Cyberpunk 2077: 10 Graphics Tips For Maximizing Your FPS (2024)

Cyberpunk 2077PC gamers were a bit shocked to discover that the game didn't run as well as they expected on their beefy PC rigs. Part of the reason is CD Projekt Red's ambitious decision to push the limits of current graphics technology, while the other is undoubtedly the lack of further optimizations and tweaks to boost performance.

RELATED:10 Things We Wish We Knew Before Starting Cyberpunk 2077

Regardless, there are ways PC gamers can drastically increase their FPS averages with a few simple tweaks. The following is a list of the best tips to squeeze much-needed extra juice out of your hardware and enjoy a much smoother play experience. Bear in mind that these tips will work for some, and not for others. Such is the bittersweet joy of multiple hardware configs.

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10/10 Update Your Video Card Drivers

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Veteran PC gamers know how absolutely annoying this tip is. After all, it goes without saying, or at least it should. Nevertheless, other gamers might not be aware of the little indicator on their task icon telling them to update their GPU drivers.

For instance, Nvidia has already issued a day-one driver update for better Cyberpunk 2077 performance. Ignoring it would be folly. If possible, have your drivers set to auto-update, unless you prefer to wait a few days to see if others are having issues. Otherwise, expect a few more driver updates over the next week or two.

9/10 Disable Game Mode

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Windows 10 includes a "Game Mode" feature which doesn't always perform the way one would expect. Many mistakenly turn this on expecting a boost in performance, when the exact opposite may occur.

Click the Start icon and type "Game Mode" into the search bar to find the appropriate menu. Make sure the button is set to off.

8/10 Disable Captures

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While in the Game Mode menu, look to the left-hand side of the window and click on "Captures," or type it after clicking the Start Menu icon. Turn all the options Off in this section.

Captures works in tandem with certain third-party features like Nvidia's Shadowplay functionality, which records and shares gameplay videos with in a DVR-style format. Leaving this on can sap extra resources that would otherwise be directed back into the game.

7/10 Disable Xbox Game Bar

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Microsoft's strategic alignment of Windows 10 and the Xbox gaming platform has some disadvantages, notably in the performance department. The built-in Game Bar is a feature many gamers aren't aware of, but it can cause drops in FPS.

RELATED:Xbox Series X: 10 Games You Should Play Right Now

From the same screen mentioned in the last two entries, click on "Xbox Game Bar" to the left of the menu (or click start and type in "Game Bar") and shut it off. The only time this feature should theoretically be enabled is if it's being used by the gamer for a specific Xbox-related purpose.

6/10 Change Windows 10 GPU Settings

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Changing Windows-related graphics settings outside of AMD or Nvidia menus is something many gamers simply don't think of. Yet, it can drastically improve the performance of many games, including Cyberpunk 2077.

Click the Start icon and type in "GPU" to open the Graphics Settings menu. Under Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling, switch the button to Off, as it can cause drops in FPS for many games. Second, navigate down to the Graphics performance preference setting and click the "Browse" button. Navigate to the Cyberpunk 2077.exe file which is usually located in the Cyberpunk installation directory inside the Bin>x64 folder subgroup. Steam users can usually find Cyberpunk's installation folder under C: Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common. Once it's added to the list, click Options and choose the High-performance mode. If Cyberpunk 2077 is already on the list, simply skip the Browsing step and repeat the aforementioned tweak. This is especially handy for gaming laptops.

5/10 Nvidia Tweaks

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Right-click on your desktop and choose Nvidia Control Panel, or activate it via the icon in the bottom-right of the taskbar. On the left-hand side of the Control Panel, click "Manage 3D Settings" and toggle the main window from Global Settings to Program Settings. From the drop-down menu under "1. Select a program to customize," find Cyberpunk 2077. If it's missing from the list, click "Add" and repeat the same step in the previous tip to locate the Cyberpunk 2077.exe file. Once done, apply the following settings to the game's parameters.

Image Sharpening = Sharpening Off

Anisotropic Filtering = Off

Antialiasing - FXAA = Off

Antialiasing - Gamma correction = On

Antialiasing - Mode = Override any application setting

Background Application Max Frame Rate = Off

CUDA - GPUs = Use global setting (All)

Low Latency Mode = Ultra

Max Frame Rate = Off

Monitor Technology = G-Sync (if you have a G-Sync enabled monitor)

Mutli-Frame Sampled AA (MFAA) = Off

OpenGL rendering GPU = Auto-select

Power management mode = Prefer maximum performance

Preferred refresh rate = Highest available

Shader Cache = On

Texture filtering - Anisotropic sample optimization = On

Texture filtering - Negative LOD bias = Allow

Texture filtering - Quality = High performance

Texture filtering - Trilinear optimization = On

Threaded optimization = On

Triple buffering = Off

Vertical sync = Use the 3D application setting

Make sure to click "Apply" before closing the Nvidia Control Panel.

4/10 Clean Your PC

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PC clutter can cause an unwanted drop in performance in games, so it's wise to keep things spic and span at all times. If you use an automated third-party cleaning program, you can skip this step. Otherwise, make sure to follow the tip for the most optimal play.

Click the Start icon and type "Clean," then open Disk Cleanup. Make sure your Windows 10 drive is selected (typically the C: drive), and choose which options to check off for cleaning. For instance, you may wish to uncheck Temporary Internet Files if you wish to retain your site login credentials, or Recycle Bin if you want to be sure nothing valuable is in there before deletion. Click Ok, then "Delete Files" and let the system run its course. Repeat the process for all the other drives on your computer.

3/10 Enable Super-Secret "Ultimate Power" Mode For Windows 10

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Many gamers aren't aware that Windows 10 offers an Ultimate Power scheme which is sometimes disabled and hidden by default. If the best possible option on your machine is High performance, you may be missing out on some extra juice that could be put towards Cyberpunk 2077.

Click the Start icon and type in Power and Sleep, then click on "Power & sleep settings." In the right-hand menu under Related settings, click "Additional power settings" and choose the Ultimate Performance mode. If this option is missing, click the Start icon, type in CMD and right-click the Command Prompt option. Run the program as an Administrator, and copy/paste the following line: "powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61" without quotations. Repeat the above settings to re-open the power plan menu and the option should be visible for activation.

2/10 AMD Ryzen CPU Tweaks

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AMD Ryzen gaming CPU owners may not realize that their chip has a few limitations compared to Intel equivalents when it comes to appropriate hyperthreaded processing. This robs them of a possible 20% to 30% increase in in-game performance, which is nothing to sneeze at.

RELATED:10 Hilarious Spoiler-Free Cyberpunk 2077 Launch Memes

The fix is a complex one, so we've included a link to a YouTube video by TroubleChute which breaks down the entire process. Activating this fix could yield massive gains for AMD users, including those with Threadripper processors.

1/10 In-Game Tweaks

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This depends largely on the power of one's computer, and not every combination will result in the same performance. It's important to play around with these settings in order to achieve the most optimal framerates. That being said, there are a few tweaks that will boost performance right out of the box. Head to the Graphics tab in the in-game settings and change the following:

Field of View = 90-100 (note: this will render more on-screen content which is an increased burden on the hardware. Play with this setting to find the right value for yourself)

Chromatic Aberration = Off

Motion Blur = Off

Contact Shadows = On

Local Shadow Mesh Quality = Medium

Local Shadow Quality = Low/Medium

Cascaded Shadows Range = Medium

Cascaded Shadows Resolution = Low

Distant Shadows Resolution = Low

Volumetric Fog Resolution = Medium

Volumetric Cloud Quality = Medium

Screen Space Reflections Quality = Medium

Ambient Occlusion = Low

Color Precision = High

Mirror Quality = Medium

Ray-Tracing only applies to Nvidia 20 and 30-series GPU users, and will cost quite a bit of performance even on beefier systems. Apply all the tweaks mentioned above before experimenting in-game ray-tracing options to achieve the best result.

NEXT:Cyberpunk 2077: 10 Crazy Facts You Didn't Know About The Main Characters

Cyberpunk 2077: 10 Graphics Tips For Maximizing Your FPS (2024)

FAQs

What is a good FPS for Cyberpunk 2077? ›

Cyberpunk 2077 system requirements

Based on our testing, these configurations seem to target 30 frames per second (fps) for their recommended resolution and graphics settings. The High recommendation calls for an RTX 2060, for example.

How do I make cyberpunk run smoother? ›

  1. TURN OFF YOUR FRAMERATE COUNTER. Let's start with a quick mind hack. ...
  2. DOWNLOAD THE LASTEST GPU DRIVERS. Both Nvidia and AMD released day-one drivers for Cyberpunk 2077 with performance optimizations in place. ...
  3. USE NVIDIA AND AMD'S RESOLUTION SCALING FEATURES. ...
  4. DLSS IS YOUR FRIEND.

How much fps does a 3090 get on cyberpunk? ›

Low Vs Ultra GeForce RTX 3090 Performance Review

Getting the Cyberpunk 2077 running while using a GeForce RTX 3090 can see it could get a very strong 146 FPS. Which is at High settings on 1080p performance. But then the GeForce RTX 3090 will get a solid big screen performance at 4K, with 46 frames per second.

Does ray tracing lower FPS? ›

Ray tracing has a huge impact on performance, as it requires more processing power from your system. You'll definitely see those frame rates plummet, which is a real bummer. This will happen even with the most powerful GPUs.

Does cyberpunk run at 120fps? ›

The best example I saw of this so far is Cyberpunk 2077 running on an RTX 4090 with DLSS 3, which results in 4K gameplay at 120 fps with ray-tracing.

Is 45 fps OK? ›

30-45 FPS: Playable. Most people are OK playing at this frame rate, even if it's not perfect. 45-60 FPS: Smooth. Most PC gamers aim to achieve frame rates in this range.

Is Cyberpunk GPU or CPU intensive? ›

Please note that the game is both graphics- and processor-intensive, so make sure these components meet or exceed the minimum requirements.

How much RAM should cyberpunk use? ›

RAM: 8GB. Graphics: Nvidia GTX 780, AMD Radeon RX 470 or better. VRAM: 3GB.

Is Cyberpunk 2077 FPS or TPS? ›

The switch to first-person for Cyberpunk 2077 means the game is in part a first-person shooter, and it's this realisation that seems to have worried some fans of the studio's games.

Why do I overheat so easily cyberpunk? ›

Overheating can occur when you're being hacked. This can only happen if you're in an enemy's line of sight or a camera's line of sight.

What does DLSS sharpness do in cyberpunk? ›

It makes smarter use of a game's motion vectors to improve object detail in motion, particle reconstruction, ghosting, and temporal stability. In Cyberpunk 2077, which updates to NVIDIA DLSS 2.3 today, it more smartly uses motion vectors to reduce ghosting on fine detail in motion.

How powerful will the 4090 be? ›

If the performance gains at 1440P with the RTX 4090 are getting close to 50 percent at times, they've even bigger at 4K. Out of the games I've been testing, the RTX 4090 delivers around a 70 percent jump in performance at 4K over the RTX 3090. It's truly a beast of a card for 4K gaming.

Can RTX 3090 TI run cyberpunk? ›

And finally, if you're playing at 4K or beyond, the GeForce RTX 3080 and GeForce RTX 3090 deliver the performance to play Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing at Ultra at this incredibly demanding resolution.

Is RTX 3060 good enough for Cyberpunk? ›

Can an RTX 3060 Ti run Cyberpunk? Yes, at 1080p with textures high and Ray tracing at performance you'll get an over 60 fps experience and at 1440 p you will get lows of 40s to highs of 60s.

Is RTX better than GTX for FPS? ›

Even though they are still releasing GTX Graphics Cards (either for desktop or laptop), the RTX is a much better choice. For instance, the entry-level card in RTX 20 Series i.e., the RTX 2060 can outperform the high-end card of the GTX 10 Series i.e., the GTX 1080.

Why does 30 FPS look better than 60? ›

They tell you how fast the image on your screen changes, so a higher frame rate means things will look smoother and more fluid. In short, 30 fps means that 30 still images will be shown every second, while 60 fps means that 60 still images will be shown every second.

Why is 60 fps better than 30? ›

Recording in 60 Frames Per Second

The slowed-down footage appears better and crisper since it is double the frames rather than 30 fps, It simply gives viewers at home a fantastic picture of the action. Slow-motion highlights from live sports would stutter and seem choppy if shot at 30 frames per second.

How many FPS can the eye see? ›

The visual cues in the world around us move at a particular rate, and our eyes can take in this information at a specific pace of perception. Most experts have a tough time agreeing on an exact number, but the conclusion is that most humans can see at a rate of 30 to 60 frames per second.

How old is Adam Smasher? ›

As one of the newest recruits of The Justice Society, 20-year-old Al Rothstein can transform his molecular structure to grow in size to towering heights to become the superhero Atom Smasher. What he lacks in experience, Atom Smasher makes up for with brute force and an endless well of youthful optimism.

Can PS5 hit 120 FPS? ›

PS5 games will run at a variety of framerates, including 60fps (See Also: Will PS5 Games Be 60 Frames-Per-Second?). However, Sony's new-gen system also supports 120fps, so we've compiled a list of all PS5 games running at 120fps as part of our PS5 guide.

What is the FPS of real life? ›

In other words, when you're looking around, your eyes are viewing visual cues that move at a certain rate, and that rate is called frames per second. How many frames per second do you think you can see? Some experts will tell you that the human eye can see between 30 and 60 frames per second.

Is 27 fps good for gaming? ›

The target frame rate for gamers is preferential, since having a steady connection with the graphics card is sometimes more important than having a fast one. PC action games are played best at 60 fps, but otherwise, a frame rate of 30 fps or higher should be fine.

What is the highest FPS ever? ›

Originally Answered: What is the fastest FPS (Frames Per Second) ever recorded ? Scientists at MIT have created a camera that can record 4.4 TRILLION (no, I didn't misspell that) frames per second. It is amazing to watch if you get the chance.

Can Cyberpunk damage my PC? ›

Be warned, this game will fry your CPU unless it's good enough to avoid 100% core usage.

Is 8GB RAM enough for Cyberpunk 2077? ›

Games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Rainbow 6 Seige (R6), and World of Warcraft Shadowlands are playable with 8GB RAM.

Is 16 GB RAM good for gaming? ›

Most games recommend 16GB of memory for speedy, high-performance play. Having this much RAM in your computer will allow you to change what games you play, and to avoid issues with lag and stuttering. At an absolute minimum 8GB is usually a good starting point for most games.

Is 12GB RAM enough for cyberpunk? ›

The minimum RAM required to run the game is 8GB. CD Projekt Red recommends 12GB RAM or higher for Cyberpunk 2077. The minimum VRAM should be 3GB. Recommended VRAM is 6GB.

How long does Cyberpunk 2077 take to 100%? ›

When focusing on the main objectives, Cyberpunk 2077 is about 24 Hours in length. If you're a gamer that strives to see all aspects of the game, you are likely to spend around 103 Hours to obtain 100% completion.

Is SSD recommended for Cyberpunk? ›

The first interesting tidbit is that, minimum or recommended, CD Projekt recommends Cyberpunk 2077 be installed onto an SSD. The minimum requirements say “70GB HDD”, but adds “SSD recommended” immediately after.

Will cyberpunk ever get 3rd person? ›

To play Cyberpunk 2077 in third person, you need to download and install the JB - Third Person mod on NexusMods. Created by Jelle Bakker, this mod moves the camera to behind V's back so that you can play through the entire game in third-person.

Can you play cyberpunk at 60 fps? ›

We get parity from a performance standpoint with PS5 and Series X, even if resolution does take a hit to 1080p and below. Beyond resolution, there are some other compromises made to get Cyberpunk 2077 operating at 60fps. There are strategically targeted drops in quality to shadows, and textures.

Is Cyberpunk badly Optimised? ›

Cyberpunk 2077 is very poorly optimized and it doesn't run well on any hardware. It isn't because the 3090 is weak, it absolutely is not.

What should you not do on cyberpunk? ›

9/10 Avoid Text Messages. When playing Cyberpunk 2077, you're constantly getting text messages from all kinds of people about all kinds of things. It usually gets to the point where you get so many messages, you just don't have the time to look at them anymore. That's a big mistake.

How do I free brick? ›

When you approach the door, the find a way to free Brick objective will appear. To open the door, activate the scanner mode, and look at the door terminal to the left. This will come up with a number of options. Select Remote Deactivation, and the door will swiftly open itself to you.

Is Cyberpunk unplayable? ›

However, there's no denying that the Cyberpunk 2077 last-gen updates took that version of the game from “unplayable” to “nonoptimal.” Those versions of the game are now free of their biggest technical problems and now run well enough to be considered functional in the minds of many.

Can DLSS improve FPS? ›

NVIDIA DLSS 3 Boosts Frame Rates (FPS) by 3-4x but Can Lead to Loss of Detail and Increased Latency. One of the key highlights of NVIDIA's RTX 40 series graphics cards is the added support for DLSS 3, an advanced upscaling technology that boosts performance by over 3x in supported titles.

Does enabling DLSS increase FPS? ›

With games like Deliver us the Moon and Wolfenstein: Youngblood, Nvidia introduced a new AI engine for DLSS, which we're told improves image quality, especially at lower resolutions like 1080p, and can increase frame rates in some cases by over 50%.

Is DLSS quality better than performance? ›

DLSS mode. With DLSS 2 and DLSS 3, you can also choose between three image quality modes—Quality, Performance and Ultra Performance. The Quality mode offers higher image quality than the Performance mode. The Performance mode offers higher performance than the Quality mode.

Is Cyberpunk locked at 60 FPS? ›

Cyberpunk 2077 is an undeniably beefy game — even powerful gaming PCs have trouble running it well. You might expect that Nvidia's 3080-powered servers could handle it, but no, Cyberpunk is capped at 45 fps.

Is Cyberpunk 2077 60fps? ›

Beyond resolution, there are some other compromises made to get Cyberpunk 2077 operating at 60fps. There are strategically targeted drops in quality to shadows, and textures.

Does cyberpunk have 60fps? ›

For starters, Xbox Series S received a 60fps performance mode to bring it into line with Series X and PlayStation 5 (albeit at a lower resolution, of course) while the higher-power consoles benefit from input lag optimisations in the previously sluggish ray tracing modes.

Does FPS matter in Cyberpunk 2077? ›

DPS is really only useful if you like to spray enemies from close distance with a hail of bullets. Ultimately, it's more about how the gun "feels" to you.

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