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What is FPS in gaming and how can you improve it?
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A boost in frames per second (FPS) can make every leap, shot and drift feel silky smooth when you're gaming. Here’s everything you need to know about frame rate, including what it is, why it matters, and how you can improve FPS
By Virgin Media Edit
- Published
- 6 June 2025
What is FPS?
FPS stands for frames per second. It's a way to measure how many images (called frames) are shown on a screen every second when you watch a video or play a game. Each frame is like a still picture, and when these pictures are shown quickly one after another, they create the illusion of movement – just like a flipbook.
In gaming, FPS tells us how smooth the game looks and feels. A higher FPS means more frames are shown each second, so the movement looks more fluid, while a low FPS means less frames are shown every second, making the game look choppy or laggy on your screen.
Different devices and games support different FPS levels. Most movies are shown at 24 FPS, while many games aim for 30, 60, or even 120 FPS, depending on the hardware you've got. Gamers often try to get the highest FPS possible for a better and more responsive experience when they’re online.
How does FPS impact gaming?
FPS affects how smooth and responsive a game feels. When a game has a high FPS, the movements you seen on screen look very smooth and natural, making it easier for players to see what’s happening so they can react quickly in fast-paced games like racing, first-person shooters, or sports games.
When the FPS is low, movements can seem jumpy or delayed, which can make it harder to play well. For example, if you're playing a shooting game and the FPS is low, you might miss a target simply because the game didn’t show the movement clearly in time. This can be the difference between winning and losing.
For competitive gamers, having high and steady FPS is a big deal. It makes the game feel quicker and more accurate. But to get high FPS, your computer or console must be strong enough to run the game smoothly and if you’re online, your internet connection must be strong enough to avoid any lag. That’s why some players turn down the graphics settings – to get better FPS and a smoother gaming experience.
What causes low FPS?
Low FPS happens when your computer or console can't keep up with what the game is trying to do. This means it can’t show enough frames each second, making the game look slow or choppy.
There are several reasons why this can happen:
If your GPU is old or not powerful enough for the game you're playing, it won’t be able to keep up. This means the game has to slow down and show fewer frames per second, causing lag or choppy movement. High-end games with realistic graphics need a stronger GPU to run smoothly and with a high FPS.
RAM (Random Access Memory) helps your computer quickly access game data while you're playing. If your system doesn’t have enough RAM, it has to work harder, sometimes using the slower hard drive instead. This can cause delays, stuttering, and lower FPS when you’re gaming. Most modern games run better with at least 8GB of RAM, but 16GB or more is ideal for smoother performance.
The CPU handles everything that isn’t graphics, like game physics, AI (how enemies move), and loading game maps. If your processor is slow or very old, it can struggle to keep up with the game’s demands. Even if you have a great graphics card, a weak CPU can still cause low FPS because it’s holding back the rest of your system.
Sometimes the game settings are just too high for your system to handle. Turning on ultra-quality graphics or special effects (like shadows and reflections) uses more power. If your hardware can’t keep up, your FPS will drop. Lowering the settings can help improve performance.
Running too many programs at once can slow down your system. Things like web browsers, music players, or updates in the background use up your computer’s memory and processing power, leaving less available for the game.
When your computer or console gets too hot, it may slow down to avoid damage – this is called thermal throttling. When that happens, both the CPU and GPU run at lower speeds, which can cause FPS to drop. Make sure your device has good airflow, isn’t covered by blankets or books, and that fans are clean and working properly.
Does your internet speed impact FPS?
Well, yes and no. Your internet speed does not directly affect FPS, as that depends on the hardware you’ve got – like your graphics card, processor, and RAM – not your internet connection.
But internet speed does matter when you're playing online multiplayer games. A slow or unstable internet connection can cause lag, where other players or actions in the game seem to freeze, skip, or happen with a delay. This can look and feel very similar to low FPS, but it’s a different issue entirely.
If you’re only seeing choppy gameplay and lag when you’re playing online, the problem you’re seeing might not be low FPS, but an issue with your internet speed not being fast enough for gaming.
Not sure if your internet speed is causing you issues? Use our helpful internet speed test to see if your slow broadband is behind your game performance issues.
What’s a good FPS for gaming?
A good FPS for gaming depends on the type of game you’re playing, but in general, 60 FPS is a great target. At 60 frames per second, the game looks smooth and responds quickly, which makes it enjoyable and easy to play for most people. Many games and consoles are designed to run well at this level.
For fast-paced or competitive games like first-person shooters or racing games, some players prefer even higher FPS of 120 FPS or more. This makes everything feel even smoother and more responsive, which can help you react faster and play better.
Still, if you’re playing slower games, like story-based or strategy games, 30 FPS can still be okay. The game might not look as smooth, but it’s still playable and can be enjoyable if you’re not doing anything too fast.
How to improve FPS
Got low FPS? The good news is that there are several simple things you can do to boost your FPS, even without buying new hardware.
One of the easiest ways to improve FPS is to reduce the graphics quality in the game settings. You can turn down options like shadows, texture quality, anti-aliasing, and special effects. While the game might not look as fancy, it will run much more smoothly because your system won’t have to work as hard.
Graphics drivers help your graphics card work properly with your games. If your drivers are outdated, your games might not run as well. Check the website of your GPU’s brand (like NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest drivers. This simple step can often lead to better performance and more stable FPS
Lowering your screen resolution in the game can improve FPS. For example, playing at 1280x720 instead of 1920x1080 will reduce the amount of work your graphics card has to do. Turning off features like V-Sync (Vertical Sync) can also improve FPS, although it might cause some screen tearing.
If you’re playing on a Windows PC, turn on Game Mode in the settings. This tells your computer to focus more on gaming and less on other background tasks. Some laptops and consoles also have a Performance Mode that adjusts power settings to boost game performance
Make sure your device has good airflow and isn’t blocked by dust or soft surfaces. A cooling pad or cleaning the fans can help your system stay cool and maintain higher FPS.
If you’ve tried everything and your FPS is still low, your hardware might be too weak for the games you want to play. Upgrading your graphics card, RAM, or CPU can make a big difference. This can be a bigger investment, but it’s worth it if you want a long-term boost in performance..
Is it time to upgrade your broadband?
If you love playing online games, you’ll want your broadband to be fast enough for gaming. So, if you’re getting choppy gameplay or lag when you’re online, it may be time for an upgrade.
With one of our superfast fibre broadband packages, you’ll be able to enjoy smoother, lag-free gameplay when you’re online. If you’re unsure what you need, check out all our gaming broadband deals and enter your postcode to see what’s available in your area.
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