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How to Increase FPS for Better Gaming Performance

Updated · Standard formula, shown below

Low frame rates can turn an exciting game into a frustrating slideshow. This guide walks you through practical, safe ways to boost your FPS (frames per second) on a Windows PC, from quick software tweaks to hardware upgrades. You’ll learn what settings matter most, how to apply them correctly, and what to do when a fix doesn’t work.

What You’ll Need

  • A Windows PC (Windows 10 or 11) with the latest graphics drivers installed.
  • Administrator access to change system settings and install software.
  • Knowledge of your GPU model (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) to adjust its control panel.
  • Optional: a second monitor or a smartphone to watch a video while you tweak settings.

Step-by-Step

  1. Update your graphics drivers. Outdated drivers are a common cause of low FPS. Visit the official website of your GPU manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel), download the latest driver for your specific model, and install it. Restart your PC after installation.
  2. Adjust in-game graphics settings. Launch the game and open its video/graphics options. Lower or turn off the most demanding settings: shadows, reflections, anti-aliasing, and ambient occlusion. Set texture quality to medium or high (if you have enough VRAM), and reduce resolution scaling if available. Aim for a balance between visuals and performance.
  3. Enable Game Mode in Windows. Press Win + I to open Settings, go to Gaming > Game Mode, and ensure it is turned On. This prioritizes your game’s CPU and GPU resources.
  4. Close background programs. Before gaming, close unnecessary apps like browsers, streaming software, or file downloads. You can use Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to see which processes are using CPU, memory, or disk, and end those you don’t need.
  5. Set the power plan to High Performance. In Windows, go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options, and select “High performance.” This prevents the CPU from throttling down to save energy.
  6. Disable fullscreen optimizations. Right-click the game’s .exe file (or its shortcut), select Properties, go to the Compatibility tab, and check “Disable fullscreen optimizations.” This can reduce input lag and stuttering in some games.
  7. Adjust the GPU control panel settings. Open your graphics card’s control panel (NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Software, or Intel Graphics Command Center). Set “Power management mode” to “Prefer maximum performance” (NVIDIA) or equivalent. Also ensure the game is using your dedicated GPU if you have a laptop with dual graphics.
  8. Change Windows visual effects. In Windows, search for “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows,” open it, and under the Visual Effects tab, select “Adjust for best performance.” This reduces CPU load from animations and transparency.
  9. Check for overheating. Use a temperature monitoring tool (like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner) during gameplay. If your CPU or GPU exceeds 90°C, clean the dust from fans and heatsinks, and ensure proper airflow in your case. Thermal throttling will drastically reduce FPS.
  10. Consider hardware upgrades (if needed). If you’ve done all the above and FPS is still low, your hardware may be the bottleneck. Upgrading your GPU, adding more RAM, or installing an SSD can help. For laptops, ensure you have enough RAM (16GB is recommended for modern games).

Common Mistakes

  • Changing settings without testing. Always apply one change at a time and test the game to see if it improves FPS. Changing everything at once makes it hard to know what worked.
  • Ignoring resolution. Lowering the resolution (e.g., from 1440p to 1080p) often gives a huge FPS boost, but many players forget to try it.
  • Using outdated drivers. Some players never update drivers, missing out on performance optimizations for new games.
  • Overlooking background apps. A single browser tab can eat 1-2GB of RAM and cause stutters.
  • Setting everything to low. Some settings, like texture quality, have little impact on FPS if you have enough VRAM. Setting them too low can make the game look bad without helping performance.

Tips

  • Use a frame rate counter (like the one in Steam or MSI Afterburner) to measure FPS before and after each change.
  • For competitive games, prioritize high FPS over visual quality. For single-player story games, you can often keep higher settings if you have a decent GPU.
  • If you have a G-Sync or FreeSync monitor, enable it in the GPU control panel and the monitor’s settings to reduce screen tearing without a big FPS hit.
  • Keep your system clean: uninstall bloatware, disable startup programs, and run disk cleanup regularly.
  • Consider using a game booster app, but be cautious—many are unnecessary and some contain adware.

Troubleshooting

If you’ve followed the steps and FPS hasn’t improved, try these checks:

  • Check if the game is using the right GPU. On laptops, Windows sometimes uses the integrated GPU for games. In the GPU control panel, set the game to use the high-performance GPU.
  • Reinstall the game. Corrupted game files can cause performance issues. Verify the game files through the launcher (Steam, Epic, etc.) or reinstall.
  • Scan for malware. Malware can consume system resources in the background. Run a full scan with Windows Defender or a trusted third-party tool.
  • Test with a different game. If only one game has low FPS, the issue is likely with that game’s settings or files, not your system.
  • Check your RAM usage. If your system runs out of RAM, it uses the hard drive as virtual memory, causing major stutters. Close background apps or add more RAM.
  • Update Windows. Some Windows updates include performance fixes for gaming. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good FPS for gaming?

For most gamers, 60 FPS is smooth and playable. Competitive players often aim for 144 FPS or higher to match high-refresh-rate monitors. Below 30 FPS is generally considered unplayable for fast-paced games.

Does overclocking help increase FPS?

Yes, overclocking your GPU or CPU can improve FPS, but it also increases heat and power consumption, and may void warranties. It’s a more advanced step that requires careful testing and cooling.

Will more RAM increase FPS?

If you have less than 8GB of RAM, adding more can help, especially for modern games that require 16GB. However, if you already have enough RAM, adding more won’t increase FPS.

Why is my FPS low even with a good graphics card?

This could be due to a CPU bottleneck, insufficient RAM, overheating, or a game that is poorly optimized. Check your CPU and GPU usage during gameplay—if the CPU is at 100% while the GPU is lower, the CPU is the limit.

Can I increase FPS on a laptop?

Yes, most of the same steps apply. Additionally, make sure the laptop is plugged in and set to High Performance mode. Laptops often have thermal limitations, so cleaning the vents and using a cooling pad can help.

Is it safe to lower the resolution?

Yes, lowering the resolution is safe and one of the most effective ways to increase FPS. It makes the image less sharp, but you can often compensate with other settings like anti-aliasing.

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