How To Fix Baldur’s Gate 3 Low FPS | Lagging Issues

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a stunning but demanding game that requires robust PC hardware for optimal performance. Some players experience low frame rates despite meeting the recommended specs. Low FPS creates unsmooth, choppy visuals and impedes enjoyment. Various software and hardware tweaks can significantly boost FPS in Baldur’s Gate 3. 

This troubleshooting guide covers causes like dated drivers, thermal throttling, background apps, and graphics settings that causes Baldur’s Gate 3 low FPS or lagging issues. We’ll explain step-by-step solutions like updating GPU drivers, improving cooling, closing programs, adjusting in-game video options, and overclocking to unlock higher FPS for silky smooth Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay.

What Causes Low FPS in Baldur’s Gate 3?

There are several reasons for Baldur’s Gate 3 low FPS issue:

• Outdated graphics card drivers cause poor optimization. Older drivers lack performance improvements and profiles for optimizing BG3. Keeping drivers updated is key.
• CPU or GPU overheating and thermal throttling. BG3 pushes hardware thermals up. Overheating causes automatic throttling, crippling FPS. Improved cooling is needed.
• Insufficient RAM allows memory bottlenecks. BG3 needs 16GB RAM minimum. Less RAM creates bottlenecks, stuttering, and thrashing as memory maxes out.
• Too many background applications consume resources. Extra apps eat up CPU, RAM, and GPU resources needed for smooth FPS—close other programs.
• Certain graphics settings are too demanding. Higher settings like ultra textures, shadows, and effects exceed GPU power, dragging FPS down.
• Playing at higher resolutions like 4K overwhelming your hardware. The GPU must work harder at higher resolution, lowering FPS. Lower resolutions boost FPS.
• Hardware not meeting the minimum or recommended specifications. Upgrading to meet requirements like GTX 1070 GPU, 16GB RAM, and quad-core CPU is necessary.

How To Fix Baldur’s Gate 3 Low FPS Or Lagging Issues

Use these steps to increase FPS and eliminate stuttering in Baldur’s Gate 3:

Fix 1: Update Graphics Drivers

Updating graphics drivers can potentially fix low FPS (frames per second) issues in Baldur’s Gate 3. Poor performance and reduced FPS in games can result from outdated or incompatible graphics drivers. Game developers often release updates and optimizations that require the latest drivers to run smoothly. To ensure compatibility with the game’s requirements and access performance improvements, update your graphics drivers to the latest version provided by your GPU manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel). This may lead to a significant boost in FPS, smoother gameplay, and a better gaming experience in Baldur’s Gate 3.

The steps to update graphics drivers may vary slightly depending on your operating System and GPU manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel). Here are the general steps:

1. Identify Your Graphics Card:
   1. On Windows: Right-click the Start button, select “Device Manager,” and expand the “Display adapters” category to find your graphics card model.
   2. For macOS users: Select the Apple menu, navigate to “About This Mac,” and check the “Graphics” section.
2. Visit the GPU Manufacturer’s Website:
   1. For NVIDIA: Visit the NVIDIA website (www.nvidia.com).
   2. For AMD: Visit the AMD website (www.amd.com).
   3. For Intel: Visit the Intel website (www.intel.com).
3. Download the Latest Drivers:
   1. Use the “Drivers & Support” or “Support & Downloads” section on the website to find the appropriate drivers for your graphics card and operating system.
4. Install the Drivers:
   1. On Windows: After downloading the driver, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Restart your computer if prompted.
   2. On macOS: Double-click the downloaded driver file and follow the installation instructions.
5. Verify Driver Update:
   1. On Windows: Right-click the Start button, select “Device Manager,” and verify that your graphics card entry shows the updated driver version.
   2. To find the graphics information on macOS, simply select the Apple menu, go to “About This Mac,” and check the “Graphics” section.
6. Optional: Use GPU Manufacturer’s Software (NVIDIA GeForce Experience / AMD Radeon Software):
   1. NVIDIA users can install “GeForce Experience” to receive automatic driver updates and optimize game settings.
   2. AMD users can install “Radeon Software” for similar features.
7. Restart Your Computer:
   1. A restart may be required to complete the driver update process and ensure the changes take effect.

Fix 2: Close Other Programs

Other programs can fix Baldur’s Gate 3 low FPS by freeing up system resources. Running multiple programs simultaneously consumes CPU, RAM, and GPU power, leaving fewer resources for the game. This can lead to reduced performance and lower FPS. By closing unnecessary background applications, you allocate more resources to Baldur’s Gate 3, enabling it to run smoother and achieve higher FPS rates.

Steps to close other programs:

1. Check Running Programs:
   1. On Windows: Press “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” to launch theTask Manager. Afterwards, go to the “Processes” tab to see the running programs.
   2. On macOS: Press “Command + Space” to open Spotlight, type “Activity Monitor,” and open the app.
2. Identify Unnecessary Programs:
   1. Look for programs consuming significant CPU or GPU resources that are not essential for gameplay.
3. Close Unnecessary Programs:
   1. Select the program in Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (macOS) and click “End Task” or “Quit,” respectively.
4. Verify Improved FPS:
   1. Return to Baldur’s Gate 3 and observe if the FPS has improved.

Fix 3: Lower Graphic Settings

Lowering graphic settings can fix the low FPS in Baldur’s Gate 3 by reducing the graphical demands on your System. Higher graphic settings require more GPU and CPU power, which can lead to lower FPS on lower-end or older hardware. By decreasing settings like texture quality, shadows, anti-aliasing, and effects, the game becomes less demanding and runs smoother. This optimizes the game’s performance, resulting in higher FPS and a better gaming experience, especially on systems with limited hardware capabilities.

Steps to Lower Graphic Settings:

1. Launch Baldur’s Gate 3 and access the game’s main menu.

2. Go to “Options” or “Settings.”

3. Look for “Graphics” or “Display” settings.

4. Reduce settings like texture quality, shadows, anti-aliasing, and effects to lower levels.

5. After applying the changes, restart the game to observe the impact on FPS. Repeat until satisfactory performance is achieved.

Fix 4: Overclock Your GPU

Overclocking your GPU can fix Baldur’s Gate 3 Low FPS issue by increasing clock speed and performance. Overclocking can improve frame rates and gaming performance, especially in CPU-intensive games like Baldur’s Gate 3. 

However, it’s essential to note that overclocking carries risks, such as increased heat and potential stability issues. Ensure your GPU is adequately cooled and proceed with caution, as excessive overclocking can cause damage. Additionally, overclocking may void your GPU’s warranty, so weighing the benefits and risks before attempting it is crucial.

Fix 5: Upgrade RAM

Upgrading RAM can potentially fix Baldur’s Gate 3 Low FPS issue. Low FPS often occurs when the game requires more memory than is available, leading to performance bottlenecks. 

By upgrading RAM to a higher capacity, the computer can handle the game’s demands more effectively, reducing the need for frequent data swapping between RAM and storage. 

This allows smoother loading of game assets and improves overall gameplay performance, resulting in higher FPS and a more enjoyable gaming experience.

Fix 6: Improve Cooling

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a graphically demanding game that requires sufficient hardware performance. Baldur’s Gate 3 Low FPS issue can result from the GPU or CPU overheating during gameplay. When the temperature rises, the components throttle performance to prevent damage, leading to decreased FPS. 

Improving cooling can resolve this issue by maintaining lower temperatures, allowing the hardware to perform optimally. Better airflow, cleaning dust from fans and heatsinks, using cooling pads or external fans, and applying high-quality thermal paste can help keep the System cool and alleviate low FPS problems in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Here are the general steps to improve cooling:

1. Clean Dust: Turn off your PC or laptop, open the case, and carefully clean accumulated dust from fans, heatsinks, and vents using compressed air or a soft brush.
2. Improve Airflow: Ensure your System has proper airflow by organizing cables and adding case fans. Consider installing fans at the front for intake and at the back or top for exhaust.
3. Monitor Temperatures: Use software tools like MSI Afterburner or HWMonitor to monitor GPU and CPU temperatures during gameplay.
4. Upgrade Cooling Solutions: Consider using cooling pads or external fans to help dissipate heat for laptops. Consider upgrading to aftermarket CPU or GPU coolers for more efficient cooling for desktops.
5. Apply Quality Thermal Paste: If you’re comfortable working with hardware, consider reapplying thermal paste on the CPU and GPU to improve heat transfer.
6. Keep System Updated: Ensure that your GPU drivers, BIOS, and game are up to date to benefit from performance improvements and optimizations.
7. Optimize In-Game Settings: Adjust graphics settings in Baldur’s Gate 3 to lower the strain on your hardware and reduce temperatures.

Fix 7: Adjust Image Sharpening

Adjusting image sharpening can potentially fix low FPS in Baldur’s Gate 3 by reducing the strain on the graphics processing unit (GPU). When image sharpening is enabled, the GPU has to work harder to render more detailed images, which can lead to lower frame rates, especially on lower-end GPUs. 

The GPU can focus on delivering smoother gameplay and higher FPS by disabling or reducing image sharpening in the graphics settings. This allows the GPU to allocate more resources to rendering frames, improving performance and overall gaming experience.

Follow these steps to Adjust Image Sharpening (NVIDIA):

1. Access the “NVIDIA Control Panel” by right-clicking on your desktop.

2. In the left pane, expand “3D Settings” and click on “Manage 3D settings.”

3. Simply click on the “Program Settings” tab in the right pane.

4. Select “Baldur’s Gate 3” from the drop-down menu or click “Add” to add the game if it’s not listed.

5. Scroll down in the options and find “Image Sharpening.”

6. Adjust the slider to reduce or turn off image sharpening.

7. Click “Apply” to save and exit the NVIDIA Control Panel.

If you’re playing with AMD:

1. Access “AMD Radeon Software” by right-clicking on your desktop and selecting it.

2. click on the “Gaming” tab in the Radeon Software window.

3. select “Baldur’s Gate 3” from the list of installed games.

4. Scroll down in the right pane and click on “Graphics.”

5. Look for the “Image Sharpening” option and adjust the slider to reduce or turn it off.

6. To save the changes and close the Radeon Software window, click “Apply.”

After adjusting image sharpening, launch Baldur’s Gate 3 to experience potentially improved FPS and smoother gameplay. Consider other optimization settings or hardware upgrades to enhance performance if the issue persists.

Fix 8: Tweak Nvidia Settings

Tweaking Nvidia settings can help fix Baldur’s Gate 3 low FPS issues by optimizing the graphics card’s performance for the game. 

Nvidia’s control panel allows adjusting various settings to match the game’s requirements and your System’s capabilities, potentially improving FPS and overall gameplay. 

Settings like V-Sync, Power Management Mode, and Texture Filtering can be modified to balance performance and visual quality. By fine-tuning these settings, you can ensure the graphics card runs at its best, leading to smoother gameplay and higher FPS in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Access the “NVIDIA Control Panel” by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting it.

2. go to “Manage 3D settings” in the control panel or “Adjust image settings with preview.”

3. Under the “Program Settings” tab, select “Baldur’s Gate 3” from the drop-down menu or add it if it’s not listed.

4. Adjust settings like “Vertical sync,” “Power management mode” (set to “Prefer maximum performance”), and “Texture filtering quality.”

5. Apply the changes and launch the game to see if there’s an improvement in FPS.

Final Tips for Maximizing Baldur’s Gate 3 FPS

With a mix of driver updates, cooling improvements, closing apps, overclocking, upgrading hardware, and lowering graphic settings, achieving 60 FPS or above in Baldur’s Gate 3 is attainable. Focus on your biggest limitation and align your settings with realistic expectations for your hardware. Smoother Baldur’s Gate 3 gameplay creates more immersion and enjoyment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Baldur’s Gate 3 FPS