From the unveiling of the Steam Machine to its launch and beyond, there's been more talk about gaming on Linux than ever before. There's an ongoing debate about How many FPS are needed for a good experience?Some people say no less than 60, while others insist 30 is more than enough. Who's right? It depends on several factors, including individual preferences and tolerance levels.
What we're going to explain here is why those extra FPS that you get on Linux Yes, they do make a difference…or not. Or when it is and when it isn't. We'll also answer the logical question of why a movie looks good at low fps (usually 24) and some people say that it's a disaster when playing games.
The delays (lag)
Before we begin, we need to talk about the delays, about English lagAnd before moving on to the frames per secondWe need to talk about the Internet connectionI remember a long time ago wanting to play Quake 3, which was all online. Everyone else moved like acrobats, and I was like a soldier covered in injuries from how badly I moved. One day, I don't remember why, I was playing against someone, I opened the console and said "STOP". That person was fair and stopped in front of me (I was about to get destroyed). I asked him why everyone else moved faster, and he said it must be my connection (256 kbps ADSL).
I stopped playing online until years later.
Years later, with a 6 Mbps ADSL connection, I started playing Call of Duty: Black Ops, and I was pretty bad. I often found myself shooting where there was no one in the deathcam. I wondered how that was possible, so I ran a speed test and my ping was high. I was literally playing in the past tense. I switched to fiber optic internet, and my performance and stats improved.
More FPS = less input lag
Having explained the above, we must mention another type of delay: input lag. Although games usually record keystrokes, the lower the frame rate, the greater the likelihood of mistimed key presses. The difference is a matter of milliseconds, but those milliseconds matter when playing online. This is the main reason why demanding gamers want to play at around 120fps. That's a lot, too many I'd say, almost madness or obsession, but the truth is that The more FPS, the more accurate.
The difference with videos recorded with a camera
When someone doesn't have the equipment to reach 120fps and is told that 120fps is necessary, they question things. A logical doubt arises: The films are almost all recorded at 24fpsSome are even at 48fps. If I watch movies at 24fps and everything looks smooth and high quality, what are you telling me about needing at least 60fps for it to look smooth? Well, because it's not the same thing.
Try it yourself: play a game at 30fps and then increase it to 60fps if possible. You'll see a noticeable difference in smoothness. But why is that if the videos also look smooth and are recorded at 24fps? It's because of how they are recorded and generated. frames.
A video camera takes 24 photos per second, but with an exhibition in which images are captured that appear blurredIf we take a video and play it frame by frame, we'll see that many of them are blurry. These blurry frames are what allow us to see the action with complete fluidity. A still, blurry frame will always be like a blurry photo, but together with the rest, it's what gives the sensation of fluidity.
In games, this type of in-between frame DOES NOT EXIST. Every It's a perfectly sharp photo, but at low frame rates the stuttering is noticeable. 30 fps might be fine, but as I said, if you increase it to 60 fps you'll notice the smoothness because the time between sharp images is reduced.
How many FPS are enough?
For most games, 60 is more than enough. In fact, it's like the framerate This is a standard way to describe something performing well. However, we can discuss different options depending on the type of game and match:
- Playable (from my point of view): a game can be playable si it keeps above 20fps And it's played in offline campaign mode. I know many of you are thinking it's silly, very few, crazy, but I've seen frame rates drop to that point and I've been able to keep playing even after those drops. The point here is whether there are any frame rate drops at all. If it drops below 20-something, I think it's literally unplayable; I don't know if anyone will tolerate that.
- Decent: 30fps is the second standardThe one that companies mention to indicate that a title is playable. For example, Doom: The Dark Ages, which has been updated this month and obtained verification for the Steam Deck promising an average of 30fps.
- True smoothness: If you want true smoothness, it needs to be maintained for considerably longer than 30fps. I would say that almost 50fps or reaching 60fps.
- Pro: If someone wants a pro level of performance, because they play online as a main hobby or professionally, then the more the better. I don't think I'll ever need to get close to 100fps, but the more, the less lag and the more precise. I don't think my eyes would even notice it.
Do the extra FPS you get on Linux make a difference?
In the end, Feelings are what matter most.I remember playing Horizon Zero Dawn at 30fps at first without any complaints, but then bumping it up to 60fps and noticing the smoothness. In that case, I left it at 30fps when I wanted to extend battery life, but I remember bumping it up again when I was at a more difficult point. Obsessing over 60fps, especially if you don't play online professionally, isn't a good idea. You won't enjoy an experience that would likely be satisfying.
To answer the question, very little, but yes. A game that goes from an average of 40fps to over 60fps will indeed look smoother, and everything will be more precise. But the difference won't be that significant if you're not playing online. My recommendation is simple: as a Linux user, and knowing that you get better performance, if the game works on Linux, it's best to play it there. If not, then you'll have to go and die on Windows. There is a difference, but it's best not to get too hung up on it.