Low frame rates in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla usually come from a mismatch between the target resolution, your hardware, and the game’s graphics workload. Start by checking which Ubisoft performance tier your PC can realistically meet, then establish a repeatable result with Valhalla’s built-in benchmark. Test VSync and each display mode, lower demanding options gradually, and retest after every change. If the benchmark is still far below expectation, update Windows and drivers, make sure a laptop is using its dedicated GPU, and send Ubisoft the requested DxDiag and MSInfo reports.
Check what performance your PC is designed to deliver
“60 FPS” is not a single requirement. Ubisoft publishes separate targets for 1080p, 1440p and 4K, and the memory and storage expectations rise with resolution. Compare your complete system with the tier closest to the way you play before changing settings.
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| Ubisoft target tier | Resolution and frame-rate target | Memory requirement | Storage requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 1080p at 30 FPS | 8 GB dual-channel RAM | 147 GB available storage |
| Recommended 1080p | 1080p at 60 FPS | 8 GB dual-channel RAM | 147 GB available storage |
| Recommended 1440p | 1440p at 60 FPS | 16 GB dual-channel RAM | 147 GB available storage; SSD required |
| Recommended 4K | 2160p (4K) at 60 FPS | 16 GB dual-channel RAM | 147 GB available storage; SSD required |
These tiers come from Ubisoft’s requirements page updated in 2026. Ubisoft also specifies progressively stronger CPU and GPU targets as you move from 1080p to 1440p and 4K. The older minimum-specification announcement gives Radeon R9 380 4 GB and GeForce GTX 960 4 GB as examples of minimum GPUs. Those examples describe the minimum 1080p/30 class, not a promise of 60 FPS at higher resolutions.
RAM must be dual-channel for the listed tiers. A computer with the right total capacity but single-channel memory can behave differently from Ubisoft’s reference configuration. Laptop power limits, cooling, background load, resolution scaling and the current game scene also affect the result, so a requirement match is a starting point rather than a guaranteed frame rate.
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Measure the problem with Valhalla’s benchmark
1. Record a baseline
- Start Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and open the graphics or display settings.
- Launch the in-game benchmark. Ubisoft specifically recommends this tool to test how well a current PC runs the game.
- Write down the average result and any visible minimums or stutter. Keep the resolution, refresh rate, quality preset, VSync state and display mode with your notes.
The benchmark gives you a repeatable reference. Run it before changing anything and again after each meaningful adjustment. Testing one variable at a time tells you which change helped; changing a dozen options together does not.
2. Decide whether the result is a performance limit or a configuration problem
- A result close to the 1080p/30 minimum tier is normal for hardware near the minimum specification.
- A system that fits the 1080p/60 tier but produces much less in the benchmark needs configuration, driver, thermal or background-load investigation.
- At 1440p or 4K, compare against the corresponding 16 GB and SSD tier rather than the 1080p target.
Ubisoft does not publish a universal FPS gain for each individual graphics option. Treat every change below as a diagnostic experiment, not a guaranteed uplift.
Test VSync before lowering image quality
VSync controls how rendered frames are presented relative to the display refresh. Ubisoft’s graphical troubleshooting guidance says to try both states: if VSync is enabled, disable it; if it is disabled, enable it. Open Valhalla’s settings, change only VSync, run the benchmark again, and compare both average performance and frame-time consistency.
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- If enabling VSync makes motion steadier on a system that cannot sustain the display refresh, keep the setting that produces the more consistent experience rather than choosing by average FPS alone.
- Return to the original state if the change makes stutter or input response worse.
Compare fullscreen, windowed and borderless modes
Ubisoft notes that fullscreen, windowed and borderless modes have different characteristics that can affect performance. Test each mode at the same resolution, refresh rate, quality settings and VSync state.
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- Run the benchmark in fullscreen and record the result.
- Switch to borderless, run it again, and record the result.
- Test windowed mode last, keeping the game window at the same effective resolution.
Use the mode that gives the best combination of frame rate, frame pacing and reliable focus on your system. A mode that benchmarks slightly higher is not automatically better if it causes uneven delivery or conflicts with how you use a second monitor.
Lower the workload in a controlled order
When the benchmark confirms that the GPU is the limiting factor, reduce the rendered workload in small steps. Ubisoft’s support material recommends lowering demanding settings gradually, but it does not rank every setting or assign a fixed FPS gain to any option. Preserve image quality by changing one option, benchmarking, and keeping only changes that solve the problem.
Start with the target resolution
Resolution determines how many pixels the GPU must shade. If you are attempting 1440p or 4K on hardware that is closer to the 1080p tier, test 1080p first. A lower resolution is reversible and gives you a clear answer about whether pixel workload is the main constraint. Do not compare a 4K result with a 1080p target and call the hardware defective.
Use a lower quality preset as a diagnostic
Switch to a lower preset temporarily and run the benchmark. A substantial improvement indicates that one or more quality options are consuming GPU time. You can then raise settings individually until you find the highest stable combination. If the preset change barely alters performance, investigate CPU headroom, memory mode, thermals, drivers or the selected GPU instead of continuing to remove visual detail.
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Retest after every adjustment
- Change one setting or one group that the preset changes together.
- Exit back to the benchmark and use the same test conditions.
- Record average FPS and whether hitching or uneven frame delivery changed.
- Keep the change only if it improves the experience without creating a new problem.
This method cannot promise a particular number because performance varies by scene, resolution, CPU/GPU combination, cooling and background activity. It does prevent random tweaking from hiding the real bottleneck.
Make sure Windows and the correct graphics driver are being used
Update Windows and the GPU driver
Ubisoft’s troubleshooting sequence includes verifying that Windows and graphics drivers are current. Install updates through the normal Windows and graphics-device channels, restart the PC, and run the same benchmark again. Do not assume that one specific driver version is a guaranteed fix; the official guidance does not identify a universal version that resolves every Valhalla FPS problem.
Check the active GPU on a laptop
Many laptops contain integrated and discrete graphics. Confirm that Valhalla is launching on the intended high-performance GPU rather than the integrated adapter. The exact control-panel label depends on the GPU vendor and Windows build, so verify the selection in the graphics settings available on your machine. Re-run the benchmark after changing it and keep the configuration that actually improves the result.
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Reduce competing load while testing
Background load is one of the factors that can change results. Close unnecessary applications and overlays while establishing your baseline, then repeat the same test with your normal software running. This distinguishes a game-only limitation from a PC that is already sharing CPU, RAM or disk time with other tasks. Keep the comparison fair by changing only one condition at a time.
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Check memory, storage and thermals against the target tier
Confirm dual-channel RAM and capacity
Ubisoft lists 8 GB of dual-channel RAM for the minimum and 1080p/60 tiers, and 16 GB of dual-channel RAM for 1440p/60 and 4K/60. Check the installed capacity and whether the modules are operating in dual-channel mode in your system information or firmware utility. If a machine intended for 1440p or 4K has only 8 GB, it does not match the published higher-resolution configuration.
Verify free space and drive type
The current support requirements call for 147 GB of available storage. Ubisoft specifies an SSD for its 1440p and 4K configurations. A nearly full drive or a mechanical drive where an SSD is required can affect loading and streaming behavior, although the requirements page does not promise a particular FPS increase from storage alone. Check free space and drive type before treating a storage-bound hitch as a graphics-setting problem.
Watch for heat-related slowdowns
Thermals are part of the complete configuration that determines results. If FPS starts acceptably and falls after the system has been running, compare a cold benchmark with a later run and check whether CPU or GPU clocks are being reduced by temperature or power limits. Improve airflow, remove obstructed vents and use the manufacturer’s normal cooling profile, then repeat the same benchmark. Do not compare a cool first run with a heat-soaked run and assume a setting caused the entire difference.
What to do when your PC meets the requirements but FPS is still low
Document a reproducible case
- Record the Windows edition and whether it is 64-bit.
- List the CPU model, GPU model and VRAM, RAM capacity and channel mode, drive type, game resolution, refresh rate, VSync state and display mode.
- Save benchmark results from the unchanged baseline and from the best manual configuration.
- Note whether the issue is low average FPS, sudden drops, hitching, or inconsistent frame pacing, and whether it happens in the benchmark, gameplay, or both.
This information separates a configuration mismatch from a reproducible issue that needs support.
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Create the reports Ubisoft asks for
- Press
Windows + R, enterdxdiag, and use the DirectX Diagnostic Tool’s option to save all information to a text file. - Press
Windows + Ragain, entermsinfo32, and use System Information’s export or save command to create the requested report. - Keep both files with your configuration notes and submit them through Ubisoft’s PC support process when the benchmark remains unexpectedly low.
Ubisoft’s official troubleshooting process specifically requests DxDiag and MSInfo for unresolved PC cases. Include the benchmark conditions and the changes you already tested so support can reproduce the behavior instead of repeating generic suggestions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing between a settings change and a hardware change
Use reversible changes first. Resolution, VSync, display mode and quality settings cost nothing and reveal whether the workload is primarily graphical. Updating Windows or drivers and closing competing applications are also reversible. Spending money makes sense only after the benchmark shows that your machine consistently falls short of the target tier under controlled conditions.
| Decision factor | Question to answer |
|---|---|
| Target resolution and FPS | Are you testing against 1080p/30, 1080p/60, 1440p/60 or 4K/60? |
| GPU capability and VRAM | Does the graphics hardware fit the tier, or is it near the minimum 1080p class? |
| CPU headroom | Does lowering resolution barely change FPS, suggesting the CPU or another limit? |
| RAM capacity and channel mode | Does the system meet the tier’s 8 GB or 16 GB dual-channel requirement? |
| Storage type | Does the chosen 1440p or 4K tier have the required SSD and 147 GB available? |
| Frame-pacing consistency | Does the change make motion smoother, not merely raise an average number? |
| Reversibility | Have you exhausted settings and software checks before buying hardware? |
Ubisoft publishes target tiers, not a setting-by-setting performance chart. No honest guide can promise that a particular option will add a fixed number of frames on every PC.
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- Judging by one busy scene: Use the benchmark for repeatable comparisons instead of a single camera view or crowded settlement.
- Changing several variables at once: You lose the ability to identify which adjustment helped.
- Expecting minimum hardware to deliver 60 FPS: Ubisoft’s minimum tier is 1080p/30, while 1080p/60 has its own recommended configuration.
- Ignoring resolution-specific memory and storage: The 1440p and 4K tiers call for 16 GB dual-channel RAM and an SSD.
- Assuming a driver number is a universal cure: Ubisoft does not guarantee one driver version for every system.
- Comparing different VSync or display modes: Keep those states identical when measuring another setting.
- Calling a higher average FPS “fixed” when pacing is uneven: Evaluate smoothness and drops as well as the average.
When 60 FPS is realistic
60 FPS is an explicit Ubisoft target at 1080p, 1440p and 4K, but each target assumes its corresponding CPU, GPU, RAM and storage configuration. A PC that meets the 1080p/60 tier can reasonably be evaluated against that target; a system near the minimum R9 380 4 GB or GTX 960 4 GB class should be evaluated against 1080p/30 first. For 1440p or 4K, confirm the 16 GB dual-channel and SSD requirements before interpreting a lower result as a software fault.
If your controlled benchmark remains substantially below the appropriate target after VSync, display-mode, settings, driver, Windows, GPU-selection, background-load, memory, storage and thermal checks, preserve the notes and submit DxDiag and MSInfo through Ubisoft support. That is the point at which a configuration-specific investigation is more useful than another random tweak.
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