Your 18-wheeler shouldn’t feel like a slideshow. Whether you’re hauling cargo through rainy German highways or navigating tight Italian mountain passes, smooth performance transforms ETS2 from a game into a genuine driving experience.
ETS2’s performance bottlenecks are completely different from typical games. That expensive graphics card? It might be sitting at 40% usage while your CPU melts trying to render mirrors.
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Get optimized settings tailored to your specific system
RX 7900 XT, 7900 XTX
RX 5600 XT, RX 6600
GTX 1050 Ti, RX 550
ETS2’s Performance Profile
Euro Truck Simulator 2 isn’t your typical game when it comes to performance. While most modern titles are GPU-bound, ETS2 has a dirty secret: it’s often bottlenecked by your CPU, specifically by how it handles mirrors.
Here’s why: every mirror in your truck forces the game to render the entire scene again. With all mirrors active, the game renders the world up to 5 times per frame. This creates massive CPU overhead that even an RTX 4090 can’t overcome.
Performance varies dramatically between empty highways (100+ FPS) and busy city centers (40-60 FPS)
Settings That Actually Matter
After testing every possible combination, three settings emerge as having far more impact than all others combined. Master these first before touching anything else.
| Setting | Performance Impact | Visual Impact | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scaling |
Extreme
|
Massive quality improvement above 100% | Low-End: 75% Mid: 125-200% High: 300-400% |
| Mirror Distance |
Extreme (CPU)
|
Minimal visual difference | Never use Ultra High maximum |
| Grass Density |
High
|
Noticeable in rural areas | Low/Off for most Medium if 60+ FPS |
Complete Euro Truck Simulator 2 Graphics Settings Guide (Post-1.50 Update)
The 1.50 update fundamentally changed how several settings work, especially anti-aliasing. Here’s every setting explained with exact recommendations for each hardware tier.
| Setting | What It Does | Performance Cost | Optimal Values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Base display resolution |
|
Native (usually) Lower only if desperate |
| Scaling | Internal render resolution multiplier |
|
See hardware tier recommendations above |
| Anti-Aliasing (TAA) | Smooths jagged edges using temporal data |
|
TAA + Sharpening 1.0 SMAA for low-end |
| TAA Tuning | Controls TAA sharpness behavior |
|
Adaptive Clarity |
| V-Sync | Prevents screen tearing |
|
Off (use driver instead) Economy for 30 FPS lock |
| Shadow Quality | Shadow accuracy and softness |
|
Medium (balanced) Off via config for low-end |
| Mirror Quality/Resolution | Detail level in mirrors |
|
Medium sufficient |
| Mirror Distance | How far mirrors render objects |
|
Low/Medium only! |
| SSAO | Ambient occlusion shadows |
|
Off for most High for 3080+ |
| Reflection Detail | Quality of surface reflections |
|
Medium balanced |
| Vegetation Detail | Tree and bush quality/distance |
|
Medium maximum |
| Grass Density | Amount of 3D grass objects |
|
Off/Low for FPS |
| Texture Quality | Resolution of textures (VRAM usage) |
|
High if 4GB+ VRAM |
| Anisotropic Filtering | Texture clarity at angles |
|
Always Maximum |
| HDR | Extended color/brightness range |
|
Always On |
| Weather Quality | Rain effect complexity |
|
Medium if rain lags |
Hardware-Specific Configuration Blueprints
Stop guessing. Here are the exact settings proven to work best for each hardware tier, tested extensively on real systems.
- TAA + Sharpening 1.0
- Mirror Distance: High (NOT Ultra)
- Shadows: High/Ultra
- SSAO: High
- All other settings: Ultra/High
- TAA enabled
- Mirror Distance: Medium
- Shadows: Medium
- SSAO: Off
- Vegetation: Medium
- Grass: Low/Off
- Anti-Aliasing: Off
- All Mirrors: Low
- Shadows: Off (via config)
- Everything else: Lowest
- Press F2 to disable side mirrors
Advanced Euro Truck Simulator 2 Config File Tweaks
The config.cfg file in your Documents\Euro Truck Simulator 2 folder contains hidden settings that can dramatically improve performance or visuals. Always backup this file first.
| Config Command | Default | Recommended | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| uset r_buffer_page_size | “10” | “30” or “50” | Reduces stuttering with 8GB+ RAM |
| uset r_fake_shadows | “1” | “0” | Disables fake shadows for huge FPS boost |
| uset g_reflection_scale | “1” | “2” or “3” | More intense reflections (visual improvement) |
| uset g_light_span_factor | “1” | “3” | Better nighttime light bloom |
| uset g_light_distance_factor | “1” | “4” | Lights visible from further away |
| uset r_drr_strength | “8.0” | “0.0” | Reduces shimmer/aliasing (new in 1.50) |
Optimizing Your Controls: Wheel, Gamepad, and Mouse
Graphics aren’t everything. Proper control configuration transforms ETS2 from a game into a genuine driving simulator. Each input method requires specific tuning for realistic truck handling.
- Operating Range: 900°
- Centering Spring: 20% or Off
- Overall Gain: 90-100%
- Centering: 30-50%
- Internal Friction: 25-40%
- Effects: 0-10% (feels fake)
- Controller Subtype: Wheel (important!)
- Steering Sensitivity: 10-15%
- Non-linearity: 0 (use Steam instead)
- Animation Range: 360°
- Set to ~0.07 for highway stability
- Creates large center deadzone
- Allows sharp turns at stick edges
- Steering Sensitivity: 10-40%
- Non-linearity: 60% (crucial!)
- Use cruise control always
- Small, smooth movements
Euro Truck Simulator 2 Physics and Gameplay Settings
For simulation enthusiasts, these settings transform ETS2 from an arcade game into a challenging trucking simulator that respects real physics.
| Setting | Arcade Value | Realistic Value | What Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truck Stability | 50-100% | 0-25% | Trucks can actually tip over in corners |
| Trailer Stability | 50-100% | 0-25% | Jackknifing becomes possible |
| Suspension Stiffness | 50% | 25-50% | Realistic air suspension feel |
| Cabin Suspension | 50% | 20-35% | Cabin rocks realistically |
| Braking Intensity | 100% | 60-70% | Progressive air brake feel |
| Air Brake Simulation | Off | On | Must manage air pressure |
| Advanced Coupling | Off | On | Manual trailer connection |
| Fatigue Simulation | Off | On | Mandatory rest periods |
System-Level Optimization and Troubleshooting
Sometimes poor optimization for PC isn’t the game’s fault. These Windows and driver tweaks eliminate external bottlenecks.
- Power Plan: High Performance
- Game Mode: Enabled
- Disable Overlays: Steam, Discord, GeForce
- Disable Fullscreen Optimizations: Right-click exe > Properties
- Close Background Apps: Browsers especially
- Power Mode: Maximum Performance
- Texture Filtering: High Quality
- Negative LOD Bias: Clamp
- Similar maximum performance mode
- Anti-lag enabled if available
- Stuttering: Increase r_buffer_page_size
- City FPS drops: Lower Mirror Distance
- Rural FPS drops: Reduce Grass Density
- Rain lag: Lower Weather Quality
- Blurry image: Check Scaling percentage
Essential Mods for Better Performance and Visuals
While optimization is crucial, a few key mods can dramatically improve both performance and immersion without the complexity of graphics overhauls.
Sound Fixes Pack: Overhauls all game sounds for realism
Realistic Graphics Mod: Better lighting without performance hit
No Bloom: Removes excessive glow for cleaner visuals
Realistic Truck Physics: Better suspension and handling feel
Conclusion
Euro Truck Simulator 2’s performance is unlike any other game. Success comes from understanding that mirrors and scaling matter more than traditional graphics settings, and that your CPU often limits performance more than your GPU.
Start with the hardware tier settings above, then fine-tune based on your specific routes. City-heavy players need lower mirror settings, while highway cruisers can push visuals higher.
Remember: a smooth 60 FPS beats stuttery ultra settings every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important setting for FPS in ETS2?
Scaling is the single most impactful setting, controlling internal render resolution. However, Mirror Distance has the biggest CPU impact. For maximum FPS gains, reduce Mirror Distance to Medium or Low first, then adjust Scaling between 75-150% based on your hardware.
Why is my GPU usage low but FPS is still bad?
ETS2 is heavily CPU-bound, especially due to mirror rendering. Each mirror forces the game to render the scene again, creating massive CPU overhead. Your GPU sits idle waiting for the CPU to prepare frames. Lower Mirror Distance and disable unnecessary mirrors with F2.
Should I use TAA or SMAA after update 1.50?
TAA with Sharpening set to 1.0 is best for most systems. It eliminates shimmer and provides superior anti-aliasing, though it adds slight blur. SMAA is lighter but leaves more jaggies. For scaling above 200%, you can disable AA entirely as supersampling provides natural anti-aliasing.
What config.cfg tweaks make the biggest difference?
For performance: uset r_fake_shadows “0” disables an entire shadow layer for huge FPS gains. uset r_buffer_page_size “30” reduces stuttering with 8GB+ RAM. For visuals: uset g_light_span_factor “3” and g_light_distance_factor “4” create stunning nighttime lighting.
Can I run ETS2 on integrated graphics?
Yes, with aggressive optimization. Use 720p resolution, 50-75% scaling, disable all effects, set everything to Low/Off, and edit config.cfg to disable fake shadows. Launch in 32-bit mode if you have 4GB RAM. Expect 30-45 FPS, which is playable for casual trucking.
Why does rain kill my FPS?
Rain adds multiple performance hits: complex particle effects, wet road reflections, and windshield raindrop physics. Lower Weather Quality to Medium, reduce Reflection Detail, and install the Better Raindrops mod which actually performs better than vanilla rain effects.
What’s the best wheel settings for realistic driving?
For Logitech G29/G920: 900° rotation, Overall Gain 90-100%, Centering 30-50%, Internal Friction 25-40%, all effects 0-10%. The default effects feel artificial. Some players use community FFB plugins for more realistic force feedback that better simulates modern truck power steering.
Should I use mods for better graphics?
Visual overhaul mods like NaturalVision or QuantV destroy performance and are only for screenshots. Instead, use targeted mods: Better Raindrops for weather, Sound Fixes Pack for audio immersion, and simple lighting mods. These improve the experience without crushing frame rates.
How do I fix stuttering in cities?
City stuttering is almost always CPU-related. Set Mirror Distance to Low/Medium, reduce Population Density, disable unnecessary background apps, and increase r_buffer_page_size in config.cfg. If stuttering persists, your CPU single-thread performance is the limiting factor.
What scaling percentage should I use?
Low-end systems: 50-75% for playable FPS. Mid-range: 125-200% for good quality/performance balance. High-end: 300-400% for supersampled clarity. Never leave at exactly 100% if you can help it; either go lower for performance or higher for quality.
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