1% lows measure the frame rate at the 99th percentile of your gaming session. In other words, 99% of frames render faster, but 1% render at this slower rate. It reveals the stuttering and hitching you actually feel when gaming, even if your average frame rate looks good on paper.
This metric matters because a game might report 100 frames per second average, but if 1% of frames take twice as long to render, you will notice those drops as brief pauses. A high average with poor 1% lows creates a janky, unsmooth experience. Professional reviewers and overclockers use 1% lows to spot inconsistency in frame pacing.
Real-world example: a graphics card averages 120 fps in a demanding game, but its 1% lows sit at 80 fps. Those dips to 80 fps occur roughly once per second and feel like visible stutters, even though the average is strong.
When comparing gaming hardware, check both average frame rate and 1% lows. A card with 90 fps average and 85 fps 1% lows will feel smoother than one with 100 fps average but 60 fps 1% lows. Monitor reviews and benchmarks that report this metric separately. Look for 0.1% lows too, which catch even rarer hitches.
This data helps you choose a graphics card or monitor that delivers consistent, smooth gameplay rather than one that looks fast on average but stutters in practice.