By the FlowUP team, PC gaming assembler in Genappe (Belgium) · Updated on 28 September 2026
FPS stands for frames per second, in French images par seconde: it is the number of images your PC calculates and displays every second in a game. The higher it is, the smoother the image is and the faster the game responds. Be careful not to confuse it with FPS « first person shooter », the first-person shooter game: here, we are indeed talking about smoothness.
In short
- FPS = images per second. 60 FPS means 60 images displayed every second, one every 16.7 milliseconds.
- 30 FPS is a minimum that’s playable, 60 FPS is standard comfort, 144 FPS and more is the goal in competitive gaming.
- FPS mainly depend on the graphics card, the processor, the resolution and the settings.
- To enjoy it, the screen must keep up: beyond 60 FPS, you need a 144 Hz or higher display.
16.7 ms
between two images at 60 FPS
6.9 ms
between two images at 144 FPS
4.2 ms
Between two images at 240 FPS
Contents
- FPS meaning: what are FPS in a game?
- How many FPS do you need to play well?
- FPS and Hz: the role of the screen
- How to display FPS in-game
- What FPS depend on and how to increase them
- FPS FAQ
FPS meaning: what are FPS in a game?
A video game isn’t a video: each frame is calculated in real time by your PC, based on your actions. The number of frames the machine manages to produce in one second is the number of FPS. At 30 FPS, a new frame arrives every 33 milliseconds; at 144 FPS, every ~7 milliseconds. Motion therefore looks more continuous, and what you do appears on screen faster.
At 60 FPS, motion is twice as detailed as at 30 FPS.
Two measurements complete this figure:
- Frame time: the time between two frames, in milliseconds. It’s what you feel when the game “stutters/itches”.
- 1% low: the average of the slowest frames. A game with an average of 100 FPS, but 40 FPS in 1% low, still stutters.
| FPS | Time between two frames | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| 30 FPS | 33.3 ms | Playable, but clearly stuttery in action |
| 60 FPS | 16.7 ms | Smooth: the standard for most games |
| 120 FPS | 8.3 ms | Very smooth, crisp in fast movements |
| 144 FPS | 6.9 ms | The comfort of 144 Hz gaming screens |
| 240 FPS | 4.2 ms | eSports: every millisecond of responsiveness counts |
How many FPS do you need to play well?
Everything depends on the type of game:
- Single-player and adventure games (God of War, Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy): 60 FPS are enough for a smooth experience. Many players prefer to improve graphics rather than chasing FPS.
- Fast online games (Fortnite, Apex Legends, Call of Duty): aim for 120 to 144 FPS to keep up with the action without blur.
- Competitive eSports (Valorant, CS2, Rainbow Six Siege): 240 FPS and more, with a screen that keeps up.
- Strategy and management: 30 to 60 FPS remains comfortable—the pace is slower.
In single-player games like God of War, stable 60 FPS are better than 90 FPS that drop.
In Valorant or CS2, competitive players aim for 240 FPS and more.
More FPS also reduce overall latency: the image showing your action reaches the screen sooner. NVIDIA illustrates this link between FPS, screen refresh rate and system latency:
At 240 FPS and 240 Hz, the opponent appears earlier than at 60 FPS. NVIDIA illustration.
FPS and Hz: the role of the screen
FPS are produced by the PC, while hertz (Hz) is the screen’s refresh rate: the number of times per second it can display a new frame. A 60 Hz screen never displays more than 60 frames per second, even if your PC calculates 150. To benefit from 144 FPS, you therefore need a 144 Hz (or higher) screen—ideally one compatible with G-Sync or FreeSync to avoid image tearing.
The same action at 240, 144 and 60 FPS: the more the screen keeps up, the sharper the motion. NVIDIA illustration.
To choose yours properly, read our guide quel écran PC choisir.
The InfoDigitaeFR channel explains the difference between FPS and Hz in a video:
How to display FPS in-game
- NVIDIA graphics card: in the NVIDIA app, enable the performance statistics overlay (Alt + R by default).
- AMD graphics card: in the Adrenalin software, enable the performance overlay (Ctrl + Shift + O).
- Steam: Settings, In-game, In-game FPS counter.
- Windows: the Xbox Game Bar (Windows + G) displays a Performance widget with FPS.
- Many games also offer their own counter in the display options.
A good counter also shows the minimum and the 1% low, not just the average.
What FPS depend on and how to increase them
FPS depend first on the graphics card, then on the processor (especially in eSports, where the game runs at very high frequency), the resolution (1440p and 4K require far more than 1080p) and the graphics settings. To gain performance without changing hardware:
- Enable DLSS or FSR, which calculate the image at a lower resolution and then upscale it. See DLSS 4.5 vs FSR Redstone.
- Lower shadows, ray tracing and volumetric effects—often the most demanding.
- Update your drivers and check that the monitor is plugged into the graphics card.
Image generation (DLSS Frame Generation, AMD Fluid Motion Frames) boosts the displayed FPS by inserting AI-calculated frames, but it doesn’t improve responsiveness: it’s better suited to single-player games than esports. If your FPS drops for no reason, follow our guide game lag on PC and read why my PC stutters when I play.
In esports, every frame counts: the graphics card, processor and monitor must keep up.
To lock in a specific FPS target, the safest option is a setup designed for it. Two examples of PCs we build in Genappe:
PC Banger GeForce RTX 5060
For 60 FPS and above in Full HD in recent games, and even much more in esports, with DLSS 4.
Velaris PC GeForce RTX 5070 12GB
Ryzen 5 7500X3D, RTX 5070 12GB, 16GB DDR5 and a 1TB M.2 SSD: a ready-to-play setup straight out of the box.
Does your PC have no dedicated graphics card? Our article APU, iGPU or graphics card explains what an integrated chip can handle in games.
FPS FAQ
What does FPS mean in a game?
Frames per second, i.e. frames per second: the number of frames your PC displays each second. In another context, FPS also refers to a first-person shooter game.
Is 60 FPS good?
Yes—stable 60 FPS delivers a smooth experience in most games. In competitive play, 144 FPS or more with a suitable monitor provides a real advantage.
Can the human eye see more than 60 FPS?
Yes, in practice: most players clearly notice the difference between 60 and 144 FPS on a 144Hz screen, especially during fast movements.
Why do my FPS drop during a match?
The most common causes are overheating, background programs, an outdated driver, or a heavier scene. Our overheating guide helps you find the cause.
Does getting more FPS than Hz do anything?
A little: latency drops slightly. But the monitor can’t display more frames than its refresh rate, so most of the benefit comes from a faster screen.
