How To Limit Fps On Steam Games Easily

How to Limit FPS on Steam Games

Have you ever played a video game on your computer and it felt like it was going too fast? Or maybe it was making your computer too hot? That could be because your game is making your computer work harder than it needs to. The number of pictures your computer shows on the screen every second is called frames per second, or FPS. Sometimes, having too many FPS isn’t a good thing. That’s why you might want to learn how to limit FPS on Steam games. Limiting your FPS can make games run smoother, prevent your computer from overheating, and even save electricity. Let’s explore the ways you can control how many pictures your game shows each second.

Why Would You Limit FPS?

You might be wondering, “If more FPS is better, why would I want to make it lower?” It’s a good question! Here are a few reasons why controlling your FPS can be helpful:

• Prevent Overheating: When your computer works really hard to make lots of pictures every second, it can get very hot. Limiting the FPS tells your computer to chill out and not work so hard, keeping it cooler.
• Reduce Screen Tearing: Sometimes, when your computer makes pictures faster than your screen can show them, the picture gets messed up. It looks like it’s tearing. Limiting the FPS can make the picture look smooth.
• Smoother Gameplay: It might sound strange, but sometimes having too many FPS can actually make the game feel jerky. Limiting the FPS to a stable amount can make the game feel smoother and easier to play.
• Save Energy: When your computer works less, it uses less power. Limiting FPS can save energy, which is good for your wallet and the planet!

Different Ways to Limit FPS on Steam Games

There are several ways you can limit the FPS of your games. Some ways are built right into the game, others are in Steam itself, and there are even other programs that can help. Let’s go through them one by one.

Using In-Game Settings

The easiest way to limit FPS is often within the game itself. Many games have options that let you control how many pictures are shown every second. Here’s how you can usually do it:

1. Start your Game: Open the Steam game you want to play.
2. Find the Settings Menu: Look for a button that says “Options”, “Settings,” “Graphics,” or something similar. It’s usually in the main menu or the pause menu when you are playing.
3. Look for Graphics Options: In the settings menu, find the graphics section. This is where you can control things like resolution, shadows, and, often, FPS.
4. Find the FPS Limiter: Look for options that say “FPS Limit,” “Frame Rate Limit,” or similar. You might see a drop-down menu, a slider, or some boxes you can tick.
5. Choose Your Limit: Pick the FPS limit you want. Common limits are 30 FPS, 60 FPS, or the same as your monitor’s refresh rate (like 144Hz). Experiment to see what feels best.
6. Save Your Changes: Look for a button that says “Apply,” “Save,” or “OK” and click it to make sure your changes are saved.

This method is usually the best choice because it’s easy to use and it’s designed by the people who made the game to work well. However, not every game has this feature, so let’s move to other methods.

Using Steam’s Built-in FPS Limiter

Steam has a helpful feature that lets you limit the FPS of any game, even if the game doesn’t have its own setting. Here’s how to use it:

1. Open Steam Settings: Open the Steam program and then click on “Steam” in the top left corner. Choose “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
2. Go to the “In-Game” Section: On the settings window, click on “In-Game” in the list on the left side.
3. Enable the FPS Limiter: Look for a section called “In-game FPS counter”. There is a box right below it which says “Frame rate limit”. Tick this box to enable FPS limit.
4. Select the limit: A drop down menu will appear next to that box which lets you select the FPS you want to limit for all steam games. Choose the desired FPS limit from the menu.
5. Click OK: Click the “OK” button at the bottom of the window to save your changes.

This way is nice because it’s very easy to set a single limit for all your games. Keep in mind this might not work flawlessly with every game, as some games may override the steam limiter.

Using Your Graphics Card Control Panel

Your computer’s graphics card also has its own settings. These settings can also help control FPS. The most common graphics card companies are NVIDIA and AMD. Let’s explore how to use their control panels for limiting FPS.

NVIDIA Control Panel

If you have an NVIDIA graphics card, you can limit FPS using the NVIDIA Control Panel. Here’s how:

1. Open the NVIDIA Control Panel: Right-click on your desktop and choose “NVIDIA Control Panel”.
2. Go to “Manage 3D Settings”: On the NVIDIA Control Panel, click on “Manage 3D settings”.
3. Select Program Settings: Click on the “Program Settings” tab.
4. Choose Your Game: In the dropdown menu, look for your game. If it’s not there, you can click the “Add” button and find the game’s .exe file (usually where you installed the game).
5. Look for “Max Frame Rate”: In the settings below, find the “Max Frame Rate” option.
6. Set Your Limit: Click on the “Off” option. You can now set it to “On” and click on the drop down menu right next to it and select the desired FPS limit, then click OK.
7. Apply the Settings: Click the “Apply” button at the bottom of the window to save changes.

Using NVIDIA Control Panel gives you more precise control. You can set different FPS limits for different games, which can be useful for games that need different performance levels.

AMD Radeon Software

If you have an AMD graphics card, you can limit FPS using the AMD Radeon Software. Here’s how:

1. Open AMD Radeon Software: Right-click on your desktop and choose “AMD Radeon Software”.
2. Click on “Gaming”: Once AMD Radeon Software is open, go to the “Gaming” tab.
3. Select Your Game: Find your game from the list of games. If it’s not there, you can click on the three dots icon and add it.
4. Look for “Radeon Chill”: Once you select the game, look for the “Radeon Chill” option.
5. Enable Radeon Chill and Set Limits: Activate “Radeon Chill” which allows you to set min and max fps. Select your desired min and max FPS limits.
6. Close the Software: Your changes will apply automatically.

Radeon Chill is a cool tool that lets you dynamically change FPS based on what you are doing in the game. This can help save energy and keep your computer cooler.

Third-Party Software

Besides the options we have already discussed, there are other programs you can use to limit FPS. These programs can sometimes give you more control and customization. Some of the popular ones are:

• RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS): RTSS is often used with MSI Afterburner (a popular tool for graphics card settings). It’s a very detailed tool that gives you a lot of options for controlling FPS.
• Bandicam: Bandicam is primarily a screen recording tool, but it also has a FPS limiter feature that can be useful if you need to record and limit FPS simultaneously.

These programs often require a little more technical knowledge but can be very helpful if you want a high degree of control.

Best Practices for Limiting FPS

Now that we have explored how to limit FPS, here are some best practices to make it work well:

• Experiment with Limits: There is no single perfect limit for all games. Try different limits (30, 60, or your monitor’s refresh rate) and see what feels the smoothest for you.
• Monitor Your Temperatures: After limiting FPS, check your computer’s temperature. This makes sure everything is running cool.
• Test for Stability: Play games for a while after changing your FPS limit and make sure everything runs stable and smooth.
• Update Drivers: Keep your graphics card drivers updated. This can help to make sure everything works well.

Choosing the Right FPS Limit

The best FPS limit for you depends on a few things, like the type of game, your computer’s power, and your monitor. Here’s some general guidance:

When Limiting FPS Isn’t Needed

There are cases when you might not need to limit FPS. If your computer runs smoothly, doesn’t get too hot, and your gameplay feels good, there might not be any reason to make changes. But if you notice that the game is tearing, is jerky, or your computer is getting very hot, it’s a good idea to try limiting FPS.

Troubleshooting

Sometimes, limiting FPS may not work as expected. Here are some common problems and things you can try:

• FPS Limit Not Working: Make sure you apply and save changes after adjusting settings. Sometimes you need to restart the game or your computer. Also make sure that the game itself is not overriding the limiter you have set.
• Stuttering After Limiting: If the game feels jerky even with an FPS limit, try a slightly higher limit or the same as your monitor’s refresh rate. Your computer might struggle to maintain a lower, very stable rate.
• Unexpected Behavior: If something unexpected is happening after you limit FPS, try removing the FPS limit and see if that fixes the problem. Maybe another setting needs to be adjusted.

Remember to take one step at a time and observe what is working or not. This will make it easier to identify the source of the problem and fix it.

Limiting FPS on Steam games is a very useful way to make your games smoother, help your computer stay cool, and use less energy. By understanding the reasons why, and trying the different ways to do it, you can make your gaming experience more fun. Try out the different settings we talked about, experiment to find what works best, and you can enjoy your games more smoothly and comfortably. The goal is to have a balanced system that works well for you, not just getting the most possible frames per second at all costs.