Fix: Left 4 Dead 2 Low FPS Drops on PC | Increase Performance

Valve Corporation has released a multiplayer horror-based survival video game called Left 4 Dead 2 which is a sequel to Left 4 Dead. The game was initially released back in 2009 only for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 platforms. Later it became available for Macintosh OS, and Linux platforms. Though the game has received positive reviews, several players are reporting about Left 4 Dead 2’s Low FPS Drops on their PC and want to increase performance.

If you’re facing the same issue on your PC with frame rate drops and stutters during the gameplay, then you’re not alone. It’s recommended to follow this troubleshooting guide completely to easily resolve such an issue.

Fix Left 4 Dead 2 Low FPS Drops on PC | Increase Performance

We’ve provided all the possible workarounds below that should gonna come in handy for you. Just follow all the methods one by one until your problem gets fixed completely. So, without wasting any more time, let’s jump into it.

1. Check System Requirements

Mostly the compatibility issues with your PC specification may cause such issues whatsoever. So, we’ll suggest you check out the game’s system requirements and your PC specifications properly before jumping to any conclusion. Here we’ve mentioned both the minimum and recommended system requirements for this title.

Minimum System Requirements:

OS: Windows 7 32/64-bit / Vista 32/64 / XP
Processor: Pentium 4 3.0GHz
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: Video card with 128 MB, Shader model 2.0. ATI X800, NVidia 6600 or better
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Storage: 13 GB available space
Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card

Recommended System Requirements:

OS: Windows 7 32/64-bit / Vista 32/64 / XP
Processor: Intel core 2 duo 2.4GHz
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: Video Card Shader model 3.0. NVidia 7600, ATI X1600 or better
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Storage: 13 GB available space
Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card

2. Update Graphics Drivers

It’s recommended to check out graphics driver updates on your PC so games and other graphics-intensive programs can run properly. To do so:

Right-click on the Start Menu to open up the Quick Access Menu.
Click on Device Manager from the list.
Now, double-click on the Display adapters category to expand the list.

Device Manager Update Display Adapter

Then right-click on the dedicated graphics card name.
Select Update driver > Choose Search automatically for drivers.
If an update is available, it’ll automatically download and install the latest version.
Once done, make sure to reboot your computer to change the effects.

Alternatively, you can manually download the latest graphics driver version and install it directly from the official website respective to your graphics card manufacturer. Nvidia graphics card users can update the GeForce Experience app via the Nvidia official site. Meanwhile, AMD graphics card users can visit the AMD website.

3. Switch Between Display Modes

Make sure to switch between fullscreen borderless to windowed bordered display modes or vice versa from the in-game settings menu. It’ll help the game files to run smoothly depending on your screen resolution and PC specifications. You can try it out once. Some affected players got benefitted from this.

4. Run the game as an administrator

You should also run the Left 4 Dead 2 game executable file as an administrator to avoid user account control-related privilege issues. To do this:

Right-click on the Left 4 Dead 2 exe shortcut file on your PC.
Now, select Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.

Make sure to click on the Run this program as an administrator checkbox to checkmark it.
Click on Apply and select OK to save changes.

5. Close Background Running Tasks

Sometimes unnecessary background running tasks or programs can also consume a higher amount of CPU or Memory resources on the system, which may cause crashes, lags, stutters, FPS drops, etc., issues. To do that:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open up the Task Manager.
Now, click on the Processes tab > to select tasks unnecessarily running in the background and consuming enough system resources.
Click on End Task to close it > Do the same steps for all unnecessary tasks.
Once done, restart your system to apply changes.

6. Stop Background Downloads

The chances are high that you’re trying to download or install other game updates simultaneously, whatever client you’re using. It’s better to pause or stop other background downloads while launching and playing the Left 4 Dead 2 game on the client. Once you have finished your gameplay, you can continue downloading games or installing patch updates.

7. Switch to Auto Settings in Video

If you haven’t succeeded in fixing the frame drop issue, then make sure to switch to auto settings in video mode by following the steps below.

Press the Esc button on your keyboard in the gameplay.
Now, go to the in-game Settings menu > Click on Video.
Select Auto Settings > Make sure to resume the gameplay to cross-check whether the frame drops or lags are still appearing or not.
If the in-game lag or frame drops are still there, select All and try lowering the video settings from the game menu.

8. Set High Performance in Power Options

If, in case, your Windows system is running on the Balanced mode in Power Options, the system and hardware aren’t running to their full potential. You can simply set the High-Performance mode for the intense gameplay for better results. However, the high-performance mode will consume higher battery usage if you’re using a laptop. To do this:

Click on the Start Menu > Type Control Panel and click on it from the search result.
Now, go to Hardware and Sound > Select Power Options.
Click on High Performance to select it.
Make sure to close the window and fully shut down your computer. To do this, click on the Start Menu > Go to Power > Shut Down.
Once your computer is turned off, you can power it on again.

9. Contact Left 4 Dead 2 Support

If none of the methods worked for you, then contact Left 4 Dead 2’s Support for further help.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.