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Best Returnal settings for the NVIDIA GTX 980 Ti (2026)

On a NVIDIA GTX 980 Ti (paired with a balanced Intel Core i5-13500H (laptop)-class CPU), Returnal runs at roughly 69 FPS at 1080p with our optimized settings — up from about 70FPS with everything maxed. Here's the configuration and what each setting costs.

The NVIDIA GTX 980 Ti is a mainstream 1080p graphics card with 6GB of VRAM, and Returnal is a demanding, graphically heavy game. Paired with the Intel Core i5-13500H (laptop), it runs well at 1080p — about 69 FPS with 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 69 FPS at 1080p and 65 FPS at 1440p, dropping to roughly 55 FPS at 4K. Returnal offers ray tracing, but the NVIDIA GTX 980 Ti isn't built for it, so we leave it off. With only 6GB of VRAM, keep textures a notch below max in Returnal at higher resolutions to avoid stutter. The biggest free win is FSR upscaling — set it to Quality for a large FPS boost at little visual cost.

ResolutionAll-High FPSOptimized FPS
1080p7069
1440p4265
4K2455
Recommended settings
Upscaling — FSROff
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.
Texture QualityEpic-1% FPS
Surface sharpness - cheap if it fits your VRAM.
Particle QualityHighbaseline
Bullet-hell particles and explosions - the heaviest setting given how much fills the screen. High smooths intense fights.
Shadow QualityHighbaseline
Shadow resolution and range. High is the value pick.
Post ProcessingHighbaseline
Bloom, motion blur and depth of field. Cheap; set to taste.
Model QualityHighbaseline
Geometry detail of enemies, props and the alien world of Atropos. High is a clean trade.
Volumetric FogHighbaseline
Atmospheric fog and haze - core to the eerie mood. Medium is a low-risk saving.
Anti-AliasingHighbaseline
Edge smoothing. Medium/High keeps the image clean cheaply.

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

🎯 Can the NVIDIA GTX 980 Ti run Returnal? See the verdict →

Returnal on other GPUs
Other games on the NVIDIA GTX 980 Ti
Frequently asked

What FPS does the NVIDIA GTX 980 Ti get in Returnal?

With FrameCoach's optimized balanced settings, the NVIDIA GTX 980 Ti averages around 69 FPS at 1080p in Returnal — up from about 70 FPS with everything on High.

Can the NVIDIA GTX 980 Ti run Returnal at 1440p?

At 1440p with optimized settings, the NVIDIA GTX 980 Ti averages roughly 65 FPS in Returnal — a smooth experience.

What are the best Returnal settings for the NVIDIA GTX 980 Ti?

Use a balanced preset, keep ray tracing off for maximum FPS, and ease the heaviest options like Particle 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.