How to improve FPS in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PC)
The Witcher 3's 2022 Next-Gen update added ray tracing and new visual effects — but also introduced performance issues that many users didn't have with the original version. This guide covers both scenarios: how to get the most out of the Next-Gen version with DLSS/FSR, and why many players prefer the classic pre-NG version for better performance on mid-range hardware.
This is what you'd gain with a NVIDIA RTX 3060
Calculations based on our FPS model combined with the % gain of each setting (measured in public benchmarks). Calculate your exact FPS with your own hardware →
1. Quick wins (no visual loss)
Start here. Each one adds a little, but together they give +33% free FPS.
HairWorks
HairWorks is NVIDIA's technology for simulating dynamic hair. It costs 20-25% FPS and the visual payoff doesn't justify the price except on high-end GPUs. Always off on mid-range hardware.
Motion Blur
Aggressive motion blur in The Witcher 3. Off gives a sharper image during horseback exploration and combat.
Depth of Field
DoF in TW3 aggressively blurs the background during dialogue scenes. Off keeps the image sharp with no FPS cost.
Lens Flare
Lens flares when facing the sun. Off gives a cleaner image.
2. Medium impact settings
Here's where most of the FPS is. Minor visual impact, major performance impact.
Foliage Visibility Range
Foliage visibility range is the most CPU-impactful setting in The Witcher 3. Dropping from Ultra to Medium gives the biggest FPS jump in outdoor areas — where the game is heaviest.
Ray Traced Global Illumination
Ray Traced Global Illumination in TW3 NG is extremely expensive and the visual improvement over SSGI is marginal. Off unless you have an RTX 4070+ with DLSS active.
Global Illumination
SSGI (Screen Space Global Illumination) provides excellent lighting quality without the brutal RT cost. The correct choice for most hardware.
Ambient Occlusion
RTAO (Ray Traced Ambient Occlusion) is unnecessarily expensive in TW3. HBAO provides quality ambient occlusion at a fraction of the cost.
Shadow Distance
Shadow Distance in The Witcher 3 has real impact. Medium-High is the balance point between visual quality and performance.
3. Upscaling (DLSS / FSR / XeSS)
The biggest gain in the game. Compatible with almost any modern GPU.
DLSS Quality (NVIDIA RTX, actualización NG)
+30% FPSDLSS Quality in TW3 Next-Gen is practically mandatory if you want Ray Tracing. The DLSS Quality + RT Medium combination is the sweet spot for RTX 3060/3070.
FSR2 Quality (AMD y NVIDIA no-RTX)
+22% FPSFSR2 was added in the NG update. Works well for AMD. Not available in the classic version.
Versión Clásica (sin actualización NG)
+35% FPSPlaying the pre-NG version is itself a form of performance 'upscaling': it gives 30-40% more FPS than the NG version at equivalent settings. Ideal for AMD GPUs or hardware without RT.
4. Tips by GPU
NVIDIA
- •The sweet spot for RTX 30-series: DLSS Quality + RT Medium (not Ray Traced GI). Expect 70-90 FPS at 1080p with RTX 3060.
- •Ray Tracing Psycho (the maximum RT level) is only viable with RTX 4070+ and DLSS Quality.
- •If you have RTX 40-series, Frame Generation + DLSS Quality + RT Medium gives a smooth experience even at 1440p.
- •DLAA is an excellent option in TW3 if you have GPU headroom: better AA than native TAA.
AMD
- •For best AMD performance in TW3: play the classic pre-NG version or use FSR2 Quality in the NG version.
- •Ray Tracing on AMD is not worth it in TW3 NG — the game has a suboptimal RT implementation for AMD GPUs.
- •SAM (Smart Access Memory) gives 3-6% in TW3. Enable it in BIOS.
Sistema
- •The NG update stuttering is related to the asset streaming system. An NVMe SSD significantly reduces pauses during area transitions.
- •Novigrad remains the worst CPU bottleneck in TW3 — even in 2026. No setting eliminates it completely.
- •If you get GPU crashes with RT active: update drivers before changing anything else. It's the most common cause.
5. Known game issues
Stuttering introduced by the Next-Gen update
The 2022 NG update reworked the asset streaming system and caused stuttering in area transitions that didn't exist in the classic version. CDPR partially improved it in post-launch patches.
Estado: Improved in patches 4.0x (partial)
GPU crashes with Ray Tracing active
Some users with RT active experience crashes or black screens. The most effective fix is ensuring you have GPU drivers from the last 60 days.
Estado: Driver-dependent (always update)
CPU bottleneck in Novigrad
Novigrad, the game's main city, saturates the CPU even on modern hardware due to NPC and building density. Reducing Foliage Visibility Range and Crowd Density helps, but doesn't eliminate it.
6. Frequently asked questions
How many FPS does an RTX 3060 get in TW3?▾
Classic version or Next-Gen?▾
Is HairWorks worth it?▾
How do I enable DLSS in TW3?▾
Want to know exactly how many FPS YOUR PC will get?
Enter your GPU and CPU in our calculator and measure the real impact of each setting.
Calculations based on consensus of technical sources and our own FPS model. More about our methodology →