Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Use the official Steam Deck preset at 1280×800, keep ray tracing and frame generation off, and set FSR 2.1 to Balanced for the most dependable performance. That combination typically lands around 35 FPS, with occasional mid-40s bursts and uncommon dips below 30 FPS. If you prefer a sharper image and can accept heavier drops in Dogtown, switch to FSR 2.1 Quality and use the tuned 40-FPS profile below.
Cyberpunk 2077 is Steam Deck Verified, but its densest locations—especially Phantom Liberty’s Dogtown—are much harder to run than ordinary streets in Night City. The practical goal is therefore a stable frame-time target rather than a headline peak FPS number.
Recommended Steam Deck profile at a glance
Start with the game’s built-in Steam Deck quick preset. It is the safest baseline because it applies CD PROJEKT RED’s Deck-oriented configuration, and Update 2.0 added an updated graphics profile intended to improve frame-rate stability. From there, change only the options that have the largest effect on performance and image quality.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute| Setting | FPS-first baseline | Sharper 40-FPS-oriented profile |
|---|---|---|
| Display resolution | 1280×800 (native panel) | 1280×800 (native panel) |
| Quick preset | Steam Deck | Steam Deck, then manual changes |
| Resolution scaling | AMD FSR 2.1 | AMD FSR 2.1 |
| FSR Super Resolution | Balanced | Quality |
| Frame Generation | Off | Off |
| Texture quality | High | High |
| Crowd density | Low | Low |
| Ray tracing | Off | Off |
| Target | About 35 FPS; occasional mid-40s | Mostly 40 FPS in the base game; low 30s in open Dogtown |
| Input response | Native rendering path with frame generation disabled | Native rendering path with frame generation disabled |
Use the first column when smooth controls and fewer severe drops matter more than fine detail. Use the second when you sit close to the Deck screen, notice softness from Balanced, and are willing to cap or accept roughly 30 FPS in the heaviest expansion areas.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
How to apply the settings
- Launch Cyberpunk 2077 from Steam and load a save or remain at the main menu.
- Open Settings, then enter the Graphics tab. The exact grouping can vary slightly by game update, but the options below are in the graphics configuration rather than Steam’s per-game properties.
- Set the display resolution to 1280×800, the native resolution of the Steam Deck panel. Avoid lowering the output resolution first; use FSR to reduce the internal render cost while preserving a native output.
- Choose the Steam Deck quick preset. This gives you a known starting point that reflects the developer’s Deck profile.
- Set Resolution Scaling to AMD FSR 2.1.
- Select FSR Super Resolution: Balanced for the FPS-first profile, or Quality for the sharper profile.
- Set Frame Generation to Off. Do not use the generated-frame option as a substitute for a low base frame rate.
- Set Texture Quality to High, Crowd Density to Low, and Ray Tracing to Off.
- Apply the changes, return to the game, and spend several minutes in the area where you normally see slowdowns. A quiet interior is not a useful test; driving through a busy district or visiting Dogtown gives a more realistic worst case.
- If the frame rate still fluctuates too much, use the troubleshooting order later in this guide instead of randomly lowering every option.
Why these choices work
Native output with FSR 2.1
Keeping 1280×800 as the output lets the Deck display operate at its native panel resolution. AMD FSR 2.1 then reconstructs the image from a lower internal resolution. Balanced is the broad compromise: PCGamesN’s report on this configuration measured about 35 FPS, with occasional rises into the mid-40s and rare dips below 30 FPS. Quality renders more internal detail and therefore looks cleaner, but it leaves less performance headroom for crowded scenes.
High textures instead of low textures
Texture quality is not the first control to sacrifice on this hardware. Reducing it can make surfaces and characters look visibly muddy while producing less benefit than lowering shadows, volumetric effects, reflections, or crowd simulation. Keeping High textures preserves detail at the native output; the profiles above reduce other, more expensive workloads first.
Low crowd density
Crowd density changes how many pedestrians and vehicles the game must simulate and draw. Busy hubs are where CPU and GPU work stack up, so Low is a consistent FPS gain with a clear trade-off: streets feel less populated. It is one of the safest reductions if your priority is steady traversal and driving performance.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Ray tracing off
Ray tracing adds lighting and reflection work that is especially costly when the Deck is already reconstructing an image through FSR. Both recommended profiles disable it. Turning ray tracing on is a visual experiment, not a higher-FPS configuration; expect a lower performance ceiling and more pronounced drops in complex scenes.
Frame generation off
CD PROJEKT RED recommends reaching at least a 60 FPS baseline before enabling FSR 3 frame generation. The Deck profiles here do not reach that sustained base rate. PCGamesN also observed noticeable input lag from frame generation on Deck, and generated frames can expose artifacts or uneven frame pacing when the underlying rate is low. Disabling it keeps controls tied to genuinely rendered frames, which is preferable for driving, aiming, and melee timing.
Sharper 40-FPS-oriented settings, item by item
SteamDeckHQ tested a manual configuration aimed at 40 FPS. It uses FSR 2.1 Quality with sharpening set to 0.50, then trims individual effects rather than relying on a single global preset.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
| Graphics option | Value | Reason for the trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| FSR Super Resolution | Quality | Sharper reconstruction than Balanced; costs some headroom. |
| FSR sharpening | 0.50 | Adds edge definition without pushing sharpening to an overly harsh look. |
| Contact shadows | On | Retains small grounding shadows around objects and characters. |
| Improved facial lighting geometry | On | Preserves facial-lighting detail in conversations. |
| Anisotropy | 8× | Keeps surfaces readable at oblique viewing angles. |
| Local shadow mesh | Medium | Maintains nearby shadow structure while avoiding higher settings. |
| Local shadow quality | Medium | Balances close-range shadow definition and cost. |
| Cascaded shadows range | Low | Reduces distant shadow workload. |
| Distant shadows resolution | Low | Accepts less far-off shadow detail for steadier rendering. |
| Volumetric fog | Medium | Keeps atmospheric depth without the highest fog cost. |
| Volumetric clouds | Off | Removes a demanding atmospheric pass. |
| Dynamic decals | Medium | Retains marks and surface effects at a moderate workload. |
| Screen-space reflections | Medium | Preserves some reflective detail without a high setting. |
| Subsurface scattering | Medium | Maintains skin and translucent-material lighting at a moderate cost. |
| Ambient occlusion | Low | Reduces extra shading around contact areas. |
| Color precision | Medium | Balances gradients and memory/bandwidth use. |
| Mirror quality | Low | Limits the cost of rendering mirror views. |
| Level of detail | Medium | Keeps nearby geometry readable without the highest draw distance. |
| Crowd density | Low | Reduces simulation and rendering load in busy areas. |
| Ray tracing | Off | Leaves the expensive ray-traced pipeline disabled. |
| Frame Generation | Off | Avoids added latency and artifacts at a low base rate. |
SteamDeckHQ reported mostly smooth 40 FPS in the base game with this arrangement. Open Dogtown is a different workload: the same testing reported dips into the low 30s and as low as 28 FPS. Treat 40 FPS as an upper target for ordinary areas, not a guarantee for every street in Phantom Liberty.
Choosing Balanced or Quality FSR
Choose Balanced when consistency comes first
- You want the broadest performance target with the fewest excursions into the 20s.
- You are comfortable with a softer image at the Deck’s 1280×800 output.
- You spend a lot of time driving through crowded districts or exploring Dogtown.
- You would rather hold a stable cap than chase a sharper but less consistent 40 FPS.
Choose Quality when image clarity comes first
- Edges, text, and distant geometry look too soft with Balanced.
- You mostly play the base game or less demanding interiors.
- You accept that heavy outdoor scenes can fall into the low 30s.
- You are prepared to lower individual effects using the 40-FPS-oriented table rather than turning ray tracing or frame generation on.
FSR mode is a per-game choice, not a permanent commitment. Switch between Balanced and Quality after testing the same route or encounter so you compare like with like. A different district can make one setting appear faster simply because it contains fewer characters, lights, or reflective surfaces.
Frame-rate targets and caps
A practical 30 FPS target
The FPS-first profile is best understood as a 30-FPS-class configuration with headroom toward the mid-30s. It does not promise a locked 40 FPS, but it avoids the most severe cost of rendering every effect at a higher quality. If a scene repeatedly falls below your chosen cap, lowering the cap to 30 can make frame pacing feel more even than allowing the game to swing between several rates.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
A practical 40 FPS target
The tuned profile can stay near 40 FPS through much of the base game, provided the scene is not one of the Deck’s worst cases. Dogtown’s open areas can reach 28 FPS, so a 40-FPS cap there may produce frequent drops. A 30-FPS cap is often the more consistent choice for an entire Phantom Liberty session.
Why a cap can feel better
A cap limits rapid swings in frame time. The right value depends on the profile and location: use a 40-FPS cap only when your tested route can sustain it, and use 30 FPS when Dogtown or another heavy area repeatedly breaks that ceiling. The objective is predictable input and camera motion, not the largest number shown for a few seconds.
Dogtown troubleshooting
Dogtown is the clearest stress test because its open spaces can push the 40-FPS profile into the low 30s and down to 28 FPS. If the base game feels smooth but Dogtown does not, that behavior is consistent with the tested results rather than proof that your installation is broken.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
- Confirm that Ray Tracing and Frame Generation are still Off. These options reduce the underlying performance margin and do not solve a low base rate.
- Keep Crowd Density at Low. Raising it to make streets busier directly increases simulation and rendering work.
- Move from FSR Quality to Balanced if you need the quickest performance gain without rebuilding the rest of the profile.
- If Quality is important, lower Cascaded Shadows, Distant Shadows, Volumetric Fog, Screen-Space Reflections, Ambient Occlusion, Mirror Quality, and Level of Detail in that order. These are already reduced in the tuned profile; lowering them further trades scene detail for frame-time headroom.
- Turn Volumetric Clouds off if they were accidentally re-enabled, and keep local shadow options at Medium rather than raising them.
- Set a 30-FPS cap for a complete Dogtown play session instead of switching caps every few seconds while driving.
What not to change first
- Do not lower textures before effects. High textures preserve surface detail and are not the first lever in either recommended profile.
- Do not enable frame generation to repair a low base rate. The developer’s 60-FPS baseline recommendation does not match the Deck’s typical output here, and added latency can be noticeable.
- Do not turn on ray tracing for an FPS goal. It consumes the headroom you need for crowded scenes and expansion content.
- Do not judge performance in a quiet menu or interior. Test a repeatable outdoor route, a drive through traffic, and Dogtown if you own Phantom Liberty.
- Do not assume a 40-FPS label means 40 everywhere. The tested 40-FPS profile has documented low-30s behavior and a 28-FPS low in open Dogtown.
Steam Deck storage requirement
CD PROJEKT RED stated in its 2023 Update 2.0 notes that, because the PC system requirements were updated, running Cyberpunk 2077 on Steam Deck requires an SSD. That requirement concerns the storage device, not a graphics toggle. Ensure the game is installed on a Steam Deck-compatible internal SSD before troubleshooting frame rate; moving files to slower storage cannot create the performance profile described here.
Official compatibility and support context
CD PROJEKT RED confirmed on February 28, 2023, that Cyberpunk 2077 was Verified for Steam Deck Compatibility. The developer later documented an updated Steam Deck graphics profile in Update 2.0 and continued to support both FSR 2.1 and FSR 3 so players could choose between image quality and performance. Those statements establish that the game has a supported Deck configuration, but they do not promise a fixed frame rate in every district, quest, or expansion area.
Quick decision guide
| Your priority | Use this approach | Expected trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Most dependable performance | Steam Deck preset, FSR 2.1 Balanced, Low crowds, High textures, ray tracing and frame generation Off | Softer image; roughly 35 FPS in the reported profile, with scene-dependent variation |
| Sharper base-game image | FSR 2.1 Quality and the manual 40-FPS-oriented values | Mostly smooth 40 FPS in the base game, but low-30s or 28 FPS in open Dogtown |
| Phantom Liberty consistency | Either profile with a 30-FPS cap in Dogtown | Lower ceiling, but fewer disruptive swings in the expansion’s heaviest areas |
| Lowest input latency | Frame Generation Off, regardless of FSR mode | No generated-frame smoothness effect; controls remain tied to rendered frames |
Final recommendation
For most Steam Deck owners, leave the Steam Deck preset in place, select AMD FSR 2.1 Balanced, keep textures High and crowds Low, and disable both ray tracing and frame generation. That is the strongest starting point for higher, steadier FPS without making the game look unnecessarily coarse. Move to FSR Quality and the manual 40-FPS-oriented settings only when sharper reconstruction is worth accepting heavier drops in demanding outdoor areas. In Dogtown, prioritize a consistent 30-FPS cap over a 40-FPS target the hardware cannot sustain throughout the district.
Recommended Free Tools
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
