that is very difficult to achieve naturally, i.e. letting the computer and monitor work freely.

When a graphics card generates a frame rate per second higher than the maximum refresh rate of the monitor, this is known as “tearing” or tearing the image, characterized by the appearance of horizontal lines that “break” the image. To avoid this, we can use vertical sync (V-Sync), which limits the FPS rate to specific values ​​(usually 60 FPS). It works, but it has two problems:

• If the FPS drops below 60 FPS in certain areas, we’ll see a very noticeable loss of smoothness.
• It may have some effect on the overall performance of the computer.

Stuttering in Bloodborne. Look at the rendering latency located in the graph on the left. Image courtesy of Digital Foundry.

Another major issue that affects frame rate is “stuttering” or image stuttering. This happens when there is a significant lack of coordination between the generation of the image and its display on the screen, that is, the GPU and the monitor are out of sync. In these cases, the GPU creates a frame a few milliseconds later than it should, resulting in abnormal rendering latency, causing minor stuttering that can completely ruin the gaming experience.

Stuttering can be such a serious problem that a game running at 25-30 FPS with the correct render latency can be perfectly fine, while a game running at a steady 30 FPS with the same problem can end up being a complete nightmare. Bloodborne is one of the best examples of suffering which may represent stuttering.

technology NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync It completely frees us from the problems of “tearing” and “stuttering” without having to assume any impact on the performance of our favorite games. Both fulfill the same role, synchronizing the GPU and the monitor so that the frames per second generation and image refresh work in unison and offer a perfect result.