Stuttering in Valorant. Frame drops in Warzone. Apex Legends refusing to hit 144fps despite your hardware being capable of it. In competitive games, a stutter at the wrong moment costs you kills and rankings. This guide walks you through every meaningful FPS optimisation technique available in Windows 11 in 2026, with a specific focus on AI upscaling (DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation and FSR 4), Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling, and the changes that provide the highest real-world gain. Last updated: June 7, 2026.
⚡ TL;DR — Top 5 FPS Boosts in Windows 11 (2026)
- Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS) in Windows Settings → Graphics. Reduces CPU overhead. Restart required.
- Power Plan → Ultimate Performance. Prevents CPU clock throttling between frames.
- Enable DLSS 4 in supported games (RTX 50-series for Multi Frame Generation; RTX 40-series for standard DLSS 4). 2–4x FPS in supported titles.
- NVIDIA Low Latency Mode → Ultra in Control Panel. Minimises input lag.
- Disable Motion Blur, Depth of Field, and (in competitive games) Ray Tracing. Free FPS with zero visual loss that matters.
In This FPS Guide
Step 1: Get Your Baseline — Before You Change Anything
Before optimising, you need data. Use MSI Afterburner + RivaTuner Statistics Server (free) or your GPU’s built-in overlay (Alt+R for NVIDIA App, Ctrl+Shift+O for AMD Adrenalin). Record:
- Average FPS (the headline number)
- 1% low FPS (the better indicator of smoothness)
- Frame time (ms) — ideally 16.67ms for 60fps, 6.94ms for 144fps, 4.17ms for 240fps
- CPU and GPU utilisation — if either pegs at 100%, that’s your bottleneck
Step 2: Windows 11 — Critical Settings to Change Now
Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS)
HAGS moves GPU memory management from the CPU to the GPU itself, reducing CPU overhead and improving frame time consistency — particularly on RTX 30/40/50-series and RX 6000/7000/9000 cards.
How to enable: Settings → System → Display → Graphics → Change default graphics settings → Toggle Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling ON. Restart your PC. This is the single most impactful Windows 11 setting for gaming performance in 2026.
Other Essential Windows 11 Settings
- Game Mode: Settings → Gaming → Game Mode → ON. Prioritises CPU and GPU resources, suppresses background Windows Update activity.
- Disable Xbox Game Bar (if not using it): Settings → Gaming → Xbox Game Bar → OFF.
- Power Plan: Search “Power Plan” → select High Performance or unlock Ultimate Performance. Prevents CPU clock throttling between frames.
- Variable Refresh Rate: Settings → System → Display → Graphics → Toggle Variable refresh rate ON (requires G-Sync or FreeSync monitor).
- Memory Integrity: Settings → Privacy & Security → Windows Security → Device Security → Core isolation → OFF can recover 5–10% FPS but at a security cost. Trade-off matters for competitive games only.
Step 3: NVIDIA Control Panel Optimisations (RTX Cards)
| Setting | Recommended Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Low Latency Mode | Ultra | Minimises render queue; reduces input lag |
| Power Management Mode | Prefer Maximum Performance | Prevents GPU clocks from dropping mid-game |
| Texture Filtering – Quality | High Performance | Minor visual trade-off for FPS gain |
| Vertical Sync | Off (use G-Sync instead) | V-Sync adds latency; G-Sync is better |
| NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency | Enabled + Boost | Reduces CPU→GPU lag in competitive games |
Step 4: DLSS 4 and FSR 4 — AI Upscaling Deep Dive
DLSS 4 is NVIDIA’s fourth-generation Deep Learning Super Sampling. The key advancement is Multi Frame Generation — DLSS 4 can generate up to three additional frames per rendered frame. In practice, a game rendering at 60fps natively can output at 180–240fps to the display. Multi Frame Generation is exclusive to RTX 50-series Blackwell GPUs; RTX 40-series cards get standard DLSS 4 (which still includes the Transformer model for sharper image reconstruction).
For competitive games (Valorant, Warzone, Apex, Counter-Strike 2): Use DLSS Quality mode at 1440p for ~30–40% FPS gain. Do NOT use Frame Generation in competitive titles — it adds visual latency that hurts reaction time. Use NVIDIA Reflex instead.
For single-player / visual games (Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024): Enable DLSS Balanced or Quality + Frame Generation for an outstanding ray-traced experience.
AMD’s FSR 4 image quality in Performance mode now rivals DLSS Quality — a significant improvement over FSR 3. Frame Generation in FSR 4 is exclusive to RX 9000-series cards (similar to Multi Frame Generation being exclusive to RTX 50-series). If you’re on an older AMD card, FSR 3 with Frame Generation still works and is widely supported. For a hardware guide on which GPU delivers the best DLSS 4 support, see our 2026 gaming PC builds guide.
Step 5: In-Game Settings — What to Lower for Maximum FPS Gain
| Setting | FPS Impact | Visual Impact | Recommendation (Competitive) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Tracing | Very High | High | ❌ OFF — hurts competitive FPS |
| Shadows (Quality) | High | Medium | ⚠️ Medium — visibility trade-off |
| Anti-Aliasing | Medium | High | ✅ Use TAA or DLSS; avoid MSAA |
| Ambient Occlusion | Medium | Low | ❌ OFF in competitive |
| Texture Quality | Low (VRAM-limited) | High | ✅ High or Ultra — minimal FPS cost |
| View Distance | Medium | High (spotting) | ✅ High — helps spot enemies |
| Motion Blur | Low | Hurts clarity | ❌ Always OFF |
| Depth of Field | Low | Hurts clarity | ❌ Always OFF |
Step 6: Fix Stuttering — Specific Causes and Cures
- RAM not running at XMP/EXPO speed: Open BIOS and enable XMP (Intel) or EXPO (AMD) profile. Many systems ship with fast RAM running at a slow 4800 MHz default.
- CPU bottleneck at high frame rates: If GPU is <90% utilisation while stuttering, CPU is the bottleneck. Enable HAGS; consider upgrading to a Ryzen 7 9800X3D (the 2026 gaming king).
- Shader compilation stutters: Common in Unreal Engine 5 games. Run through content once to pre-compile.
- Thermal throttling: If CPU hits 95–100°C, it reduces clock speed. Check temperatures with HWiNFO64; repaste your CPU cooler if throttling occurs.
- Storage bottleneck: If games stutter loading new areas, move them to an NVMe SSD. Even a budget Gen4 NVMe drive is dramatically faster than a SATA SSD.
Game-Specific Quick Wins: Valorant, Warzone & Apex
| Game | Key Settings | Target FPS (1440p) |
|---|---|---|
| Valorant | All on Low/Off, Material Quality Medium, DLSS off (engine is already lightweight) | 300+ fps on mid-range GPU |
| Warzone | Textures High, Shadows Low, DoF OFF, Upscaling: DLSS Quality, Reflex On+Boost | 120–180fps |
| Apex Legends | Textures High, Shadows Medium, Ambient Occlusion Off, VSync Off, DLSS Quality | 144+ fps |
| Counter-Strike 2 | All Low except Texture, Shader Quality Low, Reflex On | 240+ fps on RTX 5060 Ti+ |
| Marvel Rivals | DLSS Performance, Shadows Medium, Lumen Off, Reflex On | 120fps+ |
If you’re deciding what hardware to pair this guide with, see our 2026 gaming PC builds — both the $850 and $1,950 rigs are optimised to take full advantage of every tip here. Choosing between console and PC? Our PS5 Pro vs Xbox Series X comparison lays out the tradeoffs clearly.
Windows 11 FPS Boost FAQ
Does Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling actually boost FPS?
Yes — typically 3–8% in average FPS and a larger improvement in 1% lows (frame consistency). The benefit is greatest on systems with strong CPU bottlenecks and on RTX 30/40/50-series and RX 6000/7000/9000 GPUs. HAGS has been refined significantly since Windows 11 22H2 and is now safe to enable on virtually all modern systems.
Should I disable Memory Integrity (Core Isolation) for gaming?
Only if you’re a serious competitive player who needs every frame and accepts the security trade-off. Disabling Memory Integrity recovers 5–10% FPS in CPU-bound games but disables an important malware defence. For casual or single-player gaming, leave it on. For Valorant/Warzone/CS2 esports gaming, the trade-off may be worth it.
What’s the difference between DLSS 4 and DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation?
DLSS 4 (standard) uses NVIDIA’s new Transformer model for sharper image reconstruction — supported on all RTX 20/30/40/50-series GPUs. DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation generates up to three AI frames between each rendered frame, multiplying output FPS by up to 4x — exclusive to RTX 50-series Blackwell GPUs. Both can be combined for maximum performance.
Should I use Frame Generation in competitive games?
No. Frame Generation interpolates between rendered frames, which adds 5–12ms of input latency. In competitive games where reaction time matters (Valorant, CS2, Apex, Warzone), this latency penalty outweighs the visual FPS gain. Use DLSS Quality upscaling and NVIDIA Reflex instead. For single-player visual games, Frame Generation is excellent.
What is the best CPU for high-FPS gaming in 2026?
The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, released November 2024 and still the gaming king in mid-2026. Its second-generation 3D V-Cache provides 10–20% more FPS in CPU-bound games than non-X3D processors. Retail price ~$480. For builds focused on getting maximum FPS from a modest budget, the Ryzen 5 7600X is the value pick at ~$170.
Will these settings work for Windows 12?
Windows 12 has not been released as of June 2026, and Microsoft has not announced a release window. Microsoft is currently focused on Windows 11 24H2 updates including improved DirectStorage support and the new DirectX 12 Agility SDK. All settings in this guide remain valid on Windows 11 24H2. When Windows 12 arrives, we’ll publish a new optimisation guide.
