When It Makes Sense to Cap Your Frame Rate in PC Games
Tech outlet Engadget explains why PC gamers may want to limit frames per second (FPS). A cap can reduce screen tearing, GPU load and fan noise.
PC gamers who care about smooth visuals should consider capping their frames per second (FPS), according to tech outlet Engadget. Even on a powerful machine, a limit can help deliver steadier performance and reduce screen tearing. Tearing happens when the graphics card (GPU) sends the monitor a new frame while it is still showing the previous one, producing flickering horizontal lines during motion.
Benefits
A cap lowers the load on the GPU, which can mean less fan noise and lower power draw. It makes the most sense for monitors with variable refresh rate (VRR). Their effective range generally starts at 48 fps and ends at the screen's maximum refresh rate. Keeping frame output below that ceiling slightly reduces latency.
How to set a limit
Many games include a built-in limiter, but the author says these are not always reliable. A safer option is the graphics card's own software: the NVIDIA app or Control Panel (Manage 3D Settings > Global Settings > Max Frame Rate) for NVIDIA cards, or AMD Adrenalin (Gaming > Radeon Chill, with minimum and maximum fps set equal) for AMD cards. Third-party tools such as RivaTuner also work.
Together with vertical synchronization (V-Sync), the usual advice is a cap three or four frames below the display's maximum refresh rate: 57 fps for a 60Hz screen, 117 fps for 120Hz and 237 fps for 240Hz.
Pros and cons of V-Sync
V-Sync makes the GPU wait until the display finishes a refresh cycle, so the frame rate cannot exceed the screen's refresh rate. It nearly eliminates tearing but adds input lag of roughly one refresh cycle: 16.7 ms on a 60Hz panel, 8.33 ms on 120Hz and 4.17 ms on 240Hz.
For shooter fans with NVIDIA cards, the author suggests trying Fast V-Sync. It lets the card keep rendering frames without a fps ceiling, though it does not work in every game.
