Home Gaming What’s the difference between 30fps and 60fps?

What’s the difference between 30fps and 60fps?

2 min read
105

Frames. Hah!

Accompanying the current, silly resolution-gate is the lesser known,and decidedly sillier sounding framerate-gate. Some games are coming along at 30 fps on some platforms, and 60 fps on others. Some claim to not be able to tell the difference between the two, others still say the difference is undeniable. Just what is the difference?

This is not some sort of technical bit on the differences, but rather something directed at the layperson, who’s confused by the difference.

First, you have to look at what exactly “frame rate” is. Essentially, it’s the frequency at which frames in a video or game are displayed on your screen. When it comes to most modern TVs and monitors, they usually have a refresh rate of 60hz, meaning that they draw each displayed frame 60 times per second.

Most films are broadcast at a refresh rate of 24Hz, which your TV neatly doubles up and rounds off to 30 – so it displays the same frame twice every 30th of a second, before moving on to the next frame which it also displays twice and so on. For the most part, this result in a smooth image for things like film and TV. the same happens when games are rendered at 30fps; you get each frame displayed twice with motion blur applied to smooth it all out.

When a game is rendered at 60fps, it means you’re getting 60 rendered frames per second, perfectly matching the display’s own refresh rate. What this results in is a far smoother, more flicker-free experience. It does more than impact just the visuals though; it also impacts on your game input. A faster frame rate means your controller inputs are translated to on-screen actions quicker.

There’s inherent lag between your brain and the controller; the controller and the console, the console’s calculations and its output, and the output and the screen. Improve the rate at which any of those happen, and your inputs will feel smoother. When a game is rendered at 60fps vs 30fps, it’s polling your inputs twice as much, so you have smoother control. In 3rd person action games it’s far less important than it is in shooters and racing games, where split-second decisions and inputs are key.

It goes beyond just what you see to how a game feels. I can’t help you with the latter; you’ll have to play a game that’s running at 60fps, and then play the same game running at 30fps to feel the difference. A 60fps game, depending on the type of game, of course, is just smoother, feels more natural and responsive. Here are two sites that should help you at least see the difference.

Here’s a new one, 30 vs 60, from Reddit, showing the differences side by side in a few games. note that videos on the internet probably aren’t the best way to get this across, but they’re certainly better than nothing.

Here’s another, showing the same animation rendered in 15, 30 and 60fps.

Last Updated: May 12, 2014

105 Comments

  1. Umar Returns

    May 12, 2014 at 15:04

    God damn , dat sleeping dogs comparison. People go on and on about how fps don’t matter, yeah well shut up! ….. Once you witness 60fps you don’t ever want anything else. Hell I can’t go back to Dark Souls 2 on console after playing the PC version

    Reply

    • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

      May 12, 2014 at 15:09

      Dark Souls is locked at 30FPS on PC unless you have the DSFix installed isn’t it?

      Reply

      • Matthew Holliday

        May 12, 2014 at 15:22

        still, being locked to 30FPS and only getting 30FPS is pretty different.
        a console that only gets 30fps, will stutter and visibly drop a few frames during high strain scenes.

        while a locked FPS rate, one thats a fair bit lower than your potential max, will perform the same in high strain and low strain areas, so you dont notice the difference.
        same FPS, but a smoother, more consistant stream.

        Reply

        • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

          May 12, 2014 at 15:23

          fair enough however I still can see the “jitter” introduced by lower 30 FPS on a 60Hz screen. I know people don’t believe me but I’ve proved it to people before lol

          Reply

          • Matthew Holliday

            May 12, 2014 at 15:28

            oh ya, cant stant 30fps either, just pointing out the difference.
            if my pc hits 30fps on something, my credit card finger starts to twitch =/

          • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

            May 12, 2014 at 15:36

            I usually just turn off AA or go to 720 then heh

          • Acornbread

            May 12, 2014 at 22:46

            For sure, I see it too.

        • Kromas

          May 12, 2014 at 15:24

          Also my gfx card idles at room temperature when I play something at 30FPS. 😛

          Reply

      • Shodan

        May 12, 2014 at 16:53

        Thats why he said Dark Souls 2 which is not locked at 30fps but 60.
        Huge difference which one notices right away.

        Reply

        • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

          May 12, 2014 at 19:17

          Oh my you are right. My bad

          Reply

    • Mossel

      May 12, 2014 at 15:10

      Unless you have a kickass 120hz screen. Then you want 120fps! MOAR FRAMES!!

      Reply

  2. Admiral Chief in Space

    May 12, 2014 at 15:04

    SCIENCE!!!

    Reply

    • Jedi JJ

      May 12, 2014 at 15:25

      The pc of gaming platforms.

      Reply

  3. Matewis Jubilai

    May 12, 2014 at 15:04

    Numbers… hz and fps? Hold on, let me first make me some coffee first.

    Reply

  4. Kromas

    May 12, 2014 at 15:04

    Ill leave this here.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief in Space

      May 12, 2014 at 15:08

      XD

      Reply

  5. Matewis Jubilai

    May 12, 2014 at 15:06

    Its been known for ages : there’s 60 fps, 30 fps and power point

    Reply

    • VampyreSquirrel

      May 12, 2014 at 15:17

      Now you’ve made me want to try and see how fast I can get power point to show 60 slides.

      Reply

  6. Rincethis

    May 12, 2014 at 15:10

    • Hammersteyn

      May 12, 2014 at 15:13

      WHAHAHAHAHA!

      Reply

    • Admiral Chief in Space

      May 12, 2014 at 15:24

      Oh snap!

      Reply

    • Jedi JJ

      May 12, 2014 at 15:25

      And then pc would be him with his Spider-Man outfit on.

      Reply

      • Kromas

        May 12, 2014 at 15:26

        Actually the pc would not even be this movie. It would be the Avengers movie. 😛

        Reply

        • Jedi JJ

          May 12, 2014 at 15:27

          I like the way you think.

          Reply

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 15:29

            Simple really. Like the Avengers, pc components individually don’t do well against a pixel invasion but together they form Earths Mightiest Platform!

          • Admiral Chief in Space

            May 12, 2014 at 15:29

            UPVOTE!!!

          • KingKappie

            May 12, 2014 at 15:31

            Comment of the week/ and a life lesson

          • Jedi JJ

            May 12, 2014 at 15:31

            I’d like to think of my CPU as Iron Man, my RAM as Captain America, my HDD as the Hulk, my PSU as Thor and my Graphics card as the Black Widow.

          • KingKappie

            May 12, 2014 at 15:34

            As she is smoking hot??

          • Jedi JJ

            May 12, 2014 at 15:36

            I was actually thinking of the colour of my GPU cover since I’m not a huge fan of Scarlett Johannnsssssen (I always get the n’s and s’s wrong anyway).

          • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

            May 12, 2014 at 15:37

            Wonder if she’s related to Erwinnnnnnnnnnn Kempfffffffff

          • Admiral Chief in Space

            May 12, 2014 at 15:40

            Indeed, my next wife

          • Rincethis

            May 12, 2014 at 15:44

            Don’t let the current one see that! 0-o

          • Jedi JJ

            May 12, 2014 at 15:45

            He won’t like her when she’s angry 😉

          • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

            May 12, 2014 at 15:51

            GG

          • Admiral Chief in Space

            May 12, 2014 at 15:50

            Oh, I’m not divorcing her, she’s awesome, I’m just taking another you see

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 15:50

            Ah! the Zuma Method of appropriation.

          • Admiral Chief in Space

            May 12, 2014 at 15:54

            Indeed, in a couple of years I’ll make the public pay for upgrades to our palace as well

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 15:55

            Please just call it something easier to pronounce like “House” or “Palace” or something that rhymes well with “gate”.

          • Jedi JJ

            May 12, 2014 at 16:07

            Does she call you “mein Kempff”?

          • Jedi JJ

            May 12, 2014 at 15:42

            You’re an f short there.

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 15:34

            And don’t forget Coulson as your MB.

          • Jedi JJ

            May 12, 2014 at 15:36

            And Hawkeye as safely removed hardware. Boom!

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 15:41

            Agent Hill is better suited as she really is useless. Ooh and we can have Fury as Windows. You know … looks like he is making everyone cooperate but when things start failing he is and I paraphrase here “Shield Director not found. Please insert Shield director into agency and reboot.”

          • Matewis Jubilai

            May 12, 2014 at 15:37

            Close but I think you’re wrong about Black Widow. She’s more like the Printer port or a regular PCI slot. You know, useless in battle…

          • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

            May 12, 2014 at 15:49

            Because you always try getting in but always find yourself the wrong way around?

          • Admiral Chief in Space

            May 12, 2014 at 15:50

            Any way around is fine with her, cuz DAT ASS

          • Matewis Jubilai

            May 12, 2014 at 15:59

            lol perhaps if she was a USB port

          • Rincethis

            May 12, 2014 at 15:37

            And the user as Noddy? *Runs

          • Weaner 'some arsehole' dog

            May 12, 2014 at 15:41

            I always thought black widow was the visual display unit, the thing you stare at most. Unless you Rince. In his case she would have to be the keyboard.

          • Rincethis

            May 12, 2014 at 15:42

            Why, because I would hate to have my hands on her? 😛

          • Weaner 'some arsehole' dog

            May 12, 2014 at 15:59

            Because it is what you stare at most while using a computer. I was actually being nice.

          • Jedi JJ

            May 12, 2014 at 15:42

            Haha. And of course because Rince will also not know what to do with a keyboard.

          • Weaner 'some arsehole' dog

            May 12, 2014 at 15:58

            Yip no clue, but he can get to peer at her with that blank stare of his.

          • Mossel

            May 12, 2014 at 15:36

            I will use this in a science paper someday.

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 15:37

            Just remember to add me in your memoirs.

          • Mossel

            May 12, 2014 at 15:39

            Already made a note. You will be in my bibliography along with other legends that contributed to the PC master race.

    • Matewis Jubilai

      May 12, 2014 at 15:25

      I don’t think an XBox has that much anti aliasing?

      Reply

      • Rincethis

        May 12, 2014 at 15:26

        HAHAHAHAHA!

        Reply

  7. Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

    May 12, 2014 at 15:10

    Look there is a vast difference between 30FPS and 60FPS dependent on your screen.

    I can always tell the difference as 30FPS always feels more “Choppy”.

    I like these comparisons as I believe that fram rate is far more important than resolution. 720p is fine by me as long as it’s 60FPS and not 30 which is half the screen’s capabilities and thus will result in jittery display

    Reply

    • Matewis Jubilai

      May 12, 2014 at 15:16

      30 fps versus 60 fps is a bit like walking from point A to point B when you’re semi-drunk: you get to B, only it feels as if it though you missed half of the steps along the way.

      Reply

      • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

        May 12, 2014 at 15:22

        hahahaaha nice

        Reply

    • Sageville

      May 12, 2014 at 15:17

      Agreed, I prefer 60fps over 1080p, but I want both 1080p with 60fps, all the time, all the games.

      Make it so!

      Reply

      • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

        May 12, 2014 at 15:22

        Hehehe. That is the dream hey. Soon it will be 4K at 60FPS hey 😉

        Reply

        • Sageville

          May 12, 2014 at 15:28

          Sure, but I don’t think there will be a 60fps vs +60fps debate in the future, surely 60fps is enough?

          Reply

          • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

            May 12, 2014 at 15:36

            the difference is very much as noticable between 120 and 60. SO I guess once 60 is the global absolute minimum ppl will start the 60 vs 120 debate

          • Rags

            May 12, 2014 at 15:44

            This. The difference between 60-120 is massive too. I prefer games at 120hz/120fps. In Quake its 120hz/250fps. IMO the jump to 250 is not very noticeable. 60 is okay. But damn I simply can’t go to 30. Which is why I won’t ever get a console.

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 15:46

            Like I said … past 100FPS you won’t notice any changes. It very similar to watching a 2HD movie VS a 720p Movie on a Galaxy S5.

          • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

            May 12, 2014 at 15:50

            you won’t see a differance between 120 and 250 if your display isn’t 250.

            This is where the massive difference comes in.

            Your refresh rate is what determines what looks best on your screen.

  8. Mossel

    May 12, 2014 at 15:12

    That is an awesome comparison. I’ve had this debate with so many people before! Raging on the internet like cod fanboy. I am not proud of the things I’ve said.

    Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      May 12, 2014 at 15:17

      you should be proud.
      they should be embarassed for being dumb.

      Reply

  9. Kromas

    May 12, 2014 at 15:18

    Let me teach you something amazing about the human eye. It easily handles 1000Fps. The Brain on the other handles just about 100Fps. That is why “flicker free” tvs have an inherent 100Fps “upscale” and your shows just look crisper. Also tv shows use motion blur to reduce flickering since most shows are shot at 25fps (or 30 but same thing)

    Reply

  10. Hammersteyn

    May 12, 2014 at 15:22

    I know MS hasn’t had the best of launches but they will get there. Hopefully DX12 helps them reach the 60 fps mark.
    http://37.media.tumblr.com/72e69cc3f63b8af4be50e8f237966d71/tumblr_mo8rkn722E1rmhx40o1_400.gif

    Reply

    • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

      May 12, 2014 at 15:24

      huehuehue

      Reply

    • Matewis Jubilai

      May 12, 2014 at 15:24

      Wahahaha

      Reply

    • Rincethis

      May 12, 2014 at 15:24

      lol

      Reply

  11. Melasco

    May 12, 2014 at 15:26

    Ooh, I love math…. The answer is 30!

    Reply

    • Jedi JJ

      May 12, 2014 at 15:26

      *maths
      This…is…South Africa!

      Reply

    • Kromas

      May 12, 2014 at 15:27

      Don’t make ME fans look dumb. Change your profile pic before posting stuff like this. 😛

      Reply

    • Her Highness the Hipster

      May 12, 2014 at 15:28

      you mean 42. the answer is always 42

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in Space

        May 12, 2014 at 15:29

        Correct!

        Reply

      • Weaner 'some arsehole' dog

        May 12, 2014 at 15:43

        I thought the answer was alcohol. Oh no wait that is the solution.

        Reply

  12. CAE9872

    May 12, 2014 at 15:38

    I do like how one of the examples is “BF4 running”.

    Reply

  13. UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

    May 12, 2014 at 15:41

    and here in PC world I am currently working on getting a screen that can handle above 120FPS since my current screen can only handle 60 before tearing steps in.

    And here the consoles are fighting over the scraps 😛

    Reply

    • Kromas

      May 12, 2014 at 15:44

      Master Race never really gets into these kind of battles cause its trivial and we are usually 5 years ahead.

      Reply

      • UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

        May 12, 2014 at 15:45

        lol! True statement has been made.

        That said above 60Hz monitors are crazy expensive xD

        Reply

        • Rags

          May 12, 2014 at 15:46

          CRT’s are cheap 😛

          Reply

          • Kromas

            May 12, 2014 at 15:47

            Also a night light in sleep mode. 🙂

          • UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy

            May 12, 2014 at 15:48

            Hahahahaha! Can you imagine how much a 27inch flat glass CRT weighs? xD

            Can you even lift?

  14. Rags

    May 12, 2014 at 15:45

    Good post. And then there is also persistance, tic rate and so forth for confuse you even more:P

    Reply

    • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

      May 12, 2014 at 15:52

      tic rate? That method hasn’t been used in many years has it?

      Reply

    • Kromas

      May 12, 2014 at 15:53

      And many people forget about pixel GtG response times.

      Reply

  15. Viking Of Science

    May 12, 2014 at 15:51

    Consoles fighting over 60 FPS, 1080p, This technology achieved on PC 3 years ago, Direct X 12 a thing. Half Life 3 Confirmed

    Reply

    • Kromas

      May 12, 2014 at 15:52

      Yay HL3 confirmed.!

      Reply

    • Robert Hart

      May 12, 2014 at 16:30

      Been on PC for way longer than 3 years ago. PC has been enjoying unrestricted graphics since before PS3 and X360 even came out.

      Reply

      • Viking Of Science

        May 13, 2014 at 08:15

        Wow, you just, like, totally missed the joke didn’t you?…

        Reply

        • Robert Hart

          May 13, 2014 at 08:50

          I noticed that you tried to make a joke.

          Reply

  16. Diceair

    May 12, 2014 at 15:57

    I laugh at people saying oh your eyes can only see 30FPS. lol they stupid people then

    Reply

    • DiceAir

      May 12, 2014 at 15:59

      oh and I can see the difference between 60hz/60fps and 120hz/120fps

      Reply

      • derp

        May 12, 2014 at 16:39

        So what do you want for your “achievement”?
        A cookie?

        Reply

  17. Acornbread

    May 12, 2014 at 22:52

    60fps is obviously better but I’m happy with 30fps as long as it’s CONSISTENT. Nothing worse than erratic framerates. Or screen tearing. I’ll rather have lower fps than screen tearing.

    Reply

  18. Deano

    May 13, 2014 at 14:12

    120FPS >>> 60FPS

    Reply

  19. InsanityFlea

    May 13, 2014 at 15:08

    30 FPS SUCKS on my 120hz PC screen. /thread

    Reply

  20. Ian Brodrick

    October 31, 2014 at 10:13

    Fps is like the difference between 30MPH and 60MPH yeah they technically both get you were your going, but one is much more fun and exciting.

    Reply

  21. getagrip

    August 26, 2018 at 20:18

    YOU CAN ALSO HAVE 60 FPS INPUT OF ALL CONTROL FUNCTION AND 30FPS OF FRAMES

    Reply

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