AMD has recently introduced the Frame Latency Meter (FLM), a Windows utility that is open-source and designed to measure game response time based on mouse movements. FLM calculates the time it takes for a mouse movement to result in a new frame on the screen, offering valuable insights into system performance.
This tool is targeted towards advanced gamers, power users, and game developers who are interested in optimizing overall system latency and reducing input lag. For those new to frame latency measurements, they are commonly used to estimate input lag by measuring the latency from pressing a button to observing the action on the screen.
Traditionally, this process involved using a high-speed camera, a mouse, and an FPS game with a visible action that could be tracked. FLM eliminates the need for such equipment and allows for efficient measurement of latency without the need for external devices.
FLM is compatible with AMD, Nvidia, or Intel GPUs that support DirectX 11 or newer versions. AMD GPUs utilize the Advanced Media Framework (AMF) codec, while other GPUs use the DirectX Graphics Infrastructure (DXGI) codec for capturing data. The utility can generate detailed latency and frame-rate statistics, which can be exported for further analysis in CSV format.
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FLM calculates latency by continuously capturing frames and comparing them within a selected region. It then generates a mouse movement event using standard Windows functionality and records the time it takes for the frame contents to change. This duration is captured as the latency.
To improve accuracy, 16 latency measurements are averaged per row, with the option to increase the number of measurements for greater precision. FLM streamlines the latency measurement process, allowing for quick and repeated measurements without constraints like limited ammunition in games that require specific visual cues for measurement.
The utility also offers customization options, enabling users to measure latency based on mouse movements or clicks. Users can define frame capture regions and choose between different sampling methods for precise measurements. It also supports frame generation technology, but clarity is needed on its compatibility with games that support FSR 3 or DLSS 3.
FLM is a free download for Windows 10 and 11 users available through GPU Open or the official GitHub repository.
