
So if you're trying to do a 30fps capture of a 60fps game (let's say you're capping your framerate, or have vsync on) then if everything goes as expected, OBS' job is pretty simple- take every other frame the game renders, and render it. OBS renders those windows at the refresh rate of the monitor- meaning even if you've set OBS to record at 60fps, its internal frames are rendering at that rate, but the preview and program windows are rendering at your refresh rate.

In addition to rendering its internal frame for recording or streaming, if the preview window is on, it's rendering the preview- and if studio mode is on, it's rendering both Program and Preview windows as well. OBS renders its own frames (because it's a compositor, not a recorder) and does so constantly while it is open, whether or not it is recording or streaming.

While OBS is running, every frame the game renders is an opportunity for OBS to render a frame.
