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Frame rate tells you how many frames you get per second; frame time tells you how long each one takes — and it’s frame time that you feel as smoothness or stutter. Enter your FPS and monitor refresh rate to see both, plus a recommended frame-rate cap if you use variable refresh rate.

Why frame time matters

Frame time (ms) = 1000 ÷ FPS. Going from 30 to 60 FPS saves 16.7 ms per frame; going from 144 to 240 saves only 2.8 ms. That’s why the jump from 60 to 144 Hz feels dramatic and 240 to 360 Hz feels subtle. Consistent frame times also matter more than a high average — a game at a steady 90 FPS feels smoother than one bouncing between 70 and 140.

Capping FPS with G-Sync or FreeSync

Variable refresh rate only works while your FPS stays below the monitor’s maximum refresh. A widely recommended approach is to cap your frame rate about 3 FPS below the refresh rate (for example 141 on a 144 Hz monitor) using the game’s limiter or your GPU driver, so VRR stays engaged with low input latency.

FAQ

Is it worth having FPS higher than my refresh rate?

With VRR off, higher FPS can lower input latency slightly at the cost of tearing. Competitive players sometimes prefer that; for most games a capped, stable frame rate feels better.

What is a good frame time?

For 60 Hz, 16.7 ms; for 144 Hz, 6.9 ms. What matters most is that frame times are consistent — spikes are what you see as stutter.

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