Can Fallout 4 Run at 120fps? A Guide
When it comes to enjoying a smooth gaming experience, frame rate is a critical factor. Fallout 4, a popular action-RPG, is no exception. In this article, we’ll delve into whether Fallout 4 can run at 120fps, and what you need to know to achieve this demanding frame rate.
Short Answer: No, Fallout 4 is Not Natively Capable of Running at 120fps
Unfortunately, Fallout 4 is not designed to run at 120fps without some tweaks and modifications. The game’s engine and architecture are not optimized to handle such a high frame rate, which means it will not run smoothly without some adjustments.
Reasons Why Fallout 4 is Not Optimized for 120fps
Here are some reasons why Fallout 4 is not optimized for 120fps:
• Engine Limitations: Fallout 4 uses a 60Hz fixed renderable and non-update-able dynamic lighting, which makes it difficult to achieve high frame rates.
• High-End Graphics: Fallout 4’s graphics engine is designed to handle demanding graphics, which requires processing power. This means it’s not optimized for the high frame rates required to run at 120fps.
• Physics Engine: The game’s physics engine is also not designed to handle the increased calculations required to run at 120fps.
Getting Fallout 4 to Run at 120fps – The Solution
While the game is not natively capable of running at 120fps, there are ways to achieve this higher frame rate. Here’s what you need to know:
• F4SE (Fallout 4 Script Extender): This mod allows for script modification, which is essential for achieving higher frame rates. F4SE can be used to inject custom scripts that optimize rendering, physics, and AI.
• High-FPS Physics Fix: This mod reduces the physics updates to a lower frequency, allowing for a higher frame rate. This fix ensures that physics are updated regularly, but not as often as the game’s dynamic lighting.
• Shader Mods: Shader mods can be used to optimize and reduce the number of draws, allowing for a smoother frame rate.
Required Hardware for Running Fallout 4 at 120fps
To run Fallout 4 at 120fps, you’ll need some serious hardware. Here’s a rough estimate of what you’ll need:
- CPU: Intel Core i9-9900K or AMD Ryzen 9 3900X (or higher)
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (or higher)
- Memory: 16 GB (or more) of RAM
- Storage: Fast storage, such as an NVMe SSD or a high-performance hard drive
Conclusion
Achieving 120fps on Fallout 4 requires careful tweaking and modification of the game’s engine and code. While it’s possible to run the game at this frame rate, it’s not without its drawbacks. The game’s dynamic lighting and physics engine make it challenging to achieve, and you’ll need a very high-performance gaming system to run it smoothly.
For those willing to put in the effort, there are mods and tweaks available that can help you achieve the smoothest gaming experience. However, for most users, running Fallout 4 at 60fps or lower will provide a seamless and enjoyable experience.
| Mod | Description | Frames Per Second (FPS) Gain |
|---|---|---|
| F4SE (Fallout 4 Script Extender) | Allows script modification | 10-20 FPS |
| High-FPS Physics Fix | Reduces physics updates to a lower frequency | 10-20 FPS |
| Shader Mods | Optimizes and reduces the number of draws | 20-30 FPS |
I hope this article has given you a deeper understanding of why Fallout 4 is not optimized for 120fps and how you can work around these limitations to achieve a smoother gaming experience.