Guide
Graphics card not at 100% and FPS won't go up? What holds it back
When the graphics card works nearly all the time, it sets the FPS. When it sits idle a lot while FPS is still low, it is waiting for something. A new graphics card or lower graphics will not help then. Find what holds it back first.
Tell which case it is
- Graphics card busy 90% or more: the card sets the FPS. Lower resolution, shadows, anti aliasing, or DLSS / FSR give more FPS.
- FPS sits exactly at your screen's rate, like 144 or 165: V Sync or an FPS cap holds it there.
- Graphics card under 90% and FPS not at the screen's rate: the CPU holds it back, or a hidden FPS cap does.
Find hidden FPS caps
- Max Frame Rate in NVIDIA Control Panel, for all games and in FiveM's own profile.
- RivaTuner Statistics Server's Framerate limit, if it keeps running.
- An FPS cap in the game below your screen's rate.
- Windows set FiveM to Power saving graphics. On a PC with graphics inside the CPU too, the game runs on the slower one. See Settings, System, Display, Graphics.
- Values another tweak pack left behind. Some cost a lot: one PC got only 5 to 20 FPS in FiveM while the card idled.
When the CPU holds it back
- Turn on XMP / EXPO so the RAM runs at its rated speed.
- Close background apps you don't use while playing.
- Lower the view distance in the game. FiveM uses a lot of CPU there.
- Use a power plan that does not let the CPU slow down between frames.
Measure instead of guessing
The GPU usage number on an overlay jumps up and down fast, and a quick look can fool you. Measure a minute of real play and look at the average.
Let Savenz Optimizer tell you
Result Card in Savenz Optimizer measures FPS while you really play, then says how busy the graphics card was and what held the FPS back: the card, the screen's rate (V Sync or a cap) or the CPU, and what to change. On the Fixes page, Something wrong with Stutter or low FPS checks hidden FPS caps, values other tweak packs left and the games' own settings. Still no cause? Ask in the Discord.