It seems like everyone here like the 40Hz mode, and while I do agree it’s much better than 30fps, 45fps is where games start to feel like close to 60fps. It’s only difference of 5fps but it really goes from a better 30 to substitute 60.

I know 40fps has a frame time exactly halfway between 30 and 60, so I was expecting it to feel like it. But it’s not smooth enough to feel like 60fps.

I’ve seen 40fps content on YouTube on my 120Hz phone screen (no irregular frames then), as there are many displays of ps5 games running at 40fps. And yes, several videos did have a side by side comparison with 30fps and I could see a difference. I’ve tried 40fps on 40Hz on my Steam deck and it’s the same.

I’ve made the mistake of thinking 45-60fps was just 60fps locked, I’ve played several 60fps game in my time (and even 120fps, although rarely) and 45 is pretty close. I can only notice missing frames in a side by side comparison of 45 and 60, otherwise when you are in game paying attention you won’t notice it much.

  • MetroYoshi@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    FPS is an inverse relation, so let’s bring the seconds back into the numerator and use frametimes instead. 60fps is about 16.7ms per frame, 30fps is about 33.3ms. 40fps is 25ms, which is exactly halfway between 30 in 60. In other words, for only 10fps more, you’re basically achieving 50% of the improvement from 30 to 60. This is one reason why 40Hz is so well-loved.

    45fps is about 22.2ms. This is exactly 2/3rds of the way from 30 to 60. So yes, that 5fps is definitely a marked improvement. You’re achieving 66% of the improvement for only 15fps over 30. But the improvements have diminished. The higher the fps gets, the less significant each individual frame is, meanwhile the additional performance required to reach it doesn’t change at all.

    This is all to say that you’re right, and it’s not really an unpopular opinion (or really an opinion at all). Yes, 45fps is great on the Deck, and the experience will be much closer to 60fps than some may realize. But not all games can run at 45, and many games that can’t run at 45 will run at 40, so it’s not like people are choosing to run at a lower fps just for shits and giggles.