The Forest Low FPS Drops on PC: In April 2018, Endnight Games Ltd released an open-world survival crafting game known as ‘The Forest.’ The PC version has garnered an impressive number of positive reviews on Steam. However, many players have encountered issues with low frame rates and performance drops during gameplay.
If you are experiencing similar frame rate fluctuations and stuttering on your PC, you are not alone in this challenge. To help you enhance your gaming experience, we recommend following this comprehensive troubleshooting guide to effectively address these performance issues.
The Forest Low FPS Drops on PC | Increase Performance: How to FIX
Below, we have outlined various potential solutions that may assist you in resolving your issue. Please follow each method sequentially until your problem is fully addressed. Let’s get started without further delay.
1. Check System Requirements
Compatibility problems related to your PC’s specifications are often the root cause of these issues. Therefore, it’s advisable to thoroughly compare the game’s system requirements with your PC’s specifications before reaching any conclusions.
Below, we have outlined both the minimum and recommended system requirements for this title to assist you.
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT
- DirectX: Version 9.0
- Storage: 5 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX-compatible
- Additional Notes: 32bit windows users need to ensure they have at least 4GB of ram usable on their system.
Recommended System Requirements:
- OS: Windows 7
- Processor: Quad-Core Processor
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560
- DirectX: Version 9.0
- Storage: 5 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX-compatible
2. Update Graphics Drivers
To ensure optimal performance for games and other graphics-heavy applications, it’s advisable to regularly check for updates to your graphics drivers. Here’s how you can do this:
- 1. Begin by right-clicking the Start Menu to access the Quick Access Menu.
- 2. Select ‘Device Manager‘ from the options presented.
- 3. Locate and expand the ‘Display adapters’ section by double-clicking it.
- 4. Find your dedicated graphics card in the list, right-click on its name.
- 5. Click on ‘Update driver‘ and then select ‘Search automatically for drivers’.
If an update is available, your system will automatically download and install the latest version. After the installation is complete, be sure to restart your computer to apply the changes.
Alternatively, you can visit the official website of your graphics card manufacturer to manually download and install the latest driver. For users with Nvidia graphics cards, the GeForce Experience app can be updated through the Nvidia website. AMD graphics card users can similarly check for updates on the AMD website.
3. Switch Between Display Modes
To optimize game performance based on your monitor’s resolution and your computer’s specifications, consider toggling between fullscreen borderless and windowed bordered display modes in the in-game settings menu. This adjustment may enhance the smoothness of gameplay. It’s worth trying, as some players have reported positive results from this change.
4. Run the game as an administrator
To prevent any privilege-related issues linked to User Account Control while playing The Forest, it is advisable to execute the game as an administrator. Here’s how you can do that:
- 1. Locate the shortcut for The Forest executable file on your computer and right-click on it.
- 2. From the context menu, choose ‘Properties.’
- 3. Navigate to the ‘Compatibility‘ tab.
- 4. Ensure you tick the box next to ‘Run this program as an administrator.’
- 5. Finally, click ‘Apply‘ and then ‘OK’ to implement the changes.
This will help ensure a smoother gaming experience.
5. Close Background Running Tasks
Unwanted background processes or applications can significantly drain your CPU and memory resources, potentially leading to system slowdowns, crashes, and other performance issues like lag and frame rate drops. To address this, follow these steps:
- 1. Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- 2. Navigate to the Processes tab, where you can identify tasks that are running in the background and consuming excessive resources.
- 3. Select any unnecessary tasks and click on “End Task” to terminate them.
- 4. Repeat this process for each task that you deem unnecessary.
- 5. After you’ve finished closing these tasks, restart your computer to ensure that the changes take effect.
6. Stop Background Downloads
It’s likely that you are attempting to download or install game updates concurrently with your current client. To ensure optimal performance while playing The Forest, it’s advisable to pause or halt any background downloads.
This will help enhance your gaming experience. After you finish your session, you can resume downloading games or installing updates without any issues.
7. Switch to Auto Settings in Video
If you’re still experiencing frame drop issues, try switching to automatic video settings by following these steps:
- 1. While in gameplay, press the Esc key on your keyboard.
- 2. Navigate to the in-game Settings menu and select Video.
- 3. Choose the Auto Settings option.
- 4. Resume your gameplay to check if the frame drops or lag persist.
If you continue to encounter lag or frame drops, consider selecting ‘All’ and reducing the video settings within the game menu for a smoother experience.
8. Set High Performance in Power Options
If your Windows system is currently set to Balanced mode in Power Options, it may not be utilizing the full potential of your hardware.
For a more optimized gaming experience, consider switching to High-Performance mode, which can enhance system performance during gameplay. Keep in mind that this mode may lead to increased battery consumption if you’re on a laptop.
To make this change, follow these steps:
- 1. Open the Start Menu and type “Control Panel” in the search bar, then click on it from the results.
- 2. Navigate to the Hardware and Sound section, and then select Power Options.
- 3. Click on the High Performance option to activate it.
- 4. After making this adjustment, be sure to close the window and completely shut down your computer. You can do this by clicking on the Start Menu, selecting Power, and then choosing Shut Down.
- 5. Once your system has powered off completely, you can turn it back on.
By switching to High-Performance mode, you’ll likely experience improved gameplay, but keep an eye on your battery life if you’re using a laptop.
9. Contact The Forest Support
Should none of the suggested solutions resolve your issue, we recommend reaching out to The Forest’s Support team for additional assistance.
We hope you found this guide useful. If you have any further questions, feel free to leave a comment below.