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What is Frames Per Second (FPS)?
Frames per second (FPS) is a measure of how many unique consecutive images (frames) are displayed in one second of video playback. The metric can be used for any medium where a sequence of images is presented to create the illusion of movement.
In general, higher FPS values seem smoother because each frame captures a smaller change. In contrast, lower FPS tends to look choppy because the differences between one image and another in the series are more obvious.
Key Takeaways
- Frames per second refers to the number of individual images that are displayed in one second.
- Higher FPS values tend to provide a more fluid and realistic visual experience.
- Lower FPS can result in choppy or jerky visuals, particularly in fast-paced scenes.
- Traditionally, movies have static frame rates, TV has variable frame rates, and video games have dynamic frame rates.
- There are a number of ways that end users can improve TV and video game playback by increasing frame rates.
How FPS Works
The human eye tends to perceive continuous motion (as opposed to still images) when the frame rate is higher than 30 FPS. Most people will perceive fluid motion at 60 frames per second, but beyond 60 FPS, the benefits of higher frame rates become less noticeable to the average viewer.
Frame rates in a video game are typically dynamic, which means they can change during gameplay depending on scene complexity. In contrast, frame rates for movies are usually static, and frame rates for television are variable (VFR).
While there are no fixed standards for different types of media, certain content mediums have preferred FPS ranges determined by technical limitations, historical practices, and viewer expectations.
Low FPS vs. High FPS
The exact frame rate numbers considered “low” or “high” can vary depending on the context and the viewer’s expectations. Generally, anything below 30 FPS is considered low, while 60 FPS and above is considered high.
What Affects Frame Rates?
Optimal frame rates require balancing hardware capabilities and software settings with game complexity. More complex scenes generally require more processing power, more random access memory (RAM), and faster load times.
How is FPS Measured?
Frames per second is measured by counting the number of individual frames images that are recorded or displayed in one second.
Cameras, whether for video recording or still photography in burst mode, will have settings or specifications indicating the FPS at which they can record. In video games and graphical applications, built-in or third-party frame counters can display the FPS on screen.
Frame Rate vs. Refresh Rate
The terms “frame rate” and “refresh rate” are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different aspects of video playback and display technology.
Frame rate is related to how the content is produced or played back, while refresh rate is related to how hardware displays the content on a screen. Ideally, the frame rate should match – or exceed – the refresh rate.
10 Tips for Increasing FPS
Increasing the frame rate can enhance the smoothness and responsiveness of the video playback for video games and other visual applications.
Here are some tips to improve FPS:
Reduce the number of pixels the system needs to render each second by reducing the screen resolution.
Reduce the graphics card workload by lowering device resolution settings for anti-aliasing and special effects.
Shut down unnecessary applications and processes running in the background to free up system resources.
Make sure the computer or game console’s power settings are in “High Performance” mode to maximize hardware performance.
Add more RAM to improve overall system performance.
Switch from a hard disk drive (HDD) to a solid state drive (SSD) to improve load times and reduce stuttering.
Consider overclocking the central processing unit (CPU) or graphics processing unit (GPU) to increase FPS.
Ensure the computing system is well-ventilated and free of dust to prevent overheating, which can throttle performance.
On a television, consider enabling motion smoothing (also called interpolation.) This setting will dynamically create and insert additional frames between the original ones.
Consider using a VPN to bypass Internet service provider (ISP) throttles. A faster Internet connection can help with smoother online gameplay.
The Bottom Line
Frames per second definitions rarely answer the question, “What is the best frames per second?” because the ideal frame rate depends on the type of content being displayed, the capabilities of the display hardware, and the individual preferences of the viewer.
