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Best Returnal settings for the Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU) (2026)

On a Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU) (paired with a balanced Intel Core i5-8600K-class CPU), Returnal runs at roughly 6 FPS at 1080p with our optimized settings — up from about 3FPS with everything maxed. Here's the configuration and what each setting costs.

The Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU) is a entry-level graphics card with 2GB of VRAM, and Returnal is a demanding, graphically heavy game. Paired with the Intel Core i5-8600K, it is a real challenge at 1080p — about 6 FPSwith FrameCoach's optimized settings. That already clears a smooth frame rate on High, so our tuning keeps the visuals as high as possible instead of chasing extra frames.

Across resolutions you can expect around 6 FPS at 1080p and 4 FPS at 1440p, dropping to roughly 2 FPS at 4K. Returnal offers ray tracing, but the Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU) isn't built for it, so we leave it off. With only 2GB of VRAM, keep textures a notch below max in Returnal at higher resolutions to avoid stutter. The biggest free win is XeSS upscaling — set it to Quality for a large FPS boost at little visual cost.

ResolutionAll-High FPSOptimized FPS
1080p36
1440p24
4K12
🚀 Biggest free win: enable XeSS (Balanced) — about +55% FPS for a small sharpness trade.
Recommended settings
Upscaling — XeSSBalanced+55% FPS
Returnal (Unreal Engine 4) supports DLSS, FSR and Nvidia frame generation - a big help with its heavy effects.
Ray Tracing (Reflections / Shadows)Offsaves FPS
Ray-traced reflections and shadows. Heavy in a fast bullet-hell shooter - keep Off for high FPS.
Effects QualityLow+11% FPS
Bullet-hell particles and explosions - the heaviest setting given how much fills the screen. High smooths intense fights.
Shadow QualityLow+9% FPS
Shadow resolution and range. High is the value pick.
Post ProcessingLow+6% FPS
Bloom, motion blur and depth of field. Cheap; set to taste.
Foliage QualityLow+5% FPS
Alien plant density on Atropos. A small, safe gain when lowered.
View DistanceLow+5% FPS
How far detail renders before fading. Mild pop-in when lowered.
Anti-AliasingOff+4% FPS
Edge smoothing. Medium/High keeps the image clean cheaply.
Texture QualityEpic-1% FPS
Surface sharpness - cheap if it fits your VRAM.

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

🎯 Can the Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU) run Returnal? See the verdict →

Returnal on other GPUs
Other games on the Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU)
Frequently asked

What FPS does the Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU) get in Returnal?

With FrameCoach's optimized balanced settings, the Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU) averages around 6 FPS at 1080p in Returnal — up from about 3 FPS with everything on High.

Can the Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU) run Returnal at 1440p?

At 1440p with optimized settings, the Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU) averages roughly 4 FPS in Returnal; turn on upscaling or aim for a locked 60 for the best feel.

What are the best Returnal settings for the Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU)?

Turn on XeSS (Balanced), keep ray tracing off for maximum FPS, and ease the heaviest options like Effects Quality and Shadow 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.