Convert FPS to frame time in milliseconds, find out what refresh rate monitor you need, and see how your GPU performance compares to common gaming benchmarks.
Frame time
6.94 ms
Per frame
Rating
Very smooth
For gaming
Best monitor match
144Hz
To utilise your FPS
FPS (frames per second) is how many frames your GPU renders each second. Frame time is the inverse — how many milliseconds each frame takes to render (1000 / FPS). Frame time matters because it shows consistency. 60 average FPS with frame times spiking from 5ms to 50ms feels far worse than a steady 60 FPS at exactly 16.67ms.
Not exactly, but you should aim to consistently exceed your monitor's refresh rate. If you have a 144Hz monitor and your game runs at 100-120 FPS, you are not fully utilising the monitor. Enable VSync or use G-Sync/FreeSync to synchronise frame delivery and reduce tearing.
Adaptive sync technologies (G-Sync for NVIDIA, FreeSync for AMD) match your monitor's refresh rate to your GPU's output in real time within a range (e.g. 48-144Hz). This eliminates screen tearing without the input lag cost of traditional VSync. If your FPS drops below the minimum range, the monitor falls back to fixed refresh.
Average FPS is less important than your worst-case frame times. Games that average 144 FPS but dip to 40 FPS during fights (low 1%) feel stuttery in the moments that matter most. When reading benchmarks, always look at 1% and 0.1% lows, not just averages.
Frame time translates frames per second into the milliseconds available to render each frame. It is useful for comparing smoothness, refresh-rate targets, and the cost of a missed frame.
Example
60 FPS equals 16.67 ms per frame, while 144 FPS equals 6.94 ms. A stable 144 FPS target therefore needs substantially more headroom.
FPS and frame time are inversely related. Doubling FPS does not halve every part of perceived latency, because input, display, and network latency are separate factors.
For casual play and single-player games, yes. For competitive multiplayer (CS2, Valorant, Apex), 60 FPS puts you at a meaningful disadvantage vs players on 144+ Hz. The smoother motion makes tracking moving targets easier. Most competitive players consider 144Hz+ the minimum for serious play.
The jump from 60Hz to 144Hz is dramatic and immediately noticeable to almost everyone. The jump from 144Hz to 240Hz is real but subtler, and mainly benefits very high-skill competitive players. Beyond 240Hz, the returns diminish significantly for most people.
It depends on the game and resolution. At 1080p, a mid-range GPU (e.g. RTX 4060, RX 7600) can sustain 144+ FPS in most titles. At 1440p, you typically need a higher-end card (RTX 4070, RX 7800 XT or above). At 4K, even high-end GPUs struggle to maintain 144 FPS in demanding games.
Tearing happens when your GPU sends a new frame while the monitor is mid-refresh, showing two frames at once as a visible horizontal split. Fix it by enabling VSync (adds slight input lag), or use G-Sync/FreeSync adaptive sync which eliminates tearing without the lag penalty.