Why does the frame rate matter?
What is a frame rate?
FPS(Frames Per Second) is referring to average number of screen refreshes per second. For example, how many pictures are contained in 1 second of video. The higher the frame rate, the more consistent it looks. 25FPS, 30FPS, and 60FPS are common frame rates. Generally speaking, if the frame rate is lower than 15 frames per second, continuous motion video will feel paused, while 30FPS will not make people feel paused or unsmooth. Increasing the performance to 60FPS can significantly improve the sense of interactivity and realism.
Why does the frame rate matter?
Consideration of device performance:
Increasing FPS means that your device needs to have more powerful performance and higher requirements for the device. If your device is not sufficient to support high FPS, then setting too high FPS will cause your device to run slowly or freeze. Therefore, you need to consider the actual performance that your device can support when choosing the FPS value.
Limitations of human eye perception:
Our eyes have an upper limit to the number of frames they can perceive. Although high FPS can improve people's visual experience, we cannot perceive obvious changes after exceeding a certain value. For example, when the FPS exceeds 60, for most people, the picture is very smooth, and there is no need to increase the number of frames at this time.
Importance of stability:
A stable low FPS (e.g. 25-30) is usually preferred over an unstable high FPS (e.g. 60 to 120). Our eyes are more accustomed to watching a stable speed. Stable frame rates can provide a smoother visual experience.
Choice in practical application:
Gamers tend to pursue high frame rates. High frame rates can bring gamers a smoother and more fluid experience.
Commonly used frame rates
24FPS
Movies: Movie production originated in the silent film era, when mechanical cameras were used to shoot at 24 frames per second. This frame rate was believed to provide smooth visual effects and was accepted by the audience. As technology developed, the film industry adopted audio and other innovations, but the frame rate of 24 frames remained unchanged. The frame rate of 24 frames has become a tradition and norm in film production, and it has certain stability and advantages in terms of technology, aesthetics and audience acceptance. Since the viewing environment of movies is dark and the human eye has a long visual persistence effect, the frame rate requirement is not high.
25FPS
Television (PAL): It is commonly used by TV stations in Asia and Europe. The frame rate of television is related to the frequency of AC power. 25FPS corresponds to 50Hz AC power. Choosing PAL can avoid shooting light flicker.
Television (SECAM): The countries that adopt SECAM are mainly most CIS countries (e.g. Russia), France, Egypt, and some French-speaking countries in Africa, etc.
30FPS
Television (NTSC): The frequency of AC power used in Japan, the United States, Canada and other countries is 60Hz, which corresponds to 29.97 frames (approximately 30FPS)
60FPS
LCD monitor: LCD has a fixed refresh rate of 60, so we don't need to set the frame rate. Higher frame rates will cause some LCDs to fail to display.
75FPS and above
CRT monitor: CRT displays by electrons hitting the phosphor on the screen, so the higher the frequency, the less flickering it will produce.
Conclusion:
Not the higher the frame rate will be the better. The appropriate frame rate is better. A high FPS can provide a better visual experience. Still, we should choose the appropriate FPS value based on the device's performance, the perception of the human eye, and personal usage needs. The highest FPS value is not pursued in all cases.
FAQs about Frame Rates
How do I check my screen frame rate?
Step 1: On the Desktop, Right-Click and Open Display Settings.
Step 2: Look for Advanced Display Settings(Display information, refresh rate).
Step 3: Choose the Right Display.
Step 4: Click on the Refresh Rate option to check all supported Refresh Rates.
Step 5: Check and Modify Monitor Hz or Refresh rate.
Is 60Hz good for gaming?
For simple games with little to no moving action, 60Hz is more than enough.
Is 4K 240FPS possible?
If you have a high-end graphics card that maintains 240FPS with a high resolution, you can either get a 1440P or 4K monitor. However, if you have a budget setup, then a low-cost 1080P monitor is better. You'll also want to look at the monitor's response time and input lag if you want the best performance possible.
