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Best Subnautica 2 settings for the NVIDIA GTX 980 (2026)

On a NVIDIA GTX 980 (paired with a balanced Intel Core i5-8600K-class CPU), Subnautica 2 runs at roughly 77 FPS at 1080p with our optimized settings — up from about 57FPS with everything maxed. Here's the configuration and what each setting costs.

The NVIDIA GTX 980 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 77 FPS with FrameCoach's optimized settings, a clear jump from roughly 57 FPS with everything on High.

Across resolutions you can expect around 77 FPS at 1080p and 61 FPS at 1440p, dropping to roughly 51 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
1080p5777
1440p3461
4K1951
💡 Subnautica 2: Early-access Unreal Engine 5 - Lumen Global Illumination is the heaviest setting; upscaling helps a lot.
🚀 Biggest free win: enable FSR (Quality) — about +35% FPS for a small sharpness trade.
Recommended settings
Upscaling — FSRQuality+35% 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.
CloudsMediumbaseline
Volumetric clouds above the surface - can drain ~20 FPS at Epic. Medium is a big saving with little loss.
View / Detail DistanceHighbaseline
How far terrain and props render. Lower it a notch first if you dip in open water.
Shadow QualityHighbaseline
Shadow resolution and range. High is a strong step down from Epic.
Water & Caustics QualityMediumbaseline
The shimmering light patterns and water detail that define the look. Medium keeps the vibe while saving frames.
Flora / Foliage DensityMediumbaseline
Density of coral and plant life. Lower it for steadier FPS in dense reefs.
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 NVIDIA GTX 980 run Subnautica 2? See the verdict →

Subnautica 2 on other GPUs
Other games on the NVIDIA GTX 980
Frequently asked

What FPS does the NVIDIA GTX 980 get in Subnautica 2?

With FrameCoach's optimized balanced settings, the NVIDIA GTX 980 averages around 77 FPS at 1080p in Subnautica 2 — up from about 57 FPS with everything on High.

Can the NVIDIA GTX 980 run Subnautica 2 at 1440p?

At 1440p with optimized settings, the NVIDIA GTX 980 averages roughly 61 FPS in Subnautica 2 — a smooth experience.

What are the best Subnautica 2 settings for the NVIDIA GTX 980?

Turn on FSR (Quality), keep ray tracing off for maximum FPS, and ease the heaviest options like Clouds 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.