Aside from the obligatory escort missions and stealth sections, very few things in the game are more annoying than an inconsistent framerate. These are measured in frames per second (FPS), with most games targeting either a steady 30 or 60 FPS. At best, FPS drops take you out of the action, and at worst, they can cause you to unfairly lose progress or die to enemies that may not even have been visible on screen.
However, an unstable framerate doesn’t always mean you should abandon or upgrade your hardware. In fact, sometimes fixing the problem is as simple as closing a few programs. Games can be quite resource intensive, meaning your graphics card and CPU have to work hard to deliver the expected performance. Asking them to do something else at the same time means that compromises have to be made somewhere, often resulting in low FPS in the game. That’s why, to get the most stable frame rates while gaming, it’s a good idea to limit the number of applications running in the background.
If closing unnecessary applications didn’t help, don’t panic. There are several other ways to improve your experience and most don’t involve replacing parts. Let’s start by rectifying a common mistake that can have a huge impact on your FPS.
Plug your monitor into your graphics card, not the motherboard
Take a look at the back of your PC and you’ll probably notice something interesting: two sets of video ports. This allows you to connect your monitor to the GPU or motherboard, but choosing correctly can mean the difference between smooth gaming and what is effectively an interactive slideshow. Remember: you still need to plug your monitor into the GPU.
The reasoning behind this is simple: connecting the monitor to the motherboard means that your CPU’s integrated graphics card will be used instead of the main GPU. While this is generally suitable for low-stakes tasks like general web browsing, integrated graphics don’t have the raw power offered by a larger dedicated GPU. This may manifest as stuttering, especially when many objects or visual effects are displayed on the screen.
Today, embedded graphics have come a long way, especially with the advent of AI-based scaling. You might not even notice any issues until it’s time to play, which is why it’s a good idea to check what your monitor is connected to if frame rate drops are a recurring problem.
Give your PC or gaming console room to breathe
The harder your device works, the hotter it gets. With a proper cooling system, this shouldn’t be a major problem since all the heat is ejected from the case (although you’ll probably notice the fans getting noisier since they’re also working overtime). When excess heat is not properly dispersed, modern systems typically trigger thermal throttling. Essentially, it will intentionally slow down to avoid damaging its components, reducing your in-game framerate.
There are many reasons for heat buildup, but the position of your device is often overlooked. Game consoles (especially modern ones with atypical shapes like the PS5) are often placed where they fit on a TV stand, which doesn’t always allow them to circulate air properly. Ideally, you should ensure four inches of space on each side for optimal air circulation.
If you still notice unusually high temperatures after repositioning your device, the processor thermal paste may need to be reapplied. Don’t overthink it: how you apply the paste makes no difference as long as you have a thin, even layer on the processor. It’s also possible that your device’s cooler isn’t powerful enough or that some of your case’s fans are installed backwards.
Take a closer look at your settings
It’s no secret that reducing graphics quality can increase frame rates. However, sometimes the game itself overestimates what your device is capable of, leaving you perplexed when things don’t work. A quick solution is to lower your graphics one level at a time (from ultra to high, for example) and see if that improves your experience. If so, you can find the sweet spot by turning off features like ray tracing and adjusting the antialiasing or drawing distance settings.
Most modern systems provide a way to quickly switch between prioritizing performance and quality. On PlayStation, you can set a global preference in the system settings, but Xbox users must change it individually in each game (assuming that option is available).
PC users have more flexibility, but that sometimes makes things more complicated. You’ll need to make sure your operating system and graphics card software are set to high-performance mode instead of limiting your own potential by playing in power-saving mode. It’s a good idea to check that your GPU drivers are up to date as well, as updates often include optimizations for specific games.
Consider upgrading your hardware
It’s unfortunate, but every computer component has a lifespan. If nothing else has helped, your games may simply not be able to handle the game you’re trying to play. Provided your CPU and GPU are reasonably new, the obvious candidate for an upgrade is RAM. It’s not uncommon for modern games to require 16GB or more, and you’ll quickly notice problems if you run out. For best results, purchase two identical RAM sticks. Mixing different types means the faster stick is blocked by the slower stick, forcing you to pay more for no reason.
Although less likely to be the cause of your problems, a faulty or underpowered power supply can also lead to poor gaming performance. Warning signs include unusual buzzing or crackling sounds and unexpected shutdowns. It’s imperative to replace an aging PSU as soon as possible because it can fail suddenly and violently, damaging other components and even starting fires. Low in-game frame rates are frustrating but usually pretty easy to fix. You can usually get stable FPS with just a few quick settings changes. If not, it might be time for a hardware upgrade.
