Best FiveM Settings for GTA 5 – FPS & Performance

 Muhib Nadeem / June 16, 2025 / 11 min read

Disclaimer: This article is based on the author’s own research and opinions and does not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Hone.gg.

Your FiveM experience shouldn’t feel like a slideshow. That perfect heist, intense police chase, or roleplay scenario falls apart when you’re stuck at 30 FPS while everyone else runs circles around you at 144+ frames.

Here’s the truth most guides won’t tell you: FiveM performance isn’t just about lowering graphics settings. The platform’s unique architecture means even RTX 4090 owners can struggle with stuttering if they don’t understand what’s really happening under the hood.

This guide reveals exactly how to achieve 100+ FPS consistently, even on demanding roleplay servers.

🎮
CPU
Main Bottleneck
Unlike GTA Online
💾
16GB
Real RAM Need
8GB = Stutters
188
FPS Engine Limit
Cap Below This
📊
40-80
Typical FPS Gain
From This Guide

Why FiveM Runs Worse Than GTA Online (The Truth)

Before diving into settings, you need to understand why your $2000 gaming PC struggles with FiveM when it runs GTA Online perfectly. The answer changes everything about how you optimize.

FiveM isn’t just a mod – it’s a complete multiplayer framework that fundamentally changes how GTA V operates. Each server runs custom scripts (LUA, JavaScript, C#) and streams massive amounts of custom content: vehicles, clothing, entire map interiors.

Your CPU must process all of this in real-time, making FiveM intensely CPU-bound unlike the GPU-focused base game.

⚠️ The Server Quality Factor
Your maximum FPS is capped by server optimization, not just your hardware. A poorly coded server script can cut everyone’s FPS in half. This means choosing well-maintained servers is as important as optimizing your settings.

GTA Online Performance

  • Controlled environment
  • Optimized by Rockstar
  • Limited custom content
  • GPU-bound gameplay
Result: 120-150 FPS on decent hardware

FiveM Performance

  • Hundreds of custom scripts
  • Unoptimized assets
  • Constant asset streaming
  • CPU-bound processing
Result: 60-80 FPS on same hardware

Latest FiveM System Requirements

The official requirements are outdated. Modern FiveM servers with custom MLOs, EUP clothing, and high-poly vehicles demand significantly more power. Here’s what you actually need:

Realistic System Requirements

For 60+ FPS on RP Servers
Component Minimum (Playable) Recommended (Smooth) Optimal (144+ FPS)
CPU Intel i5-8400 / Ryzen 5 2600 Intel i5-12400 / Ryzen 5 5600X Intel i7-13700K / Ryzen 7 7700X
RAM 16GB DDR4 16GB DDR4 3200MHz 32GB DDR4/DDR5 3600MHz+
GPU GTX 1060 6GB / RX 580 8GB RTX 3060 / RX 6600 XT RTX 4070 / RX 7800 XT
VRAM 4GB Minimum 6-8GB 10GB+
Storage SSD Required NVMe SSD Gen4 NVMe SSD
💡 Why 16GB RAM is Non-Negotiable
With 8GB RAM, Windows uses 3-4GB, leaving only 4-5GB for FiveM. Modern servers stream 6-8GB of custom assets, forcing constant disk swapping. This causes severe stuttering, texture loss, and crashes. 16GB is the absolute minimum for a playable experience.

Best FiveM Graphics Settings for Maximum FPS (2025)

These settings are optimized specifically for FiveM’s unique demands for max FPS. Start with our recommended profile, then fine-tune based on your hardware.

Core Graphics Settings

Expected Gain: +40-80 FPS
Setting Recommended Value FPS Impact Visual Impact
Screen Type Fullscreen
+5-10 FPS
None
DirectX Version DirectX 11
Stable
Better compatibility
VSync OFF
+10-20 FPS
Possible tearing
FXAA ON
-2-3 FPS
Smoother edges
MSAA OFF
+15-30 FPS
Jagged edges
Texture Quality High
-2-5 FPS
Major improvement
Shader Quality Normal
+5-10 FPS
Minimal difference
Shadow Quality Normal
+10-20 FPS
Pixelated shadows
Reflection Quality Normal
+10-15 FPS
Less reflections
Reflection MSAA OFF
+5-8 FPS
Blocky reflections
Water Quality Normal
+3-5 FPS
Less realistic water
Particles Quality Normal
+2-5 FPS
Less particles
Grass Quality Normal
+20-30 FPS
2D grass textures
Soft Shadows Soft
-1-2 FPS
Better shadows
Post FX Normal
+7-12 FPS
Duller colors
Motion Blur OFF
+2-4 FPS
Clearer motion
Anisotropic Filtering x16
-0-1 FPS
Sharper textures
Ambient Occlusion Normal
+5-8 FPS
Less depth
Tessellation Normal
+2-4 FPS
Less geometry detail
Population Density 50%
+10-15 FPS
Less NPCs (CPU)
Population Variety 50%
+5-8 FPS
Less variety (CPU)
Distance Scaling 50%
+8-12 FPS
Shorter view distance

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Advanced Graphics & FiveM-Specific Settings

GTA 5 FiveM upscaled
via Reddit

The Advanced Graphics menu contains FiveM’s most demanding settings. Here’s exactly what to change for maximum performance without breaking your game.

Advanced Graphics Settings

Critical for Performance
Setting Optimal Value Why This Matters
Long Shadows OFF Massive FPS drain for minimal visual benefit
High Resolution Shadows OFF Poor performance-to-quality ratio
High Detail Streaming While Flying OFF Only needed for pilots, wastes resources
Extended Distance Scaling 0-25% Keep low – major FPS killer at high values
Extended Shadows Distance 0% Renders distant shadows – huge performance cost
⚠️ The Extended Texture Budget Mystery
This FiveM-exclusive slider is crucial. Too low = invisible textures and roads. Too high = stuttering and crashes. Start at 25%, increase by 10% if textures disappear, but never exceed your VRAM limit. This single setting causes 80% of visual bugs in FiveM.

Fix Invisible Textures

⏱️ 2 minutes
  • Open Graphics Settings
  • Find “Extended Texture Budget”
  • Increase slider by 10%
  • Apply and restart game
  • Repeat if textures still missing
  • Stop if stuttering begins
VRAM Guide: 4GB cards: 25-35% | 6GB cards: 35-50% | 8GB+ cards: 50-70%

Frame Rate Capping

⏱️ 5 minutes
  • Never leave FPS uncapped
  • Engine becomes unstable above 188 FPS
  • Use NVIDIA/AMD control panel
  • Set limit 3 FPS below monitor refresh
  • Example: 141 FPS for 144Hz monitor
Benefit: Eliminates high-FPS stuttering and physics glitches

Windows & Driver Optimization for FiveM

Your operating system and GPU drivers can make or break FiveM performance. These system-level optimizations often provide bigger gains than in-game settings.

Essential Windows Settings

⏱️ 10 minutes
  • Power Plan: High Performance (Control Panel > Power Options)
  • Game Mode: ON (Settings > Gaming)
  • GPU Scheduling: ON (Settings > Display > Graphics)
  • Background Apps: Close Chrome, Discord overlay, etc.
  • Windows Updates: Pause during gaming sessions
  • Defender Exclusion: Add FiveM folder
Impact: 15-25% better CPU performance, reduced stuttering

NVIDIA Control Panel

⏱️ 5 minutes
  • Power Management: Prefer Maximum Performance
  • Low Latency Mode: Ultra
  • Threaded Optimization: On
  • Texture Filtering: High Performance
  • Max Frame Rate: Set to monitor refresh -3
  • Shader Cache: Unlimited
Target: FiveM_GameProcess.exe, not just FiveM.exe

AMD Radeon Settings

⏱️ 5 minutes
  • Anti-Lag: Enabled
  • Chill: Disabled
  • Boost: Disabled
  • Image Sharpening: 60-80%
  • Frame Rate Target: Monitor refresh -3
  • Surface Format Optimization: On
Note: Image Sharpening counters FXAA blur beautifully
Performance Monitoring Commands
F8 Console: cl_drawperf 1
# Shows FPS, ping, and packet loss overlay
Resource Monitor: resmon
# Displays which scripts are using most resources
Clear Cache: %localappdata%\FiveM
# Delete cache, server-cache, and server-cache-priv folders

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Fix Common FiveM Performance Issues

GTA 5

Even with perfect settings, FiveM can develop issues. Here’s how to diagnose and fix the most common problems that destroy your FPS.

Stuttering & Micro-Freezes

⏱️ 15 minutes
  • Cause 1: Insufficient RAM – Upgrade to 16GB
  • Cause 2: HDD instead of SSD – Install on SSD
  • Cause 3: CPU bottleneck – Lower Population Density
  • Cause 4: High uncapped FPS – Cap below 188
  • Cause 5: Background apps – Close everything
Quick Test: If stuttering stops in empty areas, it’s CPU/RAM related

Crashes & Error Codes

⏱️ 20 minutes
  • Clear FiveM cache (see command box)
  • Update graphics drivers
  • Disable all overlays (Discord, GeForce, etc.)
  • Verify GTA V files in Steam/Epic/Rockstar
  • Remove graphics mods temporarily
  • Reinstall Visual C++ Redistributables
Last Resort: Complete FiveM + GTA V reinstall

Server vs Client Lag

⏱️ Diagnostic
  • Low FPS + Low Ping: Your PC problem
  • Good FPS + High Ping: Network/server issue
  • Low CPU/GPU usage: Server scripts bottleneck
  • Teleporting players: Packet loss
  • Works fine on other servers: Bad server optimization
Remember: You can’t fix bad server optimization with client settings
Expected Performance After Optimization
GTX 1060/RX 580: 80-100 FPS on medium servers | RTX 3060/RX 6600: 120-144 FPS on most servers | RTX 4070/RX 7800 XT: 144+ FPS consistently | Note: Heavy RP servers with 200+ players will always be more demanding.

Quick Performance Profiles

Copy these exact settings based on your hardware tier for instant optimization:

Performance Profiles by Hardware

Setting Low-End PC Mid-Range PC High-End PC
Target Hardware GTX 1050 Ti / RX 570 RTX 3060 / RX 6600 RTX 4070+ / RX 7800 XT+
Expected FPS 60-80 FPS 100-120 FPS 144+ FPS
Texture Quality Normal High Very High
Shader Quality Normal High Very High
Shadow Quality Off Normal High
Reflection Quality Normal High Ultra
Grass Quality Normal Normal High
MSAA Off Off 2x
Post FX Normal High Very High
Extended Texture Budget 25% 40% 60%

The Bottom Line

FiveM optimization is fundamentally different from standard GTA V. Your CPU matters more than your GPU, server quality can cap your performance regardless of hardware, and that Extended Texture Budget slider is probably why your roads keep disappearing.

Start with our recommended settings, monitor your performance with cl_drawperf 1, and remember that sometimes the best optimization is simply finding a better-coded server. With these tweaks, you should see 40-80% FPS improvement on most systems.

For those who want instant results without the hassle, Hone can automatically apply system-level optimizations that would take hours to configure manually. It’s free, trusted by over 500,000 gamers, and specifically optimized for games like FiveM that need every bit of CPU performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my FPS lower in FiveM than GTA Online?

FiveM servers run custom scripts and stream massive amounts of custom content (vehicles, clothing, map additions) that your CPU must process in real-time. Unlike GTA Online’s GPU-focused optimization, FiveM is heavily CPU-bound. Poor server optimization can cut everyone’s FPS in half regardless of hardware.

What’s the Extended Texture Budget slider?

This FiveM-exclusive setting controls how much VRAM is allocated for custom server textures. Too low causes invisible roads and missing textures. Too high causes stuttering and crashes. Start at 25% and increase by 10% until textures load properly. 4GB VRAM: use 25-35%, 6GB: use 35-50%, 8GB+: use 50-70%.

Should I use graphics mods with FiveM?

Visual enhancement mods (NaturalVision, QuantV) will destroy your FPS and often cause instability. They’re designed for screenshots, not smooth gameplay. Only consider them if you already achieve 100+ FPS without mods. Performance mods that remove details can help but make the game look worse.

Why does my game stutter with low CPU/GPU usage?

This indicates server-side bottlenecks from poorly optimized scripts. Your hardware is waiting for the server to process information. The only solutions are lowering Population Density settings or finding a better-optimized server. No client-side settings can fix bad server code.

Should I cap my FPS in FiveM?

Yes, always cap your FPS. The GTA V engine becomes unstable above 188 FPS, causing stuttering and physics glitches. Use your GPU control panel to set a limit 3 FPS below your monitor’s refresh rate (e.g., 141 FPS for 144Hz). This provides smooth gameplay without the input lag of VSync.

How do I fix invisible roads and textures?

Increase the Extended Texture Budget slider in Advanced Graphics by 10% increments until textures load properly. If that fails, lower your main Texture Quality setting. As a last resort, clear your FiveM cache by deleting the cache folders in %localappdata%\FiveM.

Is 8GB RAM enough for FiveM?

No, 8GB is insufficient for modern FiveM servers. Windows uses 3-4GB, leaving only 4-5GB for FiveM, while servers stream 6-8GB of custom assets. This forces constant disk swapping, causing severe stuttering, texture loss, and crashes. 16GB RAM is the absolute minimum for a playable experience.

Will Hone improve my FiveM performance?

Yes, Hone optimizes Windows settings, disables unnecessary background processes, configures optimal power plans, and applies network optimizations specifically beneficial for FiveM’s CPU-intensive nature. It automates hours of manual tweaking into a one-click solution, typically providing 10-30% performance improvement.

What’s the most important setting for FiveM FPS?

Grass Quality has the single biggest FPS impact, especially in Blaine County. Dropping from Ultra to Normal can gain 20-30 FPS. After that, Shadow Quality, Reflection Quality, and MSAA are the major performance killers. Population Density is crucial for CPU-limited systems.

How do I know if lag is from my PC or the server?

Press F8 and type cl_drawperf 1 to show performance metrics. Low FPS with low ping = your PC issue. High/spiking ping = network or server issue. If other servers run fine, the server is poorly optimized. Low CPU/GPU usage with low FPS always indicates server-side bottlenecks.

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Muhib Nadeem

Muhib Nadeem

I grew up on frame drops, boss fights, and midnight queues. Now I write about games with the same energy I once saved for ranked.

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