Editing Frame rate (section)

== Computer games ==
In [[computer video games]], frame rate plays an important part in the experience as, unlike film, games are rendered in [[Real-time computing|real-time]]. 60 frames per second has for a long time been considered the minimum frame rate for smoothly animated game play.<ref>{{Cite news |author1=Andy Edser |date=2024-03-26 |title=I used to be a frame rate snob but owning a Steam Deck has made me realise the error of my ways |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/handheld-gaming-pcs/i-used-to-be-a-frame-rate-snob-but-owning-a-steam-deck-has-made-me-realise-the-error-of-my-ways/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}</ref> Video games designed for [[PAL]] markets, before the [[sixth generation of video game consoles]], had lower frame rates by design due to the 50&nbsp;Hz output. This noticeably made fast-paced games, such as racing or fighting games, run slower;<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Writer |first1=John Linneman Senior Staff |last2=Foundry |first2=Digital |date=2018-12-02 |title=PlayStation Classic review: the games are great but the emulation is really poor |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2018-playstation-classic-review |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=Eurogamer.net |language=en}}</ref> less frequently developers accounted for the frame rate difference and altered the game code to achieve (nearly) identical pacing across both regions, with varying degrees of success. Computer monitors marketed to competitive PC gamers can hit 360 Hz, 500 Hz, or more.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/best/high-refresh-rate-monitors|title=The best high refresh rate monitors 2025: fast displays for gamers|last=Uy|first=Michelle Rae|work=[[TechRadar]]|date=2024-07-05|accessdate=2025-01-21}}</ref>  High frame rates make action scenes look less blurry, such as sprinting through the wilderness in an [[open world]] game, spinning rapidly to face an opponent in a [[first-person shooter]], or keeping track of details during an intense fight in a [[multiplayer online battle arena]].  [[Input latency]] is also reduced.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2111796/240hz-is-the-new-120hz-its-time-to-buy-a-high-refresh-rate-monitor.html|title=240Hz is the new 120Hz: It’s time to buy a high refresh rate monitor|last=Smith|first=Matthew S.|work=[[PC World]]|date=2023-10-20|accessdate=2025-01-21}}</ref>  Some people may have difficulty perceiving the differences between high frame rates, though.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/do-you-need-a-120hz-or-240-hz-monitor/#dt-heading-what-does-hz-actuallymean|title=Do you need a high-refresh gaming monitor?|last=Smith|first=Matthew S.|work=[[Digital Trends]]|date=2023-04-24|accessdate=2025-01-21}}</ref>

Frame time is related to frame rate, but it measures the time between frames.  A game could maintain an average of 60 frames per second but appear choppy because of a poor frame time.  Game reviews sometimes average the worst 1% of frame rates, reported as the 99th percentile, to measure how choppy the game appears.  A small difference between the average frame rate and 99th percentile would generally indicate a smooth experience.  To mitigate the choppiness of poorly optimized games, players can set frame rate caps closer to their 99% percentile.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/what-is-frame-time/#dt-heading-how-to-improve-frame-time-in-games|title= What is frame time, and why is it so important in games?|last=Roach|first=Jacob|work=[[Digital Trends]]|date=2022-10-27|accessdate=2025-01-21}}</ref>

When a game's frame rate is different than the display's refresh rate, [[screen tearing]] can occur.  Vsync mitigates this, but it caps the frame rate to the display's refresh rate, increases input lag, and introduces [[judder]]. [[Variable refresh rate]] displays automatically set their refresh rate equal to the game's frame rate, as long as it is within the display's supported range.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/vsync-gsync-freesync-explained/|title=VSync, FreeSync, and G-Sync explained - what they are and why they matter for gaming|last=Bradley|first=Alan|work=[[GamesRadar]]|date=2019-03-19|accessdate=2025-01-21}}</ref>