Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesStart with DX11, a 30-FPS cap, fullscreen at 1280×720 or 1920×1080, 0.8 rendering scale, low shadows/effects/environment settings, and disabled mirror reflections, volumetric fog, bloom, and distortion. Only test DX12, Super Resolution, frame generation, or ray tracing when your hardware is officially eligible. Zenless Zone Zero’s Version 3.0-era PC upgrades changed the feature set, so the older Vega 8 test below is historical rather than a guarantee for the current build.
Best low-end settings to try first
Apply this profile, play through a busy city area and a combat encounter, then change one setting at a time. A stable 30 FPS is preferable to an erratic 45–60 FPS on minimum hardware.
| Setting | Integrated graphics or very old GPU | GTX 970/1060-class GPU | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display mode | Fullscreen | Fullscreen | Reduces desktop-compositing variables. |
| Resolution | 1280×720 | 1920×1080 | Lower resolution helps when the GPU is saturated, but softens the whole image. |
| FPS limit | 30 FPS | 30 FPS; try 60 only if sustained | Consistency matters more than a high average. |
| V-Sync | Off initially | Off initially | Test it if tearing is severe; behavior is system-dependent. |
| Rendering scale | 0.8; reduce only if necessary | 0.8 | The quickest major GPU-performance lever, at the cost of detail. |
| Anti-aliasing | TAA or the least expensive option | TAA | Preserves readable edges without the cost of heavier methods. |
| Shadows, FX, shading, character, environment | Low | Low; raise character quality first if headroom allows | Shadows and effects are expensive; character detail is usually more noticeable. |
| Mirror reflections | Disabled | Disabled | Reflections can cause large GPU spikes. |
| Volumetric fog | Disabled | Disabled | Particularly costly in strongly lit scenes. |
| Bloom and distortion | Disabled | Disabled | Small visual gain compared with their performance cost. |
| Color filter strength | Personal preference (the older test used 10) | Personal preference | Primarily an aesthetic choice. |
Lowering rendering scale keeps the selected output resolution while reducing internal detail. On an integrated GPU, 720p can look better than 1080p combined with an extremely low scale; on a discrete GPU, 1080p at 0.8 is often the better compromise.
What the published low-end test actually covered
The original low-end guide was published on July 5, 2024 using a Ryzen 3 3200G, Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics, 16GB DDR4, and a 500GB SSD. It found the game usable only after substantial reductions and used 1080p fullscreen, a 30-FPS cap, 0.8 rendering, TAA, low quality options, and disabled reflections, fog, bloom, and distortion. See the original report at PC Guide.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Fearless ROG Design – The G700’s dual-glass chassis showcases iconic ROG design with the ROG Slash and Aura Sync RGB lighting. Its 58L capacity supports triple-slot GPUs.
- Unstoppable Power – Equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 GPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD PCIe 4.0 storage for seamless gaming and multitasking.
- Optimized Thermals – Stay cool with a quad-fan system, while dust filters and efficient airflow ensure long-term reliability.
- Advanced Connectivity – Game without lag with 2.5Gbps Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, and versatile ports. Dolby Atmos audio and AI noise cancellation enhance sound and communication.
- Ready for Upgrades – Designed with tool-less access, easily swap out components, ensuring future-proof performance for years to come.
That result predates the Version 3.0 visual upgrade. The article did not establish a current-build retest with a driver, Windows version, frame-time capture, or repeatable 2026 route, so treat it as historical guidance—not a benchmark for today’s client. A single Vega 8 system cannot represent every integrated GPU, laptop power limit, or later game update.
Which settings improve performance most?
Change options in this order, checking both combat and city traversal after each change:
Rank #2
- System: AMD Ryzen 5 5500 3.6GHz 6 Cores | AMD B550 Chipset | 8GB DDR4 | 500GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD | Windows 11 Home
- Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT 4GB Graphics | 1x HDMI | 1x DisplayPort
- Connectivity: 4 x USB-A 3.2 | 4 x USB-A 2.0 | 1 x LAN | WiFi 5 | Bluetooth 5.0 | 7.1 Channel Audio
- Tempered Side Case Panel | Custom RGB Lighting | Keyboard and Mouse
- 1 Year Parts & Labor Warranty, Free Lifetime Tech Support
- Rendering scale: lower it before sacrificing every other setting.
- Resolution: use 720p when the GPU remains fully loaded at 1080p.
- Shadows: move to Low; they are often expensive for limited visual benefit.
- Mirror reflections: disable them on weak GPUs.
- Volumetric fog: disable it if illuminated scenes cause drops.
- FX quality: reduce carefully because combat readability can suffer.
- Environment quality: lower it if city traversal is the problem.
- Character quality: preserve this when possible because characters dominate the screen.
- Bloom and distortion: cut them early for modest visual cost.
A HoYoLAB breakdown found shadows, mirror reflections, and volumetric fog especially demanding on an RTX 3060 system, but that was community testing on much faster hardware, not a controlled low-end benchmark. Use it as directional evidence only: HoYoLAB settings analysis.
DX11 or DX12?
Use DX11 as the fallback
Choose DX11 if your GPU is below the supported DX12 generations, or if DX12 produces crashes, corruption, severe stutter, or poor frame pacing. DX11 is the safer compatibility choice for integrated Vega-era graphics and GTX 900/1000-class systems.
Rank #3
- 8-Core 16-Thread Processing Power – Powered by the Ryzen 7 4700LE processor with Zen 2 architecture, delivering 8 cores and 16 threads with a boost clock up to 4.2GHz. Effortlessly handle multitasking, streaming, content creation, and demanding applications simultaneously without slowdowns.
- GeForce RTX 3050 8GB Graphics – Equipped with 8GB GDDR6 dedicated VRAM and real-time ray tracing support. Experience smooth 1080p gaming at 55-60 FPS in AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077, 70+ FPS in Fortnite, and 90-100 FPS in Apex Legends with DLSS enabled. The 8GB buffer handles modern game textures comfortably – a step above 6GB variants
- High-Speed Memory & Storage – Paired with 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz dual-channel RAM (16GB), the PC ensures responsive multitasking—whether streaming while gaming or editing videos. It also includes a 512 GB NVMe M.2 SSD for lightning-fast boot times, quick game loads, and ample storage for your game library, creative projects, and files.
- Next-Gen WiFi 6 Connectivity – Stay connected with the latest WiFi 6 technology for faster speeds, lower latency, and improved network efficiency. Whether you're gaming online, streaming 4K content, or joining video conferences, enjoy stable, high-speed wireless connectivity.
- Ready-to-Use Value Desktop – Pre-built and ready to go right out of the box. Perfect for gamers, students, content creators, and home office users seeking reliable performance without the hassle of building a PC themselves. The mature AM4 platform with DDR4 memory offers excellent value and proven stability.
When DX12 is available
HoYoverse lists DX12 for NVIDIA RTX 20-series or newer cards with ray-tracing cores and AMD Radeon RX 7000- or RX 9000-series cards. Eligible systems show a DX12 option below the launcher’s Start Game button. Clear that option to return to DX11. Details are in the official PC visual-upgrade FAQ.
Expect shader compilation on first launch
- Launch once in DX12.
- Allow shader compilation to finish without closing the game.
- Restart if the game requests it, then retest the same route.
- If compilation was interrupted or fails, open the launcher and run Repair Tool.
- If hitching remains severe, compare DX11 frame pacing rather than average FPS alone.
HoYoverse describes brief initial DX12 stutters during compilation as normal. They are not, by themselves, proof that the GPU is too slow.
Rank #4
- POWERHOUSE 8-CORE GAMING PERFORMANCE — Driven by the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F with 8 cores and 16 threads, boosting up to 5.0 GHz for smooth, responsive gameplay and the ability to handle AAA titles, streaming, and background tasks all at once
- NEXT-GEN BLACKWELL ARCHITECTURE — The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is powered by NVIDIA's cutting-edge Blackwell GPU architecture, delivering a massive generational leap in rasterization and ray tracing performance so you can experience your games the way they were meant to be played.
- Simplistic Design: Enjoy the latest generation of Windows 11 Home for your everyday needs. *MSI recommends Windows 11 Pro for business use.
- Cool While Gaming: In conjunction with an ARGB fan Air Cooler, the Codex R2 features four system cooling fans; three in the front and one in the rear to pull in cool air and push heat out of the PC.
- Turn on the Bright Lights: With the built-in RGB lighting, take your gaming experience to the next level by pressing the MSI LED button to cycle through lighting options. Customize lighting even further with MSI Center software.
DLSS, FSR Super Resolution, and frame generation
Super Resolution
Open Options → Display → Advanced → Super Resolution. HoYoverse lists DLSS and FSR3 Super Resolution for RTX 20-series-and-newer cards with RT cores, and FSR4 Super Resolution for RX 7000- and RX 9000-series cards. GTX 970-class hardware does not qualify for the RTX DLSS path, and FSR availability depends on the card and current game implementation.
When Super Resolution is enabled, Anti-Aliasing and Rendering are locked; use Super Resolution Quality Level instead. Compare its modes with native rendering at 0.8. Upscaling helps a GPU-bound system, but cannot cure a CPU bottleneck, asset-streaming hitch, or shader stall, and may introduce softness, ghosting, or shimmering.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Best Value
- POWERED BY RTX 5070 12GB + RYZEN 7 9700X - The GeForce RTX 5070 12GB GDDR7 graphics card pairs with an 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 9700X processor to drive smooth 1440p and 4K gameplay, giving this gaming PC the headroom for modern titles, streaming, and creative work.
- 32GB DDR5 6000MHz MEMORY & 1TB NVMe SSD - 32GB of high-speed DDR5 memory and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid state drive deliver quick load times, smooth multitasking, and generous storage, keeping this prebuilt gaming desktop responsive under heavy workloads.
- BUILT-IN 11.3-INCH Smart DISPLAY - An integrated smart screen shows real-time CPU and GPU temperatures, usage, and weather while you play, adding a distinctive and functional touch to your battlestation.
- 850W 80+ GOLD POWER SUPPLY, 360MM LIQUID COOLING & WiFi 7 - An 850W 80 Plus Gold certified power supply provides stable, efficient power with headroom for future upgrades, while a 360mm AIO liquid cooler, WiFi 7, and an ARGB mid-tower case keep the Ryzen 7 CPU cool and connected in a clean build.
- READY TO PLAY OUT OF THE BOX - Arrives fully assembled and tested with Windows 11 Home pre-installed, so your prebuilt gaming computer is ready to set up in minutes. Assembled in the USA, and backed by a one-year limited warranty and lifetime free technical support.
Frame generation
Frame generation is not a first-line fix for low-end PCs. The current support matrix lists DLSS Frame Generation for RTX 40-series and newer, DLSS Multi-Frame Generation for RTX 50-series with driver 595.97 or later, FSR3 Frame Generation for RTX 20-series-and-newer cards with RT cores, and FSR4 Frame Generation for RX 9000-series cards. Use Options → Graphics → Advanced → Frame Generation.
Before enabling it, turn on Windows Settings → System → Display → Graphics → Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling, restart Windows, disable V-Sync, and use Unlimited or 60 FPS as HoYoverse recommends. Generated frames raise the displayed counter but do not make simulation or input response equivalent to native frames. If base FPS is low, latency and frame pacing can become worse.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Ray tracing is not for the low-end profile
Ray tracing requires an NVIDIA RTX 20-series-or-newer GPU with RT cores and at least 8GB of VRAM. HoYoverse’s guidance starts at 1080p with 8GB VRAM, Medium ray tracing, and Performance Super Resolution; 1440p and 4K recommendations move to RTX 3080/4070 and RTX 3090/4080/5080-class hardware. Ray tracing currently affects city and selected combat scenes, while other scenes use the default global illumination. Find it at Options → Graphics → Advanced → Ray Tracing. It also locks Global Illumination and Anti-Aliasing controls.
Diagnose stutter before buying hardware
- GPU-bound: GPU usage is near maximum; lower rendering scale, resolution, shadows, fog, and reflections.
- CPU-bound: GPU usage is low while FPS remains poor; lower environment or character complexity and close background tasks.
- RAM-limited: 8GB can page when browsers, launchers, overlays, or recording software are open; 16GB reduces that risk if your platform supports it.
- Storage-bound: HDDs are supported, but an SSD is recommended and can improve loading and asset streaming rather than GPU FPS.
- Thermally constrained laptop: connect the charger, select the manufacturer’s performance mode, and check whether clocks fall after several minutes.
- Install current GPU drivers. HoYoverse’s July 29, 2026 FAQ lists NVIDIA 591.86 or later, NVIDIA 595.97 or later for RTX 50-series Multi-Frame Generation, and AMD 26.6.1 or later; verify newer releases before installing. Use NVIDIA’s official driver page or AMD’s driver page.
- Confirm Windows is using the dedicated GPU in Windows Graphics settings or your GPU vendor’s control panel.
- Close browsers, capture tools, launchers, and other CPU/GPU-heavy programs.
- Test plugged-in performance mode and monitor temperatures.
- Let DX12 shader compilation complete; use the launcher’s Repair Tool if it was interrupted.
- Disable frame generation and ray tracing while troubleshooting.
- Compare DX11 and DX12 on the same route.
- Lower rendering scale before making extreme image-quality cuts.
- Move the installation to an SSD or reinstall only after software and settings checks.
Can your PC run Zenless Zone Zero?
| Requirement | HoYoverse support page (updated Aug. 26, 2025) | Steam listing |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 64-bit or later | Windows 10 64-bit or later |
| DirectX | 11.1 or later | DirectX 11 |
| CPU | 7th-generation Intel Core i5 or AMD equivalent | Comparable minimum listing |
| Memory | 8GB RAM | 8GB RAM |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or similar | GTX 970-class listing |
| Storage | 57GB, plus 58GB additional space during decompression | 75GB available space |
| Drive note | Not stated | HDD supported; SSD recommended |
See HoYoverse’s minimum-requirements page and the Steam listing. The storage figures differ, so reserve substantially more than the nominal installed size. Meeting minimum specifications means compatibility at reduced settings—not guaranteed 60 FPS, stable frame pacing, fast loading, or smooth traversal in every area.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Recommendation by hardware class
- Vega-era integrated graphics: 720p, 30 FPS, DX11, lowest settings, 0.8 rendering or lower.
- GTX 970/1060-class: 1080p at 30 FPS; test 60 only if combat and traversal remain consistent; use a low/medium mix.
- RTX 20/30-series: test DX12 and Super Resolution, but return to DX11 if frame pacing worsens; ray tracing is optional and demanding.
- RTX 40/50-series: frame generation is available on supported models, but establish a healthy native base frame rate first.
- RX 7000/9000-series: test the officially supported DX12, Super Resolution, and generation paths for your specific model.
If 8GB RAM causes paging, a platform-compatible 16GB upgrade is more useful than a GPU purchase. If the game is on an HDD, an SSD can improve loading and streaming. A modern budget GPU is a meaningful upgrade from integrated graphics or GTX 900-series hardware, but it will not solve a CPU-limited system.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
