I currently have an RTX3080 card so no frame gen. I am however contemplating getting and RTX4080 Super in the not too distant future. Seeing as I have not used frame gen, I was unsure how this would work with framerate limited to 60Hz by my monitor so I have V-sync enabled at 100% monitor refresh rate in the game. With my current setup, frame rate is typically in the 30 - 40FPS range but with some uncomplicated scenes it can go as high as 60FPS and therefore hit the V-sync cap. Note that I am running 4K resolution with almost all Ultra settings with 200 OLOD, 300 TLOD. Obviously I have no clue as to what frame rate to expect with an RTX 4080 Super and MSFS 2024.
My question therefore specifically for the following two scenarios should I get a frame gen capable GPU:
What is the logic if you have frame gen enabled and the actual frame rate exceeds the 60FPS “cap”? Would the GPU be adding the additional frame regardless and just “hold back” the next frame until the monitor is ready for it? If so, creating the extra frame would seem at least partly redundant. Is there any built in logic to mange this situation that anybody is aware of?
Similarly but not as bad: what happens if the actual frame rate is between 30 and 60FPS as doubling the frame rate would exceed the 60FPS cap? As asked in the first instance, would it still double the rate and just “hold back” the next frame until the monitor is ready for it?
The doubled frames will always be generated (with some exceptions like frame capping) and all frames real or doubled over 60 fps will be dropped so no significant advantage of using frame gen with a 60 Hz monitor if your pumping out lots of frames. Freesync/g-sync will manage it to keep everything smooth (as possible).
Assuming a 60Hz monitor, for fps at up to 30 the frames will get doubled and you monitor will display all frames. For say 40fps, the frames will be doubled to 80 and 60 will be displayed and 20 of them will be dropped. The same math goes for the more fps you generate.
So quite frankly, frame gen would benefit a PC like yours currently that can only do 30-40 fps. The catch is AMD (and I believe Nvidia also) recommend ~50 fps as a minimum for frame gen to provide a good experience. Hence some people don’t think much of frame gen and see it only as a marketing gimmick.
In the case where you have a 120Hz monitor and can do 60 fps consistently, then all actual and doubled frames will be displayed. Many will argue that if you can do at least 60 fps consistently, you really don’t need frame gen.
I currently have a 7900xtx that will pump out anywhere from 40 fps with detailed airports/scenery to over 150 fps at altitude. AMD has a feature where I can cap my frame rate so I set it to 60 and turn on frame gen to double it, keeping the fps at all times within my monitors capabilities of 120 fps or less. That way, no frames are being dropped and I get a very smooth 80 - 120 fps with freesync and my 7900xtx is only at about 60-70% utilization so no loud fans.
If you are going to get a high end gpu like a 4080 then my recommendation would be to get a high end monitor with a refresh rate of 120-165Hz along with HDR and gaming features like freesync/g-sync, low latency mode etc. If you’ve got a powerful gpu then get a monitor that can make it shine! The sim will be much more immersive…
I’ve never thought too much about that. Just turned it on.
I’m running a 4090, everything on ultra. Framegen makes a huge difference. You will see slight artifacts when in scenarios in which the “base” frame rate takes a dive though, but for me it’s the first time in 25 years of simming that I can finally enjoy 60 (ish) FPS in any scenario.
The sim will be much more immersive…