Good FPS have now become extremely crucial for gaming. This was not always the case. Gaming has changed a lot through time.
Almost two decades ago, games like GTA San Andreas and Prince of Persia were the charms. These games didn’t have high graphical requirements and could perform well even on a Pentium 4.
Around the same time, CS brought its 1.6 updates to the game. It sowed the seed for the first-person shooter era. You wouldn’t hear people talking about the frames then because the graphic requirements were not that high.
Over time, games began to require high graphics to be enjoyed to their fullest. Seeing this, companies like AMD, Nvidia, and Intel entered the market to fulfill user requirements. And so came the graphic cards.
Nowadays, a good graphic card and processor have become a necessity. Without them, problems like bottleneck and FPS drop can take place.
In this article, we will look into how to increase FPS so that this issue can be eliminated.
Low Or Unstable FPS? What Are The Main Reasons?
A good FPS is the requirement of every PC gamer. They ensure minimal lag while playing the game. There are several reasons for low or unstable FPS.
Most of the reasons for a low FPS have been listed below:
- Outdated graphics card. If the graphics software is outdated, then FPS drop is inevitable.
- Non-optimal resolution settings. If there is a difference between the resolution of the game and the resolution of the monitor, FPS drops.
- A monitor with a refresh rate of less than 60 Hz can cause an FPS drop.
- High temps: If the temperature of the CPU is high, then a considerable FPS drop can be expected.
- Unused programs in the background: If any unnecessary startup apps are enabled, then they can remain working in the background and cause lag.
- Bloatware: This makes the computer slow, and it cannot give out its best performance.
- V-sync ON: In some cases, V-sync can also cause FPS drop.
- Non-optimized in-game performance: If game performance is set too high, whereas the processor or GPU is not able to handle the load, then FPS drops.
- Power options are set to balance: Power options in this mode do not provide the required power to the components of the PC. Due to this, the parts of the PC are not able to work at their best. This also causes unstable FPS.
- A laptop is not in best performance mode: If the PC is not in best performance mode, then it means the PC is limiting its working, and so unstable FPS are generated.
- Viruses: Bugs and viruses slow down the computer considerably, which causes the game FPS to fluctuate or drop.
Now that all of the causes for an FPS drop have been listed down, here’s how you can increase FPS on pc.
How To Boost FPS & Optimize Your PC For Gaming
Getting low FPS is one of the most annoying feelings in the world when it comes to gaming. Glitching through the map, not being able to move, stuttering while shooting or moving can cause problems for gamers.
To make the gaming experience better, I have collected a set of methods. These tips and tricks, if followed correctly, can improve your FPS and their stability.
They will also improve your gaming experience so you can clutch those rounds without any regret!
#1- Update Your Graphics Card
Graphic cards are an important component of the computer concerning gaming. Outdated graphics cards cannot run the game at their peak performance.
In my experience with FPS drops, outdated graphics card software can also cause hindrance in the working of the GPU. Try updating your GPU software by going to the respective company site.
Nvidia Game Ready Drivers Download Page.
AMD Drivers And Support Page.
Also, the option of upgrading your GPU is not bad. If you’re still trying to play Warzone on your GTX 970 and wondering why the FPS won’t go beyond 20, then it’s about time that you emptied your piggie bank and got yourself a new GPU.
#2- Reduce Your Resolution
The resolution of a computer depends on the size of your monitor. The common resolution of monitors is 1920×1080, 2560×1440, 3440×1440, and 3840×2160. If you have a monitor with a resolution of less than 1080p, then you need to consider buying a new one.
Reducing the resolution of your computer is also a way of reducing the lag that you are facing. The lower the resolution, the less the graphic card has to work to render an image.
However, this too has its limitations. You cannot simply keep on reducing the resolution of your game to increase the frame rate. This will lower the quality of your gameplay considerably.
#3- Turn On Windows Game Mode
Windows added the “Game Mode” update to PC in April 2017 as part of the Windows 10 Creators. The main focus of the game mode is to improve your gaming performance by stabilizing the FPS during gaming.
When you are gaming, it stops other unnecessary programs like Windows updates from running in the background. It not only improves your FPS but also improves your gaming experience by hiding the notifications.
If you are getting FPS drops, then turning on the Game mode can also be a good option. To start the game mode, you need to follow these steps:
- Press the Windows button.
- Press the settings icon on the bottom left of the panel.
- Go to the Search Bar and type “Game mode” and then click it.
- If the Game mode is OFF, then turn it ON. Else leave it as it is.
Check if the FPS has increased or stabilized during the game. If not, then let’s move to the next step on how to get better frames per second.
#4- Optimize In-Game Settings
Every game has its in-game settings, which, if changed correctly, can considerably boost the FPS. The question arises, how do we increase frame rate using these settings?
It is a rule of thumb that decreasing game settings improves the working of the game.
The first step is to decrease the settings to the minimum. By this, I mean settings like graphic settings, texture quality, etc. These settings, when reduced, improve FPS, but the details in the game become a little torn.
The next step is to turn off settings that make your GPU suffer. The reason is that the more the GPU is at ease, the better the FPS will be.
Settings like bloom, Clarity, etc., can be turned off. Not all of these settings guarantee an increase in FPS, so it is better if you check by testing these settings first.
The priority should be to lower the graphic settings as they make the GPU run at high speeds. This, in turn, increases its temperature, which results in an FPS drop.
#5- Remove Unused Programs And Bloatware
PC manufacturers keep in mind all kinds of users. To make the perfect device, they add software to the device that is made for specific users.
Even though these apps are made for providing ease, they still hinder the performance of the PC. These apps are known as bloatware.
If you are buying a PC mainly for gaming purposes, then you might not need this software. It is recommended that you remove this software from the PC. If they are non-removable, then they should be disabled.
Working on the internet is not an easy task nowadays. Some sites require you to download a specific application to continue to the site. These installed apps hinder the working of the computer a lot.
It is recommended that you delete these apps. To do that, type control panel in the Windows Search bar. Go to uninstall programs and check for programs that you are not familiar with. This surely increases your FPS.
#6- Disable SuperFetch (SysMain) And Prefetch
SuperFetch and Prefetch are the two new technologies added by Windows. The main purpose is the smooth and fast opening of apps.
RAM is used to run an application when it is opened. Every application requires a certain amount of space to open. That space is taken in the RAM.
Before Prefetch and Superfetch technologies, when an application was closed, no space was reserved in the RAM. But for demanding apps, it took a long time to open.
Now with this technology, the software is easy to open, but it brings its share of problems.
The main problem is that opening various apps clogs up the RAM. This causes FPS to drop when games are played. If you are a gamer, it would be in your best interest to follow these steps to solve this issue. To stop the Superfetch technology:
- Press Windows key + R and then type service.msc in the Run Dialog Box.
- In this new window find the “SysMain” When found, press right-click and select properties.
- In the pop-up that appears, click on “Startup Type” and then select Disabled.
The steps to close the Prefetch technology are as follows:
- Go to the Registry Editor and press the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE in the left bar.
- Go to SYSTEM then to “CurrentControlSet”
- From here, go to “Control” and from there to the “Session Manager”
- Then go to “Memory Management” and then to “PrefetchParameters”
- Here double click on EnablePrefetcher. A pop-up will appear.
- Under the value data, write the value 0. “0” means to turn the Prefetcher off. The default value will be 3.
- Press Ok, and you are done.
Now go and restart the computer and then run your game.
Do you see an increase in FPS? No?
No need to worry. I still have a lot of methods on how to increase the frame rate.
#7- Disk Defrag
Are you fed up with your PC working slow? Even though you have good RAM and memory. Are you still facing the lag in the game? Then you should consider defragmenting your disk.
While deleting and reinstalling files on a disk, some memory gets wasted because of a change in data order. These small packets of memory get clogged up in your disk.
We see a certain amount of memory left in our disks, but we cannot see the non-usable memory owing to fragmentation.
To solve this issue, you need to defragment the disk. This will rearrange all the present memory such that all the data that needs to be read is together and no small packets remain.
Defragmentation of a disk ensures that the memory that you see remaining is all usable memory. Now the question arises how do we defragment disks?
The first step is to open the File Explorer and click “This PC”. Now right-click the drive you need to defragment. Go to “Properties”. Then to “Tools”. Here you can defragment the disk.
#8- Use The Recommended Game API
Each game, when released, requires an API version for it to work properly. Almost all games can work on any API version. For experiencing the game at its best, it is recommended to download the suggested API version.
Games downloaded from a specific gaming platform like Steam, Epic Games Launcher, etc., download the recommended API version while installing the game.
But games downloaded from platforms like Google, Edge, or any other third-party website, require you to download the API version manually. This, in some cases, improves your gaming experience.
If you’re not fully aware of what API would be the most compatible API for your game, then something as simple as a Google search would do the trick for you.
#9- Overclock Your Graphics Card
Even after trying all the above settings still, there is no increase in FPS? Fear not! The thing I am now going to talk about is surely a little complicated, but it guarantees an increase in frame rate.
Every GPU has been set to work at a certain clock speed. Even though the GPU can work a lot more than that, it’s still set at a limit. One asks why is that?
The reason is that at that limit, the GPU can work without reducing its life. If the GPU works above that limit, it gets stressed, and that can put it to an early grave.
What I am going to do is to make the GPU work more than the recommended limit. But we will not make the GPU work at its 100%. I will overclock it by just a few values.
After overclocking, you can check for an increase in your FPS. This method has proved to be a banger, but it brings with it its problems. I think If you can handle the damage, then you should try this method.
If you still need more increase in your FPS, we can move to the next step on how to enhance FPS.
#10- Change The Power Option And Adjust For Best Performance
PC manufacturers, when building a PC, give an option of controlling the power to the users. This option, by default, is set to “Balanced Plan,” but there are other options too.
The question arises, what are power options and what do they have to do with FPS boost?
Every component in the computer requires a set amount of power to work. If more power is provided to components of the computer, a boost in the performance of the computer is seen.
At a balanced plan, all the components do not get the required power. Only some of them do.
Therefore, we need to change the plan to boost performance. As the performance gets better, so does the FPS. To open these settings, go to the control panel and then select Power options. There select the high-power settings plan.
#11- Disable Startup Items
Are you fed up with different applications opening up when your laptop starts? Does this slow down your computer? No need to worry. You just need to stop these applications from running on the startup.
Right-click your taskbar and navigate to the task manager. Here go to the startup’s tab. Then right-click on each application you see and disable it. You are good to go. Now no more lag due to startup applications.
Some apps are designed so that they start as soon as the PC is turned ON. This does help, but it reduces the PC’s performance. So it is recommended to shut down these startup apps for better FPS.
#12- Scan For Viruses And Malware
Viruses and malware, when entering the computer, slow it down considerably. Also, they could harm your data. There are two ways to check for viruses or malware.
One is the built-in Windows Firewall Scan. Using this, you can scan your whole computer or even some specific drives.
The other one is using third-party apps like McAfee or Malwarebytes, which also scan your computer. If there are viruses, you need to take action immediately.
With that being done, let’s move on to the next step on how to get more frames per second.
#13- Use FPS Booster Program
FPS can be boosted in many ways. One way is by using third-party apps. These apps solve those issues that you might not be able to handle manually by yourself.
Features like cleaning the junk out of your PC that you might not even know about and optimizing your PC at the best performance possible.
There are a bunch of FPS Booster apps in the market, but not all of them show the results that a user requires. Some of the popular ones are Razer Cortex, MSI Afterburner, etc.
Razer Cortex is an application developed to improve your in-game performance. It has a separate section designed to boost your FPS. Using this, you can improve your computer’s overall performance.
MSI Afterburner is mainly used to check the stats for your computer like CPU usage, GPU usage, CPU temps, GPU temps, etc. These apps helped me a lot. Hopefully, they work for you too.
#14- Disable Notifications
Notifications are also one of the things that are kept ON by default on a PC. Notification services are always running in the background.
To close notifications from some applications like google or Windows Security. Windows has added a feature of Focus assist. If this feature is kept ON while gaming, notification will be closed for most applications.
To turn on the Focus Assist, head over to the notification center. If you’re using Windows 10, this can easily be done through the taskbar.
Or, if you’re running short on time, tap on your tracker pad with four of your fingers. This will open the notification center.
The problem arises for gaming platforms like Discord, Steam, Epic Launcher, etc., which provide features for overlays.
These types of notifications cannot be stopped by Focus assist. For such notifications, we need to manually stop them from the launcher settings.
#15- Tweak Mouse Settings
To improve your gaming experience, another important component of the computer that requires your attention is the mouse. The basic component that allows you to move during the game!
If your mouse is from a well-renowned company like Razer or Logitech, then you can set its settings as you wish. But first, you need to download the app related to the mouse.
You can find the specific app by going to the company site and searching for your mouse software. All the latest mice allow you to configure their settings.
You can control your mouse sensitivity, the lighting in your mouse (If you have an LED one), etc. Changing the settings like sensitivity to your free-will will help improve your experience.
If you have an old mouse, then these settings might not be possible. For a better gaming experience, getting a new mouse is not a bad idea
#16- Overclock Ram & CPU
The RAM and the CPU are two main components of the PC whose proper working matters a lot. RAM and the CPU, when synchronized, run a program smoothly.
Overclocking the RAM increases the speed of its read and write operation. The faster the read and write operations, the better the PC performance.
The performance of a CPU or RAM depends on the voltage they get. While overclocking, we just provide the RAM and CPU with a higher voltage than they are clocked on. Overclocking the CPU increases the transfer rate highly. Apps open faster and smoother.
Before overclocking, one should take care of the temperatures. High temperatures above 90 degrees are harmful to the computer. Before doing this, installing some cooling devices could be a good option.
I think that overclocking does improve the performance, but it does shorten your component’s life. However, if done properly, it can considerably improve the FPS of your game.
#17- Use An SSD
SSD (Solid State Drive) is an alternative for hard drives. The main reason SSD is recommended more than hard drives is that they perform a lot better. The data transfer rates in SSDs are way more than in hard drives.
Their speed makes them best for PCs. As I have discussed before, higher transfer rates (read and write speed) mean better PC performance. They do enhance the gaming experience by a great margin. They are also way smaller in size than hard drives.
SSDs from famous companies like Sapphire, Samsung, Crucial, NvME, etc., provide the best performance. However, if you’re on a budget, you can always opt for installing an SSD alongside your HDD.
Some Bonus Tips For Laptops Users
Nowadays, gaming on a laptop is a literal nightmare. Laptops were never designed with the thought of being used for high-level gaming. This does not mean that gaming cannot be done on your laptop.
You might need a mouse to play games on your laptop. Gaming using a tracker pad is perhaps the last thing you ever want to do.
There are ways to boost FPS on laptops too. Some of the tips are the same as those for PCs. All the main settings to boost FPS and improve the gaming experience are as follows:
- Laptops with graphic cards are also good for most games. Keeping the software of the graphics card updated can help boost FPS. Updating a graphics card or any other hardware component in a laptop is not a choice (keeping aside portable workstations). To get a laptop with a better graphics card, you need to buy a completely new laptop.
- Keep your laptop managed by defragmenting. Do not let the RAM clog up with useless memory packets.
- Do not download games that require a lot of space and graphics. They can cause problems while running. But some games do not require less space and graphics but are still fun to play. Try those!
- Keep an eye on the temperature while overclocking because most laptops do not have very good cooling systems as overclocking increases the temps, so it is better to get cooling pads.
- You must buy a laptop that contains an SSD. This also boosts your gaming performance.
- FPS booster apps can also be used on the laptop. Apps like Razer Cortex and MSI Afterburner can be used in the laptop to keep a check on your FPS.
- Always keep your Windows up to date as it can cause problems while gaming.
Lastly, gaming laptops are known for their heat-up issues owing to poor ventilation. Therefore, consider investing in some good external cooling fans to keep your laptop running at optimal temperatures.
Final Verdict:
Since gaming has become a sport, the demand for good components to build computers has increased. Gaming on a PC is an experience of its own, but not keeping the requirements in check while building a PC can cause problems for later.
Even if you build the best PC possible, you cannot fully assure that you will get a good FPS! For that, software and service-related changes need to be made.
Component manufacturers add software that not all users need. Shutting down such software is also needed for best performance. FPS changes the way you play the game.
The more the FPS, the smoother the gameplay. Hardware aside, the Internet is also one of the main things that need to be good for smooth FPS gaming. Else you will find yourself flying through the map!
Frequently Asked Questions
#1 – What increases FPS the most?
FPS is highly dependent on the CPU and the GPU of your rig. If the game you’re playing has more requirements than your computer can provide, then you’re bound to experience an FPS drop.
In cases like these, consider lowering the resolution of your game and play it in a lower setting.
#2 – Why is my FPS so low?
There could be several reasons for low FPS. It could be a virus or malware in your computer, or your RAM might be at full usage. Also, try changing the in-game settings to low instead of max. This should improve your FPS.
#3 – Does RAM increase FPS?
RAM is not related to FPS, but it affects FPS to some extent. RAM helps run your application smoothly. So if you have a filled RAM, then you might face lag.
If you upgrade your RAM, you will see an increase in FPS. The increase is there, but the difference is not as huge when the GPU or CPU are upgraded.
#4 – Can CPU affect FPS?
CPU does affect your FPS. If the processor is running at 100%, then you will experience frame drops or packet loss. This will cause you to lag during the game. The better the CPU, the more stable your FPS will be.
#5 – Is 20 FPS good for gaming?
The short and sweet answer is no? The FPS is never constant. They fluctuate between a set amount. The peak is known as maximum FPS.
If you have a max FPS of 20, then it means your FPS will be between 10-20 or even less. On these FPS figures, moving your character in a game will become a nightmare.
#6 – Does SSD increase FPS?
SSD does not increase FPS in any case. Both SSD and HDD will provide the same FPS whatsoever. The thing that SSD improves is the overall performance of your PC while gaming. It increases the transfer rates, and your apps and other things open fast because of this.
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#7 – Does game mode lower FPS?
No, the game mode does not decrease FPS. It is a service developed by Microsoft to improve your FPS. It sets your computer to the settings on which it can perform at maximum performance in the game. It does it by stopping updates and notifications during the game.
#8 – Is gaming on a big TV bad?
This is highly dependent on what game you’re playing. If the game has the highest resolution of 1080p or less, then it can become a nuisance. The frames start to tear apart as the resolution of a big TV is way more than that of a computer’s monitor.
