Beta participants with Steam can now access an overlay displaying detailed performance values.While not as complete as dedicated tools like Afterburner, this new feature separates “real” and AI-generated frames when DLSS or FSR Frame generation is active.

The current stable version of Steam only offers a basic FPS meter. the updated performance monitor expands on this with a wider range of metrics:

• Average frame rates (with and without frame generation)
• Minimum and maximum frame rates
• A frame rate graph
• Average and maximum CPU usage
• Average and maximum CPU clock speed
• GPU usage
• GPU temperature
• VRAM usage
• System RAM usage

Users can customize the overlay’s detail level, screen position, contrast, saturation, and background opacity. Details on how Valve calculates each data point are available on a Steam support page.

“Conventional FPS meters…do not distinguish between real and generated frames. As a result, activating the generation of frames can darken the real performance.”

A key feature is the separation of frame rates between traditionally rendered frames and those generated by AI. DLSS and FSR Frame Generation use machine learning to insert interpolated frames, creating a smoother visual experience, but without necessarily reducing input latency.

Traditional FPS meters, like those in MSI Afterburner, RivaTuner, or Xbox overlays, don’t differentiate between real and generated frames. This can obscure actual performance and make it harder to identify bottlenecks.

Steam’s new monitor calculates and displays these frame rates separately, updating every second. AI-generated frames appear under “DLSS” or “FSR,” depending on the active technology, while traditionally rendered frames are listed under “FPS.”

While the monitor includes a frame rate graph,it doesn’t show frame times in milliseconds,a crucial metric for identifying micro-stutters. Instead, Valve provides a simplified approach with minimum and maximum frame rate values. The minimum frame rate turns red if it drops below half the average, indicating a potential stutter.

For CPU performance, the Steam monitor offers a simpler view compared to tools like RivaTuner. Instead of per-core or per-thread usage, it displays the average usage across all cores and the maximum usage of the busiest core.

The maximum CPU usage value can exceed 100% if the processor boosts beyond its base clock speed. GPU and memory statistics are straightforward, showing resource usage and potential constraints.

While this new monitor provides basic information without requiring third-party tools, users seeking advanced diagnostics may find it lacking. Notably absent are metrics