For the best starting point, use your monitor’s native resolution, DLSS Quality (or FSR Quality when the client offers it), NVIDIA Reflex on, and V-Sync off. Keep frame generation disabled until the game is already producing a stable 60 FPS or more. If crowded cities, events, or large groups still fall below your target, switch the upscaler to Balanced and lower shadows, effects, foliage, crowd, and mass-combat options before reducing texture quality.
This order matters because AION 2’s open world can stress both the graphics processor and the processor handling players, NPCs, and simulation. Upscaling can reduce GPU work, but it cannot remove a CPU limit in a packed city or large battle. Frame generation can make motion look smoother, yet it adds latency and does not reduce that CPU workload.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Quick-start settings for open-world FPS
Apply these settings first, then adjust only the items that match the problem you see:
- Resolution: your display’s native resolution.
- Upscaler: DLSS Quality. If DLSS is unavailable and the client’s Upscaler menu lists FSR, choose FSR Quality.
- Upscaler fallback: move to Balanced when Quality still misses your target in cities, events, or large groups.
- Frame generation: off initially; enable it only after confirming a stable 60 FPS or higher base frame rate and only for workloads where added latency is acceptable.
- NVIDIA Reflex: on.
- V-Sync: off for the latency-oriented baseline in the cited settings guide.
- Textures: keep them high when your graphics card has enough VRAM; texture quality generally affects memory use and loading more than frame rate.
- Shadows and effects: reduce one step before sacrificing textures.
- Crowd, mass-combat, foliage, and similar effect-heavy options: lower them when frame rate falls around many players or during large events.
At 1080p, avoid DLSS or FSR Performance unless the other changes are not enough. Its lower internal resolution can make distant targets harder to read, which is especially undesirable when identifying players, creatures, or mechanics at range.
#1 Best Overall
- This product has been replaced by our latest generation. Please search for the SANDISK Optimus GX 7100 NVMe SSD
- HIGH-OCTANE GAMING. Experience speeds up to 7,250MB/s read and 6,900MB/s write (1-2TB models), with up to 35% faster performance than previous generation.
- PURPOSE-BUILT. Designed for serious on-the-go gamers, with a PCIe Gen4 interface and SANDISK’s next generation TLC 3D NAND.
- MORE TIME TO CLEAR THAT CHECKPOINT. Built with laptops and handheld gaming devices in mind, with up to 100% more power efficiency over the previous generation.
- DO MORE WITH DASHBOARD. Ensure your drive is optimized for prime performance with the downloadable WD_BLACK Dashboard (Windows only).
Why open-world areas cause FPS drops
AION 2’s published 2026 world is described as roughly 36 times the size of the original Aion. Streaming that larger world while rendering dense settlements, vegetation, effects, and many characters creates two different kinds of limits.
GPU-bound drops
A graphics-card limit appears when rendering resolution, shadows, lighting, effects, or foliage consumes most of the GPU’s available frame time. Quality upscaling lowers the internal render resolution while reconstructing an image close to your output resolution. Balanced lowers it further and usually produces a larger performance gain at some cost to fine detail.
For a GPU-bound system, the most productive sequence is to keep native output resolution, start with Quality upscaling, then reduce shadows and effects, and finally move to Balanced if necessary. Textures are a later choice because they primarily consume VRAM and affect loading behavior when the card has adequate memory.
Recommended Free Tools
CPU-bound drops
A crowded city, world boss, dungeon, or large Abyss fight can be limited by the CPU even when the GPU is not fully occupied. Character visibility, crowd simulation, combat events, and other game logic still have to be processed. Upscaling cannot eliminate that work, and frame generation does not reduce it. Lowering crowd and mass-combat-related settings is therefore more useful than repeatedly switching between upscaler modes when the problem occurs only around many players.
Rank #2
- Ideal for high speed, low power storage
- Gen 4x4 NVMe PCle performance
- Up to 6,000MB/s read, 4,000MB/s write
- Includes Acronis cloning software
- 5-year limited warranty
When the frame rate is stable in empty terrain but collapses as a crowd forms, treat that as a CPU-sensitive scenario. Keep frame generation off for those scenes, lower crowd and effects options, and use Balanced only if the GPU also needs relief.
Set AION 2 up in the right order
- Set the output resolution. Choose the native resolution shown by your monitor. This preserves interface and target readability while the upscaler controls internal rendering cost.
- Choose Quality upscaling. Select DLSS Quality on a supported GeForce card. If the client exposes FSR in the Upscaler dropdown, FSR Quality is the AMD or fallback option. The dropdown in your installed client is the final authority on whether FSR is available; do not assume that every build exposes it.
- Turn on Reflex and turn off V-Sync. Reflex on and V-Sync off are the latency-focused starting points from the settings guide. Revisit this only if your own display setup requires a different synchronization strategy.
- Leave frame generation off while establishing a baseline. Play the locations that normally cause trouble and note the native frame rate before adding generated frames. A displayed FPS number is not a substitute for a healthy base rate.
- Lower shadows by one step. Shadows are among the largest FPS levers and are usually less damaging to readability than reducing the whole image’s internal resolution.
- Lower effects by one step. Effects can become expensive during spells, weather, boss mechanics, and mass combat. Reduce them before dropping texture quality.
- Adjust crowd, mass-combat, and foliage options. Make these changes when dips correlate with many players, dense vegetation, or a large fight. They target the conditions that make open-world areas difficult rather than lowering every setting indiscriminately.
- Switch Quality to Balanced if needed. Use Balanced after the targeted reductions if cities, events, or large groups still miss your target. At 1080p, reserve Performance for cases where Quality and Balanced cannot deliver the required rate.
- Re-test the same scenario. Use the same city, route, event, or encounter for each change. Otherwise, a quieter area can make a setting appear effective when the workload simply changed.
Recommended profiles by activity
| Use case | Upscaling | Frame generation | Priority adjustments | Latency focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced open-world PvE | DLSS Quality; FSR Quality when available | Off initially | Reduce shadows and effects one step; keep textures high when VRAM allows | Reflex on, V-Sync off |
| Crowded cities and large events | DLSS Balanced when Quality still dips | Off when the CPU is the limit | Lower crowd and effects options; reduce mass-combat and foliage settings when they are involved | Keep the base frame rate stable before considering any generated frames |
| Competitive PvP or boss mechanics | DLSS Quality or Balanced | Off | Favor a consistent base rate and clear targets over cinematic effects | Reflex on, V-Sync off; avoid the added latency of frame generation |
| Cinematic travel on a strong RTX 40- or RTX 50-series card | DLSS Quality | Optional after a stable 60 FPS or higher base rate | Use generated frames only after native performance is already sound | Accept the latency trade-off for smoother-looking travel |
DLSS, FSR, and the Quality-versus-Performance trade-off
DLSS Quality
DLSS Quality is the default recommendation for a supported NVIDIA card because it reduces internal rendering work while retaining more detail than Balanced or Performance. It is the best first choice when you want to preserve distant target readability and the game is primarily GPU-limited.
FSR Quality
FSR Quality is the AMD or fallback path when the client provides it. Open AION 2’s graphics settings and inspect the Upscaler dropdown rather than relying on a forum list or a different game build. If FSR is absent from that menu, the installed client does not expose it in your current configuration.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Balanced mode
Balanced is the practical step for crowded locations that still dip with Quality. It lowers the internal resolution further, trading some fine detail for more GPU headroom. Use it when the target is a steadier frame rate in cities, events, or large open-world groups, not simply because the mode has a higher theoretical FPS.
Rank #3
- PCIe 4.0 Performance: Delivers up to 7,100 MB/s read and 6,000 MB/s write speeds for quicker game load times, bootups, and smooth multitasking
- Spacious 1TB SSD: Provides space for AAA games, apps, and media with standard Gen4 NVMe performance for casual gamers and home users
- Broad Compatibility: Works seamlessly with laptops, desktops, and select gaming consoles including ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go, and AYANEO Kun. Also backward compatible with PCIe Gen3 systems for flexible upgrades
- Better Productivity: Up to 2x faster than previous Gen3 generation. Improve performance for real world tasks like booting Windows, starting applications like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and working in applications like Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
- Trusted Micron Quality: Built with advanced G8 NAND and thermal control for reliable Gen4 performance trusted by gamers and home users
Performance mode
Performance can be necessary on a constrained GPU, but at 1080p it should be a last resort. The lower internal resolution can soften distant targets and make small objects harder to distinguish. First try shadows, effects, foliage, crowd controls, and Balanced upscaling.
When frame generation helps—and when it hurts
Frame generation creates additional displayed frames between conventionally rendered frames. It can make camera movement appear smoother, but it does not make the underlying game simulation run faster. The settings guidance recommends leaving it off below a 60 FPS base rate. If the game is producing 40 real frames per second, generated frames cannot turn that into 60-FPS responsiveness; they only insert images between the real ones.
Good conditions for enabling it
- Your measured base rate is stable at 60 FPS or higher.
- You are doing single-player questing or cinematic travel rather than precision combat.
- You use a high-refresh display and value visual smoothness over minimum input delay.
- Your GPU is the limiting component, not a crowded-scene CPU bottleneck.
Keep it off in these situations
- Crowded cities, where the CPU may already be limiting the base rate.
- Dungeons and large Abyss battles, where many combatants and effects increase simulation and latency sensitivity.
- Competitive PvP and boss mechanics that require immediate input feedback.
- Any scene where the base rate is below 60 FPS or fluctuates heavily.
NVIDIA stated that AION 2 launched with support for DLSS Frame Generation, DLSS Super Resolution, and NVIDIA Reflex. A December 24 update adds DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation for RTX 50 Series GPUs. Availability therefore depends on both your GPU generation and the version of the installed client; an option described by NVIDIA may not appear on an older card or older build.
How to identify the setting that is actually limiting FPS
If lowering resolution or upscaling produces a large gain
The workload is probably GPU-heavy. Keep native output resolution, retain Quality mode if the image remains clear, and reduce shadows and effects before moving to Balanced. A stronger graphics card or a card with more VRAM becomes relevant if those changes still do not reach the target.
Rank #4
- HUGE SPEED BOOST: Get random read/write speeds that are 40%/55% faster than 980 PRO; Experience up to 1400K/1550K IOPS, while sequential read/write speeds up to 7,450/6,900 MB/s reach near the max performance of PCIe 4.0*
- BREAKTHROUGH POWER EFFICIENCY: Use less power and get more performance; Enjoy up to 50% improved performance per watt over 980 PRO, plus optimal power efficiency with max PCIe 4.0 performance**
- SMART THERMAL CONTROL: Samsung's own nickel-coated controller delivers effective thermal control; With its slim size, 990 PRO is a perfect fit for desktops and laptops that meet the PCI-SIG D8 standard***
- THE CHAMPION MAKER: Up to 65% improvement in random performance enables faster loads for an ultimate gaming experience on PS5 and DirectStorage PC games****
- SAMSUNG MAGICIAN SOFTWARE: Get the most out of your SSD with Samsung Magician's advanced yet intuitive optimization tools; Monitor drive health, protect valuable data, and receive important updates for your 990 PRO
If only crowds cause the drop
Focus on crowd, mass-combat, and related effects options. Keep frame generation off because it does not lower CPU load. Upscaling can still help if the GPU is also busy, but it is not the primary fix for a simulation-heavy city or battle.
If flying or crossing regions causes hitching
Streaming is part of the problem. The performance guide recommends installing AION 2 on an SSD and notes that faster storage reduces hitching while flying across regions. An SSD will not raise every average FPS result, but it can reduce pauses while new terrain and assets load.
If image quality is poor at 1080p
Move from Performance to Balanced or Quality, then recover FPS through shadows, effects, foliage, and crowd controls. Keep the monitor at native resolution so interface elements and distant targets are not made harder to read by an unnecessarily low output setting.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePublished hardware tiers and practical upgrade paths
The dated performance guide reports the following NCSoft/AION2 KINA 2026 tiers. These are published baseline figures, not a guarantee of a fixed FPS in every city, event, or combat scene.
Best Value
- SPEED UP PROJECTS. Launch creator applications fast with uncompromising PCIe 4.0 read speeds up to 7,100MB/s,[2] (1TB and 2TB[1] models) and write speeds up to 6,700MB/s[2] (1TB[1]-4TB[1] models).
- CREATE AND STORE MORE. Make more room for your 4K videos and high-resolution images with capacities from 500GB[1] up to 4TB[1] on M.2 2280 built with our trusted 8th generation SANDISK BiCS QLC 3D CBA NAND.
- IT GOES WHERE YOU GO. With an all-new power efficient design, your drive delivers high performance with low power, giving you more time to be productive while on the go.
- UNCOMPROMISED RELIABILITY. With up to 1,200 TBW[3] (4TB[1] model) endurance rating, your drive is designed for creators.
- KEEP YOUR DRIVE UPDATED. Monitor your SSD’s performance and check for updates with the downloadable SANDISK Dashboard application.[5]
| Tier | Memory | Graphics card | Storage | API |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum tier reported | 8 GB RAM | GTX 1050 Ti with 4 GB VRAM | 100 GB | DirectX 12 |
| Recommended tier reported | 16 GB RAM | RTX 2070 with 8 GB VRAM | 100 GB | DirectX 12 |
Storage upgrade
A 1 TB NVMe SSD is the cleanest physical upgrade when the game is on a hard drive or a nearly full, slow disk. It comfortably exceeds the published 100 GB requirement and directly addresses the guide’s warning about hitching while flying across regions. Confirm that your motherboard supports the NVMe form factor and that the operating system can see the drive before moving the game.
Memory upgrade
If the computer is below the recommended 16 GB, a compatible 16 GB RAM kit is a reasonable second path. Match the motherboard’s DDR generation, supported speed, channel configuration, and maximum capacity. Installing a kit that uses the wrong DDR generation will not work, and mixing unmatched modules can create stability problems.
Graphics-card upgrade
An upgrade toward the published RTX 2070-class recommended tier is relevant when higher resolution, Quality upscaling, or heavier effects remain GPU-limited. Select the exact model against your target resolution, power-supply capacity, case clearance, and budget. The RTX 2070 recommendation does not mean every card with a similar name delivers identical thermals or power requirements.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Open-world tuning checklist
- Confirm the game is using DirectX 12, which is part of both published hardware tiers.
- Install the game on an SSD; prefer a 1 TB NVMe drive when replacing storage so the 100 GB requirement leaves room for the operating system and updates.
- Start at native monitor resolution.
- Use DLSS Quality, or FSR Quality if the client’s Upscaler dropdown exposes it.
- Set Reflex on and V-Sync off for the latency-oriented baseline.
- Leave frame generation off while measuring real performance.
- Lower shadows and effects before textures.
- Lower crowd, mass-combat, foliage, and other effect-heavy controls when the drop tracks player density or dense scenery.
- Use Balanced upscaling when Quality still misses the target in crowded areas.
- At 1080p, avoid Performance unless the preceding changes are insufficient.
- Enable frame generation only with a stable 60 FPS or higher base rate and only when extra latency is acceptable.
A simple decision path for stubborn FPS drops
- Does the drop happen everywhere? If yes, reduce GPU-heavy settings in this order: shadows, effects, then upscaler Quality to Balanced. If the image is already too soft at 1080p, consider a graphics-card upgrade instead of Performance mode.
- Does it happen only near many players? Lower crowd and mass-combat settings, reduce effects, and keep frame generation off. This pattern points toward a CPU-sensitive workload that upscaling cannot solve by itself.
- Does it happen while moving rapidly between regions? Move the installation to an SSD, preferably an NVMe model with at least 1 TB capacity for practical headroom.
- Does the game look blurry after changing modes? Return to Quality, keep the output at native resolution, and recover performance with shadows, effects, foliage, and crowd settings.
- Is the base rate already 60 FPS or higher? For questing or cinematic travel on a supported RTX 40- or RTX 50-series card, test frame generation. For PvP, boss mechanics, crowded cities, dungeons, or large Abyss battles, leave it off.
How to validate a profile without fooling yourself
Use one repeatable route rather than comparing unrelated locations. Record the base frame rate in an empty field, a busy city, and the type of event or battle that normally causes the drop. Change one setting group at a time: first shadows and effects, then crowd-related controls, then the upscaler. If a change helps only in the city, it is addressing a density-sensitive limit; if it helps everywhere, it is probably reducing GPU work.
Evaluate smoothness and input response separately from the displayed FPS number. Frame generation can raise the displayed count while adding latency, so compare the same combat action with it off and on. Keep the mode that feels more controllable for PvP and mechanics, even if the generated-frame counter is higher.
Practical takeaway
Quality upscaling is the correct first move, not the final one. Preserve textures when VRAM allows, cut shadows and effects before lowering the whole image, and target crowd-heavy settings when only cities or large battles collapse. Treat frame generation as an optional smoothness layer that requires a stable 60 FPS or higher base rate; it cannot repair a CPU-bound crowd. With the published 2026 baseline of 16 GB RAM, an RTX 2070 with 8 GB VRAM, DirectX 12, and 100 GB of storage, an SSD, matched memory, or a GPU upgrade addresses different bottlenecks rather than serving as interchangeable fixes.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
