What Does FPS Mean in Gaming? A Simple Guide
Lennon Byatt
When shopping for a gaming PC, you will often see people talking about FPS. But what does FPS actually mean, and why is it important?
Recommended 1440p Gaming PC Specifications
For the best balance of performance and value, we recommend:
| Component | Recommendation |
|
CPU
|
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
|
|
GPU
|
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 or AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
|
|
RAM
|
32GB DDR5 6000MHz
|
|
Storage
|
2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
|
|
Motherboard
|
B650
|
|
PSU
|
750W 80 PLUS Gold
|
This specification is capable of running modern AAA games at high frame rates while providing plenty of headroom for future releases.
Browse AWD-IT's latest AMD Ryzen Processors:
https://www.awd-it.co.uk/components/cpu-processors/amd-cpu.html
What Does FPS Stand For?
FPS stands for frames per second. It measures how many individual images, or frames, your gaming PC displays every second.
Games are made up of lots of still images shown one after another. The more frames your PC can produce each second, the smoother the game will look and feel.
For example:
- 30 FPS: Playable, but movement may not feel completely smooth.
- 60 FPS: Smooth gameplay and a great target for most players.
- 120 FPS: Very responsive and ideal for fast-paced games.
- 144 FPS or higher: Extremely smooth, especially for competitive gaming.
Why Does FPS Matter?
A higher FPS can make your games feel smoother and more responsive. This is especially helpful in competitive games such as Call of Duty, Fortnite, Valorant and Counter-Strike, where quickly seeing and reacting to an opponent can make a real difference.
In slower games, such as strategy titles or story-based adventures, a very high FPS may be less important. However, maintaining a steady frame rate can still make the overall experience feel more enjoyable.
A higher FPS can make your games feel smoother and more responsive
What Affects Your FPS?
Your gaming PC’s components and settings both affect the FPS you receive.
The graphics card, also known as the GPU, does most of the work when producing the images you see on screen. A more powerful graphics card will usually deliver higher frame rates, particularly at higher resolutions.
The processor, or CPU, also plays an important role. It handles game calculations, background activity and information that needs to be sent to the graphics card.
Your game settings will affect performance too. Increasing settings such as shadows, reflections and ray tracing can improve visual quality, but may lower your FPS. Reducing some of these settings can help your PC produce more frames.
To fully benefit from higher FPS, you will need a monitor with a suitable refresh rate
Does Your Monitor Matter?
Yes. Your monitor has a refresh rate, measured in hertz or Hz, which tells you how many times it can update the image every second.
A 60Hz monitor can display up to 60 frames each second, while a 144Hz monitor can display up to 144. To fully benefit from higher FPS, you will need a monitor with a suitable refresh rate.
For example, a gaming PC producing 144 FPS will feel much smoother when connected to a 144Hz monitor than it would on a standard 60Hz display.
What FPS Should You Aim For?
For most gamers, 60 FPS is a great target. It provides smooth gameplay across a wide variety of games.
Competitive players may prefer 120 FPS, 144 FPS or higher for a faster and more responsive experience. Players who prefer detailed single-player games may choose better graphics settings instead of aiming for the highest possible frame rate.
The right FPS depends on the games you play, your monitor and the type of gaming experience you prefer.
Recommended Gaming Build
For an excellent gaming experience in 2026:
| Component | Recommendation |
|
CPU
|
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
|
|
GPU
|
RTX 5070 or RX 9070 XT
|
|
RAM
|
32GB DDR5 6000MHz
|
|
Storage
|
2TB NVMe SSD
|
Browse AWD-IT's latest:
- Gaming PCs
https://www.awd-it.co.uk/gaming-pc.html
- AMD Processors
https://www.awd-it.co.uk/components/cpu-processors/amd-cpu.html
- Graphics Cards
Find the Right Gaming PC
Understanding FPS can make choosing a gaming PC much easier. A balanced system with the right processor, graphics card and monitor will help deliver smooth, reliable performance in the games you enjoy.
Explore the latest gaming PCs at AWD-IT and find a system suited to your games, preferred resolution and performance goals.
Explore the latest gaming PCs at AWD-IT and find a system suited to your games
How Much VRAM Do You Need?
VRAM is the dedicated memory installed on your graphics card.
It stores visual information such as textures, lighting data and rendered frames. Games running at higher resolutions and graphical settings can require more VRAM.
As a general guide:
8GB of VRAM can be suitable for many 1080p gaming systems.
12GB of VRAM provides additional room for detailed textures and demanding games.
16GB of VRAM can be useful for high-quality 1440p, 4K gaming and more graphically intensive releases.
VRAM should not be considered on its own. The overall design and processing power of the GPU also affect gaming performance.
Best Sim Racing Setup for Beginners: Start With the Essentials
You don’t need a full cockpit immediately. A well‑chosen beginner setup helps you develop skills faster and keeps costs under control.
1. Steering Wheel and Pedals (Top Priority)
Your wheel and pedals are the most important part of any sim racing rig. Force feedback allows you to feel grip changes, kerbs, and steering resistance—crucial for learning car control.
Beginner tip: Focus on force feedback quality rather than raw power.
Your wheel and pedals are the most important part of any sim racing rig. Force feedback allows you to feel grip changes, kerbs, and steering resistance—crucial for learning car control.
Creators in attendance
Stacked lineup
Experience zones
Arcades · Sim rigs · PCs
Tech on display
Latest gen builds
Verdict
Showroom certified
Pick Your Tier
We've named each tier after a tournament stage, because let's be honest, that's exactly the kind of thing we'd do. Find your budget and dive in.
Group Stage
Round of 32
Quarter Final
World Cup Final
Choosing a Radeon GPU by Resolution
1080p Gaming
1080p remains an excellent choice for beginners and competitive gamers. It offers good image quality while allowing compatible graphics cards to produce high frame rates.
The AWD-IT Kalona Ryzen 5 RX 9060 Gaming PC combines Radeon RX 9060 graphics with a Ryzen 5 processor, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD and Windows 11.
It is a strong prebuilt option for players who want smooth 1080p performance without assembling the system themselves.
High-end systems are designed for demanding games
Expected Gaming Performance
|
Game
|
1440p High
|
1440p Ultra
|
|
GTA 6 (Predicted)
|
120 FPS
|
90 FPS
|
|
Cyberpunk 2077
|
120 FPS
|
95 FPS
|
|
Black Ops 7
|
180+ FPS
|
150+ FPS
|
|
Fortnite
|
240+ FPS
|
200+ FPS
|
Performance will vary depending on drivers, game updates and graphics settings.
1440p Gaming
1440p provides a sharper image than 1080p but requires additional graphics power.
The AWD-IT Ares Ryzen 5 RX 9060 XT Gaming PC is a suitable option for players who want higher graphical settings, stronger frame rates and the ability to move into 1440p gaming.
Players targeting high-refresh-rate 1440p or 4K should look towards graphics cards such as the Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT
High-End Gaming
Players targeting high-refresh-rate 1440p or 4K should look towards graphics cards such as the Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT.
These cards provide the additional performance needed for demanding modern games, detailed graphical settings and higher-resolution monitors.
Browse AWD-IT’s range of RX 9070 XT gaming PCs.
Should You Pair Radeon with Ryzen?
A Radeon graphics card does not need an AMD Ryzen processor, but pairing the two can create a well-balanced all-AMD gaming system.
The most important consideration is balance. Your processor should be powerful enough to support the graphics card, while sufficient RAM, SSD storage and cooling will help the entire system perform reliably.
You can explore AWD-IT’s AMD Ryzen and Radeon gaming PCs for complete systems using both technologies.
Prebuilt or Build Your Own?
Building a PC gives you control over every individual component, but it also requires additional research, assembly and troubleshooting.
A prebuilt gaming PC arrives assembled and tested, making it a more convenient option for many first-time buyers.
It also gives you one main point of contact if you require technical support or warranty assistance.
Which Radeon Gaming PC Should You Choose?
Before choosing, consider:
- The games you want to play
- Your target resolution
- The frame rates you expect
- Your monitor’s refresh rate
- How long you want the PC to last
An RX 9060 system can be a strong choice for 1080p gaming, while the RX 9060 XT provides more room for higher settings and 1440p. The RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are better suited to demanding high-resolution gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my game stutter even with high FPS?
High average FPS doesn't guarantee smooth gameplay. Inconsistent frame times, background processes or hardware bottlenecks can all cause stuttering.
Can RAM cause stuttering?
Yes. Insufficient RAM or slow memory can lead to hitching, particularly in open-world games or when multitasking.
Will an SSD fix stuttering?
If stuttering is caused by slow asset streaming or a mechanical hard drive, upgrading to an NVMe SSD can help improve consistency.
Final Thoughts
AMD Radeon GPUs offer options for beginners, competitive players and high-end enthusiasts.
Features such as FSR, HYPR-RX and Radeon Anti-Lag can help supported games feel smoother and more responsive, while the wide range of Radeon models makes it easier to find a graphics card that matches your budget and monitor.
Browse all AMD Radeon gaming PCs at AWD-IT and find the right system for the way you play.
Related Guides
- Best SSD for Gaming in 2026
- Best Graphics Card for 1440p Gaming
- Best CPU for RTX 5070
- What Is Resizable BAR?
- How Much RAM Do You Need for Gaming?
- GTA 6 PC System Requirements (Predicted)
