Many people are under the misconception that monitoring does not have any impact on FPS. But like I said, it’s a misconception. So, the answer to ‘does monitor affect FPS or not’ is, yes, it does.
Upgrading your pc alone will not improve your gaming experience if you do not upgrade your monitor. This post is to answer all your questions regarding the relationship between a monitor and the FPS.
Let’s understand what FPS is first. Then, we will move forward to how a monitor affects FPS.
What Is FPS?
The natural motion you experience on your computer is a combination of multiple still images. One image is slightly different from the prior one, and when they come together, they create motion.
These still images are called frames. So, FPS or Frames Per Second is the number of frames shown in one second. So, a higher FPS will let you experience better quality, especially if you’re playing games.
FPS is sometimes also referred to as frame rate. If your computer offers a low frame rate, you’ll feel like the screen is freezing from time to time. A better frame rate shows the picture faster within a lesser time which grants you a better experience.
Does Monitor Affect FPS?
As I’ve already mentioned, a monitor plays a vital role in affecting FPS. How? Well, for that, you’ll have to know what the refresh rate is.
The monitor’s refresh rate refers to the number of times the display draws a new image in one second. In simpler terms, how many times it refreshes one image indicated its refresh rate. You will notice a monitor’s refresh rate in Hertz (Hz).
Most budget-friendly monitors will come with a refresh rate between 60 Hz to 75 Hz. If you own a monitor that features a 60 Hz refresh rate, it means that it’ll show an image 60 times in one second.
Let’s get back to how monitor affects FPS. If your monitor features a 60 Hz refresh rate, what happens when your CPU can deliver more than 60 FPS? The screen fails to load more than 60 FPS, resulting in low-quality images.
In comparison, monitors featuring 144 Hz or 240 Hz won’t have any difficulties loading more than 60 FPS. So, you’ll get high-quality and less blurry images.
Another thing that affects FPS is the cable you’re using to connect the monitor to your CPU. Old and low-quality cables will surely disrupt the FPS, whereas using a high-quality cable will improve the picture quality and support a higher FPS.
Does Monitor Size Matter?
If we’re considering FPS, then no, the monitor’s size does not affect the FPS. As long as the resolution and configurations are compatible with the FPS rating, monitors of all sizes will offer you the same picture quality even with a higher FPS.
I must mention that if you’re using multiple monitors, matching the configurations of both monitors is compulsory. You can’t expect to get the best results if the two of them feature different configurations.
Does Having Multiple Monitors Drop FPS?
It is a common misconception that having multiple monitors will result in a decrease in FPS. However, this is not the case. In fact, having multiple monitors can actually increase your FPS by giving you more screen real estate to work with.
Now we know that monitoring affects FPS. So, what to consider in a monitor if you upgrade your computer to get a better FPS? Let’s keep ourselves updated on how to improve FPS.
There are a few things to keep in mind when using multiple monitors, however. You will need to make sure that your graphics card can support multiple monitors. Most modern graphics cards can support up to four monitors.
Also, you will need to make sure that your game is optimized for multiple monitors. This can be done by checking the game’s settings or contacting the game’s developer.
Don’t forget to adjust your field of view (FOV) settings. This is because the wider FOV of multiple monitors can cause problems with some games’ engine rendering. You can usually find the FOV setting in the game’s options menu.
You may need to adjust your mouse and keyboard sensitivities. This is because the additional screen space can make it difficult to aim accurately with a mouse and keyboard. You can usually find these settings in the game’s options menu as well.
Keep these things in mind and you should be able to enjoy increased FPS with no decrease in quality when using multiple monitors!
What Features Offer Higher FPS In A Monitor?
Higher Resolution
A better resolution monitor will offer you better image quality, thus a better gaming experience. However, monitors that feature higher resolutions don’t come cheaply. So, if you want your monitor to be compatible with a higher FPS, you should be ready to spend some extra bucks on your monitor.
Getting a monitor with improved resolution will give you some extra benefits too. For example, these screens are more friendly toward your eye and cause less strain when you’re using the monitor for an extended period.
So, remember all the benefits you’ll be getting along with a better FPS if you decide to buy a high-resolution monitor.
Better Response And Refresh Rate
I already explained what refresh rate means in a monitor. As for the response rate, the rule is inverse, meaning that the lower the response rate, the better. How? Let’s see.
Response rate refers to the times your monitor blinks in one second. In simpler terms, the number of times it turns on and off. So obviously, the less it blinks, the better.
If I’m explaining it another way, think of this rate as to how long your monitor takes to respond. The lower the response duration, the more improved the gaming experience you’ll get. When getting a new monitor, look for one that features a 1 ms refresh rate.
So, to sum up, look for a higher refresh rate and a lower response rate to improve FPS.
A Little Side Note
If you’re not getting a new monitor, there’s a little hack you can try to improve the FPS and make the gaming experience a little more enjoyable.
Try lowering the resolution on your computer. I should tell you that it will reduce the image quality a little bit. However, there isn’t any other better option if you want to improve FPS using your same old monitor.
This hack won’t grant you a massive improvement if that’s what you’re seeking. In that case, I recommend going for an upgraded monitor with a higher refresh rate and a lower response rate.
Other Aspects To Improve FPS
I’ve talked all about monitoring till now. However, there are other ways to improve FPS. So let’s look at a few options to explore if you want a better gaming experience on your pc.
Try Using The Game Mode
If your pc has a game mode, try using it when playing games. Windows 10 has this feature to create a more enjoyable gaming experience.
You can turn on the game mode from the settings. It’s easy to activate maximizes your display’s frame rate and improves gameplay.
Check For Updates
Keep your computer in check. For example, see if there’s any latest video driver available for update. Keeping the computer up-to-date ensures the highest performance your pc can offer.
Windows updates can also improve the overall experience of the computer.
In-game Settings
As I said, dialing down the resolutions improves FPS. Many games will let you choose in what mode you want your game to run. If your device doesn’t come with a high FPS, running the game in low resolution will fasten the gameplay experience.
The lower the intensity of the graphics in a game, the better the FPS will be.
Replace Your Graphics Card
One simple yet effective way to drastically change your PC’s gaming experience is to get a better graphics card. Of course, laptop users can’t enjoy this solution, but if you own a pc, this is the most effective way you can improve gaming performance.
So, What About Getting A New Monitor?
As you already know, you can improve FPS using various ways. However, if your monitor is not up-to-date, all your upgrades will be in vain. So, if you want your pc to be fast when playing games, getting a monitor will be a wise choice.
Besides, considering the other things you’ll have to change, a monitor isn’t that expensive to replace. You can get premium-quality gaming monitors that come with advanced features in an affordable price range.
If you’re improving your computer for gaming, remember that a monitor is also a part of your computer. In addition, it affects the FPS of your device.
Editor’s Note: Can You Use A Monitor Without A PC?
What Other Components Affect FPS?
While there are some components that can directly affect your FPS, such as your graphics card, there are also indirect factors that can impact it. For example, your CPU can be a bottleneck for your graphics card, which will in turn impact your FPS.
That said, here are some of the most common factors that can affect it:
- Graphics card
- CPU
- RAM
- Drivers
- Storage
- Power Configuration
- Active Tasks
- Internet Connection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ideal response rate?
A monitor will perform better, especially in gaming, if the response duration is lower. So, look for monitors that have a response rate lower than 5 ms. Higher than that, you won’t get faster FPS resulting in a dissatisfactory gaming experience.
What is an ideal refresh rate?
Unlike the response rate, the refresh rate needs to be higher if the monitor wants to perform better in gaming. A refresh rate higher than 100 Hz will be more suitable for a gaming ps. It will adjust with the FPS and provide better image quality and faster response.
What size monitor is better for gaming?
The monitor’s size doesn’t affect the gameplay experience. So, you have nothing to be concerned about. You can get any size you want.
However, an ideal size for a gaming monitor is 24 inches because you can see everything clearly without rotating your head.
Does a 144Hz monitor improve FPS?
A 144Hz monitor can improve your FPS in certain games, but it isn’t a guarantee. If you are looking for a competitive edge in fast-paced games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or Overwatch, a 144Hz monitor can give you an advantage.
However, not all games will see a significant difference in framerate with a higher Hz monitor. In most cases, you’ll see a more noticeable improvement going from 60Hz to 144Hz if you have a higher-end graphics card. If you have a mid-range graphics card, you may not see much of an improvement, or any at all.
Final Words
Now you know the features of a monitor that can affect FPS. So, when you consider replacing your old monitor, make sure to check that the new one comes with a satisfactory refresh rate. Also, keep the response rate to a minimum.
Other than that, monitors don’t affect FPS much. So, you won’t have to put much thought into it. Besides, most monitors nowadays come with advanced features that can conveniently accommodate a higher FPS.
Hopefully, that clears all your doubts regarding ‘does monitor affect FPS or not.’
