Monitor Choice for Your GPU & FPS Target

First, it estimates a baseline FPS per workload category for your GPU at 1080p on your selected preset. Then it applies a CPU ceiling (because some games become CPU-limited at high FPS or lower resolutions), scales the result to 1440p and 4K, and optionally adjusts upward if you enable upscaling/frame generation. Finally, it widens the estimate into a conservative stable FPS range and checks whether that floor can sustain your chosen refresh target often enough.

The tool prioritizes consistency over peak FPS: if the stable FPS band frequently drops below the refresh target, it will recommend a lower refresh rate even when the average FPS looks high. Upscaling and frame generation are treated as average gains—real results can vary by game, implementation, and settings. Also note the calculator focuses on resolution/refresh only; response time, HDR, VRR quality, and panel type are not modeled.

Buying 4K or 240 Hz without the headroom to maintain stable FPS is the biggest risk—this is why it flags expected outcomes when the stable FPS floor is too low. If you enable upscaling/frame generation, the calculator assumes you’re not dropping below medium settings (unless your preset explicitly allows it). It also warns when simulation-heavy workloads at very high refresh rates may be CPU-bound, which is a common reason games feel inconsistent.

If your expected stable FPS floor at 4K is below 60 for most games in your mix, it will warn that 4K may not stay smooth consistently. If you choose 240 Hz, it checks whether your CPU estimate is strong enough to sustain very high frame rates across the selected workload mix and warns if it likely won’t. For esports-heavy mixes, it biases toward higher refresh at 1080p/1440p; for AAA or simulation-heavy mixes, it biases toward resolutions only when stable FPS supports it.