If you’re new to gaming, you might be confused by all the terminology and unsure if you’re gaming at an optimal FPS.
If so, you’ll be gratified to learn that this isn’t a complex topic. We will explain everything in this guide.
First, we should elucidate what FPS actually is. This is an abbreviation that stands for Frames Per Second, and it is a measurement of how many images can be displayed in a single second.
Take care not to confuse the Frames Per Second measurement with First Person Shooter, a video game genre that uses the same acronym.
So, how crucial is FPS in gaming?
There are memes as far back as a decade ago regarding how many frames the human eye can actually see. Console players (then locked at 30 FPS) claimed that 30 is pretty much the limit of the human eye. The truth lies somewhere in between. We can only truly see 10-12 frames per second, and greater rates are perceived as motion.
Even so, there is a noticeable difference between, for example, 15 FPS, 60 FPS, or, even more dramatically, 120 FPS.
The video below will show you how things look at these frame rates. The laggy 15 FPS may make it seem like the jumping ball is slower than the other balls, but they’re actually hitting the screen edges simultaneously.
At this point, you might think 120 FPS is the ideal frame rate for gaming. While you certainly won’t have a terrible experience playing at 120 FPS, you should be aware of some other factors.
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Optimal Gaming FPS Depends On What You Want To Get Out Of It
For many years, gaming at 30 FPS was more than adequate for anybody. However, as technology advanced, gamers and developers sought to make the most of it. Soon, 60 FPS became the new standard for single-player games, while 120 or higher became the standard for multiplayer games, particularly for first-person shooters.
This might make you think that more is always better, and while you will certainly have a smoother experience, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the best option for you.
Let’s break things down deeper.
Is 60 FPS Enough For Modern Games?
The old standard of 30 FPS is still enough to make a game playable. Anything below that can often appear unstable, and most players will find it hard to enjoy their games at a lower frame rate.
In modern cinematography and animation, the standard is 24 FPS. However, those are experiences that don’t involve human participation. Thus our eyes are more relaxed and able to enjoy the movie at that frame rate.
The novel standard of 60 FPS took a bit longer to arrive for console gamers as only the newest console generations, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, have enabled native 60 FPS. PC gamers, however, are more accustomed to this frame rate, having played their games at 60 FPS for over a decade.
For most people, 60 FPS is the best frame rate to play at. This isn’t only because of the smoothness of the images displayed but also because 60Hz monitors are the most readily available ones.
Furthermore, acquiring a GPU that can output 60 FPS in a video game is fairly straightforward and inexpensive nowadays.
Is 120+ FPS The Future?
At 120 FPS, things look different. Of course, the picture is smoother than at 60 FPS, but most gamers still consider playing at 120 FPS to be too much.
Many players have a tough time seeing the difference between 120 and 60 FPS, which makes it harder to present a strong case for wanting to game at 120 FPS.
Even so, considering that higher framerates reduce input lag considerably, especially in multiplayer games, more is definitely better.
As mentioned earlier, gaming at 120 FPS requires pricier hardware, especially if you’re looking to run a graphical powerhouse such as Control at that frame rate.
First, you will need a really powerful GPU, but depending on the game you’re playing, you might get away with something slightly cheaper.
You will then need to find a monitor that supports not only 120 Hz but also one that can support a vertical synchronization technology that is appropriate for your GPU. This only applies if you want to enjoy all the benefits of 120 FPS gaming.
If you’re looking to game with NVIDIA’s cards, you might run into a slight price increase due to its G-Sync technology, which requires a special license for the monitor manufacturer. For AMD, things are slightly cheaper with its FreeSync tech.
Beyond 120 FPS
If you’re willing to fork out as much cash as required to have the 120 FPS experience, you should go for it, but we still need to give you the main disadvantage of 120 FPS gaming.
The truth is that the eye test can’t provide the results you want from such a price increase. You might only notice it when you’re playing an online game reliant on high FPS.
We’re mainly referring to shooter games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. In those games, you will have a palpable advantage over an opponent who plays at a lower frame rate as you can see and react to them sooner. We’re talking about milliseconds here, which is unlikely to be something that most casual gamers are able to take advantage of.
Competitive players, however, can enjoy an enhanced experience at 120 FPS, but the top eSports competitors go further to 240 FPS or 360 FPS. These frame rates are not yet widespread, but they will be in the near future.
Below is a video showing the exact difference between these frame rates, which should help you visualize the information presented in this guide.
