Introduction – Why FPS is Critical for Run‑and‑Gun Games

In competitive run‑and‑gun shooters, such as Doom, Warhammer 40K arena titles, or fast-paced tactical shooters, FPS (frames per second) directly impacts player performance and overall experience. High frame rates are essential for precise aiming, fast reactions, and smooth camera motion, all of which are critical in games where milliseconds can determine victory or defeat. Even minor dips in FPS or inconsistent 1% lows can lead to stuttering, delayed input response, and misaligned shots, creating a disadvantage against opponents with smoother systems. For professional or highly competitive players, understanding and optimizing FPS is not optional—it is a core aspect of gameplay strategy.

The RTX 5090, NVIDIA’s flagship high-end GPU, offers unprecedented raw processing power designed for ultra-high resolutions, high refresh rates, and GPU-intensive features such as Ray Tracing, DLSS 4, and Multi-Frame Generation. Its advanced architecture provides a high number of CUDA cores, RT cores, and Tensor cores, allowing complex rendering operations to occur in real-time without compromising performance. This makes the RTX 5090 uniquely suited for run‑and‑gun games, where maintaining consistent frame pacing and minimal latency is far more important than achieving purely cinematic visuals. The GPU’s AI-driven upscaling capabilities through DLSS 4 reduce rendering workload while boosting effective FPS, enabling high-speed combat to remain fluid even at 4K Ultra settings.

Latency and 1% lows are just as important as average FPS. While an average of 200 FPS sounds impressive, if the 1% lows dip below 120 FPS during critical moments, gameplay can feel choppy and unresponsive. Consistent frame-time delivery ensures that fast reflexes translate into accurate in-game actions, providing players with the responsiveness needed to dodge attacks, chain combos, or secure split-second eliminations. The RTX 5090, when properly tuned with control panel tweaks, in-game settings adjustments, and AI-assisted features, excels at minimizing frame variance, giving gamers smooth, predictable frame delivery essential for competitive success.

Ultimately, mastering FPS in run‑and‑gun games involves a system-wide approach. It is not enough to rely on raw GPU power; CPU efficiency, driver updates, system thermals, and background processes all play critical roles. Preparing the system, benchmarking baseline performance, and strategically applying NVIDIA’s optimization features ensures that the RTX 5090 delivers maximum FPS, low latency, and fluid gameplay, giving players the edge in even the most demanding fast-action scenarios. Understanding the interplay between FPS, frame consistency, and responsiveness is the foundation for competitive performance, making it the first step in any high-speed shooter optimization guide.

Preparing Your System for Max FPS

Before tuning in-game settings, enabling DLSS, or overclocking your RTX 5090, preparing your system is essential to achieve peak FPS and smooth performance in run‑and‑gun games. The GPU can only perform at its maximum potential if the rest of the system is optimized, including drivers, CPU load, background processes, and system thermals. A well-prepared system ensures that every frame rendered contributes to consistent, responsive gameplay, crucial for fast-paced shooters where milliseconds can mean victory or defeat.

The first step in system preparation is updating GPU drivers and firmware. Installing the latest NVIDIA Game Ready Drivers ensures full support for DLSS 4, Frame Generation, and Ray Tracing. GPU driver updates frequently include performance optimizations for popular titles, bug fixes, and enhancements for high-refresh gaming. Similarly, updating your motherboard BIOS and firmware can improve PCIe bandwidth, system stability, and reduce latency bottlenecks. For best results, use tools like Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to remove legacy drivers completely before installing the latest version, avoiding potential conflicts that could reduce FPS or cause stuttering.

Next, it is crucial to minimize background CPU and GPU load. High-intensity shooters are both CPU- and GPU-intensive; unnecessary processes like web browsers, streaming software, and Discord can consume valuable resources. Closing these applications frees up CPU cores for the game engine, allowing faster physics calculations, AI processing, and input response, while reducing VRAM pressure on the RTX 5090. Additionally, setting Windows to a High-Performance power plan and disabling non-essential services further ensures the system dedicates maximum resources to gameplay.

Establishing a baseline benchmark is another vital step. Running in-game benchmarks or tools like 3DMark and recording average FPS, 1% lows, and GPU utilization provides a reference point for measuring improvements after optimization. Baseline benchmarking also helps identify whether performance limitations are CPU-bound or GPU-bound, guiding tuning strategies such as control panel adjustments, resolution scaling, or overclocking.

Finally, ensuring proper thermal management is critical. Optimized case airflow, clean dust filters, and adequate cooling allow the RTX 5090 to maintain maximum boost clocks without thermal throttling, preserving FPS and frame-time consistency. Monitoring tools like MSI Afterburner or HWInfo64 can track GPU and CPU temperatures in real-time, allowing fine-tuning of fan curves and preventing overheating during extended gaming sessions.

By preparing your system—updating drivers, closing background processes, benchmarking, and ensuring thermal efficiency—you create the foundation for maximum FPS, low latency, and smooth, responsive gameplay. This preparation ensures that every optimization step, from in-game settings to overclocking and AI-assisted features, fully leverages the RTX 5090’s power for competitive run‑and‑gun shooters.

Optimal In-Game Graphics Settings for Run‑and‑Gun Combat

Achieving maximum FPS in fast-paced shooters requires balancing visual fidelity with frame rate stability. The RTX 5090 offers the horsepower to run ultra settings at high refresh rates, but even top-tier GPUs benefit from careful in-game tuning. Optimizing resolution, textures, shadows, and post-processing ensures responsive, stutter-free gameplay without sacrificing critical visual cues needed for competitive play.

---

1. Resolution & Refresh Rate

The choice of resolution and monitor refresh rate impacts FPS significantly:

Resolution	Recommended Usage	FPS Impact
1080p	Competitive high-refresh monitors (144–360Hz)	Highest FPS, minimal latency
1440p	Balanced competitive/visual quality	High FPS, medium VRAM load
4K	Cinematic visuals or high-end monitors	Demands GPU, DLSS 4 recommended

Tip: For run‑and‑gun games, prioritizing higher refresh rates over absolute resolution often yields a better competitive advantage.

---

2. Texture, Shadow & Lighting Presets

• Textures: Ultra for detailed environments, but lower if FPS dips in VRAM-heavy scenes.
• Shadows: High or Medium-High for clear visual cues, lower if GPU-bound.
• Lighting & Reflections: Medium-High maintains clarity while reducing unnecessary GPU load.

Consistent frame delivery relies on balancing visual clarity with resource-intensive effects.

---

3. Anti-Aliasing & Post-Processing

• Anti-Aliasing: Use TAA or DLSS 4’s built-in smoothing; avoid FXAA for competitive scenarios.
• Post-Processing Effects: Motion blur, film grain, or bloom can reduce responsiveness—disable for competitive FPS.
• V-Sync: Turn off with G-Sync/FreeSync enabled to avoid input lag.

Pointer: Minimal post-processing improves 1% lows and input responsiveness, critical for fast-paced combat.

---

4. Turning Off Unnecessary Visual Effects

• Volumetric fog, depth of field, and lens flare may look impressive but often drop FPS and obscure enemy positions.
• Particle effects can be reduced to maintain smooth frame-time consistency in chaotic combat scenes.
• HUD and UI optimizations: Keep essential elements visible for fast decision-making.

---

Summary Table – Recommended In-Game Settings for RTX 5090

Setting Category	Recommended Value	Notes
Resolution	1440p/4K	High refresh preferred for competitive FPS
Textures	Ultra	Lower only if VRAM usage spikes
Shadows	High/Medium-High	Balances clarity and FPS
Lighting/Reflections	Medium-High	Reduces GPU load without losing visual cues
Anti-Aliasing	DLSS 4/TAA	Smooth edges with minimal latency
Post-Processing	Minimal	Disable motion blur, film grain, lens effects
V-Sync	Off	Use G-Sync/FreeSync instead

---

By applying these settings, players can achieve high FPS, smooth 1% lows, and responsive gameplay, making the RTX 5090 ideal for run‑and‑gun shooters at ultra detail levels without compromising competitive performance.

NVIDIA Control Panel Tweaks

Optimizing the NVIDIA Control Panel is a key step in squeezing every frame out of the RTX 5090 for run‑and‑gun games. While in-game settings handle visual fidelity, control panel adjustments manage GPU performance, latency, and thermals at a system level. Fine-tuning these settings ensures consistent FPS, minimal stutter, and low input lag, critical for high-speed combat.

---

1. Power Management Mode

• Navigate to Manage 3D Settings → Global Settings → Power Management Mode.
• Set to “Prefer Maximum Performance” to prevent GPU downclocking during high-action sequences.
• This maintains stable core and memory clocks, ensuring frame-time consistency.
• Avoid adaptive or optimal power settings in competitive shooters—they may reduce FPS unpredictably.

---

2. Threaded Optimization

• Threaded Optimization: Enable to allow the GPU to efficiently manage multi-core CPU workloads.
• Helps games that offload physics or AI calculations to CPU cores while keeping the RTX 5090 fully utilized.
• Critical for run‑and‑gun titles with dense environments and fast action, ensuring 1% lows remain smooth.

---

3. Vertical Sync & Low-Latency Mode

• Vertical Sync (V-Sync): Turn off to eliminate input lag, especially with high-refresh monitors (144–360Hz).
• Low Latency Mode: Set to Ultra to minimize the time between input and frame display.
• Combined, these settings reduce perceived lag and improve responsiveness during quick combat movements.

---

4. GPU Scheduling Optimizations

• Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling: Enable to let the RTX 5090 manage frame queues independently, reducing driver overhead.
• Reduces CPU bottlenecks, improves frame-time stability, and can increase 1% lows.
• Works best when paired with latest Windows updates and drivers.

---

Quick Reference Table – Control Panel Settings for RTX 5090

Setting	Recommended Value	Benefit
Power Management Mode	Prefer Maximum Performance	Stable core/memory clocks
Threaded Optimization	On	Smooth CPU-GPU workload handling
Vertical Sync	Off	Eliminates input lag
Low Latency Mode	Ultra	Faster frame delivery
GPU Scheduling	Hardware-Accelerated	Reduced CPU bottleneck, better 1% lows

---

Key Pointers

• Apply Global Settings for overall system consistency but Program Settings for game-specific tweaks.
• After changing settings, run a benchmark to ensure FPS improvements and frame stability.
• These tweaks complement in-game optimizations and DLSS 4/Frame Generation, maximizing the RTX 5090’s performance for run‑and‑gun shooters.

Enabling DLSS 4 & Frame Generation for FPS Boost

In competitive run‑and‑gun games, high FPS and smooth frame delivery are as important as resolution and textures. The RTX 5090 supports DLSS 4 and Multi-Frame Generation (MFG), which leverage AI to upscale frames and insert intermediate frames for fluid gameplay without overloading the GPU. Proper configuration ensures responsive combat, minimal stutter, and consistent 1% lows, even during intense action sequences.

---

Step 1: Selecting the Right DLSS 4 Mode

DLSS 4 uses AI to render fewer pixels and upscale images with minimal quality loss. Choose a mode based on performance needs:

• Performance Mode: Maximizes FPS for high-refresh monitors (144–360Hz). Ideal for competitive shooters.
• Balanced Mode: Provides a balance between visual fidelity and FPS, great for 4K Ultra settings.
• Quality Mode: Focuses on visual quality, slightly reducing FPS. Better for cinematic gameplay than competitive matches.

Tip: Competitive players should use Performance or Balanced mode to maintain smooth, high-speed gameplay.

---

Step 2: Enabling Frame Generation

Frame Generation (MFG) enhances perceived FPS by inserting AI-generated frames between rendered frames. Benefits include:

• Smoother motion during high-intensity combat.
• Reduced micro-stutters in 1440p and 4K with high-refresh monitors.
• Allows DLSS 4 to maintain image quality while FPS increases effectively.

Pointer: Monitor GPU load while enabling MFG to ensure thermals remain safe and no frame drops occur in complex scenes.

---

Step 3: Monitoring Performance Metrics

Using tools like MSI Afterburner or RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS), track:

• Average FPS – overall performance indicator.
• 1% lows – worst-case frame rate, critical for smooth perception.
• Frame times – consistency ensures responsive gameplay.

If 1% lows drop significantly, consider reducing heavy post-processing effects or slightly lowering ray tracing.

---

Quick Reference Table – Recommended Settings

Feature	Setting	Purpose
DLSS 4	Performance / Balanced	Boost FPS via AI upscaling
Frame Generation	Enabled	Smooths frames, reduces stutter
GPU Monitoring	MSI Afterburner / RTSS	Track FPS, 1% lows, frame-time
Adjustments	Post-processing / Shadows	Prevents FPS dips in complex scenes

---

Key Tips

• Enable DLSS 4 first, then add Frame Generation for maximum efficiency.
• Combine with optimized in-game graphics and Control Panel tweaks for best results.
• Benchmark before and after adjustments to quantify FPS gains.
• Maintain safe GPU temperatures to avoid throttling during extended sessions.

Properly configured, DLSS 4 and Frame Generation allow the RTX 5090 to deliver high FPS, stable frame pacing, and smooth, competitive gameplay, even at 4K Ultra settings in run‑and‑gun shooters.

Safe RTX 5090 Overclocking for Run‑and‑Gun Games

Overclocking the RTX 5090 can unlock extra FPS and smoother frame times in run‑and‑gun shooters, but it must be done carefully to avoid instability, overheating, or hardware damage. Unlike standard in-game tweaks, overclocking directly increases the GPU’s core and memory clocks, potentially boosting performance by 5–15%, depending on resolution and game intensity. Safety and monitoring are paramount for extended competitive sessions.

---

1. Understanding Overclocking Basics

• Core Clock: Controls the GPU’s processing speed. Incremental boosts improve frame rate.
• Memory Clock: Increases VRAM bandwidth for heavy textures and high-res rendering.
• Power Limit: Setting a safe power limit prevents spikes that could destabilize the system.
• Thermal Thresholds: Core temperature should remain below 80°C, hotspot under 95°C for sustained sessions.

Overclocking too aggressively can lead to artifacting, crashes, or thermal throttling, reducing FPS instead of improving it.

---

2. Step-by-Step Safe Overclocking Procedure

1. Benchmark Baseline FPS: Record average FPS, 1% lows, and temperatures using MSI Afterburner.
2. Incremental Core Clock Increase: +25 MHz at a time, testing stability with stress tools (e.g., 3DMark, Heaven).
3. Memory Clock Adjustment: +50 MHz increments, testing in VRAM-heavy sections.
4. Power Limit & Voltage Tweaks: Set power limit to 105–110%, avoid increasing voltage beyond safe manufacturer limits.
5. Stress Test: Run extended gaming or benchmarking sessions to confirm stability before competitive play.

---

3. Fan Curve and Thermal Management

Creating an optimized fan curve allows higher clock speeds without overheating:

• Aggressive Ramp-Up: Fans spin faster as GPU temperature approaches 70°C.
• Silent Idle: Low fan speeds under light loads to reduce noise.
• Monitoring Tools: MSI Afterburner or HWInfo64 to track temperature, load, and fan RPM.

Proper thermal management prevents throttling, keeping frame times consistent during high-action sequences.

Troubleshooting FPS Drops and Stutter

Even with a fully optimized RTX 5090 and high-refresh settings, FPS drops and stuttering can occur in run‑and‑gun games. Identifying the root cause—whether GPU, CPU, software, or thermal—ensures consistent frame-time delivery and responsive gameplay. Effective troubleshooting combines monitoring, targeted adjustments, and systematic testing.

---

1. Detecting Bottlenecks

FPS drops may originate from either the GPU or CPU:

• GPU Bottleneck: High VRAM usage, elevated core/memory clock, or excessive ray tracing settings. Symptoms include high GPU load (90–100%) and thermal throttling.
• CPU Bottleneck: Occurs when average FPS dips despite GPU headroom. Check CPU utilization (90–100%) during intense combat.
• Tools for Monitoring: MSI Afterburner, HWInfo64, and RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS).

Pinpointing whether the GPU or CPU is the limiting factor is critical before making adjustments.

---

2. Addressing Driver and Software Conflicts

• Update NVIDIA Drivers: Ensure the latest Game Ready Drivers are installed.
• Clean Driver Install: Use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) to remove residual files.
• Background Processes: Close applications consuming CPU/GPU resources (browsers, streaming software, Discord).

Often, FPS drops are caused by software conflicts, not hardware limitations.

---

3. Managing Thermal Issues

Even the RTX 5090 can throttle under high thermal loads:

Symptom	Cause	Solution
Sudden FPS dip	GPU core >80°C / Hotspot >95°C	Adjust fan curve, improve airflow
Stuttering in dense scenes	VRAM maxed out	Lower texture/shadow settings or enable DLSS 4
Micro-stutter	Inconsistent GPU clocks	Use “Prefer Maximum Performance” in Control Panel

• Maintain adequate airflow and clean dust from fans/radiators.
• Use MSI Afterburner to create an aggressive yet quiet fan profile.

---

4. Resetting and Testing Stable Settings

If issues persist:

• Roll back overclocking to baseline stable values.
• Revert in-game graphics settings to recommended RTX 5090 presets.
• Run a benchmark or stress test to verify frame-time consistency and average FPS.

Systematic rollback ensures you identify the configuration causing instability without risking hardware.

---

5. Key Pointers

• Prioritize 1% lows and frame-time stability over raw FPS.
• Combine driver updates, thermal management, and control panel tweaks for comprehensive fixes.
• Test performance after each change—don’t make multiple adjustments at once.
• Use monitoring tools to track GPU/CPU load, VRAM usage, and thermal headroom during troubleshooting.

Effective troubleshooting guarantees that the RTX 5090 maintains smooth, stutter-free, high-FPS performance, critical for competitive run‑and‑gun gameplay.