The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Start at 3840×2160 with the highest practical visual-quality preset, then adjust one option at a time while watching frame pacing. Electronic Arts says the PC version can reach “up to 4K/60 FPS,” but its November 6, 2020 announcement makes that dependent on the player’s system. That is a capability statement, not a guarantee for every graphics card, processor, laptop, or display. A repeatable test section and incremental tuning are the safest way to get smooth delivery on your own hardware.
What “smooth 4K” means in Hot Pursuit Remastered
For this game, 4K means an output resolution of 3840×2160. The useful target is not merely a high average frame-rate number: smooth play also requires consistent frame times. A system that alternates between fast and slow frames can feel uneven even when an overlay reports an average near 60 FPS.
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EA’s official launch announcement describes performance of “up to 4K/60 FPS” on PC and explicitly ties that result to the player’s system. You can read the wording in the November 6, 2020 announcement. Neither that statement nor the game’s product page defines one universal 4K hardware threshold. Your CPU, GPU, graphics memory, system memory, driver, cooling, laptop power mode, display refresh rate and frame-rate target all affect the result.
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Why one published benchmark is not a hardware guarantee
DSOGaming reported a constant 60 FPS at 4K with maximum settings on its simulated dual-core test configuration. That is useful evidence that the software can run efficiently in a particular setup, but it is not a modern multi-GPU test matrix and cannot predict performance on your machine. Treat it as a scoped observation, not a minimum specification. The report and its complete graphics-option list are available in DSOGaming’s PC performance analysis.
#1 Best Overall
- 27-inch 4K Ultra HD Display: Features 3840 x 2160 resolution gaming monitor with ultra-fast 160Hz refresh rate designed for professional gamers and immersive gameplay
- ASUS Extreme Low Motion Blur Sync Technology: ELMB Sync technology enables ELMB and variable-refresh-rate technologies to work simultaneously to eliminate ghosting and tearing for sharp gaming visuals with high frame rates
- Advanced Synchronization Technologies: NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible, AMD FreeSync Premium, and exclusive Variable Overdrive technology ensure seamless, tear-free gaming experience
- Superior Color Performance: High dynamic range (HDR) technology and 95% DCI-P3 professional color gamut provide amazing color accuracy and vibrant visuals
- Package Contents: Includes DisplayPort cable, L-shaped Screwdriver, Power cord, Quick start guide, and Warranty Card
Check the target and the PC before tuning
Confirm the display mode
Use 3840×2160 only when the monitor or television can display that signal. A 4K-capable game does not require you to purchase a new monitor, and buying one does not guarantee 60 FPS. If your current panel is 1440p or 1080p, select its native resolution instead; rendering 4K and downscaling adds workload without giving you a native 4K image.
Identify the performance limit
At 4K, the graphics processor is often the first limit, but busy scenes can also expose CPU, memory or thermal limits. Do not infer a universal requirement from a single result. Establish your own baseline with the same resolution, quality preset and test route you will use after every change.
Check the laptop GPU
On a laptop, verify that Windows and the game are using the dedicated graphics processor rather than integrated graphics. EA’s general graphics troubleshooting guidance covers this check and also notes that a restart may be required before a setting change takes effect: EA Help’s PC graphics troubleshooting guide.
A sensible 4K starting profile
The following is a quality-first starting point, not a tested universal preset. Keep 3840×2160 fixed while you make the first pass so that any change in smoothness can be attributed to a graphics control rather than a resolution change.
| Control | Starting choice | If delivery is uneven | What you give up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Output resolution | 3840×2160 when supported by the display | Keep fixed during quality tuning; lower only if the GPU cannot sustain the target | Lowering resolution reduces image detail and sharpness |
| Texture quality | Highest available level that fits comfortably in graphics memory | Reduce after the more obviously dynamic effects have been tested | Less surface detail on cars, roads and scenery |
| Texture filtering | Highest available level | Lower only if you still need additional headroom | More distant or oblique textures appear less defined |
| Environment LOD | High or the top available level | Reduce one step if distant scenery is costly | Objects and environmental detail change at shorter distances |
| Vehicle LOD | High or the top available level | Reduce one step if traffic-heavy scenes are inconsistent | Lower detail on cars at distance |
| Shadows | High | Lower before reducing textures | Less precise or lower-resolution shadow detail |
| Reflections | High | Lower early in the performance pass | Road, car and environmental reflections look simpler |
| Ambient occlusion | Enabled at the highest practical level | Reduce or disable if frame pacing remains poor | Contact shading around cars, barriers and scenery is less pronounced |
| Anti-aliasing | Try SMAA or TAA first; compare FXAA if you prefer its look | Choose the mode that gives your system the best combination of clarity and consistency | Different modes trade edge smoothness, shimmer and softness |
The controls listed above—texture quality, texture filtering, environment LOD, vehicle LOD, shadows, reflections, ambient occlusion and anti-aliasing—are reported in the game’s PC performance coverage. The suggested order is practical editorial guidance, not a comparative benchmark of each slider.
Rank #2
- Quality Visuals: The VG270K 27" IPS monitor with 3840 x 2160 UHD resolution in a 16:9 aspect ratio presents stunning, high-quality images with excellent detail. The zero-frame design does away with the thick frames found on conventional monitors freeing up precious screen space.
- AMD FreeSync Premium Technology: Say “goodbye” to stuttering and tearing. With AMD FreeSync Premium, the monitor’s frames are synced with the graphics card’s frames, which eliminates screen tearing and provides the smoothest gaming experience.
- Quick Refresh Rate: Different content has different refresh rate and resolution requirements. If you are playing an FPS or racing game, you will need a monitor with a high refresh rate. However, if you are doing office work or streaming videos, a higher resolution will be more beneficial. With DFR technology, users can choose a higher resolution, or a higher refresh rate based on what is suitable for them.
- Responsive: Up to 0.5ms GTG (Gray to Gray) response time enhanced gamers’ in-game experience. No matter if the fast-moving action or any dramatic transitions will be rendered smoothly without the annoying effects of smearing or ghosting.
- ZeroFrame Design: With a Nitro VG270K monitor, you’ll want to see as much of the display as possible. Get more real estate with the near bezel-less design, allowing you to see more and do more. The ZeroFrame design lets you place multiple monitors next to each other for a seamless, almost uninterrupted view.
Set up the game step by step
- Set the display resolution. In the game’s video or graphics menu, select 3840×2160 if your display supports it. Apply the change and verify that the desktop or game image is not being shown at a lower internal resolution.
- Choose a quality-first baseline. Select the highest available overall quality preset, or set the individual options in the starting-profile table to their high/top levels. Do not alter several controls at once.
- Pick an anti-aliasing mode. Test SMAA, TAA and FXAA in the same short route. Keep the mode that looks cleanest without introducing distracting softness or uneven delivery on your system.
- Use a repeatable driving section. Choose a route with traffic, buildings, vegetation and bright reflective surfaces. Drive it in the same direction and for long enough to pass the same demanding corners each time.
- Observe frame pacing. Use your normal frame-time or FPS overlay and watch for spikes, hitching and drops rather than relying only on the average. Note whether the problem appears in busy traffic, during effects or everywhere.
- Lower one option. If delivery is not consistent, reduce reflections first, then shadows, then ambient occlusion. Apply the change, repeat the route and record whether the hitching improves.
- Continue only when necessary. If those changes are insufficient, reduce environment LOD or vehicle LOD. Adjust texture quality or filtering later, because those settings primarily change surface detail and may not address a scene-specific spike.
How each major setting affects the compromise
Reflections
Reflections can become expensive in scenes containing wet roads, bright lighting and several reflective vehicles. Lowering this control is a reasonable first quality compromise when the game is mostly smooth but stutters in visually busy sections. Expect roads and car bodies to look less vivid; inspect the same reflective corner after every change.
Shadows
Shadow quality changes the definition and apparent stability of shadows cast by cars, barriers and the environment. A one-step reduction can preserve 4K output while removing some fine shadow detail. Check moving shadows during a replay of the same route rather than judging from a static menu scene.
Ambient occlusion
Ambient occlusion supplies contact shading where objects meet surfaces. Reducing it can improve headroom while leaving textures and geometry untouched, but the scene may look flatter around tires, guardrails and buildings.
Environment and vehicle LOD
Level-of-detail controls determine how long distant scenery and vehicles retain their richer models. They are useful when slowdowns correlate with approaching traffic or dense scenery. Lowering them can make detail transitions more visible, so compare from the driver’s normal camera distance.
Textures and filtering
Texture quality controls the detail stored in surfaces, while texture filtering affects how those surfaces appear at distance or at oblique angles. Keep them high when graphics memory allows and reduce them only after the dynamic effects above have been tested. A texture change can improve memory pressure without necessarily fixing a CPU-limited scene.
Rank #3
- QHD Resolution (2560 x 1440) has 1.7 times the pixel density of Full HD for incredibly detailed pinsharp images
- HDR10 provides brighter highlights and nuanced shadow for added depth - making every scene feel more vivid and realistic
- The 180Hz refresh rate minimizes lag for gameplay with ultra-smooth action. Plus, the 1ms response time helps capture your moves in real-time, allowing you to react fast for gaming precision
- AMD FreeSync reduces choppiness, screen lag and image tearing, ensuring that your fast-paced, complex in-game action is stable with minimal stutter
- Ergonomic stand allows for tilt, pivot and height adjustments to maximize gaming comfort
Choosing between FXAA, SMAA and TAA
PCGamingWiki’s technical summary reports support for 4K UHD and the three anti-aliasing options below. The page was not independently accessible for a full menu verification, so treat that list as the technical reference’s reported support rather than a promise that every build exposes identical labels. No comparative benchmark establishes a universally fastest or sharpest mode.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute| Mode | What to look for | Best choice when |
|---|---|---|
| FXAA | Fast edge smoothing that may appear softer | You prefer a lighter-looking filter and can accept less fine-edge clarity |
| SMAA | Edge treatment that may preserve more crispness than FXAA on your display | You want a clarity-focused starting comparison |
| TAA | Temporal smoothing that can reduce shimmer but may look softer or show motion artifacts | You prefer steadier-looking edges in motion and your system delivers it consistently |
Judge anti-aliasing while driving, not from a paused screenshot. Look at road markings, fences and distant objects during movement, then keep the mode that balances readability and frame consistency for your eyes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Diagnose uneven performance instead of guessing
High average FPS but visible hitching
Repeat the same route and watch frame-time spikes. If lowering reflections, shadows and ambient occlusion removes the spikes, keep the first setting that solves the problem and restore the others one at a time. If none changes the behavior, the cause may be outside these quality controls, such as CPU activity, memory pressure, power limits or thermal throttling.
Consistently below the target
Reduce the settings in the order above while holding 3840×2160. If the game remains below your target after the dynamic effects and LOD have been reduced, choose whether a lower output resolution is preferable to a lower visual preset. There is no evidence for a single setting combination that guarantees 60 FPS on all systems.
Changes appear to do nothing
Apply the menu changes, exit and restart the game if necessary. EA’s troubleshooting guidance specifically notes that restarting may be required for graphics settings to apply. On laptops, re-check that the dedicated GPU is still selected after a restart.
Rank #4
- Improved ComfortView Plus: Reduces harmful blue light emissions to ≤35%, for all-day comfort without sacrificing color accuracy.
- Refresh rate: A smooth, tear-free experience with AMD FreeSync Premium (refresh rate up to 120Hz) and an ultra-low 0.03ms response time create a captivating experience for work and play.
- Vivid colors: Immerse yourself in breathtaking 4K visuals with in-plane switching technology. Enjoy vibrant colors with 99% sRGB. The 1500:1 contrast ratio and HDR readiness deliver excellent depth and detail.
- Re-engineered sound quality: Enjoy more detailed sound with spacious audio featuring greater output power, deeper frequency response and more decibel range than the previous generation.
- Ultra-thin bezel: Designed with a sleek, modern aesthetic and an ash white finish, this display features ultra-thin bezels for a refined, minimalist design.
Image looks soft or shimmers
Compare FXAA, SMAA and TAA on the same moving route. A softer mode is not automatically faster on every system, and a sharper mode is not automatically smoother. Select the result that remains legible at your normal viewing distance without distracting temporal artifacts.
Hardware expectations and the role of a 4K display
The official EA product page provides the game’s PC information and a system-requirements section at Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered, but the available material does not establish a universal 4K/60 hardware recipe. Use your own repeatable test rather than treating an older dual-core result or a marketing capability statement as a guarantee.
A 4K monitor is relevant only if your current display cannot show 3840×2160 or you want a different refresh-rate experience. It is an optional display choice, not a performance upgrade. Smooth output still depends on the computer rendering each frame consistently and on the display refresh rate matching the behavior you are targeting.
A practical decision rule
- If 4K is stable at the high/top preset, keep the resolution and enjoy the extra detail.
- If only reflective or shadow-heavy scenes hitch, lower reflections first, then shadows and ambient occlusion.
- If traffic or scenery transitions cause drops, reduce vehicle or environment LOD.
- If image quality is acceptable but delivery is still inconsistent, compare anti-aliasing modes and then consider lowering resolution.
- If settings do not apply, restart and verify the dedicated GPU on a laptop before changing anything else.
This process preserves the visual features that matter most to you while making every performance change attributable and reversible. It also respects EA’s qualification: 4K/60 is an upper capability that depends on the complete system, not a universal promise.
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