Setup Guide
What FPS Target Should You Use?
Your FPS target should match your monitor, game type, and hardware. Chasing the highest possible number is not always better than stable frame pacing.
Competitive Games
For competitive shooters, aim for a stable FPS close to your refresh rate. Stability matters because sudden drops can hurt tracking, flicks, and reaction timing.
Open-World Games
For open-world games, visual quality may be worth more than maximum frames. A stable 60 to 90 FPS can feel excellent if frame pacing is smooth.
Streaming and Recording
If you stream or record, leave performance headroom. Dropped frames in your broadcast or recording can be more distracting than slightly lower graphics settings.
Refresh Rate Matters
A 60 Hz monitor cannot display 144 unique frames per second, but higher FPS can still reduce input latency in some games. For most players, the first goal should be stable performance near the monitor refresh rate, then extra frames if the system can handle them without big drops.
Resolution Changes the Target
Moving from 1080p to 1440p or 4K increases GPU load. If performance drops too much, lower shadows, reflections, volumetrics, post-processing, or resolution scale before reducing settings that help visibility.
Frame Pacing Beats Spikes
A game that jumps between 220 FPS and 90 FPS can feel worse than a stable 140 FPS. Cap your frame rate if it makes the experience smoother, keeps temperatures lower, or prevents sudden drops during fights.