Fix: Team Fortress 2 Low FPS Drops on PC | Increase Performance

Team Fortress 2, a free-to-play multiplayer hero shooter video game developed by Valve Corporation, has garnered a massive following since its release in 2007. As a sequel to the original Team Fortress mod for Quake (1996) and its remake Team Fortress Classic (1999), the game offers an array of updated game modes, maps, equipment, and a wide range of abilities, keeping players engaged for years. Despite its enduring popularity, Team Fortress 2 still encounters some common issues, with low FPS or Frame rate dropping among the most prevalent.

Suppose you are also experiencing frame rate drops and stutters while playing Team Fortress 2 on your PC. In that case, there are several troubleshooting steps that you can follow to increase performance and resolve this issue. You should follow this guide thoroughly to overcome the problem and enjoy the game smoothly.

Fix Team Fortress 2 Low FPS Drops on PC | Increase Performance

We’ve provided all the possible workarounds below that should be handy for you. 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 suggest you check out the game’s system requirements and PC specifications properly before jumping to conclusions. Here we’ve mentioned the minimum and recommended system requirements for this title.

Minimum Requirements:

OS: Windows 7 (32/64-bit)/Vista/XP
Processor: 1.7 GHz Processor or better
Memory: 512 MB RAM
DirectX: Version 8.1
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 15 GB available space

Recommended Requirements:

OS: Windows 7 (32/64-bit)
Processor: Pentium 4 processor (3.0GHz, or better)
Memory: 1 GB RAM
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 15 GB available space

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.
An update will automatically download and install the latest version if available.
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 official site. Meanwhile, AMD graphics card users can visit the AMD website.

3. Switch Between Display Modes

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

To avoid user account control-related privilege issues, you should run the Team Fortress 2 executable game file as an administrator. To do this:

Right-click on the Team Fortress 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 more CPU or Memory resources on the system, which may cause crashes, lags, stutters, FPS drops, etc. 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 Team Fortress 2 game on the client. Once you finish 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 > Resume the gameplay to cross-check whether the frame drops or lags still appear.
If the in-game lag or frame drops remain, 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 set the High-Performance mode for intense gameplay for better results. However, the high-performance mode will consume higher battery usage if you use 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 Team Fortress 2 Support

If none of the methods worked for you, contact Team Fortress 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.