GTA V is an extremely popular yet resource-consuming game. Whether you play in a single mode or participate in a multiplier game, the image quality may not look as good as you want. On the one hand, this may be directly dependent on your PC characteristics, but even a relatively weak PC can bring you a decent image quality with stable FPS.
The main thing is to adjust the graphic settings in GTA 5 correctly based on your device. Below, you can learn more about the main game parameters that impact the performance the most, as well as how to tune them. Keep reading and get the smoothest GTA V gameplay ever!
How to Boost Graphics and FPS for GTA 5?
A GTA V performance boost for graphics and Frames Per Second (or FPS). The latter is the main feature that makes the game look perfect and run smoothly. In fact, your aim here is to boost one feature at the cost of others, and there is no way to deal with it without sacrificing something.
The main idea of GTA V optimization, though, is to minimize this scarification while still getting a decent 60+ FPS. This value is considered an optimum for those who play on PCs. Prefer to have fun with GTA V using a console? Then, this requirement here is lower, at about 30 FPS. If FPS is lower, then you may experience lags, especially in high-dynamic scenarios. Also, some objects may not be detailed at all because your PC does not have enough computing capabilities.
Settings can be fine-tuned extremely precisely, allowing for the right balance. Of course, you do not want to turn off some realistic effects, such as lighting and shadows, for maximum immersion into the gameplay. Yet, there is a great variation of one parameter (for example, hard, soft, baked, dynamic, ray-traced, and more). This means you can disable one to boost FPS without a serious deterioration of the image. Explore this topic more below and polish GTA V’s visual component for the top experience.
Use MSAA Instead of FXAA
MSAA stands for Multisample Anti-Aliasing and is responsible for a smooth image of objects without jagged edges. If you experience a serious drop in FPS, you may activate FXAA (Fast Approximate Anti-Aliasing) instead. If you still prefer MSAA, then try to set it to 2x or 4x
Disable VSync
When you deactivate VSync, you are prompted to disable the frame rate limitation, which results in the FPS boost. However, there is a drawback that may appear, and that is screen tearing. It appears when a game shows objects from different frames at the same time.
Adjust Density and Variety of Population
When you lower this parameter, you see fewer vehicles and purple on the road. Frankly speaking, it does not significantly impact gameplay, while FPS can be boosted to a sky-high level!
Lower Texture and Grass Quality
Consider lowering the texture quality if you want to boost the FPS at the cost of less-detailed images. Also, there are separate settings for grass and water, as there are a lot of them in the game, and they require serious computing resources. Note! If you compare grass and water, then the latter does not give the same boost in FPS as grass. So, you may leave without changes, sparkling waves and ripples.
Adjust Shader Quality
This is a parameter you should consider adjusting together with setting lights. Shaders are responsible for showing how much detail you can see on objects that are farther away.
Of course, by lowering this parameter, you decrease the overall image quality. On the other hand, it is an option given how much FPS it can “save”.
Work On Reflection
In this case, we speak about the MSAA that controls the smoothness of reflective surfaces. There may be a shiny car, a puddle, and more. Typically, lowering this parameter can bring a boost of 5 FPS without seriously sacrificing visuals.
Adjust Resolution
This is one of the key parameters that many players prefer not to touch. It makes sense to tune it when it comes to a relatively weak PC. Those who play with a Full HD/4K screen may want to leave the native resolution (1920 x 1080/3840 x 2160). Yet, when it comes to 4K, here you must have a super powerful graphics card (or even two) to get smooth and stable gameplay.
Also, the game offers a frame scaling system. It can automatically adjust the resolution, tuning the actual setting. This is a top option for those who prefer to play on big TVs or use wall projectors. If you do not have a powerful gaming PC, enabling frame scaling may lead to a serious performance hit. If it is your situation, try to drop this parameter under 1x.
Reduce Distance Scaling
This feature is responsible for how you see objects that are far away. From the character you play. If your PC (especially a graphic card) has enough computing capabilities, raising this parameter allows you to see more people, buildings, cars, terrain objects and more. They are outfitted with full textures even when they are far away, but this requires a lot of resources from your CPU.
When you disable extended distance scaling, objects may pop out suddenly when you approach them. This may not be the best experience from the main point of view, but it can bring you a lot of FPS! So, try it yourself and decide whether it is an option you can activate. What’s more, GTA V locations are different, so it makes sense to adjust this parameter only in some of them (for example, less crowded).
Check Advanced Graphics Settings
Head to the Advanced Graphics section and explore shadow settings. Based on multiple tests, increasing the High-Resolution Shadows (as well as Extended Shadows Distance) costs you many FPS while raising the video memory usage to 800 MB. Thus, it makes sense to keep these settings as low as possible. Among other advanced settings is Anisotropic Filtering, which is responsible for detailing sharp textures in the environment. If you decide to turn it off, you won’t experience a noticeable difference in the image quality, while FPS may be boosted.
Another setting is tessellation, which adds more details to multiple objects, including trees, buildings, vehicles, and more. While decreasing this parameter sounds reasonable to boost FPS, it is better to leave it on. Otherwise, you can face serious image deterioration. Finally, you check Particle quality, which determines the level of detail in particle effects. Among them are smoke (from fire, tires, and so on), sparks, explosions, and more. The best option here is to leave it at Normal.
