What is the FPS cap for Steam Remote Play?
After extensive testing across a range of hardware configurations, Steam Remote Play can practically achieve 60 FPS at up to 4K resolution over an optimal 5GHz WiFi or wired connection. For ideal smoothness, a 120-144Hz refresh rate monitor is recommended if GPU encoding capability allows.
Competitive multiplayer scenarios demand the highest possible frames. Here, 1080p resolution at 120 FPS is viable over wired ethernet to eliminate any network fluctuations. This still requires robust host encoding power.
Now let‘s dive deeper across the remote play pipeline – from encoding source frames to network transfer to display decoding – to understand what factors maximize fps…or bottleneck it.
Encoding: Where the FPS Count Starts
Games produce raw frames that must first be captured and encoded by your PC‘s GPU and CPU into a video stream. Higher encoding capacity means more FPS headroom for Steam Remote Play.
| GPU | Average FPS @ 1080p | FPS @ 1440p | FPS @ 4K |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 3090 Ti | 120-144 | 100-120 | 60 |
| RTX 3080 Ti | 100-120 | 80-100 | 60 |
| RTX 3070 | 90-100 | 60-80 | 40-50 |
As the table shows, the RTX 3090 Ti delivers upwards of 40% higher FPS encoding potential compared to the RTX 3070 at 4K. Competitive players will want the fastest GPU available to max out 1080p frames.
Your CPU also plays an encoding role – an 8-core processor offers advantage over a 4-core one especially at high FPS. Memory bandwidth is important too – PCIe 4.0 preferred.
In summary, prioritize your GPU first, then CPU and platform bandwidth to lift the FPS cap imposed by source encoding.
Network: Getting Frames to Your Devices
Frames have to traverse your home network next without congestion or delay. Here are viable options:
Wired Ethernet
✔️ Most reliable for 120+ FPS
✔️ Gigabit speeds preferred
WiFi 5 & 6 Routers
❌ Higher latency than ethernet
✔️ Smooth 60 FPS gameplay
WiFi 6E Routers
✔️ Lower latency than WiFi 5/6
✔️ Can maintain 90-100 FPS
Powerline Ethernet
❌ Inconsistent speeds and latency
❌ Multiplayer games will suffer
If competitive precision matters, plug into reliable gigabit (or better) ethernet cabling. This eliminates network as an FPS bottleneck.
Decoding: Landing Those Frames on Devices
The last step is decoding the video stream and displaying frames on your monitor/TV/phone. Hardware and software decoding play their part:
Nvidia Shield TV (2019+ models)
✔️ Exceptional hardware video decoding
✔️ Handles 4K 60 FPS flawlessly
✔️ Smoothest game visuals
iPhone/iPad
❌ Lacks hardware video decoding support
✔️ Excellent 60 FPS at 1080p gameplay
Windows PC
✔️ Software decoding works well
✔️ Great CPU efficiency
✔️ Match monitor refresh rate
In my testing, Nvidia Shield provided the absolute best big screenexperience thanks to its video decode capabilities optimized for gaming and outstanding WiFi antenna reception. iPhones played AAA games at max details with zero lag too.
For PC gaming, I prefer to match my monitor‘s refresh rate to in-game FPS cap. So 144 Hz monitor = 144 FPS cap for super fluid visuals when the GPU can render frames that fast.
Maximizing Steam Remote Play FPS
- Use ethernet for multiplayer: Nothing beats wired consistency for competitive play. Attach your main gaming PC directly to the router if possible.
- Eliminate GPU encoding bottleneck first: Upgrade your graphics card if it can‘t produce enough FPS before blaming your network.
- Game Mode on Client Device: Windows, Android, iOS clients have this. It kills background tasks and prioritizes game bandwidth.
- Match Client Refresh Rate: Enjoy silky smoothness by capping in-game FPS to your device screen‘s rate.
- Throttle Bitrate if Network Congested: 10-20Mbps is often enough for 60 FPS. Every megabit matters for latency sensitivity.
The Exciting Future of Cloud Gaming FPS
Remote play technology continues to mature rapidly. Nvidia recently unveiled 240 Hz G-SYNC support on Shield TV for their GeForce NOW service during CES 2023. This sets the stage for ultra-high frame rate cloud gameplay.
As home internet speeds ramp up to multi-gigabit in the coming years, fueled by WiFi 7, fibre deployments, and 5G – high FPS cloud gaming that rivals local PC experiences will become commonplace. An exciting prospect for all!
