If Cyberpunk 2077 has low FPS, sudden drops, choppy performance, or long loading times on PC, first check that your hardware meets the requirement tier for your resolution and graphics settings. If it does, follow CD PROJEKT RED’s troubleshooting order: clean-install or roll back the graphics driver, verify the game files, disable overlays, and close unnecessary background applications. Use the in-game benchmark to compare results before and after each change; no single step is guaranteed to fix every system.
Check whether your PC matches your graphics target
A PC can meet the minimum requirements and still fall short of a higher resolution, ray-tracing mode, or graphics preset. CD PROJEKT RED’s requirements, published on June 11, 2023, are targets for the stated settings—not guarantees. The publisher says performance varies with hardware, software, graphics settings, and output resolution. Its figures came from internal testing, not independent tests.
| Target | Publisher’s expected performance |
|---|---|
| 1080p, Low, no ray tracing | Average 30 FPS |
| 1080p, High, no ray tracing | 60 FPS |
| 2160p (4K), Ultra, no ray tracing | 60 FPS |
| 2160p (4K), Ray Tracing Overdrive | 60 FPS with DLSS Frame Generation switched on |
Ray-tracing requirements are separate from the non-ray-tracing tiers. Compare your CPU, graphics card and VRAM, RAM, and storage with the requirements for the tier you actually want, rather than treating the minimum tier as a promise of smooth play at every setting. The requirements also apply to Phantom Liberty. See CD PROJEKT RED’s full PC system requirements announcement for the listed component examples and tier details.
When an upgrade may be relevant
Consider a graphics-card upgrade only if your current GPU does not meet the tier for your chosen resolution and ray-tracing preset. The requirements do not identify one universally best card, and a purchase also depends on compatibility with your power supply, case, and motherboard.
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The listed non-ray-tracing minimum calls for 12 GB RAM; the recommended tier lists 16 GB. Storage requirements include a 70 GB SSD for the minimum tier and a 70 GB NVMe drive for the high-tier Ultra configuration. The publisher says an SSD offers faster loading, improved streaming, and better overall performance than an HDD. That makes moving from an HDD to an SSD a possible fit if your storage falls short, but it does not establish storage as a universal cure for FPS drops or stuttering.
Follow the official troubleshooting order
CD PROJEKT RED’s performance guidance is intended for PCs that meet the minimum requirements but still have low frame rates, slow or choppy performance, or long loading times. Work through the steps one at a time so you can tell whether a change affects the problem.
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Clean-install the graphics driver, or roll back a recent update
For NVIDIA, the publisher recommends removing previous drivers with Display Driver Uninstaller, then clean-installing the latest driver. For AMD, it recommends using AMD Cleanup Utility before a clean driver installation. If the problem began immediately after a driver update, install the previous driver version instead and report the issue to support. Follow the cleanup utility and driver vendors’ own instructions.
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Verify the game files
Use the file-verification option in the launcher or store where you installed Cyberpunk 2077. This checks the installed files and can replace missing or damaged ones. The exact label and location vary by launcher.
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Disable application overlays
Turn off overlays for applications such as Discord, Ubisoft Connect, and GOG Galaxy, then launch the game and check whether performance changes.
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Close unnecessary background applications
Exit nonessential programs, including hardware-monitoring tools and antivirus or anti-malware software, as a temporary diagnostic test. Restore normal security protection after the test; do not leave it disabled.
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These steps come from CD PROJEKT RED’s PC performance troubleshooting page. It does not recommend arbitrary registry edits, BIOS or overclock changes, or permanently disabling security software as fixes for this issue.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Measure the result with the in-game benchmark
Run the benchmark before and after a change to make the comparison more useful. Keep the resolution and graphics settings the same between runs; otherwise, the results are not directly comparable.
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- Open Settings → Graphics → Run Benchmark.
- Note the result and the settings used, then change one troubleshooting item.
- Run the benchmark again under the same conditions and compare the result.
If the problem remains, CD PROJEKT RED asks players to provide benchmark results and, if possible, a video. Include a save folder only when the issue occurs in a specific location. The support page gives the paths for the benchmark output and save files, along with instructions for contacting support.
Try frame generation only after establishing a baseline
FSR Frame Generation is an optional tuning step, not the first diagnostic fix. CD PROJEKT RED says FSR 3, introduced in Patch 2.13, combines upscaling with frame generation; frame generation requires FSR 3 upscaling to be enabled. The game also retains FSR 2.1 so players can choose between the available options. The publisher recommends a baseline of at least 60 FPS before enabling frame generation because a lower baseline can make artifacts more visible and frame pacing issues more likely. It strongly advises using a monitor with a 120 Hz or higher refresh rate and says Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling must be enabled. See the publisher’s FSR 3 support guidance for its setup details.
What to include if you contact support
A useful report lets support relate the symptom to a repeatable test and your PC configuration. Include the benchmark results and a video if possible; add a save only when the issue is tied to a particular location. Also note your CPU, GPU, RAM, storage type, display resolution, graphics settings, and driver version. The requirements announcement cautions that performance varies with PC hardware and software, settings, and resolution, so those details matter when interpreting a result.
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