How to Get More FPS on Your Laptop: A Beginner’s Guide

If you’ve ever sat down to play your favorite game on your laptop, only to see choppy graphics and frustrating lag, you’re definitely not alone. Low frames per second (FPS) can kill the fun faster than you can say “game over.” But don’t worry—there are ways to boost your laptop’s FPS and enjoy smoother gameplay. In this guide, I’m going to walk you through what settings you can tweak, why updating drivers matters, whether hardware upgrades can help, and the best software tools to optimize your gaming experience.

Ready? Let’s jump in!

Table of Contents

What Settings Can I Adjust to Increase FPS on My Laptop?

Before you start spending money or opening your laptop, tweaking some settings can often give you a noticeable FPS boost. Here’s where to start:

Lower In-Game Graphics Settings

Most games let you adjust settings like resolution, texture quality, shadows, and anti-aliasing. Turning these down reduces the strain on your GPU and CPU, which means higher FPS.

Resolution: Dropping from 1920×1080 to 1280×720 can double your FPS, depending on your system.
Texture Quality: Medium or low texture settings lighten the load, especially on laptops with less VRAM.
Shadows and Effects: These are usually FPS killers; lowering or turning them off can give you a smooth frame boost.

Think of it like this: the less your laptop has to “paint” on screen, the faster it can do it.

Adjust Windows Power Settings

By default, laptops often run in “Balanced” or “Power Saver” mode to conserve battery. But gaming needs power.

Open Control Panel > Power Options.
Select High Performance mode.
If you want to get fancy, set your laptop to always plug in while gaming for max power.

This simple change can stop your system from throttling performance to save battery life.

Disable Background Apps and Startup Programs

Ever notice your laptop getting sluggish mid-game? Background apps might be stealing CPU cycles or RAM.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Check the Processes tab and end tasks you don’t need.
Go to the Startup tab and disable apps that launch automatically but aren’t essential.

Clearing up resources means your game gets more juice.

Turn Off Windows Game Mode or Use It Wisely

Windows Game Mode is designed to optimize gaming, but it can sometimes cause issues.

Press Windows Key + G to open the Xbox Game Bar.
Navigate to Settings > Gaming.
Toggle Game Mode on or off, and test which works better for your game.

Some players find turning it off helps, others swear by it—it’s worth experimenting.

Adjust NVIDIA or AMD Control Panel Settings

If your laptop uses dedicated graphics:

Open NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings.
Under Manage 3D Settings, set Power Management Mode to “Prefer Maximum Performance”.
Set Texture Filtering – Quality to “High Performance” on NVIDIA.
Disable V-Sync to avoid FPS caps (but beware of screen tearing).

Tweaking these can squeeze out extra frames without touching your game settings.

How Does Updating Drivers Affect Gaming Performance?

You might not realize this, but drivers are like your laptop’s translators between hardware and software. If they’re outdated, your game’s commands might get lost or delayed.

Why Driver Updates Matter

Bug Fixes: New drivers fix glitches that may slow down games or cause crashes.
Performance Improvements: GPU manufacturers often release updates optimized for new games.
Security Patches: Keeps your system safe while gaming online.

For example, NVIDIA’s GeForce Game Ready Drivers often add performance boosts for recently released titles, sometimes up to 10-15% FPS improvement[1].

How to Update Drivers

For NVIDIA: Use GeForce Experience app or download from NVIDIA’s website.
For AMD: Use AMD Radeon Software or visit AMD’s support site.
For Intel integrated graphics: Check Intel Driver & Support Assistant.

Make sure to restart your laptop after updates.

Pro Tip: Set reminders to check for driver updates every month or so.

Can Hardware Upgrades Improve FPS on Laptops?

Here’s where things get tricky. Unlike desktops, laptops have limited upgrade options. But don’t despair yet — some upgrades can help.

Upgrading RAM

If your laptop has less than 8GB of RAM, upgrading to 8GB or 16GB can improve gaming, especially for modern titles that demand more memory.

Helps reduce stuttering caused by excessive disk swapping.
Enables you to run background apps with less impact on gaming.

Before buying RAM, check your laptop’s max supported memory and whether it has available slots.

Replacing HDD with SSD

While this doesn’t directly increase FPS, upgrading from a traditional hard drive (HDD) to a solid state drive (SSD) drastically reduces game load times and improves overall system responsiveness.

Loading levels faster means less waiting around, which makes your gaming sessions less frustrating.

External GPU (eGPU)

If your laptop supports Thunderbolt 3 or 4, you might connect an external GPU enclosure. This setup allows you to use a desktop-grade graphics card.

Provides a huge FPS boost for compatible laptops.
However, eGPUs can be expensive and bulky.

Not an option for everyone, but worth considering if your laptop struggles with games.

Cooling Solutions and Thermal Paste Replacement

Overheating can throttle your laptop’s CPU and GPU, causing FPS drops.

Use a cooling pad to improve airflow.
Clean dust from vents regularly.
In some cases, replacing thermal paste (the grease between CPU/GPU and heat sink) can improve temperatures significantly.

Just be careful if you open your laptop; improper handling can void warranties or cause damage.

What Software Tools Help Optimize FPS?

Beyond in-game tweaks and hardware, some software tools can help get the most out of your laptop.

Game Boosters

Apps like Razer Cortex or Wise Game Booster temporarily shut down unnecessary services and processes.

Free up RAM and CPU.
Prioritize your game’s process.
Some also optimize system settings on the fly.

They can be a quick fix if you can’t manually close every background program.

Monitoring Tools

Knowing how hot your CPU/GPU runs and what FPS you’re getting helps you diagnose problems.

MSI Afterburner shows real-time FPS, temps, and usage.
HWMonitor tracks temperatures and voltages.
FPS Monitor overlays info while gaming.

If you notice your laptop hitting 90°C or higher, it’s time to cool it down to prevent throttling.

Overclocking Utilities

Some laptops allow mild overclocking through manufacturer apps (like MSI Dragon Center).

Boost clock speeds temporarily.
Only recommended if your laptop’s cooling can handle it.

Careful here: overclocking risks overheating and potential hardware damage.

Windows Updates and Game Mode

Finally, keeping Windows updated ensures compatibility and performance. Windows sometimes rolls out optimizations that help gaming.

Dealing with Common Pain Points

Low Frame Rates Causing Lag and Poor Experience

Nothing kills immersion like lag spikes or stuttering. If you’re stuck at 15-20 FPS:

Lower your game’s resolution and visual effects.
Check for background processes stealing resources.
Update your drivers.

Even incremental improvements make gaming more enjoyable.

Limited Hardware Upgrade Options on Laptops

If your laptop is old or can’t be upgraded:

Focus on software optimization and tweaks.
Consider cloud gaming services like NVIDIA GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming that offload processing to powerful servers.
Or, plan for a new laptop designed for gaming.

Overheating Issues When Trying to Boost Performance

Pushing your laptop hard can raise temps quickly.

Use a cooling pad.
Avoid playing on soft surfaces like beds.
Clean vents regularly.
Monitor temps and avoid extended sessions if overheating.

Your laptop’s health is crucial for long-term gaming.

Quick FAQ: Getting More FPS on Laptop

Question	Answer
Can I get better FPS without buying anything?	Yes! Lower game settings, update drivers, disable background apps, and use power mode.
Will updating my graphics drivers improve FPS?	Often, yes. New drivers fix bugs and improve performance.
Is upgrading RAM worth it for gaming?	If you have less than 8GB, definitely.
Can I upgrade my laptop GPU?	Usually no, but eGPUs are an option if your laptop supports Thunderbolt 3+ ports.
How do I stop my laptop from overheating?	Use cooling pads, clean vents, and avoid blocking airflow.
Are game booster apps safe?	Usually, but stick to trusted apps and avoid overclocking tools unless you know what you’re doing.

Wrapping Up

Getting more FPS on your laptop is about balancing settings, keeping your system updated, and knowing your hardware limits. While laptops aren’t as flexible as desktops for upgrades, you can still enjoy better gaming by tweaking settings, updating drivers, and managing heat.

Remember, every little improvement counts—a few more frames here and there add up to a smoother, more enjoyable game night.

So next time you’re frustrated by lag, try these steps before giving up. Your laptop and your favorite games will thank you.

References

According to NVIDIA, their Game Ready Drivers can boost performance by up to 15% for new titles. NVIDIA Driver Updates

Disclaimer: This article contains general advice on improving laptop gaming performance. Always back up your data before making system changes. If you’re unsure about opening your laptop or applying overclocking, consult a professional to avoid hardware damage.