SimSightline / iRacing Graphics Settings
Best iRacing Graphics Settings
Smooth, steady frames matter more in iRacing than the last bit of detail. Here is what to set for a single screen, triple screens and VR, which settings cost the most FPS, and the memory and NVIDIA settings that stop stutters. Sources are linked at the bottom.
How to tune iRacing graphics
- Set the resolution and refresh rate to your monitor's native values, full screen, with resolution scaling off.
- Uncap the frame rate while you tune, so you can see what your PC really manages.
- Start from high detail, then lower the settings below that cost the most FPS until you hold your monitor's refresh rate (or your headset's) on a full grid at the start of a race, the hardest moment for your PC.
- Test on a busy track with a full field in a test session or replay, not alone in practice.
- Change one setting at a time and note the frame rate.
Aim for a steady frame rate rather than a high peak. Drops and stutters in braking zones cost more than slightly simpler graphics.
Recommended settings by setup
Options → Graphics in iRacing. Starting points; lower further if you cannot hold your target frame rate.
| Setting | Single screen | Triple screens | VR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-aliasing (MSAA samples) | 8x with headroom, 4x balanced | 2x to 4x | 2x or off |
| Anisotropic filtering | 16x | 16x | 16x |
| Shader quality | High or Ultra | High | Lower if FPS drops |
| Shadow maps and dynamic shadows | Off, or on if you have headroom | Off | Off |
| Crowds | Low (High in replays) | Low | Low |
| Pit objects | Low | Low | Low |
| Cockpit mirrors | Max − 4, or off with the virtual mirror | Max − 4 | Off with the virtual mirror |
| High detail in mirrors | Off | Off | Off |
| Dynamic LOD | On | On | On |
| Motion blur | Off | Off | Off |
| NVIDIA Reflex | Enabled + Boost | Enabled + Boost | Per headset software |
Setting up a headset (runtime, refresh rate, Quest streaming)? See our iRacing VR settings.
Combined from Coach Dave Academy, SimRacingCockpit, hone.gg and iRacing support (sources below). Where they differ, we show the range and lean toward frame rate.
Settings that cost the most FPS
- Shadows: the biggest cost. Turn off shadow maps, cloud shadows and dynamic object shadows first.
- Anti-aliasing: uses a lot of video memory, especially on triples or in VR, where each extra sample multiplies the work.
- Mirrors: every in-car mirror renders the scene again. Fewer mirrors and normal mirror detail help a lot, especially in VR.
- Shader quality: a major cost in VR; on a single 1080p screen, High is usually enough.
- Crowds and pit objects: easy wins. iRacing's own support team suggests Crowds on Low while driving, because High mainly adds the backs of people in the stands, and High only in replay settings, where TV cameras show them.
- Max cars: drawing only the nearest cars saves performance, but you will not see distant cars, which can matter for spotting.
GPU and system memory limits
iRacing lets you set how much video memory and system memory it may use. Wrong values cause stutters when textures load.
- GPU memory: a little less than your graphics card's memory. Coach Dave Academy suggests 0.95 × your VRAM minus a 50 to 100 MB buffer, for example about 7,500 MB on an 8 GB card. A popular Reddit guide suggests 512 MB to 1 GB below your VRAM.
- System memory: at least 1,200 MB. Raise it if the performance graph shows yellow spikes. The Reddit guide suggests about 10 GB or 70% of your RAM, whichever is smaller.
Display and NVIDIA settings
In iRacing's display section: native resolution, full screen, resolution scaling none, and SPS (single pass stereo) only in VR. In the NVIDIA Control Panel (Manage 3D settings, iRacing profile):
| NVIDIA setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Antialiasing mode | Application-controlled |
| Antialiasing FXAA | Off (use iRacing's own) |
| Max frame rate | Off (cap in-game if needed) |
| Low latency mode | Off (use Reflex in iRacing) |
| Power management mode | Normal |
| Preferred refresh rate | Highest available |
| Texture filtering quality | Quality |
| Vertical sync | Off with G-Sync; application setting on fixed-refresh monitors |
| Virtual reality pre-rendered frames | 1 (VR only) |
From SimRacingCockpit's iRacing guide. AMD users: leave anti-aliasing to the game and use the default Adrenalin game profile.
Advanced tweaks (app.ini)
iRacing's settings file app.ini (in Documents/iRacing) has options not in the menu. Close iRacing and back up the file first. These are from a BoxThisLap guide:
- MaxPitObjsToDraw=0 and MaxPitObjsToDrawInMirrors=0: skip most pit lane scenery.
- AutoNoDynEmptyLOD=1: lets the sim drop small debris and minor objects when it needs to protect frame rate.
If something looks wrong afterwards, restore your backup.
Set up your wheel too: see our iRacing FFB settings.
Set your field of view
Graphics settings do not change the field of view. iRacing has its own FOV setting, and the correct value depends on your screen size and distance. Use our iRacing FOV calculator, which also handles triple screens and bezels. On triples, set the side screen angle with the triple screen angle calculator.
Choosing hardware? See what PC you need for sim racing. A higher resolution or triple setup needs much more GPU power: see the pixel counts in our triples vs ultrawide comparison and our VR headset guide.
FAQ
What are the best iRacing graphics settings for FPS?
Turn off shadows, set Crowds and Pit Objects to Low, reduce cockpit mirrors and turn off high detail in mirrors, use 2x to 4x anti-aliasing, and keep anisotropic filtering at 16x. Then lower shader quality if you still need frames.
Is iRacing CPU or GPU heavy?
Both, depending on the setup. A big field and many mirrors load the CPU; high resolution, triple screens, anti-aliasing and VR load the GPU. If lowering graphics settings does not raise your frame rate, your CPU is likely the limit.
What anti-aliasing should I use in iRacing?
8x on a single screen if your GPU has headroom, 4x for a balance, 2x to 4x on triples and 2x or off in VR.
Should I cap the frame rate in iRacing?
Uncap it while tuning to see your real performance. For racing, a cap at or just under your refresh rate can make frame times steadier, especially with G-Sync or FreeSync.
Why does iRacing stutter?
Common causes are memory limits set too high or too low, shadows and mirrors on a busy grid, and background apps. Check the GPU and system memory limits first.
How do I make iRacing look more realistic?
Set the correct field of view for your screen with the iRacing FOV calculator. That makes speed and distances look real, more than any graphics setting.
Sources: Coach Dave Academy: optimise your graphics in iRacing; SimRacingCockpit: iRacing graphics settings; iRacing support: graphics performance tip; BoxThisLap: hidden iRacing settings; hone.gg and r/iRacing graphics guides. Last reviewed October 2026.