You are on pace for a personal best. You hit a fast transition, the camera snaps, and the game stutters for a split second. That is all it takes. Your landing is late, your steering input comes in sloppy, and your run dies with a time you already had yesterday.
This guide covers the best Trackmania settings for FPS in Trackmania (2020) on PC. You will get a clean high-FPS setup, learn which graphics options are the real performance killers, and see the Trackmania-specific toggles (like Dynamic Res and GPU/CPU Synchronization) that matter more than most people realize.
Display And Frame Pacing
These settings decide if Trackmania feels smooth or mushy.
- Display Mode: Fullscreen
- V-Sync: Off
- Frame Rate Limit: Stable Cap
- GPU/CPU Synchronization: Start At 1 Frame
Big FPS Cuts
Turn these down first when you need more frames.
- Shaders Quality: Low
- Shadows Quality: Minimum
- Other Reflections: Off
- Bloom And Lens Flare: None
Clean Visuals For Lines
Performance settings that also help you read the track.
- Nice AA: None
- Motion Blur: Off
- Slow-Mo Blur: Off
- Opponents: Lower Detail If Needed
Why FPS Matters In Trackmania
Trackmania is about repeating the same inputs on the same line until you shave hundredths. That makes stable FPS and stable frame time more important than raw visual quality. If your frame time spikes on a downhill section or a stadium landing, your car feels inconsistent even when your muscle memory is perfect.
If your FPS number looks high but the game still feels uneven, the issue is usually frame pacing and 1% lows, not average FPS. When you are diagnosing stutter, it helps to understand what creates micro stutters in games before you start blaming the map or your GPU.
Best Trackmania Display Settings For FPS
These are the Trackmania video settings that most directly control FPS, input feel, and consistency. If you change nothing else, start here.
Display Settings Quick Reference
Display Device
If you play on a laptop or a system with multiple GPUs, the Display Device option can be the difference between smooth performance and random FPS drops. Make sure Trackmania is using your dedicated GPU rather than an integrated graphics chip.
Frame Rate Limit
For the best Trackmania settings for FPS, your goal is a cap you can hold on every track type you actually play. A stable 120 feels better than a jumpy 160 that dips during heavy scenery or busy multiplayer moments. If you are not sure what cap makes sense for your monitor, this breakdown of good FPS for gaming helps you pick a realistic target based on refresh rate.
💡 Cap For Consistency
If your FPS fluctuates a lot, cap lower. If your FPS is rock solid, cap higher or remove the cap. In Trackmania, consistency wins more time than bragging rights FPS.
Dynamic Res And Activation Threshold
Dynamic Res is Trackmania’s built-in stability tool. When enabled, the game lowers internal resolution during heavy scenes to maintain your chosen Activation Threshold. This is a smart option for low-end PCs or laptops that cannot maintain a stable cap without occasional dips.
⚠️ Dynamic Res Tradeoff
Dynamic Res can introduce softness during fast motion because the internal resolution changes. If you want maximum clarity, leave Dynamic Res off and instead drop your resolution one step manually.
GPU/CPU Synchronization
GPU/CPU Synchronization changes how the CPU and GPU queue frames in Trackmania. The menu provides options like Immediate, 1 Frame, 2 Frames, and 3 Frames. For most players chasing higher FPS without making the car feel delayed, 1 Frame is the best starting point.
✅ Easy Testing Rule
Start at 1 Frame. If you still see FPS drops or uneven frame pacing, try 2 Frames. If you are chasing the lowest possible input feel and your FPS can handle it, test Immediate.
Best Trackmania Graphics Settings For FPS
Once your display settings are correct, this is where you win FPS. Trackmania has a small number of advanced graphics options that are disproportionately expensive. Reflections and shadows are the biggest offenders, followed by shader quality and anti-aliasing.
Optimal Trackmania Graphics Settings For FPS
| Setting | Recommendation | Why It Helps FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Preset | Custom | Lets you tune only the heavy options |
| Customize Advanced Video Settings | On | Unlocks Shaders, Shadows, Reflections, and more |
| Shaders Quality | Low | Large FPS gain on many systems |
| Shadows Quality | Minimum | Shadows are one of the most expensive effects |
| Texture Quality | Low (Raise If VRAM Allows) | Helps if you are VRAM limited or stuttering |
| Reflections On Vehicles | Low | Reflections are expensive in motion |
| Reflections On Water Surfaces | Low | Water reflections cost FPS on certain maps |
| Other Reflections | Off | Usually the biggest reflection FPS sink |
| Bloom And Lens Flare | None | Free FPS and cleaner visuals |
| Motion Blur | Off | Removes blur and avoids extra post-processing |
| Slow-Mo Blur | Off | Keeps slow motion effects from adding extra blur work |
| Fast AA | MSAA 2x (Or None For Max FPS) | 2x is the lowest cost AA option in most setups |
| Nice AA | None | Extra AA pass that can cost FPS and soften edges |
| Texture Filtering | 2x | Lower anisotropic filtering saves a bit of performance |
| Cars Customization | 3D Models + 2D Skins | Higher detail can cost FPS in busy scenes |
| Opponents | Lower Detail If Needed | More cars and detail means more work each frame |
Fast AA Vs Nice AA
Trackmania splits anti-aliasing into two settings. Fast AA is where you will choose MSAA levels, including the low-cost 2x option. Nice AA is the extra smoothing layer, and it is a common FPS trap. If you want maximum FPS and the sharpest read of the road edge, keep Nice AA on None and run Fast AA at MSAA 2x or None.
Reflections And Shadows
If you only change two advanced options for better performance, change reflections and shadows. Set Other Reflections to Off, then set Reflections On Vehicles and Reflections On Water Surfaces to Low. After that, drop Shadows Quality to Minimum. This combination is the foundation of high FPS Trackmania graphics settings.
🛑 Do Not Pay FPS For Blur
Motion Blur and Slow-Mo Blur do not help you drive faster. They reduce clarity exactly when you need precision. Turn both Off.
How To Enable Advanced Video Settings
Trackmania hides most of the important performance options behind a toggle. If you do not enable advanced settings, you cannot fully optimize Trackmania for FPS.
Step By Step Setup
Open The Video Settings Menu
From the Trackmania main menu, open Settings and go to the Video section.
Enable Customize Advanced Video Settings
Find Customize Advanced Video Settings and set it to On so the full graphics list appears.
Apply The High Impact FPS Changes
Set Other Reflections to Off, Shadows Quality to Minimum, Shaders Quality to Low, and Bloom And Lens Flare to None.
Set Your Frame Rate Strategy
Pick a Frame Rate Limit you can hold. If you cannot hold your cap, enable Dynamic Res and set Activation Threshold to your target FPS.
Fine Tune GPU/CPU Synchronization
Start at 1 Frame. If frame pacing still feels rough, test 2 Frames. Only use Immediate if you are prioritizing feel over FPS.
Troubleshooting FPS Drops And Stutter In Trackmania
When Trackmania feels inconsistent, the fix is usually one of three things: a bad cap strategy, reflections and shadows set too high, or background software causing frame time spikes. If your FPS looks fine but the game still stutters, this guide on fixing FPS drops is a useful checklist because it focuses on frame pacing, not just the FPS number.
Common Problems And Fixes
Optional PC Tweaks For Higher FPS
After you lock in the best Trackmania FPS settings, the remaining gains usually come from your system, not the game menu. The biggest wins are closing overlays, disabling unnecessary background apps, and keeping your GPU driver clean. If you want a broader checklist for improving performance across every title, this guide on how to get better FPS on PC is a solid baseline.
Conclusion
The best Trackmania settings for FPS come down to a short list of high-impact options. Use Fullscreen, keep V-Sync off, cap your FPS to what you can hold, and enable Dynamic Res only when you need stability. Then unlock advanced settings, drop reflections and shadows, set shader quality low, and turn off blur effects. If you do those things, Trackmania becomes consistent, and consistency is what turns good runs into personal bests.
FAQ
What Are The Best Trackmania Settings For FPS
Use Fullscreen, turn V-Sync off, set a Frame Rate Limit you can hold consistently, and start GPU/CPU Synchronization at 1 Frame. Then enable Customize Advanced Video Settings and lower Shaders Quality, Shadows Quality, and all reflection options, with Other Reflections set to Off.
Should I Use V-Sync In Trackmania
For maximum FPS, no. V-Sync can cap performance and make the game feel less responsive. If screen tearing bothers you, try a lower FPS cap first and only use V-Sync if you still prefer the look.
What Does GPU/CPU Synchronization Do In Trackmania
It changes how the CPU and GPU queue frames in Trackmania. The setting offers options like Immediate and several Frame values. 1 Frame is the best starting point for higher FPS without making the game feel delayed. If performance is still unstable, test 2 Frames.
Should I Enable Dynamic Res In Trackmania
Enable Dynamic Res if you cannot hold your FPS cap consistently. Set Activation Threshold to your target FPS. If you want maximum clarity and your FPS is already stable, leave Dynamic Res off and lower resolution manually instead.
What Are The Best Trackmania Graphics Settings For Low End PCs
Enable Customize Advanced Video Settings, set Shaders Quality to Low, Shadows Quality to Minimum, Other Reflections to Off, and keep Bloom And Lens Flare on None. Use Nice AA on None, keep Fast AA at MSAA 2x or None, and turn Motion Blur and Slow-Mo Blur off.
Does Fullscreen Improve FPS In Trackmania
Fullscreen is usually the most consistent option for Trackmania performance and input feel, especially if you are trying to eliminate stutter. It is the recommended starting point for FPS optimization.
What Anti Aliasing Should I Use In Trackmania
For FPS, keep Nice AA on None. For a small visual upgrade without a huge hit, use Fast AA at MSAA 2x. If you need every possible frame, set Fast AA to None as well.
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