Final Fantasy XIV: Best FFXIV.cfg Settings for 144Hz Monitors

Final Fantasy XIV’s engine handles high refresh rates through a “Ratio” system (e.g., 1/1, 1/2, 1/4). On a 144Hz monitor, the game often attempts to sync at 72 FPS or 144 FPS depending on your “Main Display Refresh Rate” setting. However, due to the game’s physics being tied to the frame rate, exceeding 60 FPS can occasionally cause “stiff” hair and clothing physics. By fine-tuning the FFXIV.cfg, you can unlock the full 144Hz potential while maintaining engine stability.+1

Hardware Compatibility & Expectations

• 144Hz Monitor Users: Essential for fluid camera movement and tracking telegraphs in Savage/Ultimate raids.
• Physics Note: Above 60 FPS, character jiggle physics and clothing animations may appear “stiffer.” Most players accept this trade-off for the massive gain in visual fluidity.
• GPU Requirement: To maintain a stable 144 FPS at 1080p or 1440p, an RTX 3060 / RX 6600 or higher is recommended, especially after the Dawntrail graphical update.

Backup and Preparation

Before modifying the configuration, back up your local settings.

1. Completely exit Final Fantasy XIV.
2. Navigate to your Documents folder.
3. Right-click FFXIV.cfg, select Copy, and save a backup to your desktop.
4. Open the file with Notepad or Notepad++.

File Location

The configuration file is located in your local Windows user documents: C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Documents\My Games\FINAL FANTASY XIV - A Realm Reborn\FFXIV.cfg

Best Config Settings

Open the file and find the <Display Settings> and <Graphics Settings> sections. Update the values as follows for 144Hz optimization:

<Display Settings>
MainAdapter	0
ScreenMode	1 // 1 for Borderless Windowed (Best for high refresh)
ScreenWidth	2560
ScreenHeight	1440
RefreshRate	144
FPS	0 // 0 = None (Unlimited), bypasses in-game caps
LimitFPS	0

Key Parameters Explained

Parameter	Recommended Value	Impact
ScreenMode	1	Borderless Windowed is often more stable for 144Hz/G-Sync in FFXIV than Fullscreen.
RefreshRate	144	Manually forces the engine to recognize the 144Hz capability of your monitor.
FPS	0	Setting this to “None/0” prevents the engine from locking you to a 1/1 or 1/2 ratio.
LimitFPS	0	Disables the frame limiter when the game window is active.

In-Game Settings vs. Config

After editing the .cfg, check these in-game under System Configuration > Display:

• Frame Rate Limit: Set to None (this reflects the FPS 0 change in your config).
• Gamma Correction: High refresh rates can sometimes make the game look “washed out” on TN/IPS panels; adjust this to 40-50 for better contrast.
• Graphics Upscaling: If you struggle to hit 144 FPS, use AMD FSR (even on NVIDIA cards) at 99% resolution scale for a subtle but effective performance boost.

Troubleshooting & Common Fixes

• Physics “Stiffness”: If your character’s hair looks unnatural, you can cap the FPS at 120 using NVIDIA/AMD control panels. This is a common middle ground for high refresh and physics stability.
• Stuck at 60 FPS: Ensure your Windows Display Settings are actually set to 144Hz. If you have a second 60Hz monitor, the game might “sync” to the slower monitor in Borderless mode. Disabling “Hardware Acceleration” in your browser (Chrome/Discord) can fix this.
• Screen Tearing: If you don’t use G-Sync/FreeSync, set the in-game cap to 1/1 (144 FPS) instead of None to prevent tearing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion and Expected Results

By manually refining your FFXIV.cfg, you move away from the restrictive 60Hz legacy settings. You can expect vastly smoother camera rotation, cleaner movement during “Slide-casting,” and zero stuttering in busy raid environments.