How To Fix FPS Drops – Solved For All Games

 Muhib Nadeem / June 30, 2025 / 12 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.

One moment you’re dominating the match at 144 FPS. The next, your game becomes a stuttering slideshow at 30 FPS, right as an enemy appears. You die, rage at your PC, and wonder why your expensive hardware suddenly forgot how to run games.

Here’s the truth: FPS drops aren’t random glitches. They’re symptoms of specific bottlenecks in your system, and each type has a distinct fix.

FPS Drop Diagnostic Process

Follow this exact sequence to identify your problem

📊
Monitor Metrics
GPU/CPU usage, temps, clocks
🔍
Identify Bottleneck
CPU, GPU, thermal, or RAM
🎯
Apply Targeted Fix
Specific to your bottleneck
Verify Results
Confirm stable performance

Why Do Your FPS Drop?

Before diving into fixes, you need to understand what’s actually happening when your FPS drops. It’s not about how many frames you see, but about how consistently they arrive at your screen.

Think of gaming performance like a factory assembly line. Your CPU processes game logic and prepares instructions. Your GPU renders the visuals. RAM stores active data. Storage feeds new assets. When any component fails to keep pace, the entire line stalls, and you experience an FPS drop.

💡 Frame Time vs FPS: The Hidden Truth
A game showing “60 FPS average” can feel worse than one locked at 30 FPS. Why? Frame time consistency. At 60 FPS, each frame should take 16.67ms. But if frames alternate between 10ms and 50ms, you’ll perceive stuttering despite the “60 FPS” counter. This is why 1% low FPS matters more than average FPS.

Key Metrics to Monitor

GPU Usage
95-100%
Ideal State
GPU Temp
<80°C
Safe Zone
CPU Usage
<90%
Per Core
CPU Temp
<85°C
No Throttle
RAM Usage
<80%
Headroom
VRAM Usage
<90%
Critical

Step 1: Diagnose Your Specific Bottleneck

Every FPS drop has a specific cause. Using the wrong fix wastes time and can make things worse. Here’s how to identify exactly what’s limiting your performance to increase FPS on PC:

Click Your Symptoms to Reveal the Cause

🎮

GPU Bottleneck

  • GPU usage at 95-100%
  • Lower resolution increases FPS
  • Graphics settings directly affect FPS
  • CPU usage relatively low
  • Consistent frame times
💻

CPU Bottleneck

  • GPU usage below 90%
  • One CPU core at 100%
  • Lower resolution doesn’t help
  • Graphics settings barely affect FPS
  • Stuttering in crowded areas
🔥

Thermal Throttling

  • Good FPS at start, drops over time
  • CPU/GPU temps above 85°C
  • Clock speeds dropping under load
  • Loud fan noise
  • Laptop? Almost certainly this
💾

RAM/Storage Issues

  • Severe stuttering/freezes
  • Texture pop-in or missing textures
  • Long freezes when entering new areas
  • RAM usage near max capacity
  • Game installed on HDD
⚠️ The Resolution Test: Your First Diagnostic Tool
Not sure about your bottleneck? Run this simple test: Play at your normal settings and note FPS. Then drastically lower resolution (1080p → 720p). If FPS increases significantly, you’re GPU-bound. If FPS stays similar, you’re CPU-bound. This 30-second test reveals more than any monitoring software.

Step 2: Thermal Throttling Fixes (Most Common Cause)

Heat is the silent performance killer. Modern CPUs and GPUs automatically slow down to prevent damage when they get too hot. This self-preservation mechanism causes sudden, severe FPS drops that feel like your PC is dying.

🌡️

Monitor & Identify Thermal Issues

Difficulty: Easy
  1. Download HWiNFO64 or Core Temp (free tools)
  2. Play your game for 15-20 minutes
  3. Check maximum temperatures reached
  4. CPU safe: under 85°C | GPU safe: under 80°C
  5. If exceeding these, you’re thermal throttling
Expected Result: Identify if heat is causing your FPS drops. Temperatures above limits confirm thermal throttling.
🧹

Clean Your System

Difficulty: Easy • Time: 15 min
  1. Power off and unplug your PC
  2. Open case side panel (or laptop bottom)
  3. Use compressed air on all fans and heatsinks
  4. Hold fans still while cleaning (prevents damage)
  5. Clean dust filters if present
  6. Ensure all fans spin freely when done
Impact: Can reduce temperatures by 10-20°C. Dust is the #1 cause of overheating. This free fix solves most thermal issues.
🔧

Advanced Thermal Solutions

Difficulty: Advanced
  1. Repaste: Replace thermal paste (2+ year old systems)
  2. Case Airflow: Add intake fans (front/bottom), exhaust (rear/top)
  3. Undervolt: Reduce voltage for same performance, less heat
  4. CPU: Use ThrottleStop or Intel XTU
  5. GPU: Use MSI Afterburner curve editor
  6. Upgrade Cooling: Better CPU cooler or case
Potential: 15-30°C reduction. Undervolting is free and highly effective but requires research for your specific hardware.

Thermal Limits by Component

Component Safe Gaming Temp Throttle Start Performance Impact
Intel CPU Under 85°C 95-100°C 50%+ FPS loss possible
AMD CPU Under 85°C 90-95°C 40%+ FPS loss possible
NVIDIA GPU Under 75°C 83°C (gradual from 65°C) 15-30% FPS loss
AMD GPU Under 85°C 110°C (hotspot) 20-40% FPS loss

Step 3: CPU Bottleneck Solutions

CPU bottlenecks create the worst gaming experience: stuttering, inconsistent frame times, and FPS that won’t improve regardless of graphics settings. Here’s how to reclaim performance:

⚙️

Optimize Windows for Gaming

Difficulty: Easy • Impact: High
  1. Power Plan: Control Panel → Power Options → High Performance
  2. Game Mode: Settings → Gaming → Game Mode ON
  3. Disable Fullscreen Optimization: Right-click game.exe → Properties → Compatibility
  4. Close Background Apps: Discord, Chrome, Spotify (use phone instead)
  5. Disable Overlays: GeForce Experience, Discord, Steam
Expected Gain: 10-25% FPS improvement by freeing CPU resources for your game.
🎮

In-Game CPU Settings

Difficulty: Easy • Instant Results
  1. View Distance: Lower to Medium/Low (huge CPU impact)
  2. Shadows: Low or Off (CPU calculates shadow positions)
  3. Population Density: Reduce NPCs/crowds by 50%
  4. Physics Quality: Set to Low
  5. Particle Effects: Reduce or disable
  6. Audio: Lower quality (yes, audio uses CPU)
Pro Tip: These settings barely affect visual quality but massively reduce CPU load. Start here before considering hardware upgrades.
💾

RAM & Storage Optimization

Difficulty: Medium
  1. Enable XMP/DOCP: Enter BIOS, enable memory profile
  2. Verify Speed: Task Manager shows actual RAM speed
  3. Install on SSD: HDDs cause severe CPU waiting
  4. Clear Standby Memory: Use Intelligent Standby List Cleaner
  5. Dual Channel: Use 2x8GB, not 1x16GB RAM
Impact: Faster RAM can improve CPU performance by 15-30% in CPU-bound games. Single to dual-channel: up to 40% gain.

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Step 4: GPU Bottleneck Solutions

GPU bottlenecks are actually the “good” bottleneck to have. They’re predictable, and solutions directly translate to FPS gains. Here’s how to maximize your graphics card’s potential:

Graphics Settings Performance Impact

Setting FPS Impact Visual Impact Recommended Action
Resolution Very High Major Use DLSS/FSR or lower to 1080p
Ray Tracing Extreme Moderate Disable unless RTX 4070+
Shadows High Moderate High → Medium saves 15-20%
Anti-Aliasing High Low at 1440p+ Use FXAA or TAA, avoid MSAA
Ambient Occlusion Medium Subtle SSAO over HBAO+ for performance
Post Processing Medium Preference Disable motion blur, bloom
Texture Quality Low Major Keep High unless VRAM limited
Anisotropic Filtering Minimal Moderate Always use 16x (free quality)
🎛️

GPU Driver Optimization

Difficulty: Easy • Essential
  1. Clean Install: Use DDU in Safe Mode first
  2. NVIDIA: Control Panel → Manage 3D Settings
  3. Power Management: Prefer Maximum Performance
  4. Texture Filtering: High Performance
  5. AMD: Radeon Software → Graphics
  6. Anti-Lag: ON | Chill: OFF | Boost: OFF
Note: Outdated or corrupted drivers are the #1 cause of GPU-related FPS drops. Always use latest drivers from NVIDIA/AMD directly.
🚀

Modern Upscaling Technology

Difficulty: Easy • Game Changer
  1. NVIDIA DLSS: Enable Quality mode (RTX cards)
  2. AMD FSR: Enable Quality mode (any GPU)
  3. Intel XeSS: Works on all GPUs
  4. Renders at lower resolution, AI upscales
  5. Quality mode: 30-50% FPS gain, minimal quality loss
  6. Performance mode: 100%+ gain if desperate
Revolution: These technologies let you play at “4K quality” with 1440p performance. Free performance with almost no downside.

Step 5: Fix Stuttering and Frame Time Issues

Sometimes your FPS counter shows good numbers, but the game still feels terrible. This is frame time inconsistency, and it has specific causes and solutions:

🔄

Shader Compilation Stutter

Common in Unreal Engine Games
  1. First-time stutters when seeing new effects
  2. Fix 1: Let game compile shaders in menu (5-10 min)
  3. Fix 2: Play training/practice mode first
  4. Fix 3: Some games have shader pre-compilation option
  5. Stutters disappear after shaders cached
  6. Don’t delete shader cache when “optimizing”
Note: This is a one-time issue per game. Once shaders compile, stuttering stops permanently (until driver updates).
💽

Asset Streaming Stutter

Open World Games
  1. Stutters when moving to new areas
  2. Primary Fix: Install game on SSD
  3. Increase texture streaming pool if available
  4. Close programs using disk (downloads, updates)
  5. Defragment HDD if stuck with mechanical drive
  6. Lower texture quality to reduce streaming load
Reality: Modern games assume SSD speeds. HDDs simply can’t stream data fast enough, causing unavoidable stutters.
🎯

Frame Pacing & VSync Issues

Universal Fix
  1. Best: G-Sync/FreeSync monitor + compatible GPU
  2. Alternative: Cap FPS below monitor refresh
  3. 144Hz monitor: Cap at 141 FPS
  4. Use in-game limiter or RTSS, not VSync
  5. Disable Windows VSync override in Graphics Settings
  6. Consistent frame times > Higher average FPS
Truth: Uncapped 200 FPS with stutters feels worse than locked 100 FPS. Stability beats peak numbers.
💡 The Windows 11 Memory Integrity Issue
Windows 11’s Memory Integrity feature (VBS) can reduce gaming performance by 5-25%. Check: Windows Security → Device Security → Core Isolation. If Memory Integrity is ON and you’re having FPS issues, consider disabling it. This trades some security for significant performance gains.

Step 6: Nuclear Options for Persistent Issues

If you’ve tried everything and still have FPS drops, these advanced solutions tackle the most stubborn problems:

🔨

Complete Driver Reset

Last Resort
  1. Download DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller)
  2. Download latest GPU driver (don’t install yet)
  3. Boot Windows into Safe Mode
  4. Run DDU, select “Clean and restart”
  5. Install fresh driver after reboot
  6. Reconfigure all GPU control panel settings
When to Use: Random crashes, artifacts, or FPS drops after driver updates. Solves 90% of “mysterious” GPU issues.
🧪

BIOS & Hardware Configuration

Advanced Users Only
  1. Update BIOS: Check motherboard site for latest
  2. Disable: CPU C-States, HPET, Spread Spectrum
  3. Enable: XMP/DOCP, Resizable BAR, Above 4G
  4. Check: PCIe set to Gen3/4, not Auto
  5. Verify: RAM in correct slots (usually 2&4)
Caution: BIOS changes can prevent booting. Research your specific motherboard. Have reset CMOS plan ready.

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Keep Your FPS Stable

Once you’ve fixed your FPS drops, maintain peak performance with these preventive measures:

Monthly Maintenance Checklist

Task Frequency Time Required Prevents
Update GPU Drivers Monthly 10 minutes Compatibility issues, missing optimizations
Clean Dust Filters Monthly 5 minutes Thermal throttling
Check Temperatures Monthly During gaming Gradual thermal degradation
Windows Updates Monthly Varies Security issues, some optimizations
SSD Health Check Quarterly 5 minutes Storage-related stutters
Startup Programs Quarterly 10 minutes Background resource drain

The Bottom Line

FPS drops aren’t mysterious or random. They’re symptoms of specific bottlenecks that can be systematically diagnosed and fixed. The key is identifying your exact limitation through monitoring and testing, then applying the targeted solution.

Remember: thermal throttling is the most common cause (especially in laptops), followed by CPU bottlenecks from background processes. GPU bottlenecks are actually desirable, they mean your system is balanced and solutions directly translate to FPS gains.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I get FPS drops even with a good PC?

FPS drops on powerful hardware usually indicate thermal throttling (components overheating), background processes consuming resources, outdated/corrupted drivers, or CPU bottlenecks in poorly optimized games. Even high-end PCs need proper cooling, clean Windows installations, and updated drivers to maintain performance.

How do I know if my CPU or GPU is bottlenecking?

Check GPU usage while gaming. If it’s below 90-95%, you’re CPU bottlenecked. If GPU is at 95-100%, you’re GPU bottlenecked (which is ideal). Alternatively, lower your resolution drastically – if FPS increases significantly, you were GPU bottlenecked. If FPS barely changes, you’re CPU bottlenecked.

What temperature is too hot for gaming?

CPUs start thermal throttling around 90-100°C, but you should keep them under 85°C for consistent performance. GPUs begin throttling at 83-85°C for NVIDIA, 90°C for AMD. Sustained gaming temperatures above 80°C for GPUs and 85°C for CPUs indicate cooling problems that will cause FPS drops.

Will more RAM fix FPS drops?

Only if you’re running out. Check Task Manager – if RAM usage exceeds 90% while gaming, upgrading from 8GB to 16GB will eliminate stuttering. However, going from 16GB to 32GB rarely improves FPS unless you’re heavily multitasking. Faster RAM (3200MHz+) helps more than quantity in CPU-bound games.

Why does my FPS drop over time while gaming?

This classic symptom indicates thermal throttling. As components heat up during extended gaming, they automatically reduce performance to prevent damage. Other causes include memory leaks (restart game every few hours) or Windows background tasks kicking in. Monitor temperatures to confirm.

Do game boosters like Hone actually work?

Yes, but mainly on poorly optimized systems. Tools like Hone automate Windows tweaks, disable unnecessary services, and optimize drivers – things you could do manually. They’re most effective on systems with bloatware, wrong power settings, or background resource drains. Clean, well-maintained systems see smaller gains (5-10% vs 20-30%).

Should I cap my FPS or leave it unlimited?

Cap your FPS 3-5 frames below your monitor’s refresh rate for the smoothest experience. Unlimited FPS causes inconsistent frame times and screen tearing. Use in-game limiters or RTSS, not VSync. Exception: competitive shooters where lowest possible input lag matters more than visual smoothness.

Why do only some games have FPS drops?

Different games stress different components. CPU-heavy games (strategy, MMOs, simulators) expose CPU bottlenecks. GPU-heavy games reveal graphics limitations. Poorly optimized games may stutter regardless of hardware. Unreal Engine games often have shader compilation stutter on first play. Each game’s engine and optimization quality determines performance.

What causes stuttering with good FPS?

This indicates inconsistent frame times rather than low FPS. Common causes: asset streaming from slow storage, shader compilation (first-time stutters), Windows background processes, or frame pacing issues. The FPS counter shows averages, hiding momentary freezes. Monitor 1% low FPS for the real story.

Is it worth upgrading from 60Hz if I get FPS drops?

Fix FPS drops first. A 144Hz monitor won’t help if your system can’t maintain 60 FPS consistently. However, monitors with G-Sync/FreeSync can make FPS drops less noticeable by syncing refresh rate to frame rate. Once you achieve stable 60+ FPS, then a high refresh monitor becomes worthwhile.

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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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