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Best Subnautica 2 settings for the AMD R9 380 (4GB) (2026)

On a AMD R9 380 (4GB) (paired with a balanced Intel Core i5-8600K-class CPU), Subnautica 2 runs at roughly 61 FPS at 1080p with our optimized settings — up from about 27FPS with everything maxed. Here's the configuration and what each setting costs.

The AMD R9 380 (4GB) is a entry-level graphics card with 4GB of VRAM, and Subnautica 2 is a moderately demanding game. Paired with the Intel Core i5-8600K, it runs well at 1080p — about 61 FPS with FrameCoach's optimized settings, a clear jump from roughly 27 FPS with everything on High.

Across resolutions you can expect around 61 FPS at 1080p and 42 FPS at 1440p, dropping to roughly 24 FPS at 4K. The biggest free win is FSR upscaling — set it to Quality for a large FPS boost at little visual cost.

ResolutionAll-High FPSOptimized FPS
1080p2761
1440p1642
4K924
💡 Subnautica 2: Early-access Unreal Engine 5 - Lumen Global Illumination is the heaviest setting; upscaling helps a lot.
🚀 Biggest free win: enable FSR (Balanced) — about +55% FPS for a small sharpness trade.
Recommended settings
Upscaling — FSRBalanced+55% FPS
Subnautica 2 (Unity) supports Nvidia DLSS plus Frame Generation - there is currently no FSR for AMD/Intel. Enable it first for a big, low-cost FPS gain.
CloudsLow+16% FPS
Volumetric clouds above the surface - can drain ~20 FPS at Epic. Medium is a big saving with little loss.
Water & Caustics QualityLow+9% FPS
The shimmering light patterns and water detail that define the look. Medium keeps the vibe while saving frames.
Flora / Foliage DensityLow+7% FPS
Density of coral and plant life. Lower it for steadier FPS in dense reefs.
View / Detail DistanceMedium+5% FPS
How far terrain and props render. Lower it a notch first if you dip in open water.
Shadow QualityMedium+4% FPS
Shadow resolution and range. High is a strong step down from Epic.
Effects QualityMediumbaseline
Particles, bubbles and volumetrics. Medium is plenty.
Texture QualityHighbaseline
Surface detail — cheap on FPS if it fits your VRAM.

⚡ Fine-tune this for your exact CPU & target FPS →

🎯 Can the AMD R9 380 (4GB) run Subnautica 2? See the verdict →

Subnautica 2 on other GPUs
Other games on the AMD R9 380 (4GB)
Frequently asked

What FPS does the AMD R9 380 (4GB) get in Subnautica 2?

With FrameCoach's optimized balanced settings, the AMD R9 380 (4GB) averages around 61 FPS at 1080p in Subnautica 2 — up from about 27 FPS with everything on High.

Can the AMD R9 380 (4GB) run Subnautica 2 at 1440p?

At 1440p with optimized settings, the AMD R9 380 (4GB) averages roughly 42 FPS in Subnautica 2; turn on upscaling or aim for a locked 60 for the best feel.

What are the best Subnautica 2 settings for the AMD R9 380 (4GB)?

Turn on FSR (Balanced), keep ray tracing off for maximum FPS, and ease the heaviest options like Clouds and Water & Caustics Quality down a notch. The full per-setting breakdown is above.

FPS figures are estimates from a generalized model (hardware tier × game load × per-setting weights), not live benchmarks — real performance varies by scene, drivers and game version.