Alexis Kestler
Are you frustrated because Overwatch 2‘s frame rate is stuck at 60 FPS, even though your PC hardware should be able to deliver much higher performance? Don‘t worry, I‘ve got you covered. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll explain step-by-step how to remove the 60 FPS cap and optimize your settings for maximum speed. You‘ll be blowing past that limit and enjoying buttery smooth 200+ FPS gameplay in no time!
What Causes the 60 FPS Cap in Overwatch 2?
The most common culprit for frame rates capped at 60 FPS is having Vsync enabled in your graphics settings.
Vsync, which stands for vertical sync, synchronizes your game‘s frame rate with your monitor‘s refresh rate. This prevents screen tearing, which is when your monitor shows different parts of two or more frames at once due to the GPU rendering faster than the display can handle.
For monitors with a 60Hz refresh rate, Vsync restricts the frame rate to 60 FPS or lower to match the display. So if Vsync is on, Overwatch 2 cannot exceed 60 FPS on a standard 60Hz monitor.
While Vsync smoothens out the visuals, it also introduces input lag and limits performance – unacceptable tradeoffs for competitive gaming. The good news is we can disable Vsync and remove the cap easily.
Before jumping into the steps, let‘s briefly discuss how Vsync works and why a mismatched refresh rate causes screen tearing.
Vsync and Refresh Rates Explained
Your monitor has a fixed refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), which determines how many times per second it can update the image. Standard monitors tend to be 60Hz, while high-end gaming monitors can be 144Hz, 240Hz or even 360Hz.
Meanwhile, your graphics card renders frames as fast as it can, based on game load and your PC‘s capabilities. With a powerful GPU, the frame rate can far exceed 60 FPS.
This mismatch between your monitor‘s refresh rate and GPU‘s frame rate output causes screen tearing.
For example, at 200 FPS on a 60Hz monitor, the display will show parts of up to 4 different frames in each update, creating a torn look:
[Diagram of screen tearing]Vsync resolves this by stalling frame rendering to align with the fixed refresh cycle. However, this comes at the cost of input lag and capped FPS, which hampers gaming performance.
Ideally, you want your GPU to render as many frames as possible for your monitor to display the most recent ones. Disabling Vsync allows this, providing you have sufficient frame rates.
Now let‘s get into the step-by-step guide!
Step 1: Access Graphics Settings
To start removing the 60 FPS cap, we first need to access the graphics settings menu. Here‘s how:
- Press the Escape key on keyboard or Start button on controller to open the menu.
- Select Options.
- Choose the Video tab.
This opens the graphics settings where we can disable Vsync and adjust performance options.
Step 2: Turn Off Vsync
Scroll down to the Vsync option and set it to Off. This immediately lifts the 60 FPS ceiling.
With Vsync disabled, your frame rate can now exceed your monitor‘s refresh rate. But first, let‘s set an optimal cap.
Step 3: Set a Custom Frame Rate Limit
Under Frame Rate Cap, choose Custom instead of Display-based. This allows us to manually configure the ceiling.
For Desired Frame Rate, I recommend starting at 120 FPS or higher if your hardware can manage it. This allows smooth performance well above 60 FPS.
Later, you can fine-tune this value based on your setup. The ideal cap balances high FPS and avoiding screen tearing or instability from exceeding your system‘s capabilities.
Step 4: Set Maximum Display-Based Frame Rate
Next, under Display-Based Frame Rate Limit, enter your monitor‘s maximum refresh rate. For 60Hz monitors, set this to 60 FPS. For 144Hz monitors, use 144 FPS, etc.
This acts as a ceiling in case the frame rate surpasses your desired cap. Preventing the FPS from greatly exceeding the refresh rate reduces screen tearing.
Step 5: Confirm Settings and Apply
Double check that Vsync is Off, you‘ve set a high Desired Frame Rate, and the Display-Based Frame Rate Limit matches your monitor.
Once everything looks good, click Apply to save your changes. This removes the 60 FPS lock once and for all!
Step 6: Tweak Graphics for Best Performance
With the cap out of the way, let‘s optimize other graphics settings to maximize frame rates:
- Use Medium or Low Texture Quality
- Set Texture Filtering to Low
- Disable Local Fog, Dynamic Reflections, Ambient Occlusion, Local Reflections
- Choose Low Shadow and Antialiasing Quality
- Minimize Refraction Quality
I suggest starting with these lowered settings, then selectively increasing ones that don‘t drastically hurt FPS. Effects like shadows and reflections are especially taxing.
Refer to this table showing the performance impact of each setting:
[Table with graphics settings and FPS impact]By minimizing the workload on your GPU, you‘ll squeeze out the highest possible frame rates in Overwatch 2. I recommend targeting at least 144 FPS if your hardware can handle it.
Advanced Optimization: Overclocking and Nvidia Reflex
If you still need more performance after optimizing settings, consider overclocking your GPU and enabling Nvidia Reflex or AMD Anti-Lag technologies.
Overclocking pushes your graphics card harder by raising operating speeds and power limits. This extracts every last bit of power for higher FPS. Use tools like EVGA Precision or MSI Afterburner for easy overclocking.
For Nvidia GPUs, enabling Reflex further boosts performance by reducing input lag. AMD‘s Radeon Anti-Lag does the same. Both integrations are designed specifically for competitive gaming and worth enabling.
Upgrade Your Monitor for Higher Refresh Rates
While the steps above remove the 60 FPS barrier in Overwatch 2, you won‘t benefit from frame rates above 60 FPS on a standard 60Hz monitor.
Consider upgrading to a monitor with a 120Hz, 144Hz or even 240Hz refresh rate to take full advantage of unlimited frame rates. This results in incredibly fluid and responsive gameplay.
According to professional esports players, high refresh monitors dramatically improve aiming precision and reaction times in fast-paced FPS titles. Their advice? Upgrade your monitor before anything else for maximum competitive edge.
In Summary: Removing the 60 FPS Cap
A few simple steps can unlock your frame rates in Overwatch 2:
- Turn off Vsync in graphics settings.
- Set a custom FPS cap higher than 60 FPS.
- Lower graphics quality to optimize GPU performance.
Combine this with a high refresh rate monitor and advanced optimizations like overclocking and Nvidia Reflex, and you‘ll be dominating Overwatch 2 at 200+ FPS in no time.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to help fellow gamers maximize their PC‘s performance. Enjoy the buttery smoothness!
