How to Increase FPS in Games Without Upgrading Your PC

Improving FPS (frames per second) in games is crucial for smooth gameplay. When FPS drops, visuals become choppy, games lag, and in fast-paced shooters or online titles, this can cost you victory. Many believe that upgrading your graphics card or computer is the only way to boost FPS, but that's not always necessary. Even on a modest PC, you can enhance performance. Let's explore how to increase FPS in games without upgrading your hardware.

Why Is FPS Low in Games?

Low FPS can result from several factors:

• Outdated hardware
• Drivers that haven't been updated
• High load from background programs
• Overheating CPU or GPU
• Graphics settings set too high

Tip: Before optimizing, check your FPS using built-in tools (like Steam, Xbox Game Bar, NVIDIA Overlay) or software such as MSI Afterburner.

How to Increase FPS in Windows 11 and on PC

Windows 11 offers several built-in features to help boost performance:

• Enable Game Mode (Settings → Gaming → Game Mode) to disable unnecessary background processes.
• Adjust Power Settings: Choose the "High Performance" power plan.
• Turn off auto-updates and antivirus scans during gaming sessions.
• Disable Windows visual effects (Settings → System → Advanced system settings).

These steps are especially helpful for laptops or lower-end PCs.

Optimizing Games for Low-End PCs and Laptops

If your FPS is low, start by tweaking in-game settings:

• Reduce screen resolution (for example, from 1920×1080 to 1600×900)
• Lower or turn off shadows and anti-aliasing
• Disable post-processing effects (bloom, motion blur, reflections)
• If your game supports DLSS (NVIDIA) or FSR (AMD), turn these features on

Even laptops and systems with integrated graphics can gain 10-30 extra FPS with these adjustments.

Software Tools to Boost FPS

There are utilities that help offload your system and optimize games:

• MSI Afterburner - monitors temperatures and allows GPU overclocking
• Razer Cortex - frees up RAM and closes unnecessary processes
• GeForce Experience - optimizes in-game settings for your hardware

Note: Don't expect miracles, but combined with other methods, these tools can deliver noticeable improvements.

Driver and Graphics Card Settings

• Update your NVIDIA or AMD drivers to the latest version
• In the NVIDIA Control Panel, set performance mode instead of quality
• For AMD cards, use similar options in Radeon Software
• On older PCs, rolling back drivers can sometimes help-new versions may perform worse on legacy hardware

Additional Tips

• Clean your system: Remove junk files and disable unnecessary startup apps
• Improve cooling: Overheating lowers CPU and GPU speeds. Use a cooling pad for laptops
• Overclock GPU/CPU: This can boost FPS, but requires caution and good cooling
• Try windowed mode: Sometimes helps on weaker PCs
• Defragment your HDD or switch to an SSD: This speeds up game and level loading

FAQ

How can I check FPS in games?

Use Steam (Shift+Tab → settings), Xbox Game Bar (Win+G), or software such as MSI Afterburner.

What if games lag even on the lowest settings?

Your PC may be too outdated. Try cloud gaming services or consider an upgrade.

Does a cooling pad help for laptops?

Yes, especially in games where your laptop overheats and throttles performance.

Is there a universal program to increase FPS?

No. The best results come from a combination of updating drivers, cleaning your system, and using tools like Razer Cortex.

Should I overclock my graphics card to boost FPS?

You can, but do so carefully. Without good cooling, it can be risky.

Conclusion

You can boost FPS without buying a new graphics card. Here's how:

• Optimize Windows 11 settings and power plans
• Lower graphics settings in games
• Utilize optimization utilities
• Don't neglect proper cooling

These simple steps will help you play more comfortably, often adding 20-40 extra FPS.