FPS Targets & Resolution

Frame rate targets explained

Frames per second (FPS) measures how many new images the game draws each second. Higher frame rates feel smoother and reduce input delay, which is why competitive players chase them. The flip side of FPS is frame time: the number of milliseconds each frame takes. Frame time is what you actually feel, and it makes the cost of each target clear.

Doubling the frame rate halves the time your hardware has to finish each frame. Going from 60 to 120 FPS is therefore roughly as demanding as doubling the GPU and CPU work per second — which is why high-refresh targets need stronger hardware than the recommended column suggests.

Averages vs 1% lows

An average frame rate can hide problems. A game that averages 70 FPS but regularly drops to 25 FPS will feel worse than one that holds a steady 55. Reviewers and benchmark tools often report “1% lows” — roughly the frame rate of the slowest 1% of frames — as a measure of consistency. When comparing hardware, look at both numbers. Stutter is often caused by CPU limits, insufficient VRAM or RAM, slow storage, or shader compilation during play.

Variable refresh rate

A monitor with variable refresh rate (VRR) adjusts its refresh to match the game's frame rate, removing tearing without the input lag of traditional V-Sync. NVIDIA calls its technology G-Sync and AMD calls its version FreeSync; many displays support both. HDMI 2.1 televisions often support VRR too, as do the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles. VRR makes frame rates between targets — say 48 to 60 FPS — feel much smoother, which effectively lowers the hardware you need for a pleasant experience.

Resolution and pixel counts

Resolution is the number of pixels drawn in every frame, and GPU workload scales closely with it.

4K has four times the pixels of 1080p. That is why a card that comfortably handles 1080p at high settings may need upscaling or lower settings to be playable at 4K. VRAM requirements also rise with resolution, as covered in our GPU & CPU guide.

Upscaling changes the maths

With DLSS, FSR or XeSS, a game might render internally at around 1080p or 1440p and output a 4K image. Many spec sheets now quote targets “with upscaling” in their higher tiers. This is a legitimate way to get more from your hardware, but image quality varies by game and upscaler mode, and the quality gap is usually more visible at lower output resolutions.

Matching hardware to your display

The most common mismatch is buying a high-refresh 4K display for mid-range hardware. Pick the display you can drive at your preferred frame rate, not the one with the biggest numbers.