How to Fix Low FPS in Games: 15 Proven Methods (2026)
1. Update GPU Drivers
Outdated GPU drivers are one of the most common causes of low FPS and stuttering. NVIDIA and AMD release new driver updates frequently that include game-specific optimizations. Updating takes 5 minutes and can deliver 5-20% performance improvement in recently released titles.
- NVIDIA: Download GeForce Experience or visit nvidia.com/drivers for the latest Game Ready Driver.
- AMD: Use AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition or visit amd.com/support for WHQL drivers.
- Always do a clean install using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) if you are switching GPU brands.
- Enable automatic driver notifications to stay current without manual checking.
After a major game update, check for a new GPU driver — developers work with NVIDIA and AMD to optimize for launch day.
2. Optimize In-Game Graphics Settings
The right in-game settings can double your FPS with minimal visual quality loss. These are the highest-impact settings to adjust first. Use our FPS calculator to estimate what FPS you should be hitting for your hardware.
- Resolution Scale: Drop from 100% to 85% for a big FPS gain with minimal visual loss.
- Shadows: Ultra shadows are extremely GPU-intensive. Set to High or Medium for 15-30% FPS improvement.
- Ray Tracing: Disable RT if your GPU is below RTX 4070 tier — enable DLSS instead.
- Anti-Aliasing: Switch from TAA to DLSS (NVIDIA) or FSR (AMD) for huge FPS gains.
- Ambient Occlusion: Set to SSAO or Medium — the difference from Ultra is barely visible.
- Texture Quality: Keep at High or Ultra — textures only affect VRAM, not FPS significantly.
3. Windows Settings That Boost FPS
Windows 11 has several settings that directly impact gaming performance. These free optimizations should be done before any hardware upgrade.
- Power Plan: Set to "High Performance" or "Ultimate Performance" in Power Options.
- Game Mode: Enable Windows Game Mode (Settings → Gaming → Game Mode) — reduces background processes during gaming.
- Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS): Enable in Display settings → Graphics for reduced latency.
- XMP/EXPO: Enable in BIOS to run RAM at rated speed — can improve FPS by up to 15% in CPU-limited scenarios.
- Disable Xbox Game Bar: It consumes resources in background — disable from Xbox app settings.
- Storage: Move games to an NVMe SSD to eliminate texture streaming stutters.
4. Hardware Upgrades That Deliver Real FPS Gains
When software optimizations are exhausted, hardware upgrades are the most reliable path to higher FPS. Use our GPU comparison tool to find the best GPU upgrade for your budget, and our bottleneck calculator to ensure your CPU can keep up.
- GPU upgrade: The highest-impact upgrade for gaming FPS. Use our GPU comparison tool to find the best value.
- RAM upgrade: 16GB is the sweet spot for gaming in 2026. Upgrading from 8GB adds FPS in CPU-heavy games.
- CPU upgrade: Critical for competitive gaming at high FPS targets (240Hz+). The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D leads in gaming performance.
- SSD: An NVMe SSD eliminates stutters caused by slow asset streaming in open-world games.
- Cooling: Thermal throttling silently reduces CPU and GPU clock speeds — better cooling = sustained performance.
5. Check for a Hardware Bottleneck
Low FPS caused by a bottleneck requires a different solution than general optimization. If your CPU is maxed but GPU is under-utilized, no settings change will help — you need a hardware upgrade. Use our free bottleneck calculator to identify the weak link in your system instantly.
- Use MSI Afterburner to monitor CPU% and GPU% simultaneously while gaming.
- CPU at 95%+ with GPU at 50-60%? CPU bottleneck — consider upgrading or checking our build recommender.
- GPU at 99% with CPU at 40-50%? GPU bottleneck — healthy! Your GPU is fully utilized.
- Both at 50-60%? Something else (RAM, drivers, OS) is limiting performance.
Run the bottleneck calculator with your exact CPU and GPU to get a percentage and specific upgrade recommendation.
Conclusion
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