Question about refresh rate (hz) and FPS :: Hardware and Operating Systems

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Azuli-Bluespots 5 Aug @ 8:44am

Question about refresh rate (hz) and FPS

I remember seeing stuff about the refresh rate on the steam deck oled, and how it's better to cap a game's fps to certain values for better results. I don't remember the details, and it's obvious that making sure the fps is locked at an average value that the game is running well and is below the refresh rate should be fine.

But then I look into it, and saw that 144hz and 180fps is also a good setting???

I just want to figure out which FPS limits are good for each refresh rate. Is there a calculator or table for that somewhere? I couldn't find anything and every place seems to have conflicting information.

(this is about monitors in general, not just the steam deck)

Last edited by Azuli-Bluespots; 5 Aug @ 8:47am

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Showing 1-11 of 11 comments

_I_ 5 Aug @ 9:18am

with fps lower than refresh rate, you will get uneven frame pacing

with vsync on, it will duplicate some frames for more than 1 refresh cycle
changing to next frame when its ready at the end of the next refresh

with vsync off, it will swap output buffers when sending as soon as the gpu drawing is complete
giving a tear line between the frames on each refresh

if the display supports vrr, it will lower the refresh rate to match the gpu output
with vsync it will show the next entire completed frame as soon as its ready

Guydodge 5 Aug @ 9:29am

not all monitors are created equally from the cheapest to the most expensive.some will run flawless below the native hz some will run like crap.its more a per monitor answer there is no one size fits all answer.

Last edited by Guydodge; 5 Aug @ 9:29am

Azuli-Bluespots 5 Aug @ 9:31am

Ok, seems like there's obviously way more to it than I hoped for.

Do most monitors have a way to at least manually set the refresh rate to something lower if necessary? I have one that can go up to 75, but I leave it at 60 to match my other screen.

I'm looking at getting a new one, but the max refresh rate is 165hz - it's a weird number imo, unless it's scaled in steps of 15hz. (even so, it's still weird)

C1REX 5 Aug @ 9:49am

Most monitors support VRR/FreeSync/G-Sync and in such case you simply set to max refresh rate and don’t think about it.

It’s surprising to me but Steamdeck doesn’t have variable refresh rate for its internal screen and only for external monitors.

I would personally test it and see how the screen reacts. Probably 60hz for 60 and 30fps and 90hz for 45fps gaming with locked fps should do fine if the default 90hz at all times doesn’t look right.

Last edited by C1REX; 5 Aug @ 9:57am

retro_Ed 5 Aug @ 9:54am

Steam Deck gamemode allows to lock game framerate with five steps on external displays.
Example
180 Hz display - 90 - 60 - 45 - 36
120 Hz display - 60 - 40 - 30 - 24

Azuli-Bluespots 5 Aug @ 10:33am

Originally posted by retro_Ed:
Steam Deck gamemode allows to lock game framerate with five steps on external displays.
Example
180 Hz display - 90 - 60 - 45 - 36
120 Hz display - 60 - 40 - 30 - 24

Ok, this is great, I just wanted to figure out WHY these numbers. (BAD AT MATH)

wing0zero 5 Aug @ 10:37am

Originally posted by C1REX:
It’s surprising to me but Steamdeck doesn’t have variable refresh rate for its internal screen and only for external monitors.

Because handhelds don't have HDMI/DP screens that they use for the protocol, the ones that do isn't always "real" VRR also like a monitor.

Guydodge 5 Aug @ 10:44am

Originally posted by Azuli-Bluespots:
Ok, seems like there's obviously way more to it than I hoped for.

Do most monitors have a way to at least manually set the refresh rate to something lower if necessary? I have one that can go up to 75, but I leave it at 60 to match my other screen.

I'm looking at getting a new one, but the max refresh rate is 165hz - it's a weird number imo, unless it's scaled in steps of 15hz. (even so, it's still weird)

165hz is more likely than not the overclocked refresh rate the monitor is more than likely 144hz overclocking is not recommended causes instability.as far as setting a refresh rate with nvidia you can set to whatever floats your boat personally.just leave your monitor at 144hz and set fps limit in nvidia panel or in game i find setting them both to say 120fps or 90fps works great at least on my monitors but all are different.

Last edited by Guydodge; 5 Aug @ 10:46am

retro_Ed 5 Aug @ 11:05am

Originally posted by Azuli-Bluespots:
Originally posted by retro_Ed:
Steam Deck gamemode allows to lock game framerate with five steps on external displays.
Example
180 Hz display - 90 - 60 - 45 - 36
120 Hz display - 60 - 40 - 30 - 24
Ok, this is great, I just wanted to figure out WHY these numbers. (BAD AT MATH)

Typically this goes, Half display hz, one third, one fourth and so on...
With 144 Hz it is 72, 48, 36, 24
( I do not remember is 24 correct.)

Azuli-Bluespots 5 Aug @ 11:31am

So, from what I'm seeing, a monitor with 165/144hz isn't that interesting unless it has VRR/FreeSync/G-Sync, correct?
Even if it does support these technologies, it's better to go after 120/180/240hz to be on the safe side - at least that's what I'm getting from this.

#10

wing0zero 5 Aug @ 11:31am

Originally posted by Guydodge:
165hz is more likely than not the overclocked refresh rate

A lot of monitors now are 165Hz as a baseline, even 180Hz is a pretty common baseline these days too, if you look on SCAN 100Hz has pretty much replaced 60Hz with 27" screens and there are more 180hz vs 165Hz, they have only one 144Hz screen.

#11

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Date Posted: 5 Aug @ 8:44am

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