FramePacing

Frame pacing refers to the consistency of frame delivery in video rendering. In computer graphics and gaming, a smooth visual experience depends not only on the average frame rate but also on how evenly frames are displayed over time. If frames are delivered too quickly or too slowly, or if their delivery intervals vary significantly, the result can be stuttering, judder, or micro-stutter, even if the average frames per second (FPS) appears high.

Good frame pacing means that each frame is displayed for approximately the same amount of time as the previous one. This creates a fluid and natural motion for the viewer. Conversely, poor frame pacing occurs when there are large variations in the time between displayed frames. This can be caused by various factors, including inconsistent frame rendering times due to complex scenes, sudden dips in performance, or issues with the display's refresh rate synchronization.

Techniques like V-Sync, Adaptive Sync (G-Sync and FreeSync), and frame interpolation aim to improve frame pacing by synchronizing the rendering of frames with the display's refresh rate. By ensuring that frames are presented at a regular interval, these technologies help to eliminate visual artifacts and provide a more enjoyable viewing experience. Developers also employ internal frame pacing techniques within their game engines to manage and smooth out frame delivery. Monitoring frame times, rather than just average FPS, is a more accurate way to assess and diagnose frame pacing issues.