This may be obvious to everyone, but I noticed a very big improvement in graphics performance when I switched from an HDMI connection to a DisplayPort connection to my graphics card. Doing this enabled me to increase the resolution / refresh rate to 120hz to match my monitor.
This also fixed some issues I had with crashing. This was back before or right after the game was released, not sure if still relevant.
Well feel free to disagree, it’s not my priority to convince you of anything.
For others to be able to help you, you should post a more detailed list of your specs, programs you’re running, and what tweaks you’ve tried already.
The more info people have, the more likely someone can provide something useful.
For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re ever going to get that stable 120 FPS you wanted in the game’s current state.
60+ FPS in most areas is very possible (I think that’s what you have now?) but in outdoors areas the game runs significantly worse.
Couple that with areas like Plains of Strife that have a lot of fire, smoke and enemies on the screen, those areas just don’t run well.
I run a 5820k with a 970 and I get around 120-140 FPS during small fights, on average it’s about 90 FPS (disabled vsync to check, normally I have it on).
In Plains it drops to around 45-50 FPS at max activity but that’s still playable to me.
I keep the particles setting on low because I value visibility over flashy effects.
Maxing out all settings performance is worse but still above 60 FPS in all areas but the most taxing.
I don’t have new displayport connection yet, they were out of the cables in the store nearby, so I’m going with the adapter that came with the 1080Ti card. Its displayport->DVI and it cannot handle 120Hz unfortunately. This doesn’t explain the dips in fps however.
I made some new tests after installing the today released nvidia drivers, now the worst dip was 36 I think and it was only briefly, but still with vsync on from game options it was mostly 44-58 for general gameplay. ref: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=887840346
Then i disabled vsync and got a bit better results:
a brief dip to 39, otherwise mostly 58+: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=887839958
Mostly 58+: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=887839771
120: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=887839625
Settings: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=887840722 - additional information, i run a 2 monitor setup if that makes a difference
Still very choppy and the dips shouldn’t happen at all. In fact I’d actually expect a steady 120+ from a game looking like this.
Its not as bad as it was before, but still pretty bad. Have to test crucible later, due it being the primary means for getting ingame wealth.
Or you could be a bit more comprehensive and try to understand that Crate can’t do miracles, since they’re a small team, but they are always trying to improve performance with patches…
Oh, and while we’re at it, I’d recommend you to try to be a bit more mature next time as well… because calling people “a*shairs” or calling devs “lazy” will get you nowhere. 
DisplayPort could help you more than you think.
Dual monitor and windowed mode does make a difference. To eliminate the possibility that you are not getting 100% performance, try with a single monitor on fullscreen mode. Apps in real fullscreen mode get a higher priority. It could help you get a slight increase in performance.
34fps, particles low, soft particles off: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=887856831
I won’t, this is my setup. I rather not play this game. Thanks for the tip though.
I would like to see a screenshot of your video settings for Grim Dawn if we could. Do you mind doing that?
It was really just a suggestion for testing performance, to see if there is any big difference, not a suggestion to change your setup permanently.
Read up a couple of posts, please.
Ok I see it - didn’t realize I had to navigate your Steam uploads. My bad.
Put it in Fullscreen. You’re running it in Borderless Window (instantly reducing FPS across the board like it does for pretty much everyone, really).
Put your particles down from High. Those are particles that are slowing you down, clearly. Why are yours set to high since you’ve “tried everything” which you’ve implied you’ve done?
I think someone else suggested you to put it in Fullscreen mode and you refused - which sort of reduces your complaint if you aren’t willing to try that. That’s been a big deal for me ever since I began PC gaming is making sure a game isn’t windowed. That ALWAYS slows it down. And now you are saying you are at 36 FPS and not 24 after some suggestions? That’s good! Try my suggestions, too…
i play with like 60-150 fps with vsync off and gsync on. with mostly max settings, if not all.
i also play at 1440p
my specs are
I7 6700k @ 4.4ghz
GTX 1070 strix oc 2000mhz something
16 gig ram at 3200mhz
Acer Predator XB271HUA screen
Win 10 home
not sure if the fps is bad or good for these specs.
But if someone has simular specs and lower fps the problem is probably on their side and not on Grim Dawns.
This looks good to me. If OP reads this, gsync requires a DisplayPort connector I’m almost sure, and probably explains why his fps is so good. You also have to have a monitor that supports GSync.
gsync shouldnt improve fps tho right?
I check this thread as anything it had to do with performance.I really love this game the only bad about is its performance.I have made several tests with anything said here and more with both of my 2 systems witch have Nvdia and Randeon cards.(2500k 4,5 fx8320 4,3 290 1150/1500 1060/2000).
The game is very heavy on the the cpu on a single core only ,a mediocre card can max this game but some of the video setting affects cpu performance as shadow , lighting .By putting some of this to low you get a 10-20 more fps and that’s the only thing that got me some performance gain from everything i found on the web and test it.
I was thinking of upgrade to ryzen or 7700k mostly for this game but reading threads like this makes me reconsider my need to upgrade since i dont have any issue in other games.
p.s. some small gains also comes from displaying gore.
There is a screnshot with particles low and soft particles off in the previous page, fps is 34. And it doesn’t reduce my complain at all - this game is really bad technically.
The fact that I have any issues whatsoever with fps with my current setup with this game is pretty inexcusable for any reasonable person.
I’m familiar with g-sync and it wont help the fps certainly, its just a smoother version of vsync. Also: g-sync monitors are pretty expensive, like 200eur more on a comparable non-g-sync monitor on the range I’m consider now (2k/27"/144+Hz)
The technology is complicated and I don’t really understand it. If you read some threads on other forums, people seem to say that it helps significantly with variable fps problems in games. You should try using an HDMI cord (gsync won’t work) to see if you can feel the difference, I would love to know.
my friends tell me that their 144 herz stutter if their fps is unstable but still over 60 fps, they dont have gsync. they say that their fps jumps causes stutter or something.
For me everything over 60 is a joy.
but im probably biased, and ive never used a non gsync 144 herz so i might be compleatly wrong here
I"m in the Mamba camp. Constant 60 FPS with MAYBE a slight drop down to 55 FPS during high particle density fights.
980 ti
16 gigs RAM
intel i7 quad core 4.0 ghz.
Dunno what else to suggest.