Guides/Graphics

Should you cap your FPS? Where and how

By Michael Steininger · Updated October 2026

Uncapped FPS means the highest number on the counter. A cap often means a smoother game and less input delay. The trick is choosing the right limiter and the right number.

Why a cap can feel better#

• Steadier frame times: a frame rate that swings between 220 and 120 feels less smooth than a steady 140, even though the average is higher.
• Less input delay: when the graphics card runs at 99% load, frames queue up and delay grows. A cap that leaves the card a little headroom keeps the queue empty. NVIDIA Reflex and AMD Anti-Lag 2 do the same automatically in supported games.
• Variable refresh: G-Sync and FreeSync only work below the refresh rate. The right G-Sync and FreeSync settings.
• Heat and noise: a laptop or small PC stays cooler and quieter when it doesn't render frames you can't see.

Which limiter#

1. The game's own limiter: usually the lowest delay, because the game times its own work.
2. The graphics driver: NVIDIA Control Panel → Max Frame Rate, AMD → Radeon Chill with the same minimum and maximum, Intel → frame rate limiter. Works in every game.
3. RivaTuner Statistics Server: the most even frame times, at the cost of a little more delay. Good for single-player games.

Use one limiter, not three: check that no other cap (in-game, driver, V-Sync, a battery-saving mode) is lower than the one you chose.

Which number#

Watch the frame rate in the busiest part of the game (a team fight, a city) and cap a bit below that. In competitive shooters many players prefer uncapped or a high cap with Reflex for the lowest delay; that's fine too. Compare both by feel and with the 1% lows. What 1% lows tell you.

Questions#

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