Is Fallout 4 Limited to 60 FPS? Performance Insights and Tips

Fallout 4: Cranking Up Your FPS and Banishing the Stutter

Let’s discuss frames per second, or FPS, in Fallout 4. If you wonder why your post-apocalyptic Boston sometimes feels like a slideshow, you’re in the right place. We will explore Fallout 4’s performance. We will cover good FPS, FPS caps, and the potential of your rig. This is your guide to making Fallout 4 run fast and smooth.

Decoding FPS: What’s Smooth, Silky, and Buttery in Fallout 4?

So, what FPS should you aim for in Fallout 4? Higher FPS means smoother action. Think of a flipbook – more pages flipped per second creates smoother animation. Gaming FPS works similarly. Here’s a breakdown of your experience:

• 60-90 FPS: Very Smooth. This is your baseline. Everything feels responsive and fluid. It’s like cruising on a smooth highway.
• 90-144 FPS: Silky Smooth. Here, gaming feels extra responsive, especially during fast combat. Imagine that highway is now freshly paved.
• 144-200 FPS: Buttery Smooth. At this range, returns diminish for most players. But if you are sensitive to smoothness, this feels incredibly fluid. Like gliding on fresh ice.
• 200-400 FPS: Competitive. Unless you’re an eSports player, this range might be overkill for Fallout 4. But bragging rights matter.

Before chasing those ultra-high numbers, Fallout 4 isn’t Crysis. GamersNexus says even at Ultra settings and 1080p resolution, Fallout 4 uses under 3GB of video RAM. Even graphics cards with 2GB of VRAM can push out playable 50+ FPS at 1080p on Ultra settings. It’s enjoyable at 45+ FPS too. Do not panic if you lack triple digits; smooth adventures await.

The 60 FPS Fortress: Understanding Fallout 4’s Frame Rate Cap

Watch out! Fallout 4 often locks to a 60 FPS cap out of the box. Unless you’ve modded the game, you might be stuck at this frame rate. It isn’t Bethesda’s conspiracy; it ties back to how the game engine is designed. This cap also appears in Fallout 76, which can frustrate players used to higher frame rates.

The cause is linked to your monitor’s refresh rate and a setting called “iPresentInterval.” Your monitor’s refresh rate (60Hz or 120Hz) indicates how often it updates the image on screen. The game’s FPS cap ties into dividing this refresh rate by the “iPresentInterval” value. Confusing, right? When “iPresentInterval=1,” usually your FPS is locked at your refresh rate (often 60 on a 60Hz monitor). If you see a locked 30 FPS, it might be that VSync is set to “half refresh rate,” dividing your refresh rate and FPS.

Breaking the Chains: Uncapping and Tweaking Your FPS

Fear not, wasteland wanderers! That 60 FPS cap isn’t unbreakable. You can uncap or adjust your FPS in Fallout 4 through several methods:

1. The INI File Deep Dive: This is classic PC gaming tweaking. Locate your Fallout 4 game files and find “Fallout4Prefs.ini.” Open it and find “iPresentInterval=1.” Change it to “0”. This simple tweak unlocks your frame rate.
2. The Special K Swiss Army Knife: Prefer a simple approach? “Special K” is a popular utility program. it, select Fallout 4, and launch through Special K. Use a key combo like Ctrl+Shift+Backspace to open settings. It might feel like having a tech companion.
3. Nvidia Control – The Paradoxical FPS Lock: Some players lock their FPS to 60 using Nvidia Control (or AMD equivalent). Why? Uncapped FPS can lead to glitches like objects flying around. Sometimes locking to 60 stabilizes issues. It’s like using a speed limiter on your hotrod.
4. VSync – Off Means Unleashed: In settings menus, you might find VSync options. Setting this to “Off” can sometimes uncap your FPS, if VSync was the issue holding you back. It’s like severing the last tether keeping your FPS down.

Beware after the “Next-Gen Update.” Some s found that their “iPresentInterval” setting toggled back to “1,” re-locking their FPS. In some cases, it even drops to 48 FPS. If this happens post-update, check that INI file again. Some players set “iPresentInterval=2” as a workaround. It might need manual tweaks to “Fallout4Prefs.ini,” not just “Fallout4.ini.” Bethesda added a sneaky gremlin with this update, but we can outsmart it!

Performance Gremlins: Battling Low FPS and Stuttering

Even when you wrestle the FPS cap down, performance may still stumble. Low FPS and stuttering can ruin any wasteland explorer’s fun. Let’s troubleshoot common issues:

• Background Process Overload: Is your U and RAM hogged by background programs? Close unneeded applications – like browsers with many tabs open or music players running in the background. This clears out squatters in your power armor.
• Overheating Hardware: Is your PC overheating? Hot components can throttle performance, causing FPS drops. Check your cooling system, ensure fans are spinning, and clean out dust bunnies. A cool PC runs better.
• Software Conflicts: Sometimes other software clash with Fallout 4, causing performance issues. Try recalling if any newly installed programs interfere. It’s like a digital turf war brewing inside your computer.
• VSync Vexation: VSync aims to smooth visuals but sometimes causes frame drops in Fallout 4. Experiment with turning it off to see if it fixes FPS issues. Sometimes the cure is the poison.
• Performance-Hungry Settings: Certain graphics settings in Fallout 4 are notorious drains on performance. “God rays,” high draw distances, and other settings can sap FPS. Lowering these often leads to significant gains without sacrificing visuals. Think of it as lightening your power armor – less weight yields speed.
• Hardware Bottlenecks: Sometimes, the truth is your hardware can’t keep up. An old U, inadequate RAM, or graphic card limitations may be impacting your gaming experience.
• A dated graphics card can limit your FPS. a faster U, more RAM, or a newer graphics card. These changes can help. It’s like moving from a rusty pipe pistol to a plasma rifle. Sometimes, you need more power.
• The “iPresentInterval” Strikes Back (Again): That “iPresentInterval” setting can be pesky. If you face FPS drops after updates, check your “Fallout4Prefs.ini” file. It might have reverted to “1.” This setting seems erratic.
• Half Refresh Rate Haunting: If you are locked at 30 FPS but expect 60, check for “half refresh rate” VSync in graphics settings. It may be hiding and can be reducing your frame rate.

Next-Gen FPS Boost? The Fallout 4 Update Breakdown

The “Next-Gen Update” for Fallout 4 arrived on April 25, 2024. It promised improvements, but not a full visual overhaul. The update focused on stability and bug fixes. It also included some previously released Creation Club content. On PC, graphics remain mostly unchanged.

For console players on PS5, the update added a “Performance Mode.” This mode locks the frame rate at 60 FPS. It often uses dynamic resolution scaling, reaching 1872p to maintain that target. There is a “Quality Mode” that locks the FPS at 30 to prioritize visuals. For 120Hz displays, there is a 40 FPS mode. If you have a 1440p display, enjoy a 60 FPS mode with Ultra settings. Load times are also better now.

Another friendly addition lets players set their target frame rate in-game on current-gen consoles. Choose between 30, 60, or 40 FPS for 120Hz screens. Bethesda finally offers console players more control over their viewing experience.

Platform Peculiarities: FPS on PS5 and PC Quirks

Fallout 4 can reach that desirable 60 FPS on PS5 due to the Performance Mode. The Quality Mode stays at 30 FPS, focusing on visuals. With Performance Mode, dynamic resolution scaling stays active, often around 1872p on PS5. It’s about balancing resolution and smoothness.

A PC-specific oddity exists regarding “Weapon Debris.” This graphic feature was added in Patch 1.3 (February 2016). It enhances environmental destruction from weapons. However, it can limit performance, especially in cluttered areas. Disable “Weapon Debris” in graphics settings for better FPS.

VSync: To Sync or Not to Sync? That is the FPS Question

VSync syncs your game’s frame rate to your monitor’s refresh rate. Its goal is not to boost performance but to prevent screen tearing. These horizontal lines appear when frame rates aren’t in sync. VSync can provide a smoother visual experience and reduce GPU stress and heat. Yet, in Fallout 4, VSync may cause frame drops for some players.

Fallout 4 vs. Fallout 76 FPS Face-Off

If you’ve played Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, you’ll notice smoothness differences. Fallout 76 usually does not exceed 60 FPS due to forced VSync. You cannot disable this setting in-game. This hard cap results in better performance in Fallout 4.

FPS and the Fallout Bug-Fest: Related Issues

Finally, let’s discuss FPS and Fallout bugs. Older titles like New Vegas use the Havok engine and show bugs at over 60Hz. Physics and animations can malfunction. While Fallout 4 is generally stable at high frame rates, there might be physics issues. Crashes are also common and caused by corrupted files or incompatible mods.

To avoid problems, game files, manage mods, optimize settings, and update graphics drivers. These steps ensure a stable and high-FPS experience.

This is your guide to Fallout 4 FPS. With this information, troubleshoot performance issues, uncap frame rates, and enjoy a smoother game experience in the wasteland. Now go forth into the Commonwealth and relish a high-FPS adventure!