I need some FPS numbers

[Blazer6992]

What should my FPS be?

Do I want a high or a low number?

I just downloaded FRAPS is why I'm asking. I'm running between 30 and 45 out and about. In Whiterun I'm around 60. When I fast travel the load screen goes to 30, is that good or bad when it does that?

When I first load in to a new area and start to look around immediately it can get down to the single digits for a second or two. Is that normal? If I wait for about six or seven seconds before I move (but just keep looking around me in a circular motion) it seems like it comes back up then I can move with out lag, like I have to wait for it all to load. Is this normal?

 

 

 

[FiftyTifty]

*Asks question about specs.*

 

*Doesn't post specs.*

[FYI]

I run a very underpowered rig, but only really use it for screenshots and modding. I would aim for 30 fps at a minimum though. My benchmark are the trees! Once they stop moving in the breeze, I know my FPS is way too low.

[bben46]

FPS is very overated. Playing a game is not about seeing how high you can get your FPS, but how smooth the game runs at whatever FPS looks good to you. Try to go as high as you can without seeing too many drops below the cap. I see people bragging that they get over 60 FPS all the time, and others whining about 40 FPS in specific locations.

 

TV and Movies are both LESS than 30 FPS. Most console games are capped at 30 FPS.

If you are getting better than 30, you are already doing better than the same game played on console.

 

The problem is the constantly changing FPS on a PC game - you will notice a sudden change from 60 to 40 - or from 40 to 60. But if it stays at 25 you will probably think it runs smooth. Unfortunately, capping FPS sometimes causes other problems with Bethesda games - usually showing as much longer load times. My own solution was to experiment with various FPS caps to find a happy medium. On my system ( it may vary by quite a bit on others) I found a 43 FPS cap to give the best overall performance without onerous load times. I see a constant 43 most of the time, with an occasional temporary drop to 39 or 40. Worst will be in combat with several companions and several enemies all acting at once where I can see a drop to around 29 or 30. (using an i5-650, GTX550 Ti, Win7x64 & 8Gig ram)

 

By capping the FPS, you are allowing the system to reserve some of its capability for those times when a little more may be needed to maintain smooth gameplay. While if you don't cap, it may already be at max when you need that little more to keep it smooth - and the card just doesn't have any more to give.

 

I use the Nvidia inspector program to set the cap - works for all Nvidia based cards, there is a similar program for ATI cards.

[Blazer6992]

So do I need a high or low number? I'm FPS stupid. I'm usually between 40 and 50 and in houses around 58.

[Georgiegril]

Wikipedia has a very thorough explanation of frame rate.