Does variable refresh rate increase FPS? This is a common question posed by many gamers interested in improving their gaming experience. With advancements in gaming technology, the frame rate at which games are displayed continues to climb and so too does the need for technology to keep up. Variable refresh rate is one such example of this technology and can potentially impact the FPS of a game, so let’s take a closer look.
Introduction
In the world of gaming, having a great gaming experience is essential. One important factor to achieving a great gaming experience is having a high Frame Per Second (FPS). FPS is the number of times a monitor can update the image it displays each second, and it is important because the more frames per second, the smoother the gaming experience. So, the question is, does variable refresh rate increase FPS?
What is Variable Refresh Rate?
Variable refresh rate (VRR) is a display technology that allows a monitor to dynamically adjust its refresh rate to match the frame rate of the content. This technology is designed to eliminate screen tearing, stuttering, and input lag caused by mismatched refresh rates. VRR technology is available from different display vendors, such as AMD FreeSync, NVIDIA G-Sync, and VESA Adaptive-Sync.
Does Variable Refresh Rate Increase FPS?
The short answer is no. Variable refresh rate does not increase FPS, but it does make the gaming experience smoother and more enjoyable.
When the frame rate of the game exceeds the maximum refresh rate of the monitor, it can cause screen tearing and stuttering. This is because the monitor is unable to keep up with the game, resulting in a poor gaming experience. VRR helps to eliminate this issue by dynamically adjusting the refresh rate of the monitor to match the frame rate of the game. This means that the monitor is always displaying the latest frame, resulting in a smoother gaming experience.
Benefits of Variable Refresh Rate
Although VRR does not increase FPS, it does have several benefits. The most obvious benefit is that it eliminates screen tearing and stuttering, which can make games look and feel much smoother. This can also reduce input lag, which is the delay between pressing a button and the action happening on screen. Furthermore, VRR can reduce power consumption and reduce the strain on the GPU, as it does not need to render extra frames.
Limitations of Variable Refresh Rate
The main limitation of VRR is that it is only available on certain monitors and GPUs. VRR requires both the monitor and GPU to support the technology, so if one does not support it, then the other will not work. Additionally, if the game is running at a frame rate lower than the minimum refresh rate of the monitor, then VRR will not be able to improve the gaming experience.
Conclusion
Variable refresh rate does not increase FPS, but it can improve the gaming experience by eliminating screen tearing, stuttering, and input lag. However, it is important to note that it requires both the monitor and GPU to support the technology in order to work, and it is not always possible to get the most out of the technology. This means that, while VRR can be beneficial, it is not a substitute for having a high FPS.
