There is no universal best preset for an early-access PC game: the right settings depend on the game build, your hardware, and whether you value image quality, smooth frame pacing, or low input latency most. Start by measuring how the game runs now, lower demanding options in small groups, and test after each change. Check the game’s latest support notes as well as its current settings, since early-access options and performance can change between builds.
How to find the settings that help your PC
Higher graphics settings can demand more from your hardware and lead to lower or less stable frame rates. Riot Games Support recommends lowering demanding options, testing again, and then restoring individual settings gradually to find a balance that suits your system. Its advice is general guidance, not a preset or a promise of a particular FPS increase. Riot Games Support’s graphics-settings guide highlights several options to examine.
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- Record a baseline. Play the same area or repeat the same activity for a short time and note how smooth it feels, including any recurring stutter. Keep your resolution and other settings unchanged for this first comparison.
- Lower a few demanding options. Try a small group of settings rather than changing everything at once. Record what you changed and whether it improved smoothness without making the image unacceptably worse.
- Test again under similar conditions. If the change helps, restore or lower individual options one at a time to find which settings matter on your PC. If it does not help, revert the group and try another.
- Keep the balance that meets your goal. The best result is not necessarily the highest possible frame rate; consider image detail, frame pacing, tearing, and input response together.
Graphics options worth lowering first
- Shadows and reflections, where the game offers separate controls.
- Effects, particles, and post-processing, which can add visual detail during busy scenes.
- Environment, material, foliage, or crowd detail, if those options are available.
- View distance or similar settings that control how much of the scene is drawn in detail.
- Anti-aliasing and other image-enhancement effects.
- Texture quality. Lowering it may help in some circumstances, but it changes surface detail; test it rather than assuming it is the most important setting.
These names and controls vary by game. For example, Obsidian’s recommendations for The Outer Worlds 2 discuss shadows, reflections, global illumination, foliage, view distance, visual effects, textures, and crowd density. That is a game-specific support guide, not a tested configuration for another early-access title. Obsidian’s performance guidance for The Outer Worlds 2 is useful as an example of the kinds of controls a game may expose.
When to lower resolution or use upscaling
Lowering the game’s rendering resolution means the graphics card has fewer pixels to draw, which may improve performance at the cost of a less sharp image. Riot Games Support lists resolution reduction as an option when performance remains below expectations. Change it in a small step and compare the same scene so you can judge the visual trade-off.
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If the game offers upscaling, it may render at a lower internal resolution and enlarge the image for display. Try only options supported by both the game and your graphics card; availability and image quality differ across games and systems. The Outer Worlds 2 support guide, for instance, discusses TSR, DLSS, FSR, and XeSS for that game. Those names should not be taken as a guarantee that an unnamed early-access game supports them.
Microsoft’s Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR) is an optional Windows feature, not a setting found in every game. Microsoft Support lists eligibility requirements including supported device families, Windows 11 version 24H2 or later, a display resolution of 1080p or higher, current drivers, and a DirectX 10-or-later game. It is opt-in, depends on a compatible display and resolution configuration, and results can vary by game and system. Check Microsoft’s current eligibility and setup details before relying on it: Microsoft Support: Use Automatic Super Resolution.
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Choose a frame-rate cap and synchronization settings for your goal
A frame-rate cap can help avoid unnecessary GPU work and may make frame pacing more consistent, but the best cap depends on the game, monitor, and hardware. A guide for The Outer Worlds 2 discusses trying a cap near the display’s refresh rate; treat that as a game-specific option to test rather than a universal rule. A cap that is too ambitious for your system may not deliver consistent pacing.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesV-Sync can reduce visible screen tearing, but may increase input latency. Adaptive-sync displays and game implementations can behave differently, so compare the available choices in the game and on your monitor. Obsidian’s V-Sync recommendations apply to The Outer Worlds 2; they do not establish one setting that is best across early-access games.
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Check which GPU the game is using
On a hybrid-graphics laptop, the game may be assigned to an integrated GPU instead of the intended high-performance GPU. Windows graphics settings can provide a per-app GPU preference, though available options depend on the device and app. Windows also has variable-refresh-rate options for eligible apps; Microsoft says VRR requires a capable monitor and the necessary drivers. The Windows controls and labels may change, so consult current Windows settings or Microsoft’s DirectX guidance: Microsoft DirectX Developer Blog: Navigating the Redesigned Graphics Settings page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check for causes outside the graphics menu
Changing quality settings will not resolve every performance problem. Before settling on a preset, compare your PC with the game’s current minimum and recommended requirements, then check the game’s latest support notes for build-specific issues. Requirements and known problems can change as an early-access game is updated.
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- Update the graphics driver. Obsidian’s guide recommends updating graphics drivers for The Outer Worlds 2 and restarting after installation. This is a troubleshooting step, not a guarantee of better performance.
- Close unnecessary background apps. Apps using CPU time or memory can compete with a game. Obsidian includes background applications among its game-specific troubleshooting checks.
- Test overlays one at a time. If stutter persists, temporarily disable overlays individually and compare. This helps isolate whether one is involved without assuming overlays are always the cause.
- Use the game’s support channel for build-specific problems. If performance changed after an update, check current notices or report the issue with the game build, hardware, driver version, settings, and the conditions that trigger it.
Why there is no single best preset
The same option can have different effects depending on the game’s implementation, the PC’s CPU, GPU and memory, and the display. Without the game name, build, hardware, resolution, and a performance target, no exact preset or expected FPS gain can be established. Treat settings as controlled experiments: make a small change, compare like with like, and keep it only if it improves the experience you care about.
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