Buzz
Cyberpunk 2077 is an incredibly demanding title that will drastically reduce your frame rates (FPS) if you aim to enjoy its full ray tracing, high-resolution, and breathtaking visuals. Xbox One and PlayStation 4 players, my condolences; you’re likely struggling. PC gamers aren’t exempt either, but at least we can track the performance impact with a real-time FPS overlay.
For instance, if you bought Cyberpunk 2077 from GOG and are running it on Windows, you can usually press Shift+CTRL+Tab to activate GOG Galaxy’s FPS counter. If this doesn’t work, you’ll need to explore alternative solutions, and luckily, there are plenty of choices available.
The most straightforward FPS counter is built into Windows 10. Activate Game Mode by pressing Windows Key+G, and you’ll see a “performance” widget. After granting the required permissions and restarting your system, this feature will display a convenient FPS counter and a performance graph.
Utilize the pin icon to keep it visible during gameplay, though it might become slightly distracting.
How to Activate an FPS Counter in Steam
Naturally, numerous other applications can also provide an FPS counter. If you’re playing a game downloaded from Steam, simply activate the overlay by navigating to Steam > Settings > In-Game:
Ensure the in-game FPS counter is enabled and choose its display location. Once set up, it will appear like this during your gameplay:
If you didn’t buy the game on Steam but still want to use Steam’s overlay to monitor your FPS, install the game as usual. Then, manually add it to Steam by going to Games > Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library. Once added, you’ll be able to access the Steam overlay and track your frame rates.
How to Activate an FPS Counter in AMD/Nvidia’s Applications
If you have AMD’s Radeon software or Nvidia’s GeForce Experience installed, you can enable in-game FPS counters through these apps. While I don’t have an AMD card to demonstrate the process, this video effectively guides you to the “Metrics Overlay” option in AMD’s Adrenalin software, located under the “Performance” tab, which allows you to display an in-game FPS counter.
Additionally, ensure your games are running in full-screen mode rather than windowed mode for the overlay to display correctly.
In Nvidia’s GeForce Experience, open the app’s general Settings and confirm that the in-game overlay is enabled.
Next, click the Settings button, navigate to HUD Layout > FPS Counter, and activate it. It’s that simple, and it will appear like this during gameplay:
Alternative Methods to Display FPS Counters in Your Games
Numerous other applications can provide an FPS counter for your favorite games, along with additional details about your system or graphics card. The well-known Fraps is one option—ideal for capturing quick gameplay screenshots, though it’s not optimized for recordings as it hasn’t been updated since 2013. Many users recommend Rivatuner and MSI Afterburner, versatile tools for adding informative overlays to your games, as well as Razer’s third-party software, Cortex. Your graphics card manufacturer might also offer a proprietary app, like EVGA’s Precision X1, for creating custom overlays.
Additionally, some games come with a built-in FPS counter, eliminating the need for external applications. Explore your game’s settings, particularly under “Video” or “Graphics,” to see if this feature is available.
If you’re fortunate, your game might include a benchmarking feature, allowing you to assess your system’s performance without relying on an on-screen counter. However, having that FPS number discreetly displayed in a corner can be incredibly useful, especially when evaluating how specific in-game moments push your system to its limits.
