Black Ops 3 Refresh Rate Stuck at 50 FPS: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you experiencing a frustrating issue with your Black Ops 3 game where the refresh rate is stuck at 50 FPS? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This problem can be caused by various factors, and in this article, I’ll walk you through the possible reasons and solutions to help you get your game running smoothly at the desired frame rate.

Understanding Refresh Rate and FPS

Before diving into the solutions, let’s clarify what refresh rate and FPS mean. Refresh rate refers to the number of times the screen updates per second, measured in hertz (Hz). For example, a 60Hz refresh rate means the screen updates 60 times per second. FPS, on the other hand, stands for frames per second, which indicates the number of frames the game renders per second. Ideally, you want a high refresh rate and FPS for a smooth gaming experience.

Check Your Graphics Card Settings

One of the most common reasons for a stuck refresh rate at 50 FPS is an incorrect graphics card setting. Here’s how to check and adjust your settings:

1. Open the NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings, depending on your graphics card manufacturer.
2. Go to the “3D Settings” or “Global Settings” tab.
3. Look for the “Maximum Pre-Rendered Frames” option and set it to “1” or “2” to prevent the game from using more frames than your monitor can display.
4. Check the “Vertical Sync” option and make sure it’s set to “Off” to disable V-Sync, which can cause the refresh rate to be limited to 60 Hz.
5. Apply the changes and restart your game.

Update Your Graphics Card Drivers

Outdated graphics card drivers can cause various issues, including a stuck refresh rate. To ensure you have the latest drivers, follow these steps:

1. Go to the official website of your graphics card manufacturer.
2. Navigate to the “Support” or “Downloads” section.
3. Enter your graphics card model and operating system.
4. Download and install the latest drivers for your graphics card.
5. Restart your computer and try running the game again.

Check Your Monitor’s Refresh Rate

It’s essential to ensure that your monitor’s refresh rate is compatible with your graphics card and game settings. Here’s how to check and adjust your monitor’s refresh rate:

1. Right-click on your desktop and select “Display Settings” or “Graphics Options” (depending on your operating system).
2. Look for the “Advanced Display Settings” or “Display Adapter Properties” option.
3. Go to the “Monitor” tab and check the “Refresh Rate” dropdown menu.
4. Select the highest refresh rate supported by your monitor and graphics card.
5. Apply the changes and restart your computer.

Adjust Game Settings

Lowering the game’s settings can help improve the frame rate and refresh rate. Here are some settings you can adjust:

1. Graphics: Lower the resolution, texture quality, and shadows.
2. Performance: Disable anti-aliasing, lower the anisotropic filtering, and turn off the vsync option.
3. Audio: Lower the audio quality and disable surround sound.

Check for Game Updates

Occasionally, game updates can fix bugs and improve performance. Make sure you have the latest version of Black Ops 3 installed:

1. Open the Steam client or your game’s platform (e.g., Battle.net, Origin, etc.).
2. Go to your game library and right-click on Black Ops 3.
3. Select “Properties” and then “Local Files.” Click on “Verify Integrity of Game Files.” This process will check for and download any missing or corrupted files.
4. Restart the game and check if the refresh rate issue persists.

Consider Hardware Upgrades

If none of the above