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What is FPS?
FPS stands for Frames Per Second. It is a unit of measurement that indicates how many individual still images (called "frames") your computer's graphics processing unit (GPU) can render and display on your monitor every second.
Think of it like a flipbook animation — each page is a single frame. The faster you flip the pages, the smoother the animation appears. In computer graphics, the GPU is constantly "flipping pages" at high speed. The FPS value tells you exactly how fast this is happening.
At 30 FPS, your GPU produces 30 unique images per second. At 60 FPS, it produces 60. At 144 FPS, it produces 144. The higher the number, the smoother and more fluid the motion appears on your screen.
How FPS Works
Every frame you see on screen goes through a multi-step process called the rendering pipeline:
- CPU Processing: The processor handles game logic, physics calculations, AI behavior, and determines what needs to be drawn.
- Draw Calls: The CPU sends instructions to the GPU about what objects need to be rendered.
- GPU Rendering: The graphics card processes vertices, applies textures, lighting, shadows, and post-processing effects.
- Frame Buffer: The completed frame is stored in the GPU's frame buffer, waiting to be sent to the display.
- Display Output: The frame is sent to your monitor during its next refresh cycle.
The entire pipeline must complete within a tight time budget. At 60 FPS, each frame has only 16.67 milliseconds to go through every step. At 144 FPS, that budget shrinks to just 6.94 milliseconds.
FPS in Gaming
In gaming, FPS directly impacts three critical aspects of your experience:
Visual Smoothness
Higher FPS means smoother animations. The difference between 30 and 60 FPS is dramatic — movements go from appearing jerky and stuttery to smooth and fluid. The jump from 60 to 144 FPS is less dramatic but still very noticeable, especially during fast camera movements.
Input Responsiveness
Higher FPS reduces the delay between your input (mouse click, key press) and seeing the result on screen. At 60 FPS, there's a built-in ~16ms delay just from frame rendering. At 240 FPS, this drops to ~4ms. In competitive gaming, this difference can matter.
Competitive Advantage
In fast-paced games like CS2, Valorant, or Apex Legends, higher FPS means you see enemy movements more quickly and your crosshair tracks more smoothly. Professional esports players universally play at 240+ FPS on 240Hz monitors for this reason.
"The difference between 60 and 240 FPS isn't just visual — it's the difference between reacting in time and being too late." — NVIDIA Esports
FPS vs Refresh Rate (Hz)
This is one of the most commonly confused concepts in PC gaming. Understanding the difference is crucial:
| FPS | Refresh Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Measures | GPU output speed | Monitor display speed |
| Unit | Frames Per Second | Hertz (Hz) |
| Variable? | Yes, changes constantly | Fixed by hardware |
| Controlled by | GPU, CPU, game settings | Monitor hardware, OS settings |
The relationship: Your monitor's refresh rate is the ceiling for visible FPS. A 60Hz monitor can only display 60 unique frames per second. Even if your GPU renders 200 FPS, your 60Hz monitor can only show 60 of them. The remaining 140 frames are either discarded or cause screen tearing.
This is why pairing a high FPS with a high refresh rate monitor is essential. A 144Hz monitor paired with a GPU delivering 144+ FPS provides a dramatically smoother experience than 60Hz.
What is a Good FPS?
The answer depends on your activity:
| FPS Range | Experience | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Below 30 | Choppy, unplayable for action | Turn-based games only |
| 30–59 | Playable but not smooth | Single-player, casual |
| 60 | Smooth standard | Most games, 60Hz monitors |
| 120–144 | Very smooth | Competitive multiplayer |
| 240+ | Ultra smooth, minimal lag | Esports, professional |
How to Measure FPS
There are several ways to check your current FPS:
- Browser Test (This Site): Use our online FPS test to measure browser rendering performance instantly.
- Steam Overlay: Enable in Steam → Settings → In-Game → FPS Counter. Shows a small counter in the corner of any Steam game.
- NVIDIA GeForce Experience: Press Alt+R during any game to show performance overlay including FPS, GPU temp, and utilization.
- MSI Afterburner: Free third-party tool with RivaTuner for detailed on-screen FPS, frame time, and hardware monitoring.
- Windows Game Bar: Press Win+G during any game. Built into Windows 10/11.
Frame Time Explained
While FPS tells you how many frames are rendered per second, frame time tells you how long each individual frame takes to render. This is measured in milliseconds (ms).
Why does this matter? Because FPS alone can be misleading. Imagine two scenarios:
- Scenario A: Consistent 60 FPS with each frame taking exactly 16.67ms. This feels perfectly smooth.
- Scenario B: Average 60 FPS, but some frames take 5ms and others take 30ms. This feels choppy despite the same average FPS.
This is why our FPS test shows 1% Low values. The 1% Low represents the worst-case frame rate that occurs 1% of the time. A large gap between your Average FPS and 1% Low indicates inconsistent frame delivery (stuttering).
How to Improve FPS
If your FPS is lower than expected, there are many ways to improve it:
- Update GPU Drivers: NVIDIA and AMD regularly release drivers that improve performance in specific games by 5-20%.
- Lower Graphics Settings: Shadows, Anti-Aliasing, and Ambient Occlusion have the biggest performance impact.
- Enable DLSS/FSR: AI-powered upscaling can boost FPS by 40-100% with minimal quality loss.
- Close Background Programs: Browsers, Discord, and streaming software consume GPU and CPU resources.
- Monitor Temperatures: Overheating causes thermal throttling. Clean your PC's cooling system regularly.
For a complete optimization guide, visit our How to Improve FPS page.