Disclosure: Gamingshopee is reader-supported. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
You don’t need a new GPU to get more FPS. Most people are leaving performance on the table with software, not hardware.
Work through these in order. The first few take five minutes and often matter more than anything you’d change in-game.
FPS Fixes — Quick Comparison
| Fix | Time to Do It | Typical Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Update GPU drivers | 5 minutes | Double-digit % in specific titles |
| Enable XMP/EXPO in BIOS | 30 seconds | 5–15 FPS in CPU-bound games |
| Windows Game Mode + power plan | 2 minutes | Small but free performance |
| Lower shadows, reflections, lighting | 1 minute per game | 30–60% FPS recovered |
| Enable DLSS/FSR at Quality | 1 minute per game | Large boost, minimal visual loss |
| Close background processes | 2 minutes | Varies, frees CPU/RAM |
Start Here: Update Your GPU Drivers
This is the single highest-impact free fix available. Launch-day drivers routinely add double-digit performance gains for specific titles because they include game-specific shader optimizations built for that release. Always grab the latest Game Ready driver from Nvidia or Adrenalin driver from AMD, not just whatever installed automatically months ago.
If you haven’t updated in over a month, do this first before touching anything else on this list.
Enable XMP or EXPO in BIOS
Most RAM ships running below its rated speed until you turn this on. XMP for Intel systems, EXPO for AMD, takes about 30 seconds in your BIOS and can add 5 to 15 FPS specifically in CPU-bound games, where memory speed directly affects how fast your CPU can feed data to the GPU.
It’s free performance that a huge number of PC owners never turn on simply because they don’t know it exists.
Set Windows and Your GPU Software to Prioritize Performance
Windows Game Mode reduces the priority of background tasks and dedicates more CPU and GPU bandwidth to whatever you’re currently playing. Turn it on in Windows Settings, then switch your power plan to High Performance or Ultimate Performance instead of the default Balanced plan.
In the Nvidia Control Panel or AMD Radeon Software, set the global power management or performance preference to maximum performance rather than the adaptive default. None of this costs anything, and combined, it adds up.
Turn Down the Big Three Graphics Settings
Shadows, reflections, and lighting cost more performance than almost any other settings category, and dropping them from Ultra to High or Medium is usually barely noticeable during actual gameplay. Ray tracing specifically is expensive, turn it off if you’re chasing frame rate over visual fidelity.
Lowering volumetric effects and enabling DLSS or FSR at the Quality preset typically recovers 30 to 60 percent FPS while keeping the game looking roughly 90 percent as good as maxed-out settings. This is the biggest lever you control per game, and it takes about a minute to adjust.
Clean Up What’s Running in the Background
Open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc, check the CPU and Memory tabs, and close anything unnecessary eating up resources, browsers with dozens of tabs, chat overlays, or launcher apps you don’t need running. Also make sure your most-played games are installed on an NVMe SSD rather than an older hard drive, since load times and texture streaming both benefit directly.
Keep an eye on CPU and GPU temperatures too. Thermal throttling from dust buildup or aging thermal paste can quietly tank your frame rate without any obvious warning sign.
Which Fixes Should You Try First?
Update your GPU drivers and enable XMP or EXPO first, they take under a minute combined and often deliver the biggest single gains. Then set Windows Game Mode and your power plan to performance mode.
If you’re still not hitting the frame rate you want after that, drop shadows, reflections, and lighting, and turn on DLSS or FSR. That’s the point where software fixes run out, and a hardware upgrade becomes the next real step.
Correct as of July 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do GPU driver updates actually make a difference?
Yes, often a significant one for new titles specifically. Launch-day drivers include shader optimizations built for that game, sometimes worth double-digit percentage FPS gains.
What is XMP or EXPO and should I turn it on?
They’re BIOS profiles that run your RAM at its rated speed instead of a slower default. Turning it on takes seconds and can add 5 to 15 FPS in CPU-bound games, with essentially no downside for most systems.
Which graphics settings hurt FPS the most?
Shadows, reflections, lighting, and ray tracing are typically the most expensive settings. Lowering these first usually recovers the most performance for the least visible quality loss.
Should I use DLSS or FSR?
Yes, at the Quality preset, if your game supports it. It recovers a large amount of FPS while keeping image quality very close to native resolution.
Can background apps really lower my FPS?
Yes, especially browsers with many tabs, chat overlays, and launcher apps running simultaneously. Closing unnecessary background processes frees up CPU and RAM the game could otherwise use.
Choosing hardware to pair with these settings? See our 1080p vs 1440p vs 4K guide, or check what refresh rate is worth chasing.
