In the never ending debates between console andPC players, there are a few significant talking points that always come up. Besides exclusives, FPS (or frames per second) is typically one of the first points of comparison you’ll hear. Because PCs can be so much more powerful and customizable than aPS5or Xbox Series X, they tend to be able tofar above what it runs at on a console.
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If you’re confused, let me break it down: A game’s frame rate has a direct impact on how it feels to play. 30 FPS was once the standard, but it’s now seen as poor compared to 60. Then there are the games that can go even further to 120 FPS and above, making a silky smooth gaming experience.
Needless to say, the higher the FPS the better. However, it does become a bit tricky to tell exactly what frame rate a game runs at once you hit a certain point. If you’replaying on Steam, you can enable a handy FPS counter tool that’ll give you a real-time display of how many frames you’re getting while playing. Here’s a quick rundown on how to enable it.
This will only work on games installed on and running through Steam.
Steam Deck
How to turn on the FPS counter in Steam
The FPS counter will let you know exactly how well the game is running
Generally, games don’t display the frame rate to keep the screen clear of one more UI element, and it’s almost never an option you can find within the settings. That’s where Steam comes in with a built-in tool that adds a little FPS counter to any corner of your screen. Turning it on and off is a breeze, so just follow these steps:
Now, in any Steam game you boot up, there will be a small number display in whatever corner of the screen you chose. By default, it will be a somewhat transparent gray color, but you can make it a more vibrant color if you hit theIn-game FPS counter high contrast colortoggle.
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If you’re wondering why you would want to see an FPS counter while playing, there are several possible reasons this could be valuable information. First is to simply satisfy your curiosity – seeing a game running at a solid 120 FPS like it should can give you some peace of mind.
With this counter, you can see how much you need to tweak the visuals to get the FPS you want.
The more practical reason to watch your FPS is to see if you’re getting as much performance out of your rig as you want. Depending on how powerful your PC is, you may not be able to run the latest and greatest game at maximum visual settings and still get a high frame rate. With this counter, you’re able to see how much you need to tweak the visuals to get the FPS you want.
The same thing goes for getting a solid frame rate, which can often feel worse than a lower but stable FPS. If you see the FPS counter jumping up and down like crazy, then it’s a clear sign you need to do some work with the settings to improve the way the game runs.
Or, if nothing else works, seeing your low frame rate might be the sign you need toupgrade your PC. Whatever you use it for, Steam makes it very easy to get an objective reading of how your PC is handling your games.
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