All setups Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU)Subnautica 2

Best Subnautica 2 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), Subnautica 2 runs at roughly 8 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 Subnautica 2 is a moderately demanding game. Paired with the Intel Core i5-8600K, it is a real challenge at 1080p — about 8 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 8 FPS at 1080p and 5 FPS at 1440p, dropping to roughly 3 FPS at 4K. The biggest free win is XeSS upscaling — set it to Quality for a large FPS boost at little visual cost.

ResolutionAll-High FPSOptimized FPS
1080p38
1440p25
4K13
💡 Subnautica 2: Early-access Unreal Engine 5 - Lumen Global Illumination is the heaviest setting; upscaling helps a lot.
🚀 Biggest free win: enable XeSS (Balanced) — about +55% FPS for a small sharpness trade.
Recommended settings
Upscaling — XeSSBalanced+55% FPS
Subnautica 2 is built on Unreal Engine 5 and supports upscaling. Enable it first for a big, low-cost FPS gain.
Global Illumination (Lumen)Low+18% FPS
UE5 Lumen lighting — the single heaviest setting underwater. Medium is a big saving over Epic with little visible difference in murky depths.
View / Detail DistanceLow+10% FPS
How far terrain and props render. Lower it a notch first if you dip in open water.
Shadow QualityLow+9% FPS
Shadow resolution and range. High is a strong step down from Epic.
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.
Effects QualityLow+5% FPS
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 Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU) run Subnautica 2? See the verdict →

Subnautica 2 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 Subnautica 2?

With FrameCoach's optimized balanced settings, the Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU) averages around 8 FPS at 1080p in Subnautica 2 — up from about 3 FPS with everything on High.

Can the Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU) run Subnautica 2 at 1440p?

At 1440p with optimized settings, the Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU) averages roughly 5 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 Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge iGPU)?

Turn on XeSS (Balanced), keep ray tracing off for maximum FPS, and ease the heaviest options like Global Illumination (Lumen) and View / Detail Distance 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.