Frames per second, abbreviated as FPS, is a measure that explains the performance of the display screen. It is the frequency at which continuous frames are captured. Talking about video games, FPS indicates how many frames the graphic cards integrated into the computer can render and how many frames the monitor displays each second.
The monitor’s refresh rate and graphic card’s proceeding power determine the frames per second. The FPS count is not constant and keeps changing. It’s not stable and fluctuates, regardless of the system you are using or the game you are playing. For example, 1 FPS means the screen displays 1 image per second.
At higher frames per second, the fluctuations are less noticeable. The greater the frame per second, the smoother the video display. A slower frame rate produces a smaller volume of files. Different video file formats include different frame rates.
How to View FPS in macOS
To view FPS on macOS, open the DMG file and look for the Quartz Debug tool inside the Graphics folder. Click to run the tool and once it starts running, tap on the Window item on the menu bar.
From the menu, select FrameMeter to add a meter to view the current FPS. The meter will be displayed in the bottom-left section of the screen.
How to View FPS on Windows
To view FPS on a Windows computer, navigate to the Settings, click System, tap Display, and then select Advanced display settings. You can view the Refresh Rate in the Advanced display settings window.
Why Is FPS Low on Computers?
Although frame rate doesn’t matter much to users as it is constantly changing and is not noticeable. However, if you are an avid gamer, the FPS rate will bother you, particularly if it is lower than expected.
A low frame rate is when the game slows down because the computer is not having enough memory or power to run it properly. Most games run between the rate of 30 and 60 fps. For seamless gameplay and an exceptional gaming experience, the latest computers are available at the speed of 144 to 360 Hz. This speed results in low latency and smoother gameplay.
Ways to Increase FPS on Computer
Optimizing the device and tweaking a few settings will allow you to boost FPS while gaming. Here are some simple tips that you may implement to improve the frame rate on the computer.
Clean Disk Space
When you delete unnecessary files that you might have stored on the hard drive for years, you are not only optimizing your computer for better storage but freeing system resources that help improve the frame per second rate immediately.
Different methods are available to remove the unnecessary files; you can follow the simplest ones for quick disk cleanup. Make sure to back up your entire hard drive before you delete the files and other items. This will help you to restore the files if you realize that you need them after deleting them from the hard drive.
Kill Unnecessary Processes
Over time, your computer starts housing multiple apps and programs that you never use after a couple of trials. Either you don’t find them useful, or you have downloaded alternative applications that seem to offer better features and functions.
These apps and processes consume a lot of space and memory resources on your computer, making it slower. The shortage of resources leads to a low frame rate, so disabling these unnecessary processes will help you to improve the FPS rate.
Update Your Graphics Driver
Corrupted and outdated graphics drivers can be a reason for the low frame rate on the computer while you are playing your favorite game or otherwise. To get a better frame rate, keep your graphics card up-to-date or replace it if it turns corrupted.
If you are experiencing no display or dim screen frequently, it’s time to replace the graphics card. When you notice that your computer struggles to play high-end games, it’s time to change it. In addition, if it is more than three years old, you may also need to change it.
Reduce Your Screen Resolution
Higher screen resolution can increase the volume of pixels of a video card but can reduce the frame rate greatly. Playing games at the same resolution as your screen is recommended to get an optimal experience.
If you are finding it difficult to maintain a good FPS rate even after reducing the game settings, try to bring down the screen resolution. Almost all the games available for macOS and Windows have the option to rescue screen resolution from the video settings menu.
Defragment Your Hard Drive
Defragging the storage media will allow you to increase the frame rate for better video display. It will also improve the overall performance of your computer, so it is recommended that you follow the disk defrag process after regular intervals.
When volumes of data jumble together, it takes relatively larger space on the hard drive. That’s when you need to defrag your disk. Defrag is reorganizing your data, making disk space available for other important data. You can do it manually or using a third-party defrag tool.