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Best Elden Ring settings for the NVIDIA GTX 960M (laptop, 4GB) (2026)

On a NVIDIA GTX 960M (laptop, 4GB) (paired with a balanced Intel Core i5-8600K-class CPU), Elden Ring runs at roughly 33 FPS at 1080p with our optimized settings — up from about 16FPS with everything maxed. Here's the configuration and what each setting costs.

The NVIDIA GTX 960M (laptop, 4GB) is a entry-level graphics card with 4GB of VRAM, and Elden Ring is a moderately demanding game. Paired with the Intel Core i5-8600K, it is a real challenge at 1080p — about 33 FPS with FrameCoach's optimized settings, a clear jump from roughly 16 FPS with everything on High.

Across resolutions you can expect around 33 FPS at 1080p and 20 FPS at 1440p, dropping to roughly 11 FPS at 4K. Elden Ring offers ray tracing, but the NVIDIA GTX 960M (laptop, 4GB) isn't built for it, so we leave it off. Elden Ring doesn't use upscaling, so the gains come from trimming the heaviest settings below.

ResolutionAll-High FPSOptimized FPS
1080p1633
1440p920
4K511
💡 Elden Ring: Engine-locked to 60 FPS — aim for a rock-solid 60 rather than more.
Recommended settings
Ray TracingOffsaves FPS
Added in a later patch for ambient occlusion and reflections. Since the game is locked to 60 FPS, only enable it if you can still hold a steady 60.
Shadow QualityLow+12% FPS
Shadow resolution and range. High is the sweet spot; Maximum costs noticeably more for little gain.
Global Illumination QualityLow+10% FPS
Bounced ambient lighting. A solid FPS-for-looks trade in the open world.
Lighting QualityLow+8% FPS
Overall lighting fidelity. High looks great while saving frames over Maximum.
Reflection QualityLow+7% FPS
Water and surface reflections. Moderately heavy; High is plenty.
Effects QualityLow+6% FPS
Spell and weather effects. Lowering helps during flashy boss fights.
Grass QualityLow+6% FPS
Grass density and draw distance — a real cost in the open fields of the Lands Between.
Volumetric Lighting QualityLow+6% FPS
God-rays and atmospheric light. High is a clean trade over Maximum.
Anti-Aliasing QualityLow+5% FPS
Edge smoothing. Medium/High is cheap and keeps the image clean.
SSAOLow+5% FPS
Screen-space ambient occlusion, the soft contact shadows. Medium is a good balance.
Shader QualityLow+5% FPS
Surface shader detail. High looks great while saving frames over Maximum.
Water Surface QualityLow+4% FPS
Detail of water surfaces and reflections. Moderate cost near lakes and coasts.
Depth of FieldOff+3% FPS
Background blur for cinematic depth. Cheap; personal preference.
Texture QualityMaximum-1% FPS
Surface detail. Cheap if it fits your VRAM — keep it high on 8GB+ cards.
Motion BlurOffbaseline
Camera blur in motion. Nearly free; many players disable it.

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

🎯 Can the NVIDIA GTX 960M (laptop, 4GB) run Elden Ring? See the verdict →

Elden Ring on other GPUs
Other games on the NVIDIA GTX 960M (laptop, 4GB)
Frequently asked

What FPS does the NVIDIA GTX 960M (laptop, 4GB) get in Elden Ring?

With FrameCoach's optimized balanced settings, the NVIDIA GTX 960M (laptop, 4GB) averages around 33 FPS at 1080p in Elden Ring — up from about 16 FPS with everything on High.

Can the NVIDIA GTX 960M (laptop, 4GB) run Elden Ring at 1440p?

At 1440p with optimized settings, the NVIDIA GTX 960M (laptop, 4GB) averages roughly 20 FPS in Elden Ring; turn on upscaling or aim for a locked 60 for the best feel.

What are the best Elden Ring settings for the NVIDIA GTX 960M (laptop, 4GB)?

Use a balanced preset, keep ray tracing off for maximum FPS, and ease the heaviest options like Shadow Quality and Global Illumination 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.