ESO FPS Boost Guide: FPS Drop, Low FPS, Lag Fix

Like most MMORPGs, The Elder Scrolls Online is a bit troubled about optimization. Especially in cities and other areas where the players are dense, the frame rate drops a lot. That's why I made the ESO fps boost guide for those who encounter problems such as fps drop, freezing, low fps, stuttering, and lag in ESO, to make farming ESO currency as smooth as possible.

Here are 16 ways to increase your frame rates (FPS) in The Elder Scrolls Online.

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System Requirements For Running The Elder Scrolls Online

	Minimum System Requirements	Recommended System Requirements
CPU	Intel Core i3 540 or AMD A6-3620	Intel Core i5 2300 or AMD FX4350
GPU	NVidia GeForce 460 or AMD Radeon 6850	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 or AMD Radeon HD 7850
DirectX	DirectX 11	DirectX 11
RAM	3 GB RAM	8 GB RAM
Storage	85 GB available space	85 GB available space
OS	Windows 7 64-bit	Windows 7 64-bit

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1) Best Graphics Settings for The Elder Scrolls Online

These graphics settings are for low-end computers.

If you have a good PC, you can increase the settings slightly.

Go to in-game video settings (SETTINGS > Video) and make sure the settings are as follows.

Display Mode: Fullscreen
Vertical Sync: OFF
Multithreaded Rendering: On
Anti-Aliasing: None or NVIDIA DLSS (DLSS is recommended. Or you can enable FSR Mode)
DLSS Mode: Balanced
Texture Quality: Medium
SubSampling Quality: Low or Medium
Shadow Quality: Off or Low
Screen Space Reflection Quality: Off or Low
Planar Reflection Quality: Off
Maximum Particle Systems: 768 (If you have a good pc, you can bring it to values like 1100-1200.)
Particle Suppression Distance: 35 (If you have a good computer, you can change this setting to around 50-60.)
View Distance: 0 (You can also do 30 or more, you can check the differences between frame rates.)
Ambient Occlusion: None
Grass: Off or Low
Depth of Field: Off
Bloom: OFF
Distortion: OFF
Sunlight Rays: OFF
Show Additional Ally Effects: OFF

NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR Settings

Graphics settings play a crucial role in gaming performance. Advanced features like NVIDIA's DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) and AMD's FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) can significantly improve your gaming experience in The Elder Scrolls Online.

NVIDIA DLSS

DLSS stands for Deep Learning Super Sampling. It's an AI rendering technology that uses deep learning neural networks to boost frame rates and generate beautiful, crisp game images. This feature is particularly beneficial for players using high-resolution monitors, as it allows for smoother gameplay without sacrificing image quality.

In The Elder Scrolls Online, enabling DLSS can positively impact your game's performance. To optimize your gameplay, you should consider setting your DLSS Mode to "Balanced." This mode offers a good compromise between performance and image quality, providing a noticeably improved gaming experience.

Here's how to adjust DLSS in ESO:

1. Go to Settings > Video menu.
2. Set Anti-Aliasing to NVIDIA DLSS
3. Then set DLSS Mode to Balanced
4. After that Apply the changes.

Note: DLSS is only available for RTX series graphics cards. If you don't have an RTX card, this option will not be available.

AMD FSR

For those using AMD graphics cards or NVIDIA cards that do not support DLSS, AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) is a great alternative. Like DLSS, FSR works to upscale lower-resolution images to a higher resolution using advanced algorithms, improving frame rates and game performance.

If you don't have DLSS-supported graphics cards, it's recommended to set your FSR Mode to "Balanced." This mode, similar to its DLSS counterpart, offers an optimal balance between image quality and game performance.

Here's how to adjust AMD FSR in-game settings:

1. Launch "The Elder Scrolls Online."
2. Then go to "Settings" then "Video"
3. Find the "FSR Mode" option and set it to "Balanced"

These settings adjustments can considerably enhance your gaming performance, allowing for smoother and more visually pleasing gameplay in The Elder Scrolls Online.

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2) UserSettings

• Go to the Documents > Elder Scrolls Online > live
• Then open the UserSettings.txt
• Find the following settings in the UserSettings.txt file and change the values in quotes as shown in the image. Just change what I give. Don't delete the others!

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3) Update GPU Drivers

Keeping your graphics processing unit (GPU) drivers up-to-date is crucial for the best performance in any PC game, including The Elder Scrolls Online. Updated drivers can provide several benefits, including improved game performance, reduced issues and crashes, and support for new features.

NVIDIA

NVIDIA frequently updates its drivers to improve performance and resolve issues. If you have a graphics card from NVIDIA, you should regularly check for new drivers. You can download the latest NVIDIA drivers directly from their website:

NVIDIA Driver Downloads

To update your NVIDIA drivers, follow these steps:

1. Visit the NVIDIA Driver Downloads page.
2. Select your graphics card and your Windows version from the drop-down menus.
3. Click Search
4. Click Download to get the latest driver.
5. Once downloaded, run the installer.

AMD

AMD also offers regular updates for their GPUs. Similar to NVIDIA, these updates can provide improved game performance and fix issues. You can download the latest AMD drivers directly from their website:

AMD Driver and Support

To update your AMD drivers, follow these steps:

1. Visit the AMD Driver and Support page.
2. Then, choose your graphics card model and OS from the drop-down menus.
3. Next, click Submit
4. After that, click Download to get the latest driver.
5. Once downloaded, install the driver.

INTEL

If you're using Intel integrated graphics or dedicated GPU, you'll want to make sure you're running the latest Intel drivers. Intel provides updates that can improve performance and stability in many games. You can download the latest Intel drivers directly from their website:

Intel Driver and Support Assistant

To update your Intel drivers, follow these steps:

1. Visit the Intel Driver and Support Assistant page.
2. Then, click Download Now
3. After installation, the Intel Driver and Support Assistant tool will automatically check your system for the latest drivers.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to install any necessary updates.

Remember, it's always recommended to keep your GPU drivers up-to-date to ensure the smoothest and most problem-free gaming experience.

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4) Best NVIDIA Control Panel Settings for ESO

The NVIDIA Control Panel is a robust tool that allows you to customize and optimize the performance of your NVIDIA graphics card for individual applications, including games like The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO). With a plethora of settings available, fine-tuning them for optimal gameplay can significantly enhance your ESO gaming experience, improving frame rates, reducing lag, and providing sharper and more vibrant graphics. In the following steps, we'll delve into the optimal NVIDIA Control Panel settings to maximize your performance in The Elder Scrolls Online.

• Firstly, open NVIDIA Control Panel
• Then go to the Adjust image settings with preview tab.
• Click the "Use the advanced 3D image settings"
• Apply the changes.
• After that, go to the Manage 3D settings menu.
• Click on the Program Settings tab.
• Click the Add
• Select the ESO (eso64.exe) from the list
• After, make the following settings
  Antialiasing - Mode: Off
  Maximum pre-rendered frames: 1
  Power management mode: Prefer maximum performance
  Texture filtering – Quality: High performance
• Hit the Apply button.

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5) Best AMD Radeon Settings for ESO

Tweaking the settings on your AMD Radeon card can help optimize The Elder Scrolls Online's performance on your computer. Here's a step-by-step guide to adjusting your settings for the best possible gaming experience:

1. Open AMD Radeon Software: You can open this by right-clicking on your desktop and selecting it from the context menu.
2. Go to the Gaming Tab: Once you open the AMD Radeon Software, navigate to the Gaming tab.
3. Add The Elder Scrolls Online: Here, you need to add the game to the list. Click on "Add a Game" and navigate to the folder where the game is installed and select the executable file.
4. Adjust Game Graphics Settings: Once you've added the game, click on it and you'll be taken to a page where you can adjust individual graphics settings. Here are some optimal settings:
   • Anti-aliasing: Use application settings.
   • Anti-aliasing method: Multisampling.
   • Morphological filtering: Off.
   • Anisotropic filtering: Use application settings.
   • Texture filtering quality: Performance.
   • Surface format optimization: On.
   • Wait for vertical refresh: Off, unless application specifies.
   • OpenGL triple buffering: Off.
   • Shader Cache: AMD optimized.
   • Tesselation mode: AMD optimized.
   • Frame Rate Target Control: Off.
5. Adjust Global Graphics Settings: Navigate back to the main page of the AMD Radeon Software and go to the "Global Graphics" tab. Here are some optimal settings:
   • Graphics Profile: Custom.
   • Anti-Lag: On.
   • Radeon Chill: Off.
   • Radeon Boost: Off.
   • Radeon Image Sharpening: Off.
   • Radeon Enhanced Sync: On.
6. Click Apply: Once you've made all the changes, don't forget to hit "Apply" to save them.

These settings should help to optimize The Elder Scrolls Online's performance on your AMD graphics card. Always remember to update your drivers to the latest version for the best performance. Additionally, individual settings might vary depending on your specific GPU model and system configuration. If you're experiencing issues, it may be necessary to tweak the settings further.

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6) Power Options

If the CPU cooler is not enough, you can skip this setting. Processor temperature may increase by 5-6 degrees.

• Right-click the Windows icon on the bottom left.
• Click the Power Options
• Click the Additional power settings to the right of the window that opens.
• Select the High performance on the Preferred plans tab.
• After, click on the Change plan settings link to the right of the High performance.
• Tap on the Change advanced power settings
• Find Processor power management in the incoming list, and click the + icon to its left.
• Set Minimum processor state and Maximum processor state to 100%
• Click on the OK

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7) Full-screen Optimizations

• Go to the folder where the game is installed.
  Example > H:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client\
• Right-click the eso64.exe application in the client folder.
• Tap the Properties
• Tick Disable full-screen optimizations on the Compatibility tab.
• Click on the OK

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8) Game Mode

• To turn off Windows 10 game mode, click the Start icon to bring up the Start menu and open Settings.
• Then, click the Gaming
• Next, on the Game Bar tab, set the “Record game clips, screenshots and broadcast using Game bar” option here to Off.
• On the Captures tab, set the “Record in the background while I’m playing a game” option here to Off.
• After that, on the Game Mode tab, set the “Game Mode” option here to Off.

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9) Windows Performance Options

• Type performance in the search section of Windows, click to Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows from the results.
• Select Adjust for best performance from the options in the Performance Options window that opens.
• Click OK

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10) Cleaning Temporary Files

• Simultaneously press the Windows logo and R keys.
• Then, Type %temp%
• Press Enter key.
• After that, Delete everything in the Temp folder that opens. You can skip undeleted.

• Again, Simultaneously press the Windows logo and R keys.
• Type temp
• Press Enter key.
• Next, delete everything in the folder that opens.

• Again, Simultaneously press the Windows logo and R keys.
• Type prefetch
• Press Enter key.
• Delete everything in the Prefetch folder that opens.

Finally, empty the Recycle Bin

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11) Optimize Discord

Discord's hardware acceleration feature is designed to use your computer's GPU to make Discord run more smoothly. However, this feature can sometimes cause issues with certain applications, including games like The Elder Scrolls Online. If Discord is running in the background while you're playing, it could be using up GPU resources and causing performance issues or FPS drops in your game.

If you're experiencing such issues, you may want to consider disabling hardware acceleration in Discord. Here's how you can do that:

1. Open Discord: Start by launching the Discord application on your computer.
2. Access User Settings: Click on the "User Settings" gear icon, which is typically located at the bottom left of the Discord interface, next to your username.
3. Navigate to the Advanced Tab: In the settings menu, look for the Advanced tab on the left-hand side.
4. Disable Hardware Acceleration: Toggle off the Hardware Acceleration option. Discord will ask you to confirm this action, as it will need to restart the application to apply the changes.
5. Confirm Your Action: Confirm that you want to disable hardware acceleration. Discord will restart, and the new setting will be applied.

Please note, if you notice that Discord is running slowly or having other performance issues after you've turned off hardware acceleration, you might want to re-enable it to see if that solves the problem. This feature can be toggled on and off as needed to achieve the best balance of performance for your specific system and setup.

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12) Increase The Priority

You need to adjust this setting every time you enter the game.

• Launch the ESO.
• Simultaneously press the ALT and TAB keys to minimize the game.
• Then, open the Task Manager
• Click on Details Tab
• After that, find eso64.exe in the list.
• Right-click on the eso64.exe and Set priority to High.

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13) SSD

Using a Solid State Drive (SSD) can significantly enhance the performance of The Elder Scrolls Online, alongside other PC games. Given that SSDs have considerably faster read and write speeds compared to traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs), they can reduce load times, provide smoother gameplay, and reduce in-game stuttering.

Notably, by installing ESO on an SSD, you're enabling the game to access its large files and assets more quickly. Consequently, this quick access can lead to a reduction in load times, especially when moving between different areas in the game world or engaging in activities that require loading of many assets, such as large-scale PvP battles.

Furthermore, SSDs can also improve the overall performance of your computer. As such, investing in an SSD can benefit not only your gaming experience but also your general computing tasks, from booting up your system to loading software applications.

Therefore, for players seeking to optimize their ESO experience, investing in an SSD can be a worthy consideration. However, keep in mind that SSDs can be more expensive per gigabyte compared to HDDs, so it's essential to balance your need for performance with your budget constraints.

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14) Background Processes

Experiencing an FPS drop in The Elder Scrolls Online can indeed be a frustrating issue. One common cause could be other applications running in the background, consuming valuable system resources. Therefore, it's a good practice to close any unnecessary apps when you're gaming. For example, consider shutting down resource-heavy applications such as Google Chrome and OneDrive if they're not in use. Similarly, if you have Discord open but it's merely idle, it might be beneficial to quit the application.

In addition to closing unnecessary applications, you might want to scrutinize your computer's startup and scheduled tasks. Certain applications and tasks can automatically run upon startup, potentially putting a strain on your system's resources without your knowledge. A handy tool to aid in this process is CCleaner. It can help you sift through these startup and scheduled tasks, enabling you to disable any you deem unnecessary.

By incorporating these steps into your routine, you may effectively mitigate FPS drop issues in ESO, leading to a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience. Always remember, optimizing your system's resources can significantly improve your overall gaming performance, ensuring that your system is focused on running the game as efficiently as possible.

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15) ADD-ONS

Add-ons can indeed enrich the enjoyment of ESO, serving to augment gameplay and interface in various ways. However, it's worth bearing in mind that an increased load of add-ons can also impact the game's performance negatively. In fact, utilizing too many can lead to a noticeable FPS drop, thereby negatively affecting your ESO gaming experience.

Consequently, it's a wise strategy to keep an eye on any add-ons that are not currently in use. If identified, it may be beneficial to consider their removal. Doing so could potentially streamline your gameplay, contributing to a smoother and more responsive gaming experience.

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16) Reduce Ping and Fix Lag

• Go to the ExitLag page
• Click on the “FREE 3 DAYS TRIAL” button.
• Then, create an account.
• Verify the Email
• Download and install the ExitLag.
• Next, launch the ExitLag.
• Search The Elder Scrolls Online in the ExitLag app.
• Select The Elder Scrolls Online
• After that, select a game region - Automatic (Recommended)
• Click on the APPLY ROUTES button.
• Play the game.

I hope this article helped you to increase your FPS and fix FPS drop issue in ESO.