Making sure your graphics card’s FPS output matches the refresh rate of your monitor shouldn’t be a problem, but it sometimes is. Although it’s becoming easier to do this, issues still pop up all too often, causing unnecessary distractions.
An FPS limiter could be the perfect solution.
We should talk about this since there are a range of solutions from different sources that yield various outcomes.
Before we explore those FPS-limiting solutions, let’s consider why they are even crucial.
Table of ContentsShow
Screen Tearing – The Bane Of Gamer’s Existence
This visual glitch, known as screen tearing, can ruin the experience of being immersed in your favorite game. It is an instant reminder that we are not actually part of a counter-terrorist unit but simply a person sitting in front of a computer.
If you are experiencing screen tearing, it’s likely that your graphics card and your monitor aren’t in sync. In most cases, the monitor’s refresh rate is locked at a certain speed, such as 60Hz, and the GPU outputs more than 60 frames per second.
When that happens, the monitor will attempt to show more frames than it is capable of and will occasionally display two or more frames at the same time. This results in one frame being shown on the upper half of the monitor and another on the lower half.
The Best Solution Is Also The Most Expensive
Issues with screen tearing will soon be a thing of the past and not recalled fondly. With FreeSync and G-Sync monitors and graphics cards becoming superior and more widespread, in a few years, we will probably forget that screen tearing was ever an issue.
However, we want to play games now, and, unfortunately, screen tearing is still a thing.
The absolute best way to get around this issue is to use a monitor with a variable refresh rate. Both AMD and NVIDIA have variable refresh rate certified monitors which work with their respective graphics cards.
The variable refresh rate on monitors uses either Freesync (AMD) or G-Sync (NVIDIA). Although this might feel restrictive, for any future upgrades, it’s a perfect solution.
A variable refresh rate means that the software can communicate between the monitor and the GPU and sync the frame rate output and refresh rate. This means if the game drops to 45 FPS, the screen will reduce its refresh rate to 45Hz.
Keep in mind that your game won’t be limited to the monitor’s maximum refresh rate. It is going to be limited only if V-Sync is enabled.
The Cheaper, But Still Good, Solution
Getting a silky smooth picture doesn’t have to be expensive. You won’t need to buy additional hardware to resolve this issue.
The original sync solution for screen tearing was V-Sync, but this wasn’t flawless and quickly became outdated as both AMD and NVIDIA devised their own fixes for the problem. However, before either company managed to produce an sufficient synchronization option, people were forced to use an FPS limiter.
FPS limiters are suitably named and do exactly what their name implies: they restrict the number of frames displayed on the monitor. The reason why FPS limiters are highly regarded in the gaming community is that they not only address screen tearing but also assist gamers dealing with more resource-intensive games by regulating the performance of GPUs.
Although this is just a side effect of the tool, it can be invaluable for gamers with less powerful PCs who are trying to play AAA games. Although initially developed to fix the screen tearing issue, an FPS limiter effectively prevents t the GPU from needlessly exerting itself to produce additional frames, which can cause an erratic frame rate.
Even if it isn’t a high frame rate such as 120 FPS or even 60 FPS, having an FPS limiter set at 30 FPS when your GPU fluctuates between 25 and 40 can give you a console level of constancy and help you forget you ever had FPS issues.
Another positive side effect of an FPS limiter tool is that, because fewer frames are required, the GPU will logically produce fewer frames and therefore require reduced energy. Less power means lower temperatures which leads to a silent PC.
The ideal use for an FPS regulator is to prevent the screen tearing problem we mentioned earlier. If it is adjusted to the monitor’s refresh rate, you will guarantee that you won’t encounter any issues. Well, that’s not completely accurate, but we’ll examine that later.
First, let’s talk about FPS limiter variations.
FPS Limiter Options
In the same way that both AMD and NVIDIA have devised their own synchronization options, they also created their own FPS limiting solutions.
Radeon Chill
AMD uses its own software called ‘Frame Rate Target Control‘, which is a pretty good tool. This is an AMD-specific solution, so it will only work with their graphics cards. FRTC can be found in the Radeon Software, which is designed to keep the drivers up-to-date.
Well, not anymore. FRTC had a good run while it lasted, but following a major December 2019 Radeon software update, this feature completely disappeared. There’s no reason to panic, as AMD replaced FRTC with Radeon Chill, which is effectively an upgraded version of FRTC.
Chill isn’t exactly an FPS limiter and is more of an FPS ranger. That may not be a flawless description, but it essentially describes what Chill does. The software sets the upper and lower limit of the frame production required from the GPU, so it behaves in much the same way as an outright FPS limiter.
While Chill won’t work perfectly with older setups, it is extremely effective when used with a monitor with a variable refresh rate. You can simply set the upper and lower limit to the upper and lower variance of your monitor’s refresh rate, and you’re almost guaranteed to have a great experience.
However, there is one condition. In order to change the FPS limit, you will need to exit the game and then restart it to activate any changes. This can be really frustrating because it makes adjusting your settings to ensure the best possible experience far too time-consuming.
NVIDIA’s FPS Limiter
In early 2020, NVIDIA released a new driver update with a novel FPS limiter. The limiter works on individual games but can also be used on a worldwide scale.
Unlike AMD’s software, NVIDIA’s solution is quite straightforward and does the job intended. Better yet, it does that job flawlessly, and that’s pretty much all we need from an FPS limiter.
However, as with AMD, NVIDIA’s FPS limiter requires you to exit the game in order to change the settings, which, like Chill, makes the tool rather cumbersome to use.
Rivatuner Statistics Server (RTSS)
This is a third-party FPS limiting solution that has been extensively used. It is available in a standalone version but is also included with the MSI Afterburner, which is a very beneficial tool, particularly for overclocking.
RTSS works pretty much as you would expect it to – by limiting the FPS output.
Despite being very useful, it can interfere with recording software such as OBS and cause problems when trying to run the two programs simultaneously, which is something that should be avoided.
There is one major downside, although there isn’t much evidence of it. We’re talking about the dreaded input lag. While there is noticeable input lag on RTSS, it isn’t much worse than that of AMD’s and NVIDIA’s options.
However, on a more positive note, unlike AMD’s and NVIDIA’s FPS limiting options, RTSS can be adjusted while the game is active, and the effects are instantly visible.
What Is The Best FPS Limiter?
In reality, none of these.
The best way to limit frame production is in a game’s settings. This is because an external software needs to intercept and adjust frame production, while the game itself can limit the number of frames being produced.
The largest drawback of this method is that only a restricted number of games actually have this option. Fortunately, some of these are the games that need frame limiting the most, including Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch.
In conclusion, if you need to limit your FPS, you’re guaranteed to have the best results with an in-game tool. If one is not available, you have other options, both from your GPU’s manufacturer or a third party. These all have pros and cons, but the important thing is that there are only slight differences in how well they perform.
