FiveM low FPS, FPS locked at 60, stutter: the graphics settings that cost the most, V-Sync, and whether it's your PC or the server

FiveM FPS can drop for two reasons: your PC (graphics settings, drivers, background apps) or the server you're on (heavy scripts and UI, lots of add-on cars and maps). Fixing the wrong side wastes time, so this post measures and separates first, then fixes one thing at a time.

Step 1: measure FPS and find out whether it's your PC or the server

Press F8 to open the console and type:

cl_drawfps true

FPS appears in the corner (turn it off with cl_drawfps false). Then compare:

• High FPS in the main menu and on other servers, low only on this one: probably the server (heavy scripts or UI, lots of assets). Tell the admins; server owners can follow FiveM UI lag and NUI eating FPS
• Low FPS on every server: your PC or settings. Continue with steps 2–5
• Stutter while FPS stays high: probably the network (ping/packet loss) or content loading, not the GPU

Step 2: FPS locked at 60

The most common cause is V-Sync on a 60 Hz monitor:

1. In game, Settings → Graphics, turn VSync off
2. In NVIDIA Control Panel → Manage 3D settings, check that Vertical sync isn't forced on and Max Frame Rate isn't set to 60 (on AMD, check the Graphics page of AMD Software)
3. Windows → Settings → System → Display → Advanced display: set the refresh rate to the highest your monitor supports
4. If you play windowed, try fullscreen. Cfx.re forum users report windowed mode often sits around 60

Some Cfx.re forum users fix it by setting Vertical sync to Adaptive for GTA5.exe only in NVIDIA Control Panel. Use that if turning it off causes tearing.

Step 3: the graphics settings that cost the most

From NVIDIA's GTA V graphics guide:

Watch the VRAM bar at the top of the graphics settings too. Going over your card's memory causes stutter while content loads.

Extended Texture Budget (FiveM's Settings → Graphics) helps with textures not loading or invisible MLOs. It does not raise FPS, and setting it beyond your VRAM makes stutter worse.

Step 4: stutter while driving or entering a new area

This is usually content loading, not a weak GPU:

• Install the game on an SSD. An HDD can't stream assets fast enough
• Set Shader Cache Size to Unlimited in NVIDIA Control Panel to cut shader compiling mid-game; the steps are in fix FiveM Streamer crashed
• Clear the FiveM cache after a server ships big updates, with the keybind-safe cache-clearing script

Step 5: PC and Windows

• Laptops: Windows → Settings → System → Display → Graphics, set FiveM and GTA5 to the dedicated GPU (High performance), or they may run on the integrated GPU
• Plug in the charger and set the power mode to Best performance
• Close background apps and overlays you don't need (recorders, other FPS counters)
• Clean-install the GPU driver
• Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling and Game Mode help on some PCs and not others; toggle them and measure with cl_drawfps

FPS boost packs and graphics mods

• Graphics mods such as NVE or QuantV make the game prettier and cost FPS, they don't save it
• FPS boost packs (reduced textures, edited game files) are banned on many servers and can be flagged by anticheats as modified game files. Ask the server's admins before installing anything
• Servers running sv_pureLevel 2 won't let you join with modified game files (level 1 still allows audio files and known graphics mods)

For server owners

If players say FPS drops only on your server, the usual culprits are UI that renders all the time, scripts that loop every tick, and oversized cars, clothing or maps. Measure with resmon and see FiveM UI lag.

FAQ

My GPU is strong but FPS still drops. — If it drops on one server only, it's the server. If it drops everywhere, check Extended Distance Scaling, grass and MSAA first: those three cost the most.

FPS is high but the game stutters. — Usually content loading (HDD, shader cache) or the network, not FPS.

What's the command to show FPS? — Press F8 and type cl_drawfps true.