What Does Refresh Rate Mean? What Does FPS Stand For? How Do Refresh Rate and FPS Differ? This article from MiniTool explains these concepts. Additionally, you can explore MiniTool for more Windows-related tips and solutions.

When choosing a monitor, the Refresh rate and FPS are factors to consider. However, it can be challenging to differentiate between them and understand their distinctions. Therefore, this article aims to clarify what Refresh rate and FPS are.

What Is Refresh Rate?

Refresh Rate, or vertical refresh rate, refers to the number of times per second that a raster-based display device presents a fresh image. This is typically measured in hertz (Hz).

Generally, the higher the refresh rate on a monitor, the better. A higher refresh rate makes movements appear smoother. Even minor movements, like moving the mouse cursor, become noticeable. When it comes to demanding tasks like gaming or esports, the difference becomes more apparent.

Modern monitors usually require a minimum refresh rate of 60 Hz, but sometimes your eyes might feel fatigued. Thus, 75 Hz is preferable. For monitors used in gaming or specific scenarios, a higher refresh rate is necessary. You may need a refresh rate of 120 Hz or higher.

What Is FPS?

FPS stands for Frame Rate. It is also known as frames per second. FPS represents the frequency at which consecutive images, referred to as frames, appear on a display. Like refresh rate, it is also measured in hertz.

The movements on a monitor are presented by showing a series of constant still images known as frames. Whether it's a movie, TV show, video game, or even the movement of the mouse cursor, the correct sequence of frames ensures smooth motion. These individual frames change multiple times per second, similar to flipping through pages in an animation book.

Essentially, the higher the FPS, the more frames are displayed per second. Consequently, the movement appears smoother and more realistic, avoiding stuttered motion.

One important point to note is that frame rate is not determined by the monitor itself. It depends on the software or media being used, along with the CPU or graphics card. However, this does not mean that frame rate is unrelated to monitors.

Refresh Rate vs FPS: What Are the Differences?

Although both refresh rate and FPS measure how many times a still image is displayed per second, they differ in certain aspects. While only refresh rate is directly linked to a monitor, both refresh rate and FPS influence the content displayed on the monitor.

If your monitor has a high refresh rate but your graphics card and CPU generate a low FPS, you may not fully enjoy the benefits. When the refresh rate and FPS are mismatched, issues like screen tearing can occur. In such cases, balancing the refresh rate and FPS is essential.

In conclusion, this article has explained what refresh rate and FPS are and compared FPS with refresh rate. If you have any differing opinions about refresh rate and FPS, feel free to share them in the comments section.

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