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I am configuring the graphics in F1 2011. It has a benchmark mode where the computer drives the car around on those graphics settings and gives an average result.

The first time I achieved 30 frames a second. The screen seemed fine for me while i was watching.

I reduced some graphics from Ultra to High and achieved 65 frames.

What frame rate should I be targeting?

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This is a very subjective question, I don't think you'd get a definitive answer. Most gamers will agree a game running at 30FPS is acceptable, in fact, I believe most console games of this generation aim for this framerate. Many other gamers will insist anything below 60FPS is unwatchable and aim for the minimum 60fps, even if it mean lower quality graphics. In the end it all comes to preference, try playing the game in both modes. If you prefer better graphics, go with higher settings; if you feel playing at a low framerate is unbearable, go with lower quality graphics. – JohnoBoy Jun 13 '12 at 8:39
For a fast paced game like F1 I would personally want to be aiming for 60 FPS, however many people are simply unable to see the difference between 30 and 60 FPS and if you're one of those people then reducing the graphics settings to get 60 FPS will do nothing for you. As @JohnoBoy says - try both, see if you notice the difference, see if it makes or breaks it for you personally and go with what you prefer and/or are comfortable with. – kalina Jun 13 '12 at 9:07
I always find discussions about FPS kind of funny when I can play with as few as 15-20 FPS if it means I have a better video quality. My old computer could barely play faster than that with minimum settings, it may have trained me. – Jupotter Jun 13 '12 at 9:08
thank you. I just had no knowledge of where to aim as a range. – Valamas Jun 13 '12 at 9:19
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@ickleislands I think most people would be able to tell apart between 30 and 60 fps. They won't be able to pinpoint the exact framerate each is running, but they'd be able to tell apart which is "smoother", especially when comparing the same game or genre. Too high framerate could be a burden sometimes. See the public reaction to The Hobbit film running at 48fps :) – JohnoBoy Jun 13 '12 at 9:28
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closed as not constructive by JohnoBoy, ChrisF, Jupotter, Fluttershy, FAE Jun 13 '12 at 12:58

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2 Answers

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This question doesn't have an "official" answer. Everybody chooses what he/she prefers.

Personally I'd go for 60 fps even if graphics are worse.

  • Why?

  • Because you said that these 30 and 60 fps are averages.

So that means that it's not 30fps at lowest point, it can be 10-15 or even less. And when computer drives the car he drives it okay-ish. And now imagine that somebody crashes, burns and all the details are flying everywhere(don't know if it's even possible in that game). How much computing power will it need? What will be your FPS rate? 5-10 FPS? Probably, assumimng that 30 SPF was the average.

I was playing BF3 with an average of 40 FPS. So running, driving, flying was pretty much okay, but when it came to a CQB the FPS rate was dropping to around 15 max.

So, all in all: try playing with ultra graphics @30 FPS, but I'm pretty sure that it will be unplayable at some moments. So after that you will probably switch to High @60 FPS to be sure that you won't "freeze" in a middle of a turn.

Hope it helps

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In modern action-oriented games where players must visually track animated objects and react quickly, frame rates of between 30 to 60 FPS are considered acceptable by most, though this can vary significantly from game to game. Modern action games, including popular console shooters such as Halo 3, are locked at 30 FPS maximum, while others, such as Unreal Tournament 3, can run well in excess of 100 FPS on sufficient hardware.

Without realistic motion blurring, video games and computer animations do not look as fluid as film, even with a higher frame rate. When a fast moving object is present on two consecutive frames, a gap between the images on the two frames contributes to a noticeable separation of the object and its afterimage in the eye. Motion blurring mitigates this effect, since it tends to reduce the image gap when the two frames are strung together. The effect of motion blurring is essentially superimposing multiple images of the fast-moving object on a single frame. Motion blurring makes the motion more fluid for some people, even as the image of the object becomes blurry on each individual frame.

Source

So it actually depends on you and the game you are playing. Some people say that you need a very high FPS count (>60) but that is mostly just to display what their pc is capable off.

You want to target a FPS count which you find acceptable or good and which seems fluid.

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