F5F Stay Refreshed Software PC Gaming Improving frame rates in windowed mode compared to fullscreen.

Improving frame rates in windowed mode compared to fullscreen.

Improving frame rates in windowed mode compared to fullscreen.

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sant10
Member
69
02-10-2023, 06:03 AM
#1
So I'm just getting started with PC gaming, I already own a laptop and am pretty comfortable with computers. (If I wanted, I could build my own setup.) But I've always played on consoles. Now I have a ROG Strix G with a 60Hz screen, but I connect it to a Samsung QLED curved monitor via HDMI at 120Hz. Last night I was playing Portal 2 with V-Sync turned on, MSAA at 8x, and all settings set high. Fullscreen runs around 119-121 FPS, which looks super smooth on the NIVA overlay and MSI afterburner. But when I switched to windowed mode even with the same settings, my FPS jumped to nearly 300. I know my monitor isn't refreshing at 290fps because it's only running at 120Hz while the screen is 144Hz. It also stutters and tears even with V-Sync on in windowed mode, but once I switched back to fullscreen it stabilized at 120fps and the performance improved. Can anyone explain why this happens? From what I've read in other forums, people say running in fullscreen actually increases FPS, while windowed or borderless windowed mode tends to lower it.
S
sant10
02-10-2023, 06:03 AM #1

So I'm just getting started with PC gaming, I already own a laptop and am pretty comfortable with computers. (If I wanted, I could build my own setup.) But I've always played on consoles. Now I have a ROG Strix G with a 60Hz screen, but I connect it to a Samsung QLED curved monitor via HDMI at 120Hz. Last night I was playing Portal 2 with V-Sync turned on, MSAA at 8x, and all settings set high. Fullscreen runs around 119-121 FPS, which looks super smooth on the NIVA overlay and MSI afterburner. But when I switched to windowed mode even with the same settings, my FPS jumped to nearly 300. I know my monitor isn't refreshing at 290fps because it's only running at 120Hz while the screen is 144Hz. It also stutters and tears even with V-Sync on in windowed mode, but once I switched back to fullscreen it stabilized at 120fps and the performance improved. Can anyone explain why this happens? From what I've read in other forums, people say running in fullscreen actually increases FPS, while windowed or borderless windowed mode tends to lower it.

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CLPSGAMER
Member
176
02-14-2023, 02:28 AM
#2
V-sync functions exclusively in fullscreen applications.
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CLPSGAMER
02-14-2023, 02:28 AM #2

V-sync functions exclusively in fullscreen applications.

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DecoGamerEz
Member
212
02-16-2023, 02:38 PM
#3
Ahhhhh thank you, when I put it in windowed mode v-sync stays enabled but clearly by the higher fps and tearing it would make sense it isn't working.  Thank you.
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DecoGamerEz
02-16-2023, 02:38 PM #3

Ahhhhh thank you, when I put it in windowed mode v-sync stays enabled but clearly by the higher fps and tearing it would make sense it isn't working.  Thank you.