Best Starfield settings for the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) (2026)
On a Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) (paired with a balanced AMD Ryzen 3 3300X-class CPU), Starfield runs at roughly 55 FPS at 1080p with our optimized settings — up from about 20FPS with everything maxed. Here's the configuration and what each setting costs.
| Resolution | All-High FPS | Optimized FPS |
|---|
| 1080p | 20 | 55 |
| 1440p | 12 | 33 |
| 4K | 6 | 16 |
💡 Starfield: Unusually CPU-bound in cities — a CPU upgrade often helps more than a GPU one.
🚀 Biggest free win: enable FSR (Balanced) — about +55% FPS for a small sharpness trade.
Recommended settings · ✓ tuned to this game’s real menu
Upscaling — FSRBalanced+55% FPS
Starfield supports FSR and (via update) DLSS/XeSS. A big GPU-side boost — though in cities you may still be CPU-limited.
Shadow QualityLow+11% FPS
Shadow resolution and range. High is the value pick over Ultra.
Indirect LightingLow+9% FPS
Bounced global illumination. A meaningful GPU cost with a modest visual payoff.
ReflectionsLow+8% FPS
Screen-space reflections on metal and glass. Often subtle in motion.
Volumetric LightingLow+8% FPS
Atmospheric light shafts. Heavy for the look — an easy saving.
Crowd DensityLow+7% FPS
How many NPCs populate cities. This loads your CPU — the main lever in Starfield’s CPU-bound towns.
Particle QualityLow+5% FPS
Effects and debris. Lowering smooths combat-heavy moments.
Grass QualityLow+5% FPS
Planet-surface foliage density. A decent saving on lush worlds.
Ambient Occlusion (GTAO)Off+4% FPS
Soft contact shadows. Cheap; leave On unless you need the frames.
Motion BlurOff+2% FPS
Camera blur in motion. Nearly free — pure preference.
⚡ Fine-tune this for your exact CPU & target FPS →
Other games on the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU)
Frequently asked
What FPS does the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) get in Starfield?
With FrameCoach's optimized balanced settings, the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) averages around 55 FPS at 1080p in Starfield — up from about 20 FPS with everything on High.
Can the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) run Starfield at 1440p?
At 1440p with optimized settings, the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) averages roughly 33 FPS in Starfield; turn on upscaling or aim for a locked 60 for the best feel.
What are the best Starfield settings for the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU)?
Turn on FSR (Balanced), keep ray tracing off for maximum FPS, and ease the heaviest options like Shadow Quality and Indirect Lighting 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.