ELDEN RING: The 60 FPS Cap, Low Frame Rate and Stuttering

Step 1｜Check whether the game is simply reaching its cap

A stable rate near 60 is different from sustained drops or intermittent pauses.

Time: About a minute · Risk: low

1. In Steam Settings → In Game, enable the available frame-rate/performance display. Labels may differ with Steam’s version.
2. Use a repeatable open area and observe whether the game remains near 60 FPS.
3. If it drops substantially or briefly stalls, record the scene and continue with the matching check.

Step 2｜Compare the publisher’s three performance checks

FromSoftware says these may improve performance; it does not promise a particular gain.

Time: Allow time for updates and verification · Risk: low

1. Check a compatible GPU driver from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel; for a laptop, consult its manufacturer’s model guidance. Record the version.
2. In Steam game Properties → Installed Files, verify integrity and compare after completion.
3. On a desktop with a discrete graphics card, check that the monitor uses that card’s output rather than an unintended motherboard output. Power down before changing the connection.

Motherboard outputs can use integrated graphics or depend on model-specific routing. Do not move cables blindly or apply a desktop connection assumption to every laptop.

Step 3｜Compare borderless with fullscreen

The original reference records fullscreen refresh behavior; verify what your display actually does.

Time: A few minutes · Risk: low

1. Open the in-game display settings and record the current mode.
2. Choose Borderless Windowed and apply it.
3. Compare the same scene and desktop switching with fullscreen. Check the actual display refresh rate in Windows rather than judging Hz from an FPS counter.

Changing window mode does not remove the game’s 60 FPS cap. Restore the old mode if the comparison is unhelpful.

Step 4｜Compare repeated visits for brief stalls

First-use shader work can contribute to pauses, but storage, CPU load and other problems can also interrupt a frame.

Time: Compare during repeatable play · Risk: low

1. Repeat the same route or encounter and record whether later visits stall less.
2. After a driver update, allow for shader work recurring; record whether the issue settles or persists on repeated runs rather than assuming every stall is cache-related.
3. Temporarily disable Steam Overlay and compare again. Restore it if it makes no useful difference.

Lower graphics settings do not necessarily eliminate a first-use pause. Avoid repeated cache deletion as a generic fix, since rebuilding can repeat work.

Step 5｜Treat unofficial frame-rate unlockers as an offline modification

They are outside the normal supported frame-rate controls and may require an anti-cheat-disabled setup.

Time: Plan setup and removal before use · Risk: high

1. Preserve a dated copy of your current saves and record the unmodified game state.
2. Check the tool author’s compatibility and removal instructions for the exact game version; stop if unclear.
3. Do not attempt online play with an anti-cheat bypass or modified setup. Remove added tools, restore the normal launch configuration and verify files before considering a return to standard play.

Anti-cheat-disabled operation is not compatible with ordinary online play. File verification is not a guarantee that modified saves or account restrictions have been cleared.