diff --git a/ashvale/api.py b/ashvale/api.py
index 32f3a82..7f9ba39 100644
--- a/ashvale/api.py
+++ b/ashvale/api.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ async def lifespan(app: FastAPI):
     station.sample_once()
     station.start()
     if CONFIG.server.led_enabled:
-        display = LedDisplay(station, CONFIG.server.led_cycle_s)
+        display = LedDisplay(station, CONFIG.server.led_cycle_s, CONFIG.server.led_fps)
         display.start()
     try:
         yield
diff --git a/ashvale/config.py b/ashvale/config.py
index 0e9a41f..a3e9d18 100644
--- a/ashvale/config.py
+++ b/ashvale/config.py
@@ -118,6 +118,11 @@ class ServerConfig:
     port: int = 8000
     led_enabled: bool = True
     led_cycle_s: float = 0.4
+    # Matrix frame rate. 24 is smooth and costs about 11% of one core on a
+    # Zero 2 W. 16 is still fluid and roughly a third cheaper; below about 12
+    # the crossfades and sub-pixel motion start to judder, which defeats the
+    # point. Set 0 to keep the panel enabled but static-cheap.
+    led_fps: float = 24.0
 
 
 @dataclass
diff --git a/ashvale/led.py b/ashvale/led.py
index 953a6d2..5e59b35 100644
--- a/ashvale/led.py
+++ b/ashvale/led.py
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ class Precipitation(Scene):
         colour = (0.80, 0.88, 1.00) if snowing else (0.20, 0.55, 1.00)
 
         for d in self.drops:
-            d[1] += speed / FPS
+            d[1] += speed / max(s.get('_fps', FPS), 1.0)
             if d[1] > N + 1:
                 d[0] = np.random.uniform(0, N)
                 d[1] = np.random.uniform(-2.0, -0.2)
@@ -491,9 +491,10 @@ class LedDisplay:
 
     CROSSFADE = 1.3
 
-    def __init__(self, station, cycle_s: float = 0.4):
+    def __init__(self, station, cycle_s: float = 0.4, fps: float = FPS):
         self.station = station
         self.cycle_s = float(cycle_s)
+        self.fps = float(np.clip(fps, 4.0, 30.0))
         self.enabled = True
         self._stop = asyncio.Event()
         self._task = None
@@ -540,6 +541,7 @@ class LedDisplay:
             "forecast": series,
             "health": self.station.monitor.health.overall,
             "retrain": bool(self.station.monitor.retrain_requested),
+            "_fps": self.fps,
         }
 
     def _brightness(self, s: Dict) -> float:
@@ -575,7 +577,7 @@ class LedDisplay:
         return self.alert if self._alerting else self.scenes[self._idx]
 
     async def _run(self) -> None:
-        period = 1.0 / FPS
+        period = 1.0 / self.fps
         t0 = time.monotonic()
         while not self._stop.is_set():
             frame_start = time.monotonic()