Borderlands 4 FPS Issues Fix Guide | How to Get More Frames
Borderlands 4 can look great, but many PC players are running into FPS drops, stuttering, and overall poor performance. Unreal Engine 5 makes fights chaotic with heavy particle effects, which puts a strain on both GPUs and CPUs. If your framerate keeps dipping, there are several fixes you can try to improve stability and smooth out the game.
How to Fix FPS Issues in Borderlands 4
The most effective ways to fix FPS problems in Borderlands 4 include enabling DLSS or FSR, disabling frame generation, and lowering a few heavy graphics settings. You should also make sure your drivers are up to date and that you aren’t skirting under the minimum system requirements.
Update GPU Drivers
Always start by updating your Nvidia or AMD drivers. Both companies have released launch-day optimizations for Borderlands 4. Running outdated drivers often causes stuttering or poor scaling with new games.
Disable Frame Generation
Even though Nvidia recommends frame generation on RTX 40-series cards, in Borderlands 4 it often makes motion look worse. It may inflate the FPS counter but cause a gritty, uneven effect during combat. Turn it off for a smoother feel.
Use DLSS or FSR
Upscaling is essential in Borderlands 4. DLSS on Nvidia and FSR on AMD can raise framerates by up to 45 percent without a huge loss in visual quality. Use the Quality or Balanced preset depending on your resolution.
Lower Heavy Settings
Not every option impacts FPS equally. These are the most important settings to lower:
Lighting Quality – one of the biggest performance drains, set this to Low.
Volumetric Clouds and Fog – drop to Medium for noticeable gains.
Directional Shadows – reducing to Medium can add 3–5 FPS.
Foliage Density – High looks fine, but Very High barely adds visuals while costing FPS.
Other settings like textures can remain higher if you have enough VRAM. You can also limit FPS to help avoid sudden drops.
Close Background Programs
Overlays from Steam, Discord, GeForce Experience, or MSI Afterburner can conflict with Borderlands 4. Disable them if stutters continue. Also close browsers or other heavy applications while playing.
Check System Requirements
Borderlands 4 is demanding. Trying to run below minimum specs, such as 6GB VRAM GPUs or less than 16GB of RAM, will lead to severe stuttering no matter what settings you use. If you’re on the edge, stick to 1080p with upscaling enabled.
Final Blurb
Borderlands 4’s FPS issues mostly come from how taxing Unreal Engine 5 is, but you can fix a lot by disabling frame generation, using DLSS or FSR, and lowering heavy graphics settings like lighting and fog. With the right tweaks, you can stabilize your framerate and have a good time with smoother looting and shooting across Kairos.
Just know that the game could use some optimization so, at a certain point, it isn’t on your setup or specs.
FAQ
Why is Borderlands 4 stuttering on PC?
The stuttering comes from Unreal Engine 5’s shader and particle effects, combined with heavy graphics settings. Disabling frame generation and lowering lighting quality helps most.
Does DLSS fix FPS in Borderlands 4?
Yes, DLSS can boost FPS significantly and should be enabled on Nvidia GPUs. AMD users can enable FSR for a similar improvement.
Is Borderlands 4 more demanding than Borderlands 3?
Yes, Borderlands 4 is built on Unreal Engine 5 and is much heavier on both GPU and CPU, especially during large fights.
Can I play Borderlands 4 below minimum specs?
You can launch it, but FPS will likely drop below 30 with constant stuttering. Meeting or exceeding the minimum requirements is strongly recommended.