Difference between lag and FPS drop

There is a difference between lag and FPS drop. This article will help you identify and possibly know how to deal with it. 

Lag is a delay in response on online games. This is because it takes some time for the information from one player or entity to arrive to the server and some more time for that time to be sent to you. While the information hasn't arrived yet, your device will attempt to guess what the current action of that entity is based it's the last known state. Although, once the information finally arrives to you, the computer will change from what it guessed to what it is now, which might cause an object to appear to teleport. This problem can be solved by connecting to the closest server to minimize the amount of time for the information to travel to you. 

FPS drop is when an action on your computer is too much for your computer to comprehend. This will cause your computer to sometimes skip frames in order to catch up or it will slowly play all of those scenes (Causing you to be left behind). On multiplayer, skipping frames can mean that certain events will happen without you knowing (For example, being shot it in the head). Or if you end up not skipping frames, you will end up playing the game very slowly, causing you to be very delayed and left behind. This issue can be resolved by upgrading your Random-Access Memory card or by terminating any programs that are not being used. 

Sometimes though, players can experience both of these situations simultaneously. In Terraria multiplayer, not having a powerful enough laptop can cause you to be playing at 30fps (bad). That can cause your player to be moving slowly on your computer. If you are playing with someone with a higher frame rate (50fps is good), there will be unusual issues.  

By moving in your computer, it will tell the computer(s) of the other person(s) you're playing with that your character is moving. But since you are moving more slowly on your computer, their computer will guess that your character is moving further than thinks (For example, causing your player to appear to walk into a pool of lava). But when you stop moving on your computer, your current location will be sent to the other computer(s) and it will "teleport" your character on their screens. 

In other cases, enemies will appear to teleport on the slower player's screen. This is because without lag, the enemy is probably already attacking the slower player. Once the information about the state of that enemy has arrived to the slower player's computer, it will once again correct itself "teleport" that enemy probably right in front of that poor player. (Based on a true story. My friend is often getting killed because of his low FPS and lag). 

RIP NathanBlazerXD  

Joined the game – Every time we fight a boss