Fix Starfield Stuttering, Frame Drops, & Performance Issues

Starfield, Bethesda’s highly anticipated space-faring RPG, has finally arrived on the gaming scene. However, some players have been experiencing performance issues, including stuttering, frame drops, and poor overall performance. If you’re one of those players, fear not, as we have compiled a comprehensive guide to help you address and resolve these problems. By following these steps and optimizing your system, you can enjoy the immersive world of Starfield without any hindrances.

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How to Fix Starfield Stuttering and Performance Issues

The performance and shuttering issues are common in Video games, but there are a few solutions for Starfield Stuttering and Performance Issues. Follow the below solutions to fix this issue.

Check Minimum and Recommended System Requirements

Before diving into performance optimization, it’s essential to ensure your PC meets the game’s minimum and recommended system requirements. Here they are:

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, Intel Core i7-6800K
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5700, NVIDIA GeForce 1070 Ti
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 125 GB available space
• Additional Notes: SSD Required

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, Intel i5-10600K
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 125 GB available space
• Additional Notes: SSD Required

Meeting or exceeding these requirements will significantly enhance your gameplay experience.

Update GPU Drivers

Outdated graphics card drivers are a common culprit behind performance issues in many games, including Starfield. To ensure smooth gameplay, it’s crucial to have the latest GPU drivers installed. You can obtain the latest updates from the official websites of your GPU manufacturer:

• Nvidia Drivers Download Link
• AMD Drivers Download Link

Regularly updating your GPU drivers can resolve compatibility issues and boost overall performance.

Turn off Overlays and Unnecessary 3rd-Party Apps

Background applications and overlays can consume system resources and disrupt your gaming experience. Applications like Discord, Steam, and GPU-specific overlays from Nvidia and AMD can cause conflicts with Starfield. To address this issue, follow these steps:

1. Close all unnecessary background apps while playing Starfield.
2. Disable overlays in third-party applications, such as Discord and Steam, to free up system resources for the game.

By minimizing background processes, you can allocate more power to Starfield, potentially eliminating stuttering and frame drops.

Verify Integrity of Starfield Game Files

Corrupted game files can lead to various performance issues. To ensure your installation is in tip-top shape, follow these steps:

1. Open your game library (e.g., Steam, Bethesda Launcher).
2. Right-click on Starfield and select “Properties.”
3. Navigate to the “Local Files” tab and click “Verify Integrity of Game Files.”

This process will identify and repair any corrupted or missing files, improving overall game stability.

Adjust Visual Settings

If you’re still experiencing performance problems after verifying game files and updating your GPU drivers, consider adjusting Starfield’s visual settings:

1. Lower Graphics Presets: Start by reducing the overall graphical quality by selecting a lower preset, such as “Medium” or “Low.” This will reduce the strain on your GPU.
2. Shadow Quality: Lowering shadow quality can significantly improve performance without sacrificing too much visual fidelity.
3. Crowd Density: Reducing the number of NPCs and creatures in crowded areas can alleviate performance issues, especially on older hardware.
4. Lighting: Lowering lighting quality can enhance performance on systems struggling to handle Starfield’s demanding visuals.
5. Dynamic Resolution: Experiment with enabling or disabling Dynamic Resolution. Enabling it can help maintain a more consistent frame rate, while disabling it may improve visual clarity.

Lowering your game’s resolution and framerate cap can also help reduce stuttering and improve performance, especially on lower-end systems.

Turn on AMD FSR

If you have an AMD graphics card, consider enabling AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) in Starfield’s settings. FSR is a rendering technology that can boost performance without a significant loss in visual quality. It’s particularly helpful for improving frame rates on older or less powerful GPUs.

Turn off AMD FSR

While enabling AMD FSR can help improve performance, it’s essential to test it on your system. Some users might experience better results with FSR turned off, depending on their specific hardware configuration and personal preferences.

Wait for a DLSS 3 Mod (NVIDIA 3000 Series and Higher Only)

For Nvidia users with high-end GPUs like the RTX 3000 series and above, keep an eye out for DLSS 3 mods. DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) is a Nvidia technology that uses AI to upscale lower-resolution images, providing better performance without a significant loss in visual quality. Mods that implement DLSS 3 for Starfield could offer a substantial performance boost for compatible systems.

By following these steps and optimizing your system settings, you can significantly improve Starfield’s performance.

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