How to Get More FPS Without Changing Your Hardware

Discover timeless software solutions for more FPS, smooth gaming, and no lag fix without upgrading your PC hardware.

How to Get More FPS Without Changing Your Hardware

If you're looking to get more FPS (frames per second) in your favourite games but don't want to splurge on pricey new hardware, you’re in the right place. This guide covers timeless, software-based methods that boost your gaming performance, resulting in smooth gaming and a no lag fix experience. Whether you're stuck with an older rig or just want to squeeze every bit of power from your current setup, these tips will help you optimize your system efficiently.

Let’s dive in and explore how you can enhance your gaming experience with smart performance tuning—without spending a penny on new parts.

Why Focus on Software Solutions for More FPS?

When people think about improving game performance, the typical answer is to upgrade hardware: a new GPU, faster CPU, more RAM. But upgrading isn’t always feasible. Maybe you’re on a budget, or you prefer a lean setup that doesn't rely on constant hardware tweaks.

Software fixes are often overlooked but incredibly powerful. They adjust your system and game settings to better use what you already have, targeting CPU and GPU bottlenecks, memory use, and resource management. Plus, software optimizations learn and evolve with modern gaming trends in 2025—like advanced GPU drivers, direct game optimisations, and smart OS tweaks.

If you want smoother gameplay, fewer stutters, and a no lag fix without hardware changes, this is the place to start.

Understanding FPS and Why It Drops

Before diving into solutions, let's quickly recap what FPS means.

FPS indicates how many frames your video card can render per second. The higher the FPS, the smoother your gaming visuals and controls feel. Aim for 60 FPS or above for fluid gameplay, but some competitive or VR gamers prefer upwards of 120-240 FPS.

FPS can fluctuate or drop for several reasons:

Your CPU or GPU is overloaded
Background apps consume resources
Drivers or game software are outdated
Inefficient game settings or high resolutions
Thermal throttling due to heat buildup

The good news? Many of these can be addressed without new hardware.

Software-Based Solutions to Get More FPS

1. Update Drivers and Game Software

A simple but crucial step often forgotten is regularly updating device drivers and game installation files.

GPU Drivers: Manufacturers like NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel routinely release driver updates optimising for recent games and improving performance. For example, the NVIDIA "Game Ready" drivers in 2025 often unlock efficiency improvements for popular titles. Updating is free and takes around 10-15 minutes.
Game Patches: Developers frequently patch games not just for bugs but also for performance enhancements. Keep games updated via your platform’s launcher (Steam, Epic Games, Origin).

How it helps: Updated drivers better manage GPU workloads, fix memory leaks, and improve frame timings, resulting in higher FPS and fewer stutters.

2. Disable Background Programs and Startup Apps

Background applications eat away at CPU cycles, memory, and sometimes even disk speed, lowering your FPS.

Use Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) on Windows to close unnecessary apps during gaming sessions. Avoid web browsers, chat apps, and torrent clients.
Open Startup tab in Task Manager and disable non-essential programs that launch when you boot your PC.

Applications like Discord, Spotify, or cloud sync can quietly consume resources and reduce game smoothness if left unchecked.

How it helps: Fewer apps competing with your game for resources means more available CPU and memory power for rendering frames.

3. Adjust In-Game Settings for Performance

This may seem obvious, but many gamers overlook fine-tuning settings for their system capabilities.

Focus on tweaking:

Resolution: Lower your game resolution from 4K or 1440p to 1080p or 900p to reduce GPU load.
Texture Quality: Reduce texture detail where possible; textures demand significant VRAM.
Shadow Quality: Shadows are GPU-intensive; lowering shadow resolution or disabling shadows can yield 5-10+ FPS.
Anti-Aliasing: Turn off or reduce anti-aliasing; newer methods like FidelityFX or DLSS can provide quality without FPS loss on supported hardware.
V-Sync: Disable V-Sync to prevent input lag and allow FPS to go beyond monitor refresh rate, unless screen tearing bothers you.

Modern games often have presets labelled Ultra, High, Medium, Low. Experiment with Medium or Low if FPS drops.

How it helps: Lowering demanding effects directly reduces GPU strain, boosting FPS and smoothing gameplay.

4. Use Performance Mode on Windows 11/12

Windows now includes a "Performance Mode" that optimises power usage and CPU priority for active applications.

Open Settings > System > Power & Battery > Power Mode and select Best Performance.

This tweak increases CPU clocks and prioritises gaming tasks over background processes without needing BIOS changes.

How it helps: Boosts your processor’s effective speed and keeps the system focused on your game, reducing stutter and lag.

5. Employ Game Mode and GPU Scheduling

Windows Game Mode, introduced in recent versions, and hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling can enhance frame delivery.

Enable Game Mode through Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.
If supported, activate Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling in Graphics Settings.

Game Mode allocates system resources to games preferentially, while GPU scheduling reduces latency by delegating scheduling to the GPU itself.

How it helps: Enhances smoothness and consistency in frame delivery, reducing input lag and sudden FPS drops.

6. Clean System Cache and Temporary Data

Over time, system temp files and caches accumulate and may slow down disk operations and system responsiveness.

Use tools like Disk Cleanup (Windows) or third-party apps (CCleaner) to remove junk files regularly.

For SSDs, ensure your drive has enough free space (10-20%) for the controller to manage data efficiently.

How it helps: Faster disk access speeds up game loading and background paging, reducing hitches.

7. Optimise Virtual Memory (Pagefile)

If your PC has limited RAM (under 16GB), Windows uses virtual memory (a pagefile on disk) to compensate. Inadequate settings here can cause lag.

In Windows: Control Panel > System > Advanced System Settings > Performance > Settings > Advanced Tab > Virtual Memory.
Either allow automatic management or manually set a paging file size 1.5 to 2 times your RAM if running low.

On SSDs, virtual memory access is fast enough to prevent severe FPS drops due to memory issues.

How it helps: Prevents crashes from RAM exhaustion and maintains smooth performance during intensive game scenes.

8. Tweak Graphics Control Panel Settings

Besides in-game settings, GPU control panels offer fine tuning.

For NVIDIA users:

Open NVIDIA Control Panel > Manage 3D settings.
Set Power management mode to "Prefer maximum performance".
Adjust Threaded optimization to “On” for multithreaded games.
Enable Low latency mode to reduce input lag.

For AMD users:

Open Radeon Software.
Enable Radeon Boost which dynamically reduces resolution during fast motion for better FPS.
Adjust Texture Filtering Quality to “Performance”.

How it helps: These tweaks prevent throttling and prioritise frame generation efficiency.

9. Monitor Temperatures and Control Cooling

Overheating causes CPUs and GPUs to throttle speed automatically, slashing FPS.

Use monitoring software like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner to track temperatures.
Clean dust from fans and heat sinks.
Improve airflow or use software fan curves to cool components better.

In 2025, many laptops and desktops support software-based fan control and temperature alarms.

How it helps: Keeps your system running at peak clock speeds, maintaining stable FPS.

10. Disable Windows Visual Effects

Windows’ visual effects can take a surprising toll on CPU and GPU resources.

Navigate to System > Advanced System Settings > Performance Options > Visual Effects.
Select Adjust for best performance or customise to disable effects like animations, shadows, and transparency.

How it helps: Frees up system resources for gaming rather than desktop eye candy.

Expert Insight: What Many Gamers Overlook

Many players focus on unrealistic expectations of raw hardware upgrades but don’t address fundamental software tuning, which is often the main bottleneck.

Additionally, some assume closing one or two apps is enough, but background services commonly remain active, silently consuming precious CPU cycles. Comprehensive performance tuning includes disabling all unneeded services, enabling Performance Mode, and managing driver settings.

Be cautious with over-optimisation tools that claim “one-click FPS boost”. Some may cause instability or conflicts, so stick with manual tuning and official tools.

Who this guide is not for: Extreme performance seekers with ultra-high refresh rate displays who want 200+ FPS in AAA max settings. For them, hardware upgrades are unavoidable.

Alternatives and Comparisons: When Software Isn’t Enough

When software methods fail to deliver the FPS increase you need, it might be worth considering:

Upgrading to a mid-range GPU like the NVIDIA RTX 4060 ($300-$400) or AMD RX 7600 ($250-$350).
Increasing system RAM from 8GB to 16GB or 32GB.
Switching to an NVMe SSD for faster game load times.

Compared to hardware upgrades that cost hundreds of dollars, software optimisations are cost-free and should always be your first step.

Quick Summary: Best Steps to Get More FPS Now

Best first step: Update GPU drivers and game patches.
Best for freeing resources: Disable startup apps and background programs.
Best to improve responsiveness: Enable Game Mode and hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling.
Best to reduce load: Lower in-game settings, especially resolution, shadows, and textures.
Best to prevent throttling: Monitor thermals and optimise cooling.

FAQ – Your Software-Based FPS Questions Answered

Q: Will these tweaks give me a massive FPS jump?
A: Depending on your system, gains could be 10-30%. For older PCs, optimisations can feel like a hardware boost.

Q: Can these settings cause game crashes?
A: Mostly no, but setting things incorrectly or using dubious software may cause instability. Always test changes one step at a time.

Q: Do I need admin rights for these tweaks?
A: Yes, changes to system settings like virtual memory or driver updates require administrator permissions.

Q: Should I uninstall antivirus before gaming?
A: No need. Just ensure it’s not performing heavy scans while gaming.

Q: Are these tips applicable for laptops and desktops?
A: Absolutely. Though laptops may have stricter thermal limits, software tweaks help both platforms.

Pricing and Availability

All the methods mentioned here are free and rely on native Windows features or free official drivers and tools. Popular monitoring software like MSI Afterburner is also downloadable at no cost.

If you’re curious about handy third-party system optimisers, some offer premium versions starting at $10-$20/year but aren’t necessary for basic performance tuning.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Getting more FPS without changing your hardware is absolutely doable in 2025 with smart performance tuning and software fixes. Regular maintenance like updating drivers, cleaning up background tasks, tweaking game settings, and ensuring proper cooling can redefine your gaming experience.

Start with simple steps, then layer in advanced tweaks based on your comfort level. With patience and attention to detail, your rig’s FPS can reach new heights—keeping gameplay smooth and lag-free.

Explore related guides on gaming PC maintenance, or compare affordable GPUs for next-level upgrades when you’re ready. Don’t forget to subscribe for updates on the latest in gaming optimisation and software tips!

Happy gaming!

For more on improving gaming PC performance through software, check out these useful reads:

How to Get More FPS Without Changing Your Hardware