Does a 4k Monitor affect FPS? (Explained for Beginners!)

If you are a gamer like me, you must have heard about the 4k monitors, as these monitors provide a higher resolution than other monitors.

But many gamers often want to know whether these 4k monitors impact the framerates or not?

I researched the 4k monitors and their impacts on framerates, and after a complete analysis, I am writing this article to inform you everything regarding this.

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So, Will 4K Monitor Affect FPS?

Generally, 4K monitors have no connection with the framerates, but there’s a connection between the framerate & GPU.

Imagine if you have a powerful GPU but a worse monitor, then your GPU will produce an immense amount of frames, but your monitor wont be able to keep up with it.

Because of this, it is advised to use a 4K monitor with a powerful GPU, because together they affect the framerates to some extent.

There are other different factors of 4K monitors and framerates, and all of these factors discussed below. So, keep reading this article till the end.

4K Monitor & FPS: Here’s the Connection

There is no direct connection between 4k monitors & FPS because monitors never directly affect the framerates; most of the time, CPUs & GPUs are responsible for the framerates.

But there is a connection between Monitor & GPU, and their combination impacts the framerates.

Here’s how these three factors are closely related to each other-

Refresh rate is one of the most significant factors of Monitor, and it is measured in hertz. Usually, it indicates the number of times the screen of the monitor refreshes.

For example, if a monitor has a refresh rate of 75hz means, it refreshes 75 times per second.

On the other hand, FPS is the number of frames produced by your GPU in a second.

Now, if you have a very weak GPU that maxes out at 60 fps, then a 4k monitor with a better refresh rate won’t do anything (and if it also has a more effective resolution- your fps will drop because your GPU is too weak to handle that resolution & refresh rate).

On the contrary, if you have a GPU that is capable of achieving 100+ fps at your desired resolution, but if you are using an old display that maxes out at 60hz (=60 fps), then you should upgrade to a better display because upgrading to a better display will allow you to have better refresh rate/ more fps.

So, if you are using a solid GPU that produces an immense amount of frames but your Monitor is not strong enough to keep up with it, then you will face screen tearing issues.

That’s why it is advised to use a better GPU with a 4K monitor because together, they can provide stable framerates, and this is how these three factors are co-related to each other.

What FPS is best for 4K Monitors?

The modern PC games are playable at 30 fps, but for most gamers, 60 framerates is the ideal fps to play games.

As you have already come to know, the Monitor’s refresh rate is measured in Hz, and most 4k monitors are available with refresh rates in the 60Hz to 75Hz range.

Usually, a 60Hz monitor refreshes the screen 60 times per second; therefore, a 60Hz monitor can only output 60 fps.

Overall, it has to be said that if you are using a good GPU capable of producing 60 frames per second, then the 60-75 is the best fps you will get on 4K monitors.

Also Read: Can Thermal Paste affect FPS?

Does 4K Monitor reduce FPS?

Yes! in some instances, Monitors make an impact on the framerates. A monitor with a high-resolution rate will have a higher FPS rate than that with a low-resolution monitor when connected to the same CPU or GPU.

The monitor resolution indicates the composition of the specific number of pixels, and the refresh rate indicates the number of times your Monitor can refresh its images per second.

Besides refresh rate, the Monitor’s resolution is also a significant factor. The 4K monitors have four times the pixel count of full HD displays, and the majority of the 4K displays come with 3840 Ã— 2160 pixel resolution.

So, now the question is whether a 4k monitor reduces FPS?

If you are not using a good CPU or GPU, you will notice a drop in framerates even if you used a 4K monitor with high resolution and refresh rate.

Suppose your 4K monitor can produce a 75Hz refresh rate, but your GPU or CPU is not sufficient to generate up to 75 Hz, then you will notice an FPS drops. This is a perfect example of how a 4K Monitor can cause FPS drops.

To avoid this issue, it is advisable to use a 4K monitor with a good CPU or GPU.

How Much FPS a 4K Monitor Can Provide?

Usually, there is no direct link between the Monitor and framerates. The capability of any monitor depends on the refresh rate (Hz) and Monitor’s resolution.

On the other hand, FPS stands for framerates per second, and the framerate is the frequency at which consecutive images are captured or displayed.

So, after looking at the definition, it is clear that your Monitor is responsible for refreshing the images; on the other hand, your GPU or CPU is responsible for generating framerates.

Now, how much FPS a 4K Monitor can provide is such a difficult thing to say, but the majority of the 4K monitor comes with a 60 to 75 Hz refresh rate. If you use an excellent GPU capable of generating 70Hz, 75 is the maximum framerate you will get on most 4K monitors.

4K Monitor FPS drops: Here’s the reason

Many users these days are using 4K monitors for their professional purposes and everyday use. In general, 4K monitors provide an excellent refresh rate & resolution.

Generally, the 4K monitors can produce a 60 Hz to 75 Hz, and therefore these monitors provide the framerate between this range.

But often, user complains that the framerate drops a lot on 4K monitors; this can be due to the CPU and GPU you are using.

Usually, Monitors don’t affect the framerate, but the GPU and CPU is the most crucial factor for the framerates.

If you are using a 4K monitor and your framerate becomes low, then you might be using an outdated CPU, or your GPU is old & not capable to generates the required framerates.

So, if you are facing low fps on a 4K monitor, then there might be an issue on your CPU or GPU; the problem is not on your Monitor.

Also Read: Does DirectX 12 Improve FPS?

How Can you Improve 4k Monitor’s FPS?

You have already come to know that Monitors never impact the framerates; therefore, if you want to improve your 4K monitor’s fps, you should have to check your GPU and CPU.

But before discussing how can you improve framerates, you should know that if you are getting the fps around 60, then it is sufficient for everyday tasks, including gaming, and in this case, there is no need for you to improve your FPS.

But if you are getting the fps below 60, then you can improve that by picking a good NVidia graphics card. Or, if you don’t want to use new graphics, then you can overclock your existing GPU.

Usually, with the help of overclocking, you will force your GPU to operate at more speed, which may give you more framerates than usual.

Should I Buy a 4K Monitor for better FPS?

It entirely depends on your requirements; if you have such an old monitor that maxes out at only 30 fps which is not enough for playing games, then you can go for a 4K monitor.

These days 4K monitors are used by professionals, casual users, and gamers. So, if you want to get stable framerates between 60 to 75, then you can opt for a 4K monitor.

But, before buying a Monitor, you must check for its refresh rate & resolution.

So, if you are planning to get a 4K monitor for better fps & gaming experience, then you can go for Philips 278E1A 27″ Frameless Monitor, 4K UHD IPS. It is one of the most sold out 4K monitors available on Amazon.

Can You Get 120 FPS on a 4K Monitor?

No! it’s almost impossible to get 120 FPS on a 4K monitor because most 4K monitors come with a refresh rate between 60 Hz and 75 Hz.

Therefore, even if you use a good GPU, you will get an FPS between 60 to 70, which is quite decent. But getting the framerate around 120 is not possible as 4K monitors won’t be able to handle these framerates.

Final Thoughts

After observing everything, it has to be said that the 4K monitors don’t impact the framerates directly, but in combination with GPU, it affects the fps.

I hope this article is helpful for you and if you want to know more about the 4k monitors, FPS, gaming, PC components, and other technology-related things, then keep following this blog regularly.

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