OS X: Limiting framerate in games?

[gman901]

I noticed some Mac games do not have the ability to limit the frame rate within the game itself. Is there something within Mountain Lion that can limit frame rates in games without an option to do so?

[Huntn]

Wondering why would you want to limit frames that a game might naturally generate on specific hardware capable of handling it? It's not usually a concern you hear bandied about the MacRumor's Game forum.

[doh123]

Some games have this built in and its very nice to have actually... I do not know of a good way to do it if its not built into the game.

On some games they look and work great limiting it to 30 or 60 fps or whatever... instead of having them run like 100 fps and cook your hardware for no reason, when its just as good limited and your machine runs much cooler.

[cluthz]

Limiting frame rates can give a better overall experience in games.

When I played WoW on an MBP a few years ago I did limit frame rates in raids to 30FPS as that would give me a consistent FPS, instead of the machine heating up and give huge FPS drops when things started to get ugly

Strategy games can also benefit from running in 30 FPS instead of 60 FPS on a laptop if you play on the lap Instead of having a warm noisy machine you can have a more quiet and not so hot machine on your lap and games that are turn based are just as fine in 30 FPS imo.

Unfortunately most games only have v-sync which will limit it at 60 FPS, which is usually full blast on a laptop

[gman901]

Originally Posted by Huntn

Wondering why would you want to limit frames that a game might naturally generate on specific hardware capable of handling it? It's not usually a concern you hear bandied about the MacRumor's Game forum.

Honestly, when I limited my FPS in Diablo 3 to 30 on my 2012 Air, I noticed the fans went from full blown to very low at that FPS. The gaming experience to me was not impacted, in fact I could play at full resolution without the fan noise. I just have some games, like Deathspank and Sam & Max 301 that I did not see a FPS limiter, and the fans kick in like crazy. I figure these point and click games should easily play between 25-30 FPS without the fans kicking to overdrive.

[Huntn]

Originally Posted by gman901

Honestly, when I limited my FPS in Diablo 3 to 30 on my 2012 Air, I noticed the fans went from full blown to very low at that FPS. The gaming experience to me was not impacted, in fact I could play at full resolution without the fan noise. I just have some games, like Deathspank and Sam & Max 301 that I did not see a FPS limiter, and the fans kick in like crazy. I figure these point and click games should easily play between 25-30 FPS without the fans kicking to overdrive.

Thanks for the clarification! I understand now.