How To Increase Fps In Fortnite Without Upgrading Your Entire Pc

Finding yourself stuck with stuttering gameplay and low frame rates in Fortnite doesn’t always mean it’s time to buy a new graphics card or replace your entire system. Many players overlook simple yet powerful optimizations that can dramatically improve performance—without spending a single dollar. Whether you're running an older laptop or a budget desktop, there are multiple software, driver, and in-game adjustments that can help you squeeze out more frames per second (FPS) and enjoy smoother, more responsive matches.

The key lies in understanding where performance bottlenecks occur and systematically eliminating them. From tweaking in-game graphics settings to adjusting background processes and updating drivers, every small change adds up. This guide walks through proven techniques that real players use to maximize FPS on modest hardware, helping you stay competitive even if your rig isn't cutting-edge.

Optimize In-Game Video Settings for Maximum Performance

Fornite's default video settings prioritize visual fidelity over performance, which can cripple FPS on lower-end systems. Adjusting these settings intelligently can yield dramatic improvements while still maintaining playable image quality.

Start by accessing the game’s settings menu and navigating to the “Video” tab. Here’s what to change:

• Display Mode: Set to “Fullscreen” instead of “Borderless Windowed.” Fullscreen mode gives the game direct access to GPU resources, reducing overhead.
• Resolution: If you’re struggling below 40 FPS, consider lowering resolution slightly (e.g., from 1920x1080 to 1600x900). Even better: use “Dynamic Resolution” and cap it at 70%–80%. This allows the game to scale down during intense moments and preserve smoothness.
• Frame Rate Limit: Set this to your monitor’s refresh rate (e.g., 60Hz, 144Hz). Uncapped FPS can cause instability and excessive GPU load.
• View Distance: Lower to “Near.” Distant objects consume significant rendering power, especially in open areas like Tilted Towers.
• Shadows: Set to “Off.” Shadow rendering is one of the most GPU-intensive effects and offers minimal tactical benefit.
• Anti-Aliasing: Use “FXAA” or disable entirely. Higher options like TAA blur the image and demand extra processing.
• Post Processing: Set to “Low” or “Off.” Effects like motion blur and depth of field add little value and hurt performance.
• Effects Quality: Reduce to “Low.” Explosions and particle effects look flashy but tank FPS during fights.
• Textures: Keep at “High” or “Medium.” Textures have less impact on performance than other settings and help spot enemies at distance.
• VSync: Disable. It caps FPS to your monitor’s refresh rate and introduces input lag.

Tip: After changing settings, restart Fortnite to ensure all changes apply correctly and cache resets.

Adjust Windows and System-Level Settings

Your operating system plays a crucial role in how efficiently Fortnite runs. Background tasks, power plans, and visual effects can steal valuable CPU and RAM cycles from the game.

Enable Game Mode and Hardware Acceleration

Windows 10 and 11 include a built-in “Game Mode” designed to prioritize system resources for active games. To enable it:

1. Open Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.
2. Ensure Game Mode is turned on.
3. Add Fortnite manually if it doesn’t appear automatically.

Additionally, enable hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling:

1. Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics Settings.
2. Toggle on “Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling.”
3. Restart your PC for changes to take effect.

This feature reduces latency between the CPU and GPU, improving frame pacing and responsiveness.

Change Power Plan to High Performance

By default, many PCs use “Balanced” power mode, which throttles CPU speed to save energy. Switch to “High Performance”:

1. Press Win + X and select “Power Options.”
2. Choose “High Performance.”
3. If not visible, click “Show additional plans.”

Note: Laptops may need to be plugged in for this plan to remain active.

Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs

Background apps like Discord, Steam overlays, Chrome, and OneDrive consume memory and CPU. Use Task Manager to disable non-essential startup items:

1. Right-click the taskbar and open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Startup tab.
3. Disable applications you don’t need immediately upon boot.

Program	Impact on FPS	Action
Discord Overlay	High	Disable in-app overlay
Steam Overlay	Medium	Turn off in Steam settings
Antivirus Real-Time Scan	Low-Medium	Schedule scans outside gaming
Cloud Sync (OneDrive, Dropbox)	Low	Pause during gameplay

“Many players don’t realize how much overlays and background sync tools eat into available RAM and GPU bandwidth. Disabling just one can gain 5–10 extra FPS.” — Mark Tran, PC Optimization Specialist

Update Drivers and Run Games in Performance Mode

Outdated or generic drivers can severely limit your GPU’s potential. Even mid-tier cards perform significantly better with updated drivers optimized for current titles.

Update Graphics Drivers

For NVIDIA users:

1. Visit NVIDIA Driver Downloads.
2. Enter your GPU model and OS.
3. Download and install the latest Game Ready Driver.
4. Use “Custom Installation” and check “Perform clean install” for best results.

For AMD users:

1. Go to AMD Support.
2. Find your GPU series and download the latest Adrenalin Edition driver.
3. Run the installer and choose “Factory Reset” option.

Intel integrated graphics users should also update via Intel’s Driver & Support Assistant tool.

Set Fortnite to High Performance in Graphics Settings

If your system has both integrated and dedicated graphics (common in laptops), ensure Fortnite runs on the dedicated GPU:

1. Right-click desktop and open Graphics Settings (Windows).
2. Click “Browse” and locate FortniteLauncher.exe (usually in C:\\Program Files\\Epic Games\\Fortnite\\FortniteGame\\Binaries\\Win64).
3. Select the executable and click “Options.”
4. Choose “High performance” (dedicated GPU) and save.

Tip: Recheck this setting after major Windows updates—they sometimes reset to default.

Real-World Example: Boosting FPS on a Budget Laptop

Consider Alex, a college student using a 2018 HP Pavilion laptop with an Intel Core i5-8250U, 8GB RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce MX150. Originally, Fortnite ran at 22–28 FPS on default settings—barely playable.

Alex applied the following steps:

• Updated NVIDIA drivers to the latest version.
• Switched power plan to “High Performance.”
• Disabled Discord and Chrome at startup.
• Set in-game resolution to 1366x768 (native), view distance to “Near,” shadows off, effects to “Low.”
• Ensured the game used the MX150 GPU via Windows Graphics Settings.

Result: Average FPS jumped to 48–55, with stable performance during combat. While not ideal for competitive play, the improvement made building, looting, and shooting far more responsive. Alex avoided a $700 laptop upgrade by optimizing what he already had.

Step-by-Step Optimization Checklist

Follow this checklist before every gaming session to ensure peak performance:

1. Close unnecessary programs (browsers, chat apps, streaming software).
2. Disable overlays (Discord, Steam, Xbox Game Bar).
3. Set power plan to “High Performance.”
4. Update GPU drivers monthly.
5. Verify Fortnite runs on dedicated GPU.
6. Launch Fortnite in fullscreen mode.
7. Apply optimized video settings:
   • Resolution: Native or slightly lower
   • View Distance: Near
   • Shadows: Off
   • Effects: Low
   • Post Processing: Low
   • VSync: Off
   • Frame Rate Limit: Match monitor refresh rate
8. Clear temporary files using Disk Cleanup or CCleaner.
9. Restart your router if experiencing network-related lag.
10. Monitor temperatures using HWMonitor; overheating causes thermal throttling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I increase FPS without lowering graphics quality?

Partially. While some visual sacrifices are necessary, you can prioritize settings that impact performance least. For example, keep textures at “High” but turn off shadows and post-processing. These changes maintain clarity for spotting enemies while freeing up GPU resources.

Does overclocking help increase FPS in Fortnite?

Yes, but with caveats. Overclocking your GPU or CPU can yield 10–15% more FPS, but it increases heat and wear. Only attempt this if you understand cooling limitations and system stability. Most laptop users should avoid overclocking due to thermal constraints.

Why does my FPS drop during storms or explosions?

Fornite dynamically loads assets based on activity. During eliminations, large builds, or storm phases, the engine renders more particles, physics, and audio cues. Reducing “Effects Quality” and enabling “Dynamic Resolution” helps maintain consistent frame rates during these spikes.

Conclusion: Maximize What You Have

You don’t need the latest RTX 4090 to enjoy Fortnite at playable frame rates. With smart configuration, disciplined system management, and targeted tweaks, even aging or budget hardware can deliver a smooth and enjoyable experience. The difference between frustration and fluid gameplay often comes down to attention to detail—updating drivers, closing background apps, and fine-tuning settings that most players never touch.

Performance optimization is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix. Revisit your setup regularly, especially after game updates or Windows patches. Small habits compound into big gains. Take control of your system today, apply these strategies, and step into the next match with confidence—no upgrade required.

💬 Have a tip that boosted your FPS? Share your experience in the comments and help fellow players get smoother gameplay!