Generating more frames than your monitor can display is a waste of energy frame-tearing can only be eliminated by video-syncing, but it can be minimized by capping FPS at the monitor frequency. Using v-sync conveys all the benefits listed about framerate caps above, with the added benefit of eliminating screen tearing however, it does have the drawback of adding some latency. If the framerate you are producing is around 55-75 fps then you might want to cap it a 50 or 60 as the spikes where it is 75 will feel like your game is slowing down when it goes back down to 55, this is just an example and your actual frames per second may vary. Framerate caps simply throttle a number of frames your video card can produce they do not force the video card to wait until the monitor has begun a new refresh cycle. Using a framerate cap will not provide a reduction in screen tearing. Keep in mind that capping your framerate isn't the same as using v-sync. Decreased noise (cooling fans run slower)Ĭapping your framerate is especially beneficial to laptops or any other sort of mobile computers as it provides an excellent way to keep a laptop from eating its battery alive and also from burning a hole in your crotch.Capping your framerate can have a few benefits:
