How to Fish Tips

🐌 How to Fish Low FPS - Performance Fixes

Lower the settings that matter (shadows, water effects), close overlay apps and make sure the game runs on your dedicated GPU — the fixes that measurably raise frame rates.

Published August 26, 2026 · Last updated September 21, 2026

Quick Fix: Low FPS

Four changes raise frame rates most reliably: lower the resolution, update drivers, force the game onto the dedicated GPU, and close overlays and background apps.

  • Lower graphics settings — especially dropping the resolution from 4K to 1080p.
  • Update GPU drivers to the latest from NVIDIA / AMD.
  • Force the dedicated GPU: Windows Graphics Settings → add the game → High Performance.
  • Close background applications and every overlay (Steam, Discord, GeForce Experience, Xbox Game Bar).
  • Install the game on an SSD.

Check the Frame Rate Cap First

The game may have a built-in frame rate limit — verify the in-game settings before assuming hardware trouble. You can also set a custom per-game frame rate cap through the NVIDIA or AMD control panel, which doubles as a fix for GPU overload and uneven pacing.

High Mouse Polling Rate

Some users report stuttering during movement with 8 kHz polling-rate mice. Temporarily lowering the polling rate is a quick diagnostic: if the stutter eases, the mouse was the trigger.

High GPU Usage

High GPU usage is common in newly released games. First verify the game files, update drivers and apply a frame rate cap — then observe whether performance settles. Throttling from heat can masquerade as a load problem, so watch temperatures too.

  • Monitor temperatures with HWiNFO or MSI Afterburner — overheating causes throttling and stutter.
  • Test with VSync disabled to measure raw performance, or enabled to stabilize frame pacing.

Still Slow? Compatibility and Launch Options

When the standard fixes do not move the frame rate, the remaining levers change how Windows runs the game rather than how the game renders. These are the same community-verified options used for black-screen and crash cases — they apply to raw performance too.

  • Run the game as administrator.
  • Disable fullscreen optimizations for the game executable (or try compatibility mode).
  • Try Steam launch options: -dx11 or -dx12 — forcing the other DirectX version can shift performance noticeably.
  • Clear the Steam download cache.
  • Install or repair the Visual C++ Redistributables.
  • Last resort: back up your saves and reinstall the game on an SSD.

💡 Change one option at a time and re-test, so you know which one actually helped.