Explanation: Frames per second (fps)--not “first-person shooter” in this context--is fairly self-explanatory. It’s the number of still frames projected onscreen in a single second. The higher the fps, the smoother a game runs. This isn’t really an in-game setting, but it governs which options you'll use and how high you'll set visual quality.

Several factors play into a game’s frame rate: Your hardware's processing power, the intensity of in-game visual settings, and the demand of the game's graphics engine can impact performance, along with many other factors. You should understand what your PC is capable of and adjust the settings accordingly to hit consistent, playable frame rates.

Some gamers will have a different desired fps; some find 40 fps to 50fps playable, while some are content with around 30 fps, but on PC, it’s safe to say most aim for the gold standard of 60 fps. Most monitors and TVs offer a 60Hz refresh rate, thus 60 fps would be the highest perceivable frame rate. But higher-end monitors are capable of 120Hz and 144Hz, which allow games to scale up to 120 fps and 144 fps, respectively. These differences are noticeable, especially in fast-paced games that require quick reactions.

What's in the screenshot: Of course, it's impossible to convey frames per second in a screenshot, so what we have is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive running with the built-in Steam fps counter. As highlighted, the game hits 264 fps--that’s overkill for our 60Hz display, which can only output 60 fps. CS:GO is a competitive shooter where a split-second reaction can mean the difference between winning and losing, so it’s advantageous to reach your monitor's full potential.

Suggestion: It depends on what you're playing. For a turn-based strategy game like XCOM 2, we can give up a few frames-per-second to have all the eye candy maxed out. But for a fast-paced, competitive game like Battlefield 1, we would tweak the settings for multiplayer to maintain a stable 60 fps.