Cap fps above refresh rate A good thumb rule is best-fps = your-refresh-rate * 2 + 1, such as 121 fps for 60 Hz monitor. I have gtx 970,i5 cpu,1080p monitor. But in slow paced games I cap at 60. May 6, 2022 · What does an FPS cap do? An FPS cap tells your computer, both the CPU and the GPU, to stop creating or rendering frames once it hits the limit you set. Capping fps in-game is better because there is less penalty to input lag. If your FPS dips under your monitors refresh rate consistently cap 1-2 fps under that refresh rate. I've been seeing a some people say to limit fps to 3-4 frames under your max refresh rate (in my case 165hz) and you have gsync on, which is also suggested to have vsync But how does variable refresh rate technology like G-sync or Freesync work when the FPS is above the monitor max refresh rate? Isn’t that where V-sync was used, to cap the FPS at the monitor refresh rate to decrease screen tears? But V-sync has its own issues such as input lag. If you have a 144hz monitor for example, you would want to cap between 60 fps and 72 fps. Be careful not to confuse an FPS cap with your monitor refresh rate. Always try to cap your FPS in the game settings first. The intermittent doubled frame lead to a slightly jerky animation where everything stays still for a frame when you expect it to move. In most cases, especially single player, anything above your monitor refresh rate is unnecessary, and capping your FPS slightly below what you can realistically achieve is a legitimate way of smoothing out gameplay. it also helps with input lag but with the advent of nvidia reflex (or nvidia ultra low latency/radeon anti-lag) it's not really vital for lower input lag anymore Dec 4, 2023 · Yes, you should cap your FPS at your refresh rate. Mar 10, 2020 · Yeah Nvidia Inspector or Msi Afterburner will help you limit fps. You cap your FPS to -3 of your maximum refresh rate (141 fps for 144Hz, 237fps for 240Hz) to prevent GSync from disabling (GSync disables itself when you go over your monitor's maximum refresh rate). Screen tearing occurs when your graphics card outputs more frames than your monitor can display. 200 FPS). for games that do get FPS way past my monitor refresh rate, I cap fps at a multiple of monitor refresh rate to keep cpu/gpu noise a bit lower. Aug 29, 2021 · I've been reading about gsync, vsync and general NVCP setting options. Dec 28, 2023 · If you're not syncing the frames to refresh, then you can get tearing even with a frame rate cap that matches the refresh rate, so I see little point in limiting it unless you're either Mar 17, 2025 · Many gamers focus on high refresh rates without realizing that finding the right refresh rate is just as important. I get about 200-300 FPS most of the time but sometimes it dips below 200 when there are so many things happening. So should I cap my FPS to match my monitor's refresh rate? Or should I just leave it uncapped? Thanks in advanced Archived post. Feb 3, 2024 · Depending on your monitor it might actually be more beneficial to overdrive your display and cap your fps to your monitor’s maximum refresh rate (to reduce tearing as most displays disable variable refresh rate when turning on overdrive). Set your desired frame rate to higher than 60 FPS (e. May 17, 2025 · The payoff above 144 to 240 FPS is often negligible once frame times get spiky. This ensures smooth visuals without overloading your system. You prioritize minimizing input lag, especially in competitive games. Due to mistiming, capping your frame rate to anything other than an integer multiple or divisor (with no remainder) of your monitor's refresh rate will cause stuttering. Also you are pulling more power and putting more stress on your system for no real reason. And as for standalone V-SYNC, you instead ideally want to limit your FPS as close to the refresh rate as possible, as to prevent refresh rate/framerate mismatch, since V-SYNC is a fixed refresh solution, and, unlike G-SYNC, forces the render rate to match the display rate: https Mar 3, 2024 · Originally posted by OnionKing: my monitor refresh rate is 144 so i always have it capped to that. Feb 9, 2025 · Is it better to cap FPS to the refresh rate? If you’re experiencing screen tearing, capping the FPS to your monitor’s refresh rate using V-Sync or an alternative is advisable. Your system can consistently maintain an FPS above your monitor’s refresh rate. Laptop Gamers, Pay Attention Laptop GPUs hit thermal limits quickly. I always cap my fps just slightly higher then my refresh rate. even when capped to 144 the output fps can randomly fluctuate to above 144 introducing tearing and occasional stutters. i. what is the best possible solution to this, should I cap my games to 75 to 80 fps Oct 24, 2022 · Yeah I would cap the frame-rate at just below the monitor's refresh rate at 140 (as sometimes it can still go a few frames over the cap), with RTSS (for stable frame-times, to eliminate micro-stutter). Jan 26, 2023 · Should I cap my FPS at my refresh rate? If your FPS is able consistently stay above your monitors refresh rate leave them uncapped. Jul 17, 2025 · Ever wondered if you should cap your game’s FPS to match your monitor’s refresh rate or push past it? We’re diving into the gritty details of refresh rates, frame caps, and when (and why) it actually matters for your games. Many people just subtract 3fps from their max refresh, but it varies a bit on the monitor. With higher fps comes input lag, you get lower input lag even if you exceed your refresh rate. This feature is particularly helpful when trying to save power, reduce system latency, or keep within a specific Variable Refresh Rate range on a G-SYNC or G-SYNC Compatible display. Going past the refresh rate may be better for competitive games but your just better off with a high refresh rate display, it also burns power making the extra frames. Oct 29, 2023 · For example, if you want G-Sync or FreeSync to work properly then you want to limit the game FPS to the monitor’s maximum refresh rate because G-Sync / FreeSync technologies do not work above the monitor’s refresh rate. With a higher FPS cap you will get less latency, but you also increase the likelihood of stuttering. If it dips below, cap it slightly below your refresh rate, around 140-142 FPS, to avoid tearing and maximize smoothness with adaptive sync technologies like G-Sync or FreeSync enabled. would it matter if i go over? i mean why go over your monitor refresh rate? I believe it decreases input lag You may not see the frames, but the game is still using them. For games that support ultra low latency mode, that will also keep your framerate below vsync territory. Jul 7, 2025 · But generally, if your system can consistently push above 144 FPS, leave it uncapped. 144hz. According to Nvidia, uncapped high FPS lowers end-to-end input lag by up to 33% compared to a matched refresh rate cap. If you really want to hard-cap your games at 60/144Hz, then disable variable refresh rate, set your monitor to whatever frame rate you want the game to run at and run your games with vsync on. I prefer running sligtly above refresh rate if no freesync, so i use 150fps limit with 144hz monitor, because it feels smoother than for example 160-200fps. what is the best possible solution to this, should I cap my games to 75 to 80 fps I currently have my FPS uncapped in this game and I have a 165Hz monitor. 240 hz monitor, fps capped at 60 or 120) or should you place the cap at roughly the highest fps you can reach (i. In assassins creed 3,assassins creed unity there is no problem fps never go above 30. Note that my pc can go beyond 150. I've checked online and every source says in order to have g-sync work to its best you should set the fps of games to 3 below the monitors refresh rate. 105 fps)? Sorry if this is the wrong place for the question, I wasn't sure if it should go here or in Help and Tips. Should I use Max Hz on monitor? So, if you’re trying to ease your eyestrain, a refresh rate of 120 Hz is optimal. Think of it as the engine churning out frames like hotcakes. Apr 26, 2020 · For standalone V-SYNC off, you don't need an FPS limit to prevent sync-induced input lag, as it doesn't sync. g. . So my question is, if I were to cap fps at 80 on a 75hz monitor and the frame rate stays there, could it theoretically be smoother than having it unsynced? Mar 13, 2015 · Hello My question is i always use adaptive half refresh rate (nvidia control panel)while gaming to cap fps @30 for smooth gameplay but my fps are sometimes go 32,33,35fps during gameplay. capping it slightly below the displays refresh rate allows it to fluctuate up a bit before tearing occurs. (higher fps even on a 60hz refresh screen lowers imput lag, but it's really not a thing you worry about for an MMORPG, it's more a thing for online shooters) Nov 4, 2017 · However according to anecdotal evidence I've found, many people are saying that fast sync feels really good even if fps is slightly above the refresh rate. Usually you'll see either tearing or like a micro jitter look on screen when exceeding the refresh rate. What Are The Benefits Of Capping My FPS? Capping your FPS can provide a number of benefits, including improved gaming performance, reduced screen tearing, and increased system stability. A monitor’s refresh rate is how many frames it can show you in a second, usually labeled in hertz or Hz, e. But keep in mind, that by keeping it unlocked and going above refresh rate, you're reducing the latency. Jul 5, 2024 · Ideally you want to cap no lower than 60 fps, and no more than half your monitor refresh rate. Most of the common benefits apply to "VSYNC OFF" gaming, instead a variable refresh rate monitor such as FreeSync displays or G-SYNC displays Advantage 1: Jan 18, 2022 · Max Frame Rate: Cap Frame Rates, Save Power, and More You can set the max frame rate for a 3D application or game and avoid low fps. Plus 4 hz won't really be noticeable at that high of a refresh rate. With a 144 Hz refresh rate of the monitor, 144 FPS is the maximum frame rate you can receive while playing the game. So I've capped games to 57fps on my 4k display using RTSS. Sorry if this is a bad question, but I currently play Valorant and I'm not sure if I should cap my fps at my monitor's refresh rate, or above and by how much? I'm not really sure about uncapped since I dont want my gpu running too hard. Most of the time the "lag" you feel is from a quick decrease in FPS. Setting the in game fps to 29 or lower should work I think, that'll cap it to 58 which allows sync to work without buffering. Adaptive sync is one way Jan 17, 2021 · But however, if you get your fps higher than your monitor's refresh rate, you get a what do you call a "screen tearing" which is basically a horizontal line that goes from up to down of your whole screen, which is kinda annoying as a gamer, so my question is that. In siege for example I can reach 170 ish FPS. Jan 16, 2019 · Hi. 17 hours ago · A variable refresh rate means that the software can communicate between the monitor and the GPU and sync the frame rate output and refresh rate. Rendering frames above your monitor's refresh rate don't show up but still reduce input lag (video from battle nonsense, a youtube channel that specializes in this type of stuff). I ask this as my friends Gsync monitor caps his framerate at 165 and they are saying they have no vertical sync on or anything set to cap the framerate. When you're getting 61 fps frames get buffered, like five of them, so you get five frames of input lag which is horrible To prevent latency from vsync on framerates above your maximum refresh rate, you set a cap on the framerate so that you never hit the point of vsync. A 60Hz monitor updates 60 times a second, while a 144Hz monitor does it a whopping 144 times. capping at 60 -144 frames is far more normal, it's best to cap it to around/slightly above your monitor's refresh rate. For example: 110 fps cap --> 220 (with minimal visible tearing) = less latency 80 fps cap --> 160 (with 0 tearing) = bit more latency So it's up to what you value more really. Oct 23, 2025 · Let’s find the perfect FPS cap to send your gameplay soaring! Understanding Refresh Rates and the 144Hz Advantage Your monitor’s refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), determines how many times it redraws the image per second. when my fps goes above 30 i feel a little bit lag in games. 140fps is ~7ms of delay. Frame gen + vsync gives huge input lag if you are constantly above the max refresh. Capped FPS is best if: You experience screen tearing. If I were you May 22, 2025 · This tool allows you to set a custom FPS limit, as well as adjust other settings such as the frame rate cap and the refresh rate. Meanwhile, your monitor’s refresh rate is like the display screen, refreshing those images a certain number of times per second. So I am wondering if my monito Cap it at one above your refresh rate so i believe that would be 160? Jul 11, 2023 · If your monitor’s refresh rate is 144 Hz and your in-game FPS displays 300 FPS, any frame rate above 144 Hz is technically wasted. For single player games, higher fps is nice to have, but you shouldn't sacrifice graphics for fps when the fps has reached the cap of monitor. I was wondering though if you have a G-sync monitor and you set an FPS cap of 120fps, NOT V-sync, will you be abl Make sure Vsync is turned off in the games settings, and use an fps cap for the fps you're trying to achieve. If you care about numbers, verify with HWiNFO and the frame time graph in RivaTuner. & also enable V-Sync in the Nvidia control panel (as it is required for G-Sync to function properly). This means if the game drops to 45 FPS, the screen will reduce its refresh rate to 45Hz. , 144 FPS for a 144Hz monitor, 240 FPS for a 240Hz monitor). Cap a few frames under your refresh, enjoy the same visual fluidity, and keep your system cooler. I use it in PUBG, lock 179 in game to get 180, and that's on 1440p with my 5800x3d 6950xt system. Is it better to cap or uncap FPS? If your FPS is able consistently stay above your monitors refresh rate leave them Oct 22, 2025 · FPS and Refresh Rate Frame rate (FPS) acts as your in-game speedometer, measuring how many unique images your graphics card (GPU) generates per second. Screen tearing is not an issue. My pc can get frames above 144hz. I cap 3 fps below my monitor refresh rate (144hz) with rtss + g-sync. I have an RTX 3070, Ryzen 5800x, and S2721DGF monitor. 120 FPS) and your maximum frame rate (e. Then make sure you're monitor is set above 60hz on your refresh rate, otherwise you're just wasting the extra frames. Mar 7, 2023 · However some games don't play right or sync right when going above 60-75 FPS (like Fallout 4 for example) so for a game like that; what I do on a 120, 144 or 165 Hz Display is enable and FPS Cap that is Half of the Refresh Rate (60 / 72 / 82) If 62 nets you a 60 FPS cap properly, fine, use that. The reason to cap the refresh rate just under the max refresh rate supported by your monitor, is so that your refresh rate never goes high enough to get out of the range of gsync, so vsync never activates. Is gsync on and vsync on in nvidia control panel, plus rivatuner fps capped to -3 or -4 of my monitor refresh rate still the recommended way to go? Jul 14, 2025 · Uncapped FPS is best if: You have a high refresh rate monitor and want to take full advantage of it. Aug 11, 2017 · Introduction Short answer: Yes, during game play, there are advantages to frame rates higher than refresh rates! Long answer: There are three major advantages of fps higher than Hz written below. I tend to cap at 59FPS with my 60hz VRR display, stops tarring. edit: if nothing else works, pick a frame cap that's co prime with your refresh rate for math reasons. It is still a good idea to cap your fps to a value you can maintain most of the time so as to maintain input lag consistent throughout gunfights. Here's a timestamp from the same video explaining how it works at various fps for Battlefield 4. Feb 5, 2025 · The only case I've found so far where running frame gen feels so good, even with letting it producing way more fps than my monitor 120Hz refresh rate, is Cyberpunk. Let’s dive deep into the hows and whys of FPS capping on a 144Hz display. Input lag is the time between pressing the button and seeing the action reflected on your screen. It's why most sync settings will have you cap your FPS at like monitor refresh rate -3 and use free sync / adaptive sysc. Keep in mind that your game won’t be confined to the monitor’s maximum refresh rate. I want to cap FPS to reduce cpu and gpu usage and hence reduce power and May 13, 2024 · When to Uncap Competitive Gaming FPS For serious competitive gamers, maximizing framerates, input responsiveness and display fluidity is more vital than absolute visual smoothness. Yes. Oct 13, 2022 · To fix capped at 60 FPS in Overwatch 2, you need to turn off Vsync and set a custom frame rate. EG Nvidia Profile Inspector, Nvidia Control Panel can cap your frames. Jan 17, 2021 · But however, if you get your fps higher than your monitor's refresh rate, you get a what do you call a "screen tearing" which is basically a horizontal line that goes from up to down of your whole screen, which is kinda annoying as a gamer, so my question is that. Watch dogs,assassins creed 4 Aug 28, 2021 · You shouldn't need to worry about "locking the frame rate" unless the game you want to play has issues with variable refresh. Having Fast Sync for the refresh higher than your monitor's Freesync range is great for the games in which you reach way above your refresh rate. Capping at exactly your refresh rate gives tearline staying at 1 spot or moving slowly, with slightly above it never stays in same spot and is much less noticeable. Jun 25, 2015 · So I understand that if you have a g-sync monitor and you are pushing past the refresh rate of the monitor (ie. Reply reply [deleted] • Comment deleted by user Greennit0 • Feb 5, 2017 · If your FPS is lower than your refresh rate, sometimes the monitor will display the same frame twice (or even 3 times if FPS is less than half the refresh rate). This will help to prevent screen tearing and to improve your gaming experience. You want to Nobody answering the question, but yes keep it roughly around 1/2 refresh rate if you want 0 tearing. If it is not available I recommend Rivatuner. Since it can already get more FPS I wanted to limit my cap in games to 150. depending on gpu/monitor it can help reduce screen tearing at high fps. Limting fps does help and i've noticed in the past when i was on a 60Hz screen, enabling Vsync can also improve smoothness but to defeat input lag, i just limited fps a tiny bit lower, 59 from memory, but have seen others Sep 23, 2025 · Ideally, cap your FPS slightly above your monitor’s refresh rate (e. If you were to cap framerate lower than refresh rate with enhanced sync enabled you'd actually guarantee you'd always have tearing (as enhanced sync only eliminates tearing above refresh rate). You want to reduce GPU/CPU strain and heat. When you're pushing 141 FPS out, most normal people won't care about seeing a frame that's like 5% newer. 120Hz ) then Vsync will be automatically enabled unless you disable it. Nov 13, 2019 · And even if fps is the same as refresh rate, but not synced. Nov 9, 2017 · When I have Gsync enabled should that capp the fps to 240 because when I am playing some games my fps goes over 240. e. Exact numbers For triple A games, that is high demanding on graphics computing power, cap at 1-2 FPS below your monitor refresh rate for G-Sync/V-Sync, so you get no screen tearing. Oct 16, 2020 · If your fps goes above the monitor's refresh rate, g-sync will stop doing anything and just let your fps go higher, which makes it so you have more up to date frames. I have a 144 Hz monitor. So, for an optimal FPS rate, you can cap your in-game FPS to 144 frames. Therefore, games like CS:GO, Valorant, Fortnite and Rainbow Six put reaction times above all Jun 28, 2024 · FPS cap advice? When capping fps should it be a division of your native refresh rate (i. jryrfcjf muuru elwg jrrs ifecr uwnehn mrvv vlxuzw wlec rlqy aapc gyoopvf omzm ywejf isadg