April 21, 2026 8:33 PM PDT
1. Identify Your Bottleneck
After running Benchmark Mode (found under the Graphics tab in Settings), a performance graph appears. Here’s how to read it:
- GPU Bottleneck:
If the yellow GPU dots are below the blue CPU dots—or if the "GPU Limited" percentage is near 100%—your graphics card is the limiting factor. Your GPU is struggling to keep up with the game’s visuals.
- CPU Bottleneck:
If the blue CPU dots are below the yellow GPU dots, your processor can’t keep up with the game’s simulation. This is common when trying to hit high refresh rates like 120Hz or 144Hz.
Knowing whether your CPU or GPU is the bottleneck tells you which settings to adjust first.
2. Optimize Based on Benchmark Data
Once you know your bottleneck, tweak the settings that affect your hardware the most:
If GPU Limited:
- Lower heavy graphics settings:
Focus on Reflection Quality, Shadow Quality, and Ray Tracing. Even dropping reflections from High to Medium can add 15–20 FPS.
- Enable upscaling technologies:
Use DLSS (Nvidia) or FSR (AMD) to render at a lower resolution and upscale without losing much visual quality.
If CPU Limited:
- Reduce CPU-heavy settings:
Options like World Car Detail or Destructible Objects can free up processing power.
- Close background apps:
Open Task Manager and shut down unnecessary programs to give your CPU more room.
3. Fix Common FPS Bugs
Sometimes your benchmark shows high FPS, but in-game feels sluggish. Try these fixes:
- V-Sync & Refresh Rate Issues:
Some players report FPS locking at 30 or 60 due to V-Sync bugs. Set your refresh rate to Non-Variable in Windows before launching, or toggle V-Sync off in-game.
- Disable Fullscreen Optimizations:
Right-click the game’s .exe → Properties → Compatibility → check Disable fullscreen optimizations. This often solves random stutters.
- Update or Reinstall Drivers:
Make sure you have the latest Game Ready drivers from NVIDIA or AMD. Persistent problems? Use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) for a clean reinstall.
By following these steps, you can use Benchmark Mode to quickly see what’s holding your FPS back and optimize Forza Horizon 6 for a smoother, more responsive ride. Even high-end PCs sometimes need a little fine-tuning to hit the sweet spot between visuals and performance.
1. Identify Your Bottleneck
After running Benchmark Mode (found under the Graphics tab in Settings), a performance graph appears. Here’s how to read it:
- GPU Bottleneck:
If the yellow GPU dots are below the blue CPU dots—or if the "GPU Limited" percentage is near 100%—your graphics card is the limiting factor. Your GPU is struggling to keep up with the game’s visuals.
- CPU Bottleneck:
If the blue CPU dots are below the yellow GPU dots, your processor can’t keep up with the game’s simulation. This is common when trying to hit high refresh rates like 120Hz or 144Hz.
Knowing whether your CPU or GPU is the bottleneck tells you which settings to adjust first.
2. Optimize Based on Benchmark Data
Once you know your bottleneck, tweak the settings that affect your hardware the most:
If GPU Limited:
- Lower heavy graphics settings:
Focus on Reflection Quality, Shadow Quality, and Ray Tracing. Even dropping reflections from High to Medium can add 15–20 FPS.
- Enable upscaling technologies:
Use DLSS (Nvidia) or FSR (AMD) to render at a lower resolution and upscale without losing much visual quality.
If CPU Limited:
- Reduce CPU-heavy settings:
Options like World Car Detail or Destructible Objects can free up processing power.
- Close background apps:
Open Task Manager and shut down unnecessary programs to give your CPU more room.
3. Fix Common FPS Bugs
Sometimes your benchmark shows high FPS, but in-game feels sluggish. Try these fixes:
- V-Sync & Refresh Rate Issues:
Some players report FPS locking at 30 or 60 due to V-Sync bugs. Set your refresh rate to Non-Variable in Windows before launching, or toggle V-Sync off in-game.
- Disable Fullscreen Optimizations:
Right-click the game’s .exe → Properties → Compatibility → check Disable fullscreen optimizations. This often solves random stutters.
- Update or Reinstall Drivers:
Make sure you have the latest Game Ready drivers from NVIDIA or AMD. Persistent problems? Use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) for a clean reinstall.
By following these steps, you can use Benchmark Mode to quickly see what’s holding your FPS back and optimize Forza Horizon 6 for a smoother, more responsive ride. Even high-end PCs sometimes need a little fine-tuning to hit the sweet spot between visuals and performance.