What is a good FPS for a gaming PC? FPS, or frames per second, is a measure of the number of times a picture is displayed per second on a monitor or a computer display. It is one of the most important factors for a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience, so it’s important to understand what a good FPS rate is. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, as different games and systems have different requirements.
For gamers wanting the ideal experience, a consistent 60fps is recommended. While PCs may struggle to reach this number in the latest games, PC hardware is constantly being updated and improved, making it easier to reach 60fps. In most cases, a frame rate of 30fps is considered acceptable, but higher is always better. If you have an older PC, it’s still possible to get decent performance when playing at lower frame rates.
One of the key things to consider when deciding on the best FPS for your gaming PC is the type of game you intend to play. If you’re playing a fast-paced first-person shooter or an intense real-time strategy game, then you’ll want to aim for a higher FPS. If you’re playing a slower-paced game like turn-based strategy or a card game, then you may not need such a high FPS. You also need to take into consideration the type of graphics card in your system.
Your graphics card can significantly impact the frame rate you’re able to achieve. If you’re using an entry-level graphics card such as an NVIDIA GTX 1050, you can expect to get what’s considered a “good” frame rate of around 45fps in the latest games. For more demanding titles and higher resolutions, however, you may need something more powerful like an NVIDIA RTX 2080.
Furthermore, if you’re playing multiplayer games, having a higher frame rate than your opponents can give you a competitive edge. Having a consistent frame rate of at least 60fps can also reduce screen tearing and stuttering, providing a more pleasant gaming experience. Ultimately, however, the best FPS for your gaming PC depends on your budget and the types of games you want to play.
Frame Rate vs. Refresh Rate
When talking about frame rates, it’s important to distinguish between the frame rate and the refresh rate. The refresh rate of a monitor is the speed at which it refreshes the picture on its screen. Newer monitors may have a higher refresh rate than older monitors, typically between 60 and 144Hz. A higher refresh rate can make images and videos appear more fluid and responsive.
The frame rate, on the other hand, refers to the number of times the image is drawn onto the screen per second. The relation between the frame rate and the refresh rate is often assumed, but they’re actually independent of each other. The refresh rate of a monitor cannot be increased or improved, but the frame rate can be manipulated depending on the performance of your gaming PC.
Having a higher frame rate than the refresh rate of your monitor is not a problem, as the extra frames will simply be skipped over. However, if the frame rate is lower than the refresh rate of your monitor, you may experience stuttering, which can affect your gaming experience.
Lastly, it’s important to note that some games may feature a “vsync” option, which stands for vertical synchronization. This feature synchronizes the frame rate of your game with the refresh rate of your monitor, aiming to reduce tearing, stuttering, and lag. Though this feature can be useful, it can also result in noticeably lower frame rates and it may or may not be practical for certain games.
Hardware Upgrades to Increase Frame Rate
One way to increase the frame rate of your gaming PC is by upgrading the hardware. A CPU upgrade can have a noticeable effect on frame rates, as can a RAM upgrade. The graphics card is of particular importance, as a higher-quality graphics card can make a big difference in terms of performance. Higher-end cards such as the NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti can improve the frame rate of most games significantly.
However, before you go ahead and upgrade your hardware, it’s important to do your research and make sure that you’re getting the best value for your money. For example, if the game you’re playing is CPU-bound, then upgrading the graphics card is not necessary. It’s also worth checking for driver updates for your graphics card, as these can often result in improved performance.
If you’re not planning to upgrade your hardware, there are still a few things you can do to improve the frame rate. One of the simplest and most effective methods is to change the settings of your game. While turning down the graphics options may result in a lower image quality, it can often make a noticeable difference in terms of performance and frame rate.
You can also optimize Windows for gaming by changing several settings in the system itself, such as muting notifications or slightly decreasing the size of graphical elements. Additionally, there are several free software tools available that can be used to identify and disable any unnecessary processes or applications that are running in the background and hogging system resources.
Overclocking to Increase Frame Rate
Another method for increasing the frame rate of your gaming PC is to overclock your hardware. Overclocking is the process of pushing hardware to run at speeds faster than what they were designed and tested for, resulting in a noticeable increase in performance. It can be done with your CPU, GPU, RAM, and other components in your system. There are several guides online that can help you in the process.
That said, overclocking is not without risks. Due to the added strain on hardware components, the chances of damage or hardware failure are increased. Additionally, it’s important to note that different hardware components have different levels of “overclockability”, so the results may vary.
Even so, for those that are willing to put in the time and effort, overclocking can result in some significant performance improvements, allowing your system to maintain higher frame rates. However, it’s best to keep your expectations realistic, as overclocking alone is not enough to reach the coveted 60fps in the latest games.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best FPS for your gaming PC depends on the type of game you’re playing and the performance of your system. As a general rule, a frame rate of at least 30fps is more than adequate for most games, while a frame rate of 60fps or higher is recommended for competitive games. Additionally, a higher frame rate can reduce stuttering, screen tearing, and lag, providing a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience.
If you’re struggling to reach the frame rate you’re looking for, consider upgrading your PC’s hardware. You can also increase the frame rate by tweaking the settings of your game and optimizing Windows for gaming. Lastly, those willing to put in the time and effort can reach higher frame rates by overclocking their hardware, though this is not without risk.
