Diablo 4 Stuttering and FPS Drops – Diablo IV is an action Role Playing Game that is developed and Published by Blizzard, and it is the fourth installment in their Diablo Series and features a total of five character classes for you to choose from and have fun with.
But not everyone is so lucky when running AAA titles like Diablo 4. We have been active on the forums since the game was released, and a lot of people are complaining about the stuttering and FPS drops we have been facing while playing the game.
So here is a brief Diablo IV Performance guide that might help address the game’s performance issues like the FPS Drops, Stuttering, lagging, etc. We have kept the article brief and touched on the essential do’s that resulted in fixing the issues for us. It will fix yours as well, for sure, until the developers release more patches to fix the various other problems crawling in the game, especially the No Sound Bug in Diablo IV.
Fix Diablo IV Stuttering and FPS Drops on PC
Suppose Diablo IV is not running as you expected. In that case, we think it’s time to check the game’s System requirements and make sure that your hardware specifications match or are at least somewhat better than whatever is listed as the Recommended Specifications.
However, if you are still unsure, quickly examine the System Requirements for Diablo IV.
| Minimum Requirements | Recommended Specifications | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System |
Windows 10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)
|
Windows 10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)
|
| Processor |
Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD FX-8350
|
Intel Core i5-4670K or AMD R3-1300X
|
| Video |
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 or AMD Radeon R9 280
|
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 470
|
| Memory |
8 GB RAM
|
16 GB RAM
|
| Storage |
90 GB available hard drive space
|
|
| Internet |
Broadband internet connection
|
|
| Resolution |
1080p native resolution / 720p render resolution, low graphics settings, 30fps
|
|
You can also try setting your Screen to Borderless Window as well. I am currently running an RTX 3070 to test out the performance, and it was lagging badly while running the game in Full Screen Mode. As soon as I Switched to borderless, the stuttering and freezing were gone!
Diablo IV also recommends you have the latest Graphics Drivers downloaded and installed for both Nvidia and AMD GPUs. Here are the links to download the latest Graphics Drivers:
- If you are an Nvidia user:
- If you are an AMD user:
You can also tone down the game settings a bit. Diablo IV is graphically intensive and looks great when played in the highest settings. But it won’t look bad if you turn down the settings, and it’s better to play with a little less graphical fidelity with smoothness rather than on high settings with stutters and lags.
It is not a bad idea to tone down your settings, as smoothness matters the most when playing games like Diablo. We have reports of people getting great results when toning down the game’s graphical fidelity. You need perfect hardware to enjoy the visuals and the smoothness at such high settings. Still, if you barely meet the minimum requirements, then it’s either time to tone down the settings fully or get your system upgraded (which might not be an option for a lot of gamers).
You can also visit the Nvidia Control panel and click ‘Adjust image settings with preview’ on the left sidebar. Select ‘Use my preference emphasizing:’, and pull the slider all the way towards the ‘Performance’ option on the left.
Now, if you are playing this game on a gaming laptop, always make sure that you use the MUX switch to enable your dedicated GPU. Laptops are designed to run on internal GPU or on Hybrid Mode to save power and battery, but when required, simply using the MUX Switch can switch GPUs and make the laptop ready for Gaming. Therefore, unless you run your laptop solely on your GPU, it will occasionally use the integrated GPU.
Also, if your Laptop is not fast or modern enough to switch GPUs using the MUX Switch, then Google your Laptop model and find where the MUX Switch is located. I use a Lenovo Legion 5 Pro, and my MUX switch is in the Lenovo Vantage app. Make sure you plug your laptop into a power outlet. Running off the battery may cause performance issues.
Disable every overlay that you have at the moment. The includes Overlays from the Nvidia Geforce Experience app, Discord, Xbox Game Bar, Windows Game Mode, etc.
Disable Nvidia Instant Replay and Windows Background Recording by following the steps
- Go to Settings
- Click on Gaming
- Select Captures
- Disable Background Recording [Record what happened] if you are currently using them.
You have no idea about the amount of resources these utilities consume. Close useless applications like Razer Synapse, Logitech G Hub, etc., as they consume alot of RAM.
So this was all about how to fix Stuttering and FPS Drops in Diablo IV.
After trying all these methods, if Diablo 4 is still stuttering, freezing, or lagging for you, you can contact Blizzard Support and send them a ticket. I will be on my toes for the next few days, looking for guaranteed fixes. And as soon as I find something, I will immediately update this article. If you want, you can bookmark this page.
If you think this guide has helped you, let us know in the comment section below. And for more Diablo 4 guides, keep an eye on Frondtech. We will be covering every single technical issue and bug of the game. Good luck!
That’s all, folks!
Last Updated on July 20, 2023
Akash Roy, 31, Senior Editor at Frondtech and an avid gamer by choice dabbles in all things tech. Whether be it spending hours in single-player narrative-based games or going through the latest innovation in technology and chip manufacturing he prefers to stay on top of things. At the other times, you’ll find him tucked away drumming and headbanging to Rock and Roll Classics.