How to Use Razer Cortex to Get More FPS in Games

Gaming performance can often make or break your experience, especially when every frame per second counts. Razer FPS boost, powered by the free utility Razer Cortex, promises to enhance your game speed and deliver smoother gameplay by optimising your PC’s resources. Whether you're a casual gamer or an enthusiast, understanding how to set up and use Razer Cortex correctly can really help improve your performance and keep you competitive.

In this guide, we'll take you step-by-step through setting up Razer Cortex, explain the key features like the Razer game optimizer and background cleaner, and show you how to get the most FPS boost possible.

Why Use Razer Cortex and Who Is It For?

Razer Cortex is a lightweight, free software designed to optimise your PC for gaming. It does this by managing and killing unnecessary background processes, clearing out RAM, and prioritising game-related tasks. This helps improve game speed and stability, which can be especially useful if you're running a mid-range rig or older hardware in 2025.

It’s ideal for:

• Gamers looking for an easy FPS boost without manual tinkering.
• Those who want better performance on resource-hungry games.
• Players who want to reduce FPS drops caused by background apps.
• People wanting a ‘one-click’ solution that improves system focus on games.

Razer Cortex’s popularity has surged in recent years thanks to improvements in PC gaming and streaming, and it remains one of the simplest tools to get instant benefits with no steep learning curve.

Setting Up Razer Cortex Step-by-Step

Step 1: Download and Install Razer Cortex

Start by downloading the latest version of Razer Cortex from the official Razer website. The software is completely free, and works on Windows 10 and 11. The file size is about 80MB, so installation is fast even on moderate internet speeds.

• Go to Razer Cortex Official Download
• Click ‘Download Now’
• Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts.
• You’ll need a Razer Account for full functionality—creating one is free and straightforward.

Why it matters: Having the latest version ensures compatibility with the latest games and Windows updates, which is crucial for effective optimisation.

Step 2: Familiarise Yourself with the Interface

Once installed, launch Razer Cortex. The interface is divided into clear sections:

• Game Booster: Your main tool to kill background processes that drain resources.
• FPS Monitor: Displays real-time FPS and performance stats overlay.
• Game Library: To organise and launch your games directly from Cortex.
• System Booster: Cleans RAM and optimises system services.

Spend a few minutes exploring these tabs to get comfortable with where features live.

Step 3: Add Your Games to Razer Cortex

To maximise Razer Cortex’s efficiency, add all your games:

• Click on Game Library tab.
• Hit ‘Add Games’ and select your installed titles from folders or Steam, Epic, etc.
• Cortex will scan and list your games neatly.

Why it matters: Adding games allows Cortex to apply game-specific optimisations and launch your titles while boosting performance automatically.

Step 4: Enable Game Booster for Your Titles

The core of the Razer FPS boost experience is the Game Booster option:

• Go to the Game Booster tab.
• Make sure Game Booster is turned ‘On’ in the main toggle.
• When launching a game via Cortex’s library, it will automatically stop unnecessary processes.
• You can also manually start Game Booster before launching any game.

Razer Game Optimizer targets processes like software updaters, background syncs, and telemetry services that often slow down gaming.

Step 5: Configure the Background Cleaner and System Booster

To complement the game booster, enable Background Cleaner and System Booster for an all-round optimisation.

• In the System Booster tab, tick ‘Clean Memory’ and ‘Stop Background Services’.
• The background cleaner will shut down apps that silently consume CPU and RAM.
• You can schedule automatic cleaner runs or trigger them manually when your system feels sluggish.

These features collectively free up system resources, improving frame rates and overall responsiveness.

Step 6: Turn On the FPS Monitor Overlay

The FPS Monitor is perfect for tracking performance in real time during gameplay.

• Head to the FPS Monitor tab.
• Enable the overlay and customise its position, size, and colours.
• Launch your game and you’ll see a small real-time FPS counter.

This helps you instantly evaluate how well the Razer FPS boost is working and adjust settings if needed.

Step 7: Adjust Advanced Settings for Custom Optimisation

For users who want granular control:

• Click on Settings (the cog icon).
• Under the Game Booster menu, adjust options like ‘Delay boost after launch’, ‘Exclude processes’, or ‘Hint to Game Mode’.
• You can also enable ‘RAM Focus’ which prioritises memory allocation on gaming.

These options are optional but useful if you want to tailor optimisation depending on your system setup or specific titles.

Tips for Maximising Your Razer FPS Boost

• Always launch games from the Razer Cortex game library to activate all optimisations.
• Regularly update Cortex and your GPU drivers.
• Use the background cleaner before long gaming sessions for a fresh system state.
• Combine with Windows Game Mode and disable unnecessary startup apps for best results.
• Avoid running other heavy applications alongside games even when boosted.

What Razer Cortex Does — And Doesn’t Do

What it Does:

• Shuts down non-essential background processes.
• Frees up RAM and CPU cycles.
• Prioritises game processes for better performance.
• Provides real-time FPS monitoring.
• Organises your game library efficiently.

What it Doesn’t Do:

• It’s not a hardware upgrade — it can’t increase your graphics card’s raw power.
• Doesn’t guarantee massive FPS boosts on high-end PCs with no background bloat.
• Won’t solve game optimisation bugs or Internet lag.
• Is not an antivirus or malware cleaner.

Be realistic: Razer Cortex works best on systems that have unnecessary background tasks slowing performance or want quick, temporary FPS improvements.

Alternatives and Comparisons

MSI Afterburner

MSI Afterburner is popular for overclocking but also offers FPS monitoring and hardware info. Unlike Cortex, it’s more technical and doesn’t manage background processes.

Nvidia GeForce Experience

Nvidia’s GeForce Experience has a ‘Game Ready’ driver system and in-game overlay, but limited task management compared to Razer Cortex’s background cleaner.

System Mechanic

System Mechanic is a comprehensive PC cleaner/optimiser with game mode, but it’s paid and more suited to broader system maintenance rather than quick gaming boosts.

Pricing and Availability

Razer Cortex is completely free and available for Windows 10/11 users. The latest stable version is downloadable at no cost from Razer’s official site, making it highly accessible for gamers on a budget.

Prices of comparable software can range from $20 to $60 per year or more, so Cortex is a great no-cost starting point if you want to improve FPS and game speed.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Does Razer Cortex really improve FPS?
Yes, especially on systems with many background processes. It streamlines your PC to free up resources that games need.

Is Razer Cortex safe to use?
Absolutely. It’s an official Razer product used by millions. Just download from the official website to avoid fake copies.

Can I use Razer Cortex on laptops?
Yes. It works on both desktops and laptops running Windows 10 or 11.

Will Razer Cortex restart my PC?
No, it optimises your system without restarts.

Does it work with all games?
It supports most PC games and lets you add any game manually to the library.

Is there a Mac or Linux version?
Currently, Razer Cortex is Windows-only.

Do I need Razer hardware to use Cortex?
No, the software works independently from Razer’s hardware products.

Final Thoughts and Recommendation

If you’re looking for an easy way to get more FPS in games without upgrading hardware or diving into complex system tweaks, Razer Cortex is a strong choice. It’s free, straightforward, and effective for improving game speed by cutting unnecessary background clutter and cleaning memory. While it won’t transform a low-end machine into a powerhouse, it can deliver smoother, more stable gameplay and provide handy FPS monitoring in real time.

Try adding your favourite games to the Razer Cortex library, enable Game Booster, and let the background cleaner do its magic. Combine with other optimisation tips for the best results. For a simple, budget-friendly performance boost in 2025 and beyond, Razer Cortex remains a highly recommended tool.

Explore more guides on game optimisers and PC performance tweaks to keep your gaming fast and fluid all year round!

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