If you’ve ever struggled to fix low frame rate (FPS) while gaming, you know how frustrating it can be. One second, you're immersed in the action, and the next, your game turns into a slideshow.
Online games demand smooth performance, and low FPS can completely ruin your experience, making it harder to react, aim, or even enjoy the game.
In this guide, we’ll break down the best ways to improve FPS, tweak your game settings, understand what causes low frame rates, and explain why having high FPS is crucial for an enjoyable gaming session.
8 Ways to Fix Low Frame Rate
There are several ways to boost FPS in online games. Some solutions require simple tweaks, while others may demand hardware upgrades.
Let’s go through the best fixes with step-by-step instructions:
1. Update Your Graphics Drivers
Outdated drivers can cause performance issues, crashes, and graphical glitches. Keeping your GPU drivers up to date ensures your hardware is running at peak efficiency.
How to update your graphics drivers:
- Identify your GPU model: Press Win + R, type dxdiag, and press Enter. Go to the Display tab to see your GPU name.
Source: NVIDIA Support
- Visit the official website of your GPU manufacturer:
- NVIDIA: www.nvidia.com
- AMD: www.amd.com
- Intel: www.intel.com
- Download and install the latest drivers for your GPU.
- Restart your computer after installation to apply changes.
2. Lower In-Game Graphics Settings
High graphics settings can put unnecessary strain on your GPU, reducing FPS. Adjusting settings can provide a smoother experience without sacrificing too much visual quality.
How to lower graphics settings:
- Open your game and go to the settings or options menu.
- Navigate to the video or graphics settings.
- Reduce settings such as texture quality, shadow detail, and anti-aliasing.
- Apply the changes and restart the game if necessary.
- Test different settings to balance performance and visual quality.
CS2 Graphics Settings. Source: PCGamesN
3. Close Unnecessary Background Applications
Background apps consume system resources like CPU, RAM, and network bandwidth, which can negatively impact FPS.
How to close background applications:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Go to the Processes tab.
- Identify and right-click unnecessary apps (e.g., web browsers, Discord, Spotify, etc.).
- Click "End Task" to close them.
- For startup apps, go to the Startup tab in Task Manager and disable non-essential applications.
Source: MS.Codes
4. Enable Game Mode on Windows
Game Mode helps allocate system resources more efficiently when gaming.
How to enable Game Mode:
- Press Win + I to open Windows Settings.
- Click on "Gaming" > "Game Mode".
- Toggle "Game Mode" to ON.
- Restart your PC and test FPS improvement.
Source: Major Geeks
5. Optimize Your Internet Connection
Even though FPS is mostly hardware-related, a poor internet connection can create lag and stuttering in online games.
How to optimize your connection:
- Use a wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi.
- Close background applications using bandwidth (e.g., Netflix, downloads, cloud syncing).
- Restart your router/modem.
- Use a ping reducer like NoPing to reduce latency and packet loss.
- If possible, upgrade to a higher-speed internet plan.
6. Adjust Power Settings
Windows sometimes limits system performance to save power, affecting FPS.
How to set power settings to High Performance:
- Press Win + R, type powercfg.cpl, and press Enter.
- Select "High Performance" from the list of power plans.
- If "High Performance" is missing, click "Create a Power Plan" and select it.
- Restart your PC to apply changes.
Windows 11 Power Options (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
7. Check for Overheating
Overheating can cause thermal throttling, reducing your CPU and GPU performance.
How to check and prevent overheating:
- Use software like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner to check CPU/GPU temperatures.
- If temperatures exceed 85°C, clean dust from your PC or laptop using compressed air.
- Improve airflow by repositioning your device or using cooling pads.
- Apply new thermal paste if your CPU or GPU is old.
8. Upgrade Your Hardware
If all other methods fail, outdated hardware might be the culprit. A hardware upgrade can drastically improve FPS.
What to upgrade for better FPS:
- Graphics Card (GPU): The most critical component for FPS.
- Processor (CPU): Affects game performance, especially in CPU-intensive games.
- RAM: Ensure you have at least 16GB for modern gaming.
- Storage (SSD vs. HDD): An SSD can speed up game loading times and reduce stuttering.
9. Use NoPing's Boost FPS Feature
If you're already using NoPing to reduce latency and stabilize your ping (which is awesome for online games), you should definitely take advantage of the Boost FPS feature.
How it helps:
- Closes unnecessary background services
- Frees up RAM and CPU resources
- Optimizes network routes to reduce data congestion (which indirectly helps FPS in online matches)
How to use the Boost FPS feature:
- Sign-up through the website and download NoPing (you can test it for free).
- When you open the software, click on "Boost FPS" in the left side menu.
- On the next screen, you'll see a range of options to customize the feature (there are over 50 settings). You can enable or disable everything and choose between Windows default or user settings. You can also filter the options using the bar on the right.
And that's it! Boost FPS is now activated. Just launch your game and enjoy high FPS!
Game Settings to Improve FPS
Adjusting in-game settings is one of the easiest ways to improve performance. Here are the most impactful settings to tweak:
- Resolution: Lowering your resolution can dramatically improve FPS. Try 1080p instead of 1440p or 4K.
- V-Sync: Turning off V-Sync can reduce input lag but may cause screen tearing.
- Anti-Aliasing: Lower or disable it to reduce the strain on your GPU.
- Shadows: Lowering or turning off shadows can have a big impact on FPS.
- Texture Quality: If your GPU has limited VRAM, reducing texture quality can free up resources.
- Post-Processing Effects: Features like motion blur, bloom, and depth of field are nice visually but can lower FPS. Turn them off for better performance.
What Causes Low FPS in Games?
Several factors can lead to poor FPS while gaming, and understanding them can help you find the best solution.
- Outdated Hardware: A weak GPU, CPU, or insufficient RAM can bottleneck performance.
- Unoptimized Game Code: Some games are poorly optimized and may require patches or performance tweaks.
- Too Many Background Applications: Apps running in the background can eat up processing power.
- Overheating Components: If your CPU or GPU gets too hot, it may slow down to prevent damage.
- Internet Lag (for Online Games): While FPS is mostly hardware-related, a poor internet connection can cause lag, making it feel like your game is stuttering.
Why is it Important to Have High FPS?
Having a high frame rate is crucial for an enjoyable and competitive gaming experience.
When a game runs at a higher FPS, it feels much more responsive, allowing players to react more quickly to in-game actions.
This is particularly important in fast-paced online games where split-second decisions can mean the difference between winning and losing.
A higher FPS also provides smoother animations, reducing screen tearing and stuttering, which can be distracting and negatively impact immersion.
Beyond responsiveness and visual fluidity, high FPS contributes to reducing input lag. When there is a delay between pressing a key or moving a mouse and seeing the action take place on the screen, it can be frustrating and even game-breaking in competitive scenarios.
A higher frame rate ensures that movements and actions happen in real time, creating a seamless and natural gameplay experience.
For those who spend long hours gaming, low FPS can also lead to discomfort, as choppy visuals and stuttering can cause eye strain and motion sickness. By maintaining a consistently high frame rate, players can enjoy extended gaming sessions without unnecessary strain.
In addition, a higher FPS allows for better utilization of high-refresh-rate monitors, unlocking their full potential and making movements appear even more fluid.
Ultimately, achieving a high frame rate enhances overall gameplay, making every moment in a game feel smoother, more immersive, and more competitive.
Low FPS can be incredibly frustrating, but there are plenty of ways to improve your gaming experience. By optimizing your settings, keeping your drivers updated, and ensuring your system is running efficiently, you can get the best performance possible.
NoPing has a built-in Boost FPS feature, which increases your FPS up to 60%in more than 2000 games! Download NoPing now and test it for free!
