Unlock the Best Elden Ring Settings for Stunning Graphics and High FPS

Unlock the Best Elden Ring Settings for Stunning Graphics and High FPS

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. PC Version Performance Issues
3. Impact of Settings on Visuals and Performance
4. Texture Quality
5. Anti-Aliasing Quality
6. SSAO (Screen Space Ambient Occlusion)
7. Depth of Field and Motion Blur
8. Shadow Quality
9. Lighting Quality
10. Effects Quality
11. Consistent Frame Rate Settings
12. Volumetric Quality
13. Reflection and Water Quality
14. Shader Quality
15. Global Illumination Quality
16. Grass Quality
17. Personalizing Your Settings
18. Conclusion
19. Resources

Article

💡Introduction

Hey guys! I hope you're enjoying Elden Ring. For those of you playing the PC version, you may have noticed poorer frame rates and disappointing settings. As a PC player myself, I've made some tweaks that have helped me improve performance. In this article, I'll explain the impact of each setting on the Game's visuals and performance, so you can optimize your gameplay experience.

💻 PC Version Performance Issues

The PC version of Elden Ring is not well optimized and suffers from being a console port. The frame rate is capped at 60fps, and the settings options are limited. The controls are also poorly designed, making it almost necessary to use a controller. One major issue is the horrific stutters that can drop the frame rate to as low as 15 frames per Second. These stutters seem to occur when the game loads certain elements in the open world. Unfortunately, there is no setting to fix or improve this issue.

🎨 Impact of Settings on Visuals and Performance

In this guide, I'll walk you through each setting's impact on both visuals and performance, so you can determine what works best for you based on your preferences and PC's capabilities. It's important to note that Elden Ring's performance can vary based on the amount of the world you can see, the number of enemies on the screen, and the presence of special effects. With that said, let's dive into the settings!

🖼️ Texture Quality

Texture quality in most games significantly affects how good the game looks. However, in Elden Ring, it has little noticeable impact unless you pay close attention to tiny details. Even on low settings, characters and environments look relatively the same. The difference in performance between low, medium, and high settings is minimal, so I recommend setting it to high for slightly better visuals.

Pros:

• Little impact on visuals
• Minimal performance difference between settings

Cons:

• Little noticeable difference in texture quality

🔍 Anti-Aliasing Quality

Anti-aliasing quality has a significant impact on visuals. When turned off, hair, grass, and other elements appear pixelated. Even on low settings, things still look unnatural, especially the grass. I found this to be distracting and recommend setting it to high for improved visuals, despite a small FPS dip.

Pros:

• Better visual quality
• Easier to spot details

Cons:

• Slight performance decrease

🌫️ SSAO (Screen Space Ambient Occlusion)

SSAO has a significant effect on the environment's appearance. Shadows look much better and add depth to the scenery. The visual difference between maximum and high settings is negligible, while the performance dip is around 2-4 FPS. I recommend setting this to high to balance visuals and performance.

Pros:

• Improved shadow quality
• Added depth to the environment

Cons:

• Slight performance decrease

📷 Depth of Field and Motion Blur

Depth of field and motion blur are personal preferences. Turning them off provides a clearer view, giving a more authentic PC experience. However, motion blur can help with motion sickness for some players. In Elden Ring, motion blur made motion sickness worse for me, but this may vary for each individual.

Pros:

• Clearer view
• Authentic PC experience

Cons:

• Motion sickness for some players (with motion blur on)

🌑 Shadow Quality

Shadow quality is vital for immersive gameplay. Lowering this setting creates an unattractive pop-in effect between shadow and light, especially noticeable in moving trees. Despite the minor FPS decrease (about 1 FPS per level), I highly recommend setting shadow quality to maximum for a better gaming experience.

Pros:

• More realistic shadows
• Immersive visuals

Cons:

• Minor performance decrease

💡 Lighting Quality

Lighting quality has minimal impact on both visuals and performance. During my testing, I couldn't detect any noticeable difference in visuals. Therefore, I recommend setting it to high due to the lack of noticeable performance dips.

Pros:

• Little impact on visuals
• Negligible performance difference

Cons:

• None

⚡ Effects Quality

Effects quality doesn't significantly alter the game's appearance. However, it affects the draw distance for effects like fire from torches. Keeping it on maximum allows you to spot enemies from further away, which can provide a tactical advantage, especially in darker areas. I suggest setting it to high or maximum for optimal visuals.

Pros:

• Longer draw distance for fire effects
• Improved visibility in dark areas

Cons:

• None

🔁 Consistent Frame Rate Settings

Most settings in Elden Ring don't have a noticeable impact on frame rate consistency. Occasionally, I observed a slightly lower frame rate when effects quality was set to maximum, but this was inconsistent and hardly worth worrying about. Adjust this setting based on your preference, as the difference is minimal.

Pros:

• Minimal impact on frame rate consistency

Cons:

• None

🌈 Volumetric Quality

Volumetric quality has a slight impact on visuals but doesn't consistently affect performance. The difference between low and high settings is minimal, making it difficult to detect any significant visual changes. Feel free to set it to your preference.

Pros:

• Some improvement in visuals

Cons:

• None

🌊 Reflection and Water Quality

Reflection and water quality enhance the look and realism of water surfaces. These settings have no noticeable impact on performance, so I recommend setting them to maximum or high for improved visuals.

Pros:

• More realistic-looking water
• Enhanced reflections

Cons:

• None

🎨 Shader Quality

Shader quality appears to have little to no impact on visuals or performance. Based on my testing, different settings didn't yield any noticeable visual differences. Feel free to set it to high for a balance between visuals and performance.

Pros:

• No noticeable impact on visuals or performance

Cons:

• None

💡 Global Illumination Quality

Global illumination quality has a small impact on visuals but doesn't affect performance significantly. Although the performance dip between low and high settings is around half a frame, the visual difference is minimal. Set this to high for slightly improved visuals.

Pros:

• Slightly improved visuals

Cons:

• Minor performance decrease

🌿 Grass Quality

Grass quality has a substantial impact on the game's visuals and performance. While setting it to maximum results in a more lush and immersive world, it may also obscure some objects in the distance. Based on personal preference and a balance between aesthetics and visibility, I recommend setting it to medium or high.

Pros:

• Lusher, more immersive world

Cons:

• Potential obstruction of objects

🎮 Personalizing Your Settings

When determining your settings, consider your priorities—whether you prioritize visuals, performance, or a balanced experience. The ideal settings may vary depending on your PC's capabilities and your personal preferences. Experiment with different combinations to find what works best for you.

🏁 Conclusion

In conclusion, optimizing Elden Ring's settings for a PC gaming experience requires finding the right balance between visuals and performance. While some settings have a minimal impact, others significantly affect the game's appearance. Consider your preferences and PC capabilities when customizing your settings. Enjoy the game!

🌐 Resources

• Twitch Channel
• Video on Avoiding Screen Tearing