Boost Your Gameplay: How to Fix Fps Drop in Valorant?
Are you experiencing frustrating FPS drops while playing Valorant?
We take a look at the common causes of FPS drops in Valorant, such as hardware and software issues.
Discover practical solutions to fix these problems, including updating your graphics drivers, adjusting in-game settings, and optimizing your PC for gaming.
Get some extra tips to help you improve your FPS in Valorant for a smoother gaming experience. Let’s dive in!
Contents
Key Takeaways:
What Causes FPS Drops in Valorant?
FPS drops in Valorant are caused by high latency, network stutters, an outdated operating system, GPU drivers, or background applications that take up too many resources. High latency is caused by the network, servers, or bad WiFi performance which limits FPS display on a screen. Network stutters refer to temporary drops in the network speed or packets, or game design issues like optimization and VFX. These are reported by NSR and are not visible by users. Outdated software leads to the depreciation of specific processes and services, causing FPS drops.
Hardware Issues
Overheating is a hardware issue likely to cause FPS drop in Valorant. To address overheating, ensure that hardware is not being overutilized. Ctrl + Shift + Esc on Windows or holding the Option key and clicking on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen will open up the window for macOS that will show the aforementioned details under the CPU section. In the screenshot for CPU usage on macOS, the average CPU usage is nearing 90 percent which for most computers is when they become overutilized and risk overheating.
Software Issues
One possible remedy for FPS drop in Valorant is to address software issues. Outdated version of graphics drivers and Windows itself are commonly cited as reasons for low FPS values in games. Some users have also reported using graphics driver utility software that fails to configure configurations correctly, causing low fps.
Steps to address this are as follows:
- Keep ALL needed software up to date. This includes graphics driver NVIDIA VSYNC, and other utilities.
- Make sure that there is enough space on your hard drive for gaming and shift the location of game storage in Valorant’s settings by performing defragmentation.
How to Fix FPS Drops in Valorant?
Reduce your Valorant graphics settings, close unnecessary programs, update video drivers, or uninstall and reinstall the Valorant game in order to fix FPS drops. Try increasing the maximum pre-rendered frames in Nvidia Control Panel, exoticapirocommenting is on, or try changing the internal resolution scaling setting. If those suggestions do not work, then either your hardware setup is not powerful enough, internet connectivity is poor, or the UberPinger program system gets negatively impacted by driver settings.
Update Your Graphics Drivers
The first step to take when trying to fix FPS drops in Valorant is ensuring your graphics drivers are up-to-date. You need to check and update your drivers regularly, preferably monthly as manufacturers often update their drivers to fix bugs and compatibility problems. Open your NVIDIA Control Panel and click on the System Information link in the bottom-left hand corner.
This will display detailed information about your computer’s hardware configuration. You will see details of your computer’s GPU at the top of the page. In the baseboard section, you will see details of your other information, such as your motherboard and model. If you have a NVIDIA graphics card, you will see your GPU model under the component heading. Head over to the NVIDIA driver downloads page. This page will automatically detect your system and display the best driver options for your computer. Download the latest driver and install it. Restart your computer and launch Valorant.
If you have an AMD or another brand graphics card, the steps will be a little different, but the same principles apply. You can use a service like Driver Booster 8 to search for and download the latest driver versions for all your system components or use a free driver updater like Device Doctor and Driver Magician to download drivers if you prefer not to use services like NVIDIA/Geforce Experience, etc. But be aware that updaters might sometimes grab the wrong driver versions. So always verify that the ones downloaded are compatible with your system.
Adjust In-Game Settings
Adjusting the in-game settings should be your next step after updating drivers. If you are already playing at the lowest settings, changing settings in Valorant to improve graphics should not affect the number of fps. For example, Shadows is one of the settings that gives you better in-game lighting. The better the lighting from shadows or other sources, the more appealing the graphics. Yet removing shadows can increase fps because the GPU needs fewer resources to render the non-essential lighting effect. To determine the actual impact adjusting the in-game settings has on your fps, adjust the settings, restart the game, and monitor your fps.
To see if you are having a hardware issue, monitor your hardware temperatures for critical overheating levels by checking the Task Manager or using a third-party application. If you believe the issue is traffic on the network, check for bandwidth restrictions and test the impact on your fps. Give your computer’s resources an additional boost by closing background apps, which should improve your fps during play.
Close Unnecessary Programs
A FPS drop in Valorant can come from unnecessary programs using up your computer’s resources. Programs such as downloading torrents, opening a heavy program such as Photoshop, or even Google Chrome running in the background can potentially steal your computer’s processing power and contribute to Valorant FPS drops.
Toggling off such programs while running Valorant should help if the root cause of Valorant FPS drops is excessive running applications. Ensure software that you do not use frequently does not boot on startup and start running in the background without you noticing. This will improve performance while gaming.
Check for Overheating
Valve describes it as a buildable real-time tactics game, which falls within the general RTS category but has distinct gameplay elements.
Computer components generate heat when they are in use. Some of this heat is not even detectable to the human touch, but components can reach temperatures significantly higher than what anyone would consider safe, after which parts will automatically lower their performance.
If you are having fps drop issues or other hardware-related problems, ensure that your components are getting adequate airflow and check their temperatures to make sure that they are not causing the problems. If you suspect overheating may be the cause of low FPS, check the individual temperature of CPU cores, as well as the GPU and other components. Even if the CPU temperature is decent, individual cores may be overheating or otherwise being overworked, causing them to reduce speed, affecting performance. HEAT GREASE needs to be removed from the CPU and reapplied, as it could be worn out and not adequately transferring heat.
The second performance-altering part of temperature is due to the Thermal Throttling that occurs on the CPU and GPU when they reach levels of heat. They automatically reduce their performance to protect themselves from the heat causing wear and damage.
As a GPU heats up and cools slightly, it may reduce its clock rate to a threshold that it believes is safe. That lower threshold often remains even if the card is later operating in a cooler environment. This effect lasts until the part is power-cycled.
Disable Windows Game Mode
Windows 10 automatically comes with game mode, a feature it introduced to make gameplay smoother by providing better settings for minimizing background tasks and allocating system resources to the foreground application. However, disabling Windows game mode can boost your Valorant FPS by reducing background resource consumption and system-induced interruptions. The recommended way to disable Windows game mode is as follows:
- Click Start and (1) select Settings,
- (2) Find the Gaming icon and click on it to open,
- (3) Select Game mode in the left pane,
- (4) Drag the Game Mode toggle to Off in the right pane under Game mode settings
Windows game mode can also be disabled through the Windows Powershell if the option to turn it off through settings is technically disabled on the PC. Punch in the following command, and it should turn off Windows 10 game mode:
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.GamingServices | Remove-AppxPackage
Microsoft has demonstrated how Windows game mode can cause problems with gameplay, including minimizing the game screen for five to ten seconds, because the mode believes an intrusion is happening when it is just launching background processes. The best solution: [Just disable it].
Verify Game Files
Steam, the gaming platform for PC users, allows for users to verify the installation of game files for many of the games it hosts. If you think that there might be an issue with one of your game files, this process will check if all your game’s downloads match the downloads Steam has. After choosing LIBRARY, right-clicking on the game in your library and selecting Properties, select the LOCAL FILES tab and click the VERIFY INTEGRITY OF GAME FILES button. Once the process has finished, it will let you know if any files need to be repaired by redownloading missing/corrupted files.
Use a Game Booster
A game booster or game tuner is a tool designed to improve the performance or reduce lags of games during play. They generally help your system focus its performance on the game and block out other running apps and services that can cause poor game performance. Your system’s default settings are designed to provide a balance between system performance and speed so other applications can get adequate focus. However, this could also lead to issues with games running on a system that is already being heavily taxed, which is where game booster programs can step in. Here are some recommended game booster tools:
- Wise Game Booster (US$18)
- IObit Razer Game Booster (Free and beta)
- Game Fire 6 (US$30)
- MSI Afterburner (Exclusive for MSI laptop owners)
- AVG PC Tuneup (from US$40)
Optimize Your PC for Gaming
Gaming is one of the most demanding applications a computer can perform. If you have issues like fps drop in Valorant, it is possible your pc is not prepared to handle such demanding applications. Key areas including the graphics card and multiple mechanical parts can adversely impact the game rendering process. How to fix fps drop in Valorant? Optimize your PC for gaming to avoid fps drops in the future. The process starts with having a fast processor (CPU), a high-quality graphics processing unit (GPU), sufficient memory (RAM), a powerful battery, high-bandwidth broadband, optimum system configuration settings, up to dates drivers, optimized network settings, and mas minimal as possible applications running in the background. By making your computer fit these parameters, you can remove these as causes for fps drops.
Additional Tips to Improve FPS in Valorant
Additional tips to improve FPS in Valorant are:
- CCleaner: Using CCleaner to clear up the disk and uninstall old or unused programs can improve FPS.
- Enable Ultimate Performance power plan: You can enable the Ultimate Performance power plan to help increase the performance of windows and minimize latency for gaming.
- Check Fps: Monitor the fps at different graphic settings and see which one works best.
Keep Your PC Clean
The first and most important step to solve FPS drop and stuttering in Valorant is ensuring a clean and organized environment for your PC unit. Dust and other debris that accumulates over time inside and outside the PC case can block the cooling fans, leading to overheating, which is one of the key issues in FPS drop and stuttering in gaming.
Make it a habit to clean your computer at least once every month. This ensures that dust doesn’t collect and contribute to heat buildup. When cleaning, use a can of compressed air (usually found at any computer or retail/dollar store) to blow dust away from fans and other crucial areas.
Other pieces of equipment connected to your PC, such as the monitor, external hard drives, and keyboard and mouse, should also be kept clean. Turn off and disconnect these devices from your PC and clean them using a soft, dry cloth, toothbrush, or vacuum with a brush attachment (use this instead of compressed air, which can negatively affect the gears or wires within).
This thorough cleaning method ensures that all bugs (literal or software) in your PC are removed and further FPS drop and stuttering from heat buildup is prevented, this is especially important if you are trying to play an advanced game like Valorant with maximum graphics settings enabled.
Use a Wired Connection
There is typically very low latency for ethernet connections, and using them instead of a wireless connection can significantly reduce the probability of FPS drops in many video games, including Valorant. Wired connections are inherently more reliable because they involve a direct physical connection to your device on a local network. The difference in connection speed is quite significant as data has to go through several walls, floors, and ceilings to go from devices to the router then to the internet with a wireless connection. For example, the Asus RT-AX56U router can consistently push 500 mbps through Ethernet, but wireless even close up maximums at only 320 mbps.
Lower Your Resolution
To lower resolution you need to go into the Settings of Valorant, click on the Video tab, and pick a Resolution, then click on Apply.
Lowering Resolution has a similar effect on FPS compared to using Performance Mode. As is the case with using Performance Mode, tweaking your settings this way has pros and cons, the biggest con being that everything will look significantly blurrier in Valorant. However, during the times when you’re noticing a lot of FPS lag, it might come in handy.
The best Resolution for Valorant is really going to come down to preference, and settings should be changed so that your personal preference is maintained. However, there are some resolutions that a lot of Valorant enthusiasts like to use. Some of these are 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 1280 x 1024, 1152 x 864, and 1024 x 768 pixels. Test each out and see which one you think is the best Resolution for Valorant for your personal taste.
Pros
- Typically improves FPS during moderate performance lag.
- Allows for a highly hyperminimized setup with lower performance computers.
Cons
- Blurs most graphics and can make enemies and objectives harder to distinguish.
- More uncomfortable on the eyes. Tiled textures and meshes may be in full display, making everything look less appealing in Valorant.
Upgrade Your Hardware
That your GPU is not powerful enough is another reason for FPS drops. Gaming systems need fast performance and if you bought your PC earlier, it might be time to upgrade. To see if this is the case, close any other programs you have open, and see if that helps. Upgrading your CPU, GPU, or RAM can also help.
Always ensure you have the recommended hardware to play a game as soon as you notice a drop in performance.
Contact Support for Further Assistance
If you have tried all of the above and continue to experience FPS drops when playing Valorant, the final step is to seek help from Riot Games directly. They have an e-mail support system that can be accessed via their website that may help you with additional debugging steps, although do not get your hopes up as there are no guarantees when performance is merely a suggestion and not a set rule. While there are countless guidelines out there for improving performance and FPS in Valorant the truth is that each gaming system is different and might have unique needs beyond general guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Fix Fps Drop in Valorant?
What are some common causes of fps drops in Valorant?
Some common causes of fps drops in Valorant include outdated graphics card drivers, high graphic settings, and background processes taking up too much CPU or RAM.
How to Fix Fps Drop in Valorant?
How can I check if my graphics card drivers are up to date?
To check for updates on your graphics card drivers, you can use a software like GeForce Experience (for Nvidia users) or Radeon Software (for AMD users). They will automatically scan for updates and prompt you to download them.
How to Fix Fps Drop in Valorant?
What can I do if my fps drops only occur in Valorant?
If you are experiencing fps drops only in Valorant, try lowering your graphic settings and disabling any unnecessary background processes. You can also try updating your drivers or fixing high ping in Valorant.
How to Fix Fps Drop in Valorant?
Is there a way to optimize my computer for better performance in Valorant?
Yes, you can try using a software like Razer Cortex or Game Booster to optimize your computer’s performance specifically for gaming. These programs can help free up resources and improve fps in games like Valorant.
How to Fix Fps Drop in Valorant?
Will upgrading my hardware fix fps drops in Valorant?
While upgrading your hardware can improve overall performance in games, it may not necessarily fix fps drops in Valorant. It is important to also optimize your settings and close any unnecessary background processes.
How to Fix Fps Drop in Valorant?
Are there any in-game settings that can help improve fps in Valorant?
Yes, there are a few settings that can help improve fps in Valorant, such as turning off anti-aliasing and reducing the render resolution. You can also try changing the graphics quality from “high” to “medium” or “low”.