BioShock Infinite — How to Fix "Stuttering and microstutter"
What causes the Stuttering and microstutter error in BioShock Infinite, and the fixes in the order that works.
Last updated 2026-09-25 · evergreen reference
The "Stuttering and microstutter" failure in BioShock Infinite has a specific cause, and knowing it saves you from working through a dozen unrelated fixes. This page covers what the error actually looks like, why it happens, and the fixes ranked by how often they work.
What the error looks like
Confirm you are dealing with the same failure.
Recognising "Stuttering and microstutter"
The game runs at a reasonable average frame rate but hitches constantly, with texture quality stuck at very low or textures that visibly reload over and over.
Why it happens
The cause determines the fix.
Cause 1
Texture pool misconfiguration. When the game misdetects your video memory it restricts texture quality to Very Low and Low, and on some systems Very High or Ultra causes textures to never load properly.
Cause 2
VSync behaviour in Unreal Engine 3, which amplifies dips rather than smoothing them.
Cause 3
High-polling-rate mice, which are a documented cause of microstutter in this engine.
Fixes, in the order that works
Cheapest and most reversible first.
Set PoolSize correctly in XEngine.ini
Open XEngine.ini in the configuration folder and set PoolSize to roughly 400 less than your VRAM in megabytes — a 2048 MB card wants about 1600. Then add -ReadTexturePoolFromIni to Steam launch options, or use -DisableTexturePool instead.
Fix the texture streaming block
Under [TextureStreaming] set UseTextureFileCache=False, TexturePoolSizeReductionMB=1500, PoolSize=3000 and LowPCTexturePoolSizeMB=3000. This addresses the reload loop where the game fetches the same textures repeatedly.
Set VsyncTo60WhenUnder30 to True
Under [SystemSettings] in XEngine.ini, change VsyncTo60WhenUnder30=False to True. It stops the behaviour that makes frame dips feel worse than they are.
Use adaptive or dynamic VSync
NVIDIA users should set Vertical sync to Adaptive in the driver control panel. AMD users can use dynamic VSync through a third-party profile tool, setting VSync Control to Always on with Dynamic Framerate Control at 60.
Drop your mouse polling rate
If you use a Razer mouse, open Synapse, go to Performance and set Polling Rate to 125 Hz. High polling rates cause microstutter in this engine.
How to confirm it is fixed
One successful launch is not proof.
Retest properly
Stand in a dense area and pan the camera slowly. Textures should stay loaded rather than visibly re-resolving, and frame time should flatten once VSync is adaptive and the pool is sized correctly.
If none of this works
What to do after the list is exhausted.
Gather evidence before asking
Collect your crash log, a DxDiag and the list of fixes you already tried. For BioShock Infinite, support will ask for all three, and a report with evidence gets a far better response than "it crashes".
Reinstall last, not first
A reinstall is the most time-consuming fix and repairs the same files that verification and cache repair handle in minutes. Try it only after the targeted fixes above have failed.
Related pages
This is an independent player reference and is not official documentation for BioShock Infinite. GameRulePro does not host or link to copyrighted assets. Modding guidance is for single-player use only — never use mods in online multiplayer. Verify current requirements, prices and policies with the publisher before acting.
Keep fixing
Can I run it? FPS calculator
Check whether your hardware, not the settings, is the limit.
Open →All fix & optimization guides
Every crash, black-screen and FPS guide we have published.
Open →Game database
System requirements and projected FPS for 335 titles.
Open →Release calendar
Launch dates and platforms for upcoming games.
Open →