The first thing you should do if you're having issues with frame rates is to clear out the game's graphics configuration files. I do this after every major update.

If you uninstall and reinstall the game, it still won't remove these files, so it's best to do it manually.

Make sure Elite Dangerous isn't running, then open Explorer to this folder:

%LocalAppData%\Frontier Developments\Elite Dangerous\Options\Graphics\

There should be four or five XML files and a StartPreset file.

Delete them all, then start the game. Your shaders will rebuild, and you can then enter the Graphics settings menu to make the changes below.

I have an i7-6700k, a GTX 1660Ti and 32 gb of ram. Below are the settings I use.

If you have a GTX970 or equivalent, all the settings in BOLD should be lowered by one or two values. (E.g. High becomes Medium or Low)

1. Expand the Display section, and make sure you have your native resolution selected, and also set the frame rate limit to 60. I use Vertical Sync as well, and Fullscreen Borderless.

If you want to try higher frame rates later, fine, but for now try 60.


2. Next, Expand the Quality section.

Model Draw Distance: about 50%
Texture Quality: High
Texture Filter Quality: Anisotropic x8
Directional shadows: Medium
Spot Shadows: Medium
Bloom: High
Blur: On (optional)
Anti-Aliasing: SMAA
Supersampling: x 1.0 (NEVER go above this unless you have a massively high-powered system)
Upscaling: Normal (FSR is an option if you're on 4k and are getting dismal frame rates)
Ambient Occlusion: Medium
Environment: Medium
FX Quality: Medium (this used to give LOWER frame rates on Low than Medium!)
Particle Effects: Medium
Depth of Field: High
Material Quality: High
Galaxy Map Quality: High
Terrain Quality: High
Terrain LOD blending: High
Terrain Work: All the way to the left
Terrain Material: High
Terrain Sampler: High
Terrain Checkerboard: Off
Jet Cone: High
Volumetric Effects: High


Field of view is up to you, but the wider you make it the lower the frame rate.

Memory speed is vital with this game. Please check your BIOS has the memory speed set correctly.

E.g. an RTX3070 with 3600mhz system memory set to 2200mhz will run the game at 1/4 to 1/2 the frame rates it's capable of. This has been tested and verified.