Elden Ring Low FPS: Fixes & Causes

Elden Ring low FPS is usually caused by one of three things: your hardware not meeting the recommended requirements, a Windows or graphics driver setting that is capping the frame rate, or the game’s known shader compilation stutter. Fixing it means checking your specs, turning off frame limiters, and adjusting a few in-game and system settings. This guide covers the most common causes and the fixes that actually work.

What Causes Low FPS in Elden Ring?

Elden Ring is a demanding open-world game, but low FPS is not always about raw GPU power. The most common causes are:

• Hardware below recommended specs – The game needs a decent CPU and GPU, especially for 60 FPS at 1080p.
• Frame rate caps – The game has a built-in 60 FPS cap, and some systems have V-Sync or a driver-level frame limiter forcing a lower rate.
• Shader compilation stutter – On PC, the game compiles shaders in the background, which can cause hitches and low FPS in new areas.
• Background programs – Overlays, recording software, or too many background tasks can steal CPU time.
• Outdated drivers – Old GPU drivers can have poor performance in new titles.

Check Your Hardware Against the Requirements

Before tweaking settings, verify your PC meets the recommended specs for a smooth experience. The minimum requirements target 30 FPS at low settings, while the recommended specs aim for 60 FPS at high settings. If your CPU or GPU is below the minimum, you will see low FPS regardless of settings.

You can check your specs in Windows by opening Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and clicking the Performance tab. Compare your CPU, GPU, and RAM to the known requirements. If you are below the minimum, the best fix is to lower the resolution and graphics settings, or upgrade your hardware.

Disable Frame Limiters and V-Sync

Elden Ring has a built-in 60 FPS cap, but sometimes V-Sync or a driver-level frame limiter can drop you to 30 FPS or lower. To fix this:

1. Open the in-game settings and set “Screen Mode” to “Windowed” or “Borderless” – this often bypasses forced V-Sync.
2. In the game’s “Graphics” settings, ensure “Auto-Detect Best Rendering Settings” is off, and set “Quality Settings” to your preference.
3. Open your GPU control panel (NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Software) and set “Max Frame Rate” to “Off” for the game’s executable (eldenring.exe).
4. If you have a high refresh rate monitor, make sure Windows display settings are set to your monitor’s native refresh rate, not 60 Hz.

Adjust In-Game Graphics Settings

Some settings have a disproportionate impact on FPS. Lowering these will give you a significant boost without a huge visual hit:

• Shadow Quality – Drop to Medium or Low.
• Volumetric Quality – This affects fog and lighting; set to Low.
• Motion Blur – Turn off, it has no performance benefit but can cause perceived stutter.
• Anti-Aliasing – Set to Low or Off if you have a high-resolution display.
• Texture Quality – Keep at High if your GPU has enough VRAM, otherwise lower it.

Also try setting the game to “Windowed” mode and then back to “Fullscreen” – this can sometimes fix a driver issue that causes low FPS.

Update Your Graphics Drivers

Outdated or corrupted GPU drivers are a common cause of low FPS in new games. Visit the NVIDIA or AMD website and download the latest driver for your graphics card. If you recently updated and the problem started, try rolling back to a previous driver version. Use a clean installation option if available.

Close Background Programs and Overlays

Programs like Discord, Steam Overlay, and RGB software can consume CPU and GPU resources. Before launching Elden Ring, close unnecessary background apps. In particular, disable any overlay that injects into the game, as they can cause stuttering. You can also try running the game in “Game Mode” in Windows (Settings > Gaming > Game Mode) to prioritize resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Elden Ring capped at 60 FPS?

Elden Ring has a built-in 60 FPS cap that cannot be changed in the game settings. This is a developer choice for consistency, and it means you will never see more than 60 FPS regardless of your hardware. Some players use third-party mods to unlock the cap, but that can cause issues with the game’s physics and is not officially supported.

Does Elden Ring have a known stuttering problem?

Yes, on PC, Elden Ring suffers from shader compilation stutter, especially when entering new areas or during boss fights. This is a technical issue that can cause FPS drops and hitches. The game has been patched, but some players still experience it. The best fix is to update your drivers and ensure the game is installed on an SSD.

Can I run Elden Ring at 60 FPS on a low-end PC?

It depends on how low-end. The game’s minimum requirements are a GTX 1060 or RX 580, but you may need to lower resolution to 720p and set all settings to low to get 60 FPS. Even then, some areas may drop below 60. If your hardware is below the minimum, you will likely see 30 FPS or less.

Will lowering resolution improve FPS?

Yes, lowering the resolution is the most effective way to increase FPS. If you are playing at 1440p or 4K, dropping to 1080p can double your frame rate. You can also try using a lower resolution in windowed mode to see if that helps.

Is Elden Ring more CPU or GPU intensive?

Elden Ring is fairly balanced, but it can be CPU-heavy in open-world areas due to the amount of geometry and NPCs. If you have a weak CPU, you may see low FPS even with a strong GPU. Check your CPU usage in Task Manager while playing – if it is near 100%, that is your bottleneck.

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