Frame Pacing: Why Smoothness Is About Frametime, Not FPS
Smoothness is consistent timing. FPS is just a count. Frame pacing is the pattern of frame delivery — and that is what you feel.
What Bad Pacing Feels Like
- Micro-judder even at “high FPS”.
- Aim feels less stable because motion is uneven.
- Camera pans look inconsistent across the same scene.
Fix Order
- Identify stutter type (shader, CPU, streaming).
- Apply a realistic frame cap for stability.
- Then enable VRR and tune for comfort.
- Only after that, push settings for higher FPS.
Rule: stable frametimes beat high peak FPS for real feel.
Related Guides
ExperienceOutcomes you can feel in play.
PlaybooksStep by step fixes for better feel.
Stutter Types: A Quick TriageTriage before pacing changes.
VRR Setup GuideVRR works best with stable pacing.
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