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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To improve performance in the original Cities: Skylines (2015), first identify whether the problem is a mod or asset conflict, memory pressure, or graphics load. Then change one thing at a time and compare the same save, camera view, and conditions. Lowering graphics settings may help a GPU-limited PC; it will not necessarily fix slow simulation or a CPU bottleneck.
First, identify what “lag” means
Low frame rate while moving the camera, slow simulation speed, stuttering, and crashes are different problems. The available troubleshooting guidance addresses mod and asset conflicts, memory exhaustion, and possible graphics strain; it does not establish a single fix for every symptom.
- Low FPS while moving the camera: test graphics changes if the GPU appears to be the limit.
- Stutter or crashes: check subscribed mods and assets, memory use, and whether other applications are consuming resources.
- Slow simulation: do not assume that lowering resolution or shadows will help; those changes target graphics load, not every possible simulation bottleneck.
- Launch failure with mods: temporarily disable Workshop content and mods to check for a conflict.
Before changing settings or considering hardware, note your PC’s CPU, GPU and RAM, game resolution, city size, DLC, and active Workshop content. Compare changes using the same save and camera view so you can tell whether a specific adjustment helped.
Rule out a mod or asset conflict
Paradox’s troubleshooting guidance recommends testing launch failures with the temporary Steam launch options -noWorkshop -disableMods. This is a diagnostic step, not a promised FPS boost: if the game starts with those options, re-enable or remove content incrementally to identify a problematic mod or asset.
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- In Steam, open your Library and right-click Cities: Skylines, then choose Properties.
- Under General, find Launch Options and enter
-noWorkshop -disableMods. - Launch the game and check whether the original problem remains.
- If the game works, remove or update suspected Workshop content, then test again while re-enabling items incrementally.
- When finished, remove the launch options to restore your normal modded setup.
Paradox’s [mod troubleshooting article] primarily addresses launch problems, so use this test to isolate content conflicts rather than expecting it to raise frame rate in every city.
Reduce memory pressure if it is the problem
Mods and assets you are not actively using can consume memory. If memory use is high, unsubscribe from unnecessary Workshop content and close other applications before launching the game. These steps can help when memory pressure is involved; adding RAM is not a universal FPS fix.
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Paradox’s advice about increasing the paging-file maximum to 32 GB applies narrowly to an out-of-memory case where the crash log shows that physical memory and swap space are nearly exhausted. It is not a general performance setting to change without that evidence. See [Paradox’s troubleshooting guidance] for its context.
Test graphics settings one at a time
If camera movement has low FPS and graphics load appears to be the limit, try lowering resolution, shadows, film grain, or overall graphics quality. These are free and reversible tests, but they reduce image quality and may not improve a CPU- or simulation-limited situation. The suggested adjustments come from a Steam Community guide whose relevant sections date to 2021–2022, not from a current official benchmark.
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- Use a repeatable test: load the same city, pause or keep the simulation state consistent, and use the same camera view.
- Change one setting, such as shadows, and check whether camera movement feels smoother.
- Keep the change only if the improvement is worth the visual trade-off; otherwise restore it and test another setting.
- If graphics reductions do not help, avoid treating them as proof that the game needs a particular upgrade. Reassess whether the symptom points to memory, mods, or simulation instead.
The community guide is [available on Steam]. Its mod-specific FPS claims are not reliable general expectations, and mod compatibility can change.
What the system requirements do—and do not—tell you
Steam’s current Windows listing gives the following minimum and recommended specifications for the original game. They are store requirements, not a promise of a particular frame rate in a large city, at high resolution, or with Workshop content.
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| Windows requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Processor | Intel Core i7 930 or AMD FX 6350 | Intel Core i7 2700K or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTS 450 (1 GB), AMD R7 250 (2 GB), or Intel Iris Xe G7 | Nvidia GeForce GTX 580 (1.5 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 560 (4 GB) |
| DirectX | 9.0c | 11 |
These are specifically the Windows specifications on [Steam’s Cities: Skylines listing]; do not apply them as requirements for console versions or other operating systems. The listing describes the original game’s city simulation and Workshop support, not a guaranteed performance level.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When a hardware upgrade makes sense
Do not buy a CPU, GPU, or RAM based on the game’s requirements alone. First establish which component is limiting your own setup and whether the problem persists without unnecessary mods and assets. A compatible RAM upgrade may be relevant if you confirm memory pressure, but the listed minimum and recommended RAM capacities do not prove that more memory will automatically increase FPS. Check motherboard or laptop compatibility before buying.
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No particular processor or graphics card replacement can be recommended without your system details and evidence of the bottleneck. Steam lists the original game’s platform-specific specifications, while Paradox’s support guidance covers mod isolation and a narrow memory-exhaustion case; neither provides a current benchmark that guarantees an FPS gain from a specific purchase.
Quick Recap
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