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Does Having Multiple Monitors Affect FPS?

By: Robert Llarves | Date Posted: December 16, 2022

Does Having Multiple Monitors Affect FPS?

Answer: While having multiple monitors can technically affect your FPS, it is typically not noticeable. This is because the GPU’s VRAM (Video Memory) will be used to maintain the extra displays, which in turn can lower the amount of available memory for games and applications.

However, if you have a powerful graphics card with plenty of VRAM, then the impact on FPS should be relatively minimal. In summary, while having multiple displays may affect your FPS slightly, it is generally not a major concern unless you are running low on video memory.

In that case, consider upgrading your GPU or reducing the resolution/settings of your game or application to free up more memory.


Other Ways to Improve Gaming FPS

Improve Gaming FPS

1. Close All Other Programs While You’re Playing

One of the most common techniques one can use to increase frames per second while gaming is to close out any other programs that may be running.

While some programs do not take up enough RAM to drastically damage gaming performance, multiple programs can cause the computer to become sluggish and make the game difficult to run smoothly.

To optimize your gaming experience, closing other programs should be one of the first steps you consider when troubleshooting lower-than-expected FPS. Moreover, if a player notices other applications taking up excessive CPU or RAM usage while playing, then closing them should be a priority – this will free up necessary resources for improved gaming performance.

2. Disable background applications

Background applications can be another hindrance to gaming performance, as they may be running in the background without you being aware of them.

To reduce their impact on your game’s FPS, disabling or uninstalling unnecessary applications can help. Additionally, running a task manager like Windows Task Manager can also help identify which applications are using up resources and how much CPU or RAM they’re consuming.

3. Update Your Graphics Card Drivers

Updating graphics card drivers is an important part of optimizing PC gaming performance as it allows access to new features and bug fixes for the GPU. This ensures that games are more likely to run more efficiently when paired with updated drivers, especially if one experiences stuttering or poor performance in-game.

Updating graphics card drivers is a relatively straightforward process and should always be done prior to playing the latest games.

4. Set Your Graphics Card to Performance Mode

Setting your graphics card to performance mode is another way to improve gaming FPS.

This setting can usually be found in the GPU’s control panel, and it determines how much power the GPU consumes when running demanding applications or games.

By setting this option to ‘maximum performance, you can ensure that the GPU allocates more resources towards boosting game performance, thus increasing FPS.

5. Reduce the Resolution of Your Game

Reducing the resolution of your game can also help boost FPS if necessary. Lower resolutions require fewer resources from the GPU, allowing it to focus on pushing up frames instead of dedicating resources to rendering higher-resolution textures.

Of course, reducing the resolution can cause a drop in graphical quality, but if you’re looking for improved performance then this may be a necessary step.

6. Turn Off Anti-Aliasing and Motion Blur Features

Turning off anti-aliasing and motion blur features can also help improve gaming FPS. While these features provide smoother visuals, they do come at the cost of additional GPU resources which could potentially affect your frames per second.

However, turning them off should result in an immediate boost in FPS – just keep in mind that graphical fidelity will suffer accordingly.

7. Lower In-Game Settings

Lowering in-game settings such as shadows, textures, and post-processing effects can also be a great way to boost FPS. While these graphical features may look great, they do take up additional processing power from the GPU which can lead to lower frames per second.

If you’re looking for improved performance then lowering these settings should provide an immediate boost in FPS.

8. Overclock Your CPU Or GPU If Possible

Overclocking your CPU or GPU can help improve gaming performance if done properly. This involves increasing the clock speed of either component above its factory default levels in order to increase overall system performance – this includes improved gaming FPS.

However, overclocking can be a risky process and should only be done if you’re confident in your abilities or are knowledgeable enough to know how to do it properly.

9. Invest in A Quality Cooling System

Keeping your components cool is another important aspect of improving gaming performance as heat can directly affect the stability and longevity of hardware components.

Investing in a quality cooling system such as liquid cooling or using high-end air-cooling solutions like tower coolers can help ensure that your PC remains at optimal temperatures while running demanding games and applications. This will allow for improved performance without having to worry about your system overheating during extended sessions.

10. Use Microsoft’s Game Mode

Microsoft actually has a feature called Game Mode with Windows 10, which can help improve gaming performance on PCs by providing dedicated resources to games when they are running. This will allow for improved frames per second and smoother gameplay, making it easier to enjoy your favorite titles without having to worry about stuttering or dropping frames.

If you follow these steps and take the time to troubleshoot a dip in your PC’s gaming FPS, you can make sure that your computer is running games as performance as possible – all while keeping an eye on your hardware health.


Other Factors Affecting FPS

In addition to the software-related solutions listed in the previous section, there are several hardware-related factors that can affect FPS as well. Understanding these factors can help you make informed decisions when upgrading or optimizing your gaming setup.

CPU and GPU Performance

Your CPU and GPU are responsible for processing the game’s graphics and physics calculations. If your CPU or GPU is outdated or underpowered, it can result in low FPS and other performance issues. Upgrading to a more powerful CPU or GPU can help improve your gaming performance.

RAM and System Memory

Your system memory, or RAM, is used to store data that the CPU and GPU need to access quickly. Insufficient RAM can result in slower performance and lower FPS. Upgrading your RAM can help improve your gaming performance, especially if you frequently run multiple programs at the same time.

Display Resolution

The resolution of your monitor can also affect FPS. Higher resolutions require more processing power, so if your hardware is struggling to keep up, lowering the resolution can help improve FPS. However, this will also result in lower visual quality.

Graphics Settings

In-game graphics settings can also have a significant impact on FPS. Increasing the level of detail or enabling advanced graphical features such as shadows and reflections can reduce FPS while lowering these settings can improve it.

Overclocking

Overclocking your CPU or GPU can help improve gaming performance by increasing clock speeds and processing power. However, this can also cause your hardware to run hotter and may lead to stability issues or even hardware damage if not done carefully.

Cooling

Cooling is an often-overlooked factor in gaming performance. Overheating can cause your hardware to slow down or even shut down to protect itself. Investing in a quality cooling system, such as liquid cooling or additional fans, can help keep your hardware running at optimal temperatures and improve FPS.

By considering these factors and optimizing your hardware accordingly, you can improve your gaming FPS and overall performance.


How to Monitor your Gaming Performance?

Task Manager Data

It’s important to keep an eye on the performance of your PC when gaming. This can be done by using a variety of tools such as monitoring applications or built-in Windows features like Task Manager or Performance Monitor. These will allow you to check things like CPU, GPU, and RAM utilization as well as temperatures in order to make sure that everything is running optimally while gaming.

Keeping track of these metrics can help you diagnose any potential issues in your system and ensure that your PC remains at peak performance for years to come.


How to Test your FPS In-Game?

In-Game Performance

To test your FPS, you can use in-game tools such as the MSI Afterburner FPS counter or Fraps.

Before attempting to increase your gaming performance, it’s important to know where you currently stand in terms of game frames per second (FPS) so you can measure any improvements.

With either of these tools, you’ll be able to easily see your current FPS and compare it to other settings or hardware upgrades. This will give you a better indication of what is causing the lag and how much improvement you need to make in order for your gaming experience to be much smoother.

You can also make use of benchmarking tools such as 3DMark to test your overall gaming performance and look at what factors may be causing a decrease in FPS.

By testing your FPS before and after any changes you make, you’ll be able to accurately assess the impact of different hardware or software tweaks on your gaming performance. This is an important step that should not be overlooked if you want to make the most out of your gaming experience.


Final Thoughts on the Matter

Gaming

Improving your gaming FPS can be as simple as closing extra applications or as complicated as overclocking your hardware. But whichever route you choose, it’s important to test your game performance before and after any changes you make.

This way, you’ll know precisely what is causing the lag and how much of an improvement you are able to make with different tweaks. With the right knowledge and patience, you can easily improve your gaming FPS and get more enjoyment out of your games.

Henz Llarves

Robert Llarves

Robert Llarves is a PC hardware enthusiast, gamer, and writer. He has been building his own rigs for a long time and is passionate about helping others do the same. Robert is also an avid competitive gamer, having played games such as Dota 2 and Far Cry.

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