Record a useful baseline
Note the CPU, GPU, memory, resolution, quality settings, build, location, time of day and frame rate. Compare changes along the same route and at the same time so that lighting and scene changes do not masquerade as a performance improvement.
The listed PC minimums include Windows 11, 16 GB RAM, Ryzen 5 3600X or Core i5-9600K, RTX 2060 or RX 5600 XT, and 30 GB storage. Meeting minimums does not guarantee 60 FPS at every resolution and quality setting.
Follow the symptom
| Symptom | Next check |
|---|---|
| FSR seems unchanged after selecting it | Select TSR, then switch back to FSR; this is the 1.3 workaround for that switching issue |
| Drops near sunset at particular locations | Keep time and location fixed for comparisons; this is a listed known issue |
| Repeated AMD crashes since 1.1 | Treat it as a crash problem, separate from ordinary low frame rate |
| GPU crash after Alt-Tab during reserve loading | Record the loading and Alt-Tab sequence rather than applying a generic FPS claim |
| Multiplayer lag or desynchronization | Check the session issue separately from graphics performance |
Old Demo configuration problems
Old Demo configuration can cause resolution or interface problems. Back up custom settings before resetting configuration for those symptoms. Config and SaveGames are separate folders; a settings problem is not a reason to delete progress.
Check whether a change helped
Make one relevant change, repeat the baseline scene and compare frame rate and frame-time consistency. A settings guide recorded in Early Access or on different hardware is not a universal “best settings” preset. Use the measurements from your fixed-scene comparison to decide which settings to keep.