If you are experiencing lag or sluggishness while playing games on your computer, it might be because of low FPS. The low FPS might be really frustrating for a regular PC gamer as it just ruins the whole gaming experience. So, how to boost FPS?
If you are frustrated by the low FPS and planning to buy a console specifically for gaming, you don’t have to do that (unless you want to use it as an excuse to get a gaming console). There are many ways to enhance the FPS and optimize your PC for an amazing gaming experience.
To fix various Windows 10/11 problems, we recommend Outbyte PC Repair:
This software will repair common computer errors, protect you from file loss, malware damage, hardware failure, and optimise your computer for peak performance. In three simple steps, you can resolve PC issues and remove virus damage:
- Download Outbyte PC Repair Software
- Click Start Scan to detect Windows 10/11 issues that may be causing PC issues.
- Click Repair All to fix issues with your computer's security and performance.
This month, Outbyte has been downloaded by 23,167 readers.
In this post, we will know what low FPS is, the common reasons for a low FPS while gaming, and finally, list out ways to boost FPS for a smooth gaming experience.
What is Low FPS?
When you play a game on your computer, it is pretty similar to playing a video. You are displayed with a continuous chain of images known as frames. The number of frames displayed on your screen per second while playing games is known as Frame Per Second (FPS). The FPS depends on the video card of your system. A video card is one that receives data from the games or applications to display on your monitor or screen.
Most games run at a frame rate or FPS of 30 to 60. A low FPS is when you experience sluggishness in your game display as your video card is unable to maintain an optimized frame rate required by the game you are playing. Generally, it happens when your system does not have the necessary configuration to run the intended game. However, it can also occur on a high-end PC due to various other reasons.
What are the reasons for a Low FPS?
As already mentioned, a low FPS can occur when the video card and/or other PC components are incompatible with the games you are playing. However, there are other factors that can hinder the performance of video cards and lower down the FPS.
- The graphic card drivers might be outdated because of which the ability of your video card might not be fully utilized.
- Other applications are running in the background, taking up the maximum system resources.
- The screen resolution is improper, i.e., the game might be running at a higher resolution than required.
- The in-game settings might be improperly configured.
- Outdated games might be improperly coded, causing the low FPS.
- The computer low on memory can also cause low FPS while gaming.
How to boost FPS on Windows PC?
If you are continuously facing the low FPS on all your games, there are several ways you can try to enhance it.
Here are the top ways to boost FPS on Windows PC.
Update Graphics or Video Drivers
The first fix is to update the graphic drivers of your system. It is possible that the outdated drivers are limiting the graphic card to work correctly.
Follow these steps to update the display drivers.
- Right-click on the Windows icon and select the Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters, right-click on the graphic card driver, and choose Update.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to update it.
Always ensure that not only the graphic card drivers but all other drivers should also be updated regularly. If you find it tedious to check for and update the drivers manually, you can get the third-party advanced driver updater software.
Enable Game Mode to Boost FPS
Windows comes with the excellent Game Mode feature to enhance your gaming experience and boost FPS. Microsoft launched the Windows 10 Game Mode to intensify the gaming experience on Windows 10 devices. Especially for the devices with low-end configuration, Game Mode was supposed to be a big boon.
Here are the steps to enable the Game Mode:
- On the Windows search box, type Turn on Game Mode and click on its icon.
- Toggle the button to switch ON the Windows 10 Game Mode and close the settings.
Update Windows, Games, and DirectX
To keep running your games at an optimum level, it is recommended to keep them updated with the latest version. It is also essential to keep updating the supporting components like DirectX. Along with that, Windows OS should also be upgraded to the newest version.
Update Games
You can update the games from the in-built settings or through the platform you have downloaded them, such as Steam or EpicGames. When you open Steam, you will immediately get a request to update your outdated games.
![](https://www.windowschimp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/update-games-through-Steam.jpg)
Update Windows
To update Windows, follow these steps:
- Open Windows settings
- Click on Update & Security
- Next select Check for updates
- Install the available updates
Update DirectX
DirectX is an essential component to run games on Windows. You must ensure that your system has the latest DirectX 12 installed on it. Though, since DirectX is a Windows component, it automatically gets updated with the Windows updates, you can still check its status.
- Open the Run Command Box and type dxdiag.
- On the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, check for the DirectX version.
- If it is DirectX 12, do nothing. If not, update the Windows or manually install the DirectX 12.
Close the Unnecessary Applications
While working, you generally tend to open several applications and forget to close them properly. These applications remain active in the background and keep consuming the RAM, thereby causing trouble when you run the games.
It is best to close the unrequired applications and processes to fix the low FPS. Here is how to do that:
- Launch Windows Task Manager.
- Under the Processes tab, look for the applications and processes that are unnecessarily running in the background.
- Right-click on them one by one and select End task.
Disable Startup Apps to boost FPS
When you install new applications on your system, some of them secretly gain permission to run on startup. Such applications might unnecessarily consume system resources at the startup even if you don’t want to use them.
That is one of the causes of low FPS as startup apps unnecessarily consume system resources right from the system startup. So, once you disable all the unnecessary apps, the performance will improve.
To disable the startup Apps on Windows 11, follow these steps:
- Right-click on the Start button and select Task Manager from the context menu.
- On the Task Manager window, switch to the Startup tab and check the list of startup programs.
- Select the program you want to disallow on system startup and click the Disable button at the bottom.
- Disable all the unnecessary programs on the system startup by following the above steps.
Reduce the Screen Resolution
The higher screen resolution means that your graphic card must render a higher amount of pixels which might significantly lower the FPS. Although, ideally, you might want to play the game as per its standard resolution, reducing the screen resolution would automatically boost the FPS. You can do that either through in-game settings or through Windows settings.
To reduce screen resolution in Windows, follow these steps:
- Navigate to the Windows Desktop
- Right-click on the empty space, and from the context menu, choose Display settings.
- On the Display Settings page, under the Scale and layout, expand the drop-down menu under Display resolution and choose the lower resolution than the current.
Adjust Visual Effects for Best Performance
Your Video Card is an essential component for gaming. So to utilize its full capabilities and boost the FPS, you are required to adjust the Visual Effects for best performance.
For that, follow these steps:
- Click on the windows search button and type Performance in the search bar.
- From the list, choose the Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows option.
- Choose Adjust for best performance bullet point.
Run an Antimalware Scan
A malware attack could also be the reason for the high usage of system resources, causing low FPS in games. It might have entered into your system, corrupted many files, and disabled many functions.
If your system is not equipped with antimalware, it is recommended to get a robust security solution like MalwareFox and perform a full system scan.
![MalwareFox-Dashboard](https://www.windowschimp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/MalwareFox-Dashboard.jpg)
Summing Up
Playing your favorite games at a low FPS is worst than not being able to play them at all. Fortunately, the methods listed in this post will help you boost FPS in gaming to an optimum level so that your experience is better than current. If the FPS is still low after applying all the fixes, it is better to upgrade your system and get an enhanced RAM and Processor. Getting an SSD is also best for running high-end games and programs.
If you are too much into gaming, you can also get gaming consoles such as Xbox or Playstation. That way, you won’t have to worry about PC problems.
DirectX provides the interface to access the frame buffer and advanced graphics card features, which are not provided in the standard Windows GDI graphics interface.
The best way to decrease ping is by updating the game and ensuring that the internet connection is stable and fast. Other factors for a high ping are low-end device, unoptimized game settings, and more.
Peter is an Electrical Engineer whose primary interest is tinkering with his computer. He is passionate about Windows 10 Platform and enjoys writing tips and tutorials about it.