Guide to removing 60 fps cap / limit

[the_infinite28616]

The game comes capped at a framerate of 60 (62 if you want to be exact). This is a problem for those of us that have high refresh rate monitors that refresh at rates of 90, 120, 144 hz or higher as the game will not be as visually smooth as it could be.

Here is a solution to this problem.

We need to edit a configuration file called coalesced.ini.

At the time of writing it's located at:
C:\ Program Files (x86) \ Steam \ steamapps \ common \ Mass Effect 2 \ BioGame \ Config \ PC \ Cooked \ Coalesced.ini

To edit this file, you'll need a source code editor; I recommend Notepad++.
If you use regular Notepad or Wordpad, it will save as gibberish and the game won't run.

Before you edit coalesced.ini, I recommend copying it and saving it to your desktop in a labeled folder. That way in case you mess something up, you can easily replace the file with a working version.
(If you've accidentally corrupted the file and don't have a backup, this can be fixed by right clicking the game in your steam library, clicking properties, local files, verify integrity of game files. Steam should automatically replace the file for you. If it doesn't do this, try deleting the coalesced file first.)

Open coalesced.ini in your source code editor.
Search for MaxSmoothedFrameRate.
It should come up twice, with values preset to 62.
Change each of them to the value of your monitor's refresh rate, or slightly higher. I set mine to 146.

Some games run a character count check on their ini files. That means the total number of characters in the file must stay constant or the game will not run. I don't know if Mass Effect 2 does or not, but to be on the safe side I recommend this method.

If you changed the frame rate values to a 2 digit number like 75 or 90 you don't have to worry about this because the character count is the same as when it was 62. If you set it to a 3 digit number like 120 or 144, you've added 2 characters to the length of the file (we added one digit in 2 locations).
To solve this, search for
MinDesiredFrameRate
it should be set to 35.000000

You can safely delete the last 2 trailing zeroes and the character count will stay the same.
Note that you can do this for any arbitrary trailing zeroes after a decimal. All that matters is the character count stay the same. I just picked this one because it was easy.

Save your changes then close.
The game should now run at the framerate you specified.

Note that this method of unlocking framerate works for other games too. The file names and locations may be different, but the general principle of opening an ini file and editing the framerate will allow you to unlock framerates for other games. I did the same thing for Mass Effect 1, Borderlands, and Mirror's Edge, to name a few.

Happy playing.

[Skl3ros]

Thanks a lot for this guide worked like a charm.

[Adeptus]

Doesnt work for me i changed the "MaxSmoothedFrameRate" to 144 and "MinDesiredFrameRate" to 35.000000. Instant crash. f me

[Qqpon]

Good explanations, easy to follow, but it's not working. Game won't launch after that.

[bunny de fluff]

after you changed the ini file, you need to run the ini fixer once to make it legit again for the game to recognize it. You can download the fixer from nexus, a very small file.

[predator]

Heres link for fix
https://www.nexusmods.com/masseffect2/mods/116

[LuckyOwl]

Thanks Dude!!! Worked well :)

[wtfbshax]

Originally posted by Keeper of Humanity:

Doesnt work for me i changed the "MaxSmoothedFrameRate" to 144 and "MinDesiredFrameRate" to 35.000000. Instant crash. f me

Dude theres 2 instances of MaxSmoothedFrameRate, you need to change both.

[EnoX]

For some reason you must definitely use "Notepad2" or "Notepad++" to make the changes in the .ini file. Then it'll work to 100%!

If you've already changed the .ini file with another editor you'll have to repair the instalation first and edit it afterwards again with one of the mentioned programms.

[Revan44]

just did this and worked like a charm. Just one tiny problem. I have a 1080p monitor and it runs at 144 with this method. But when i upscale it to 4k it goes back go 60fps again. Does the game only support that or is there a way to get it to 144

[Weiss]

Actually, you don't need to edit Coalesced.ini at all (it's not a good practice since this file is default game file, however it will work fine if edited in right way). There is more correct way:

Just go to the <user>\Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 2\BIOGame\Config\GamerSettings.ini

and add

MaxSmoothedFrameRate=144 (this doesn't exist there by default)

to the [SystemSettings] section. It will redefine Coalesced variables similarly to how it works in the other games based on Unreal Engine 3.

[stickydude]

Originally posted by Sp1d3R:

Actually, you don't need to edit Coalesced.ini at all (it's not a good practice since this file is default game file, however it will work fine if edited in right way). There is more correct way:

Just go to the <user>\Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 2\BIOGame\Config\GamerSettings.ini

and add

MaxSmoothedFrameRate=144 (this don't exist there by default)

to the [SystemSettings] section. It will redefine Coalesced variables similarly to how it works in the other games based on Unreal Engine 3.

Thanks a lot, works like a charm!
Just going back in time to ME2 and this saves the day :D

[Guydodge]

Originally posted by Sp1d3R:

Actually, you don't need to edit Coalesced.ini at all (it's not a good practice since this file is default game file, however it will work fine if edited in right way). There is more correct way:

Just go to the <user>\Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 2\BIOGame\Config\GamerSettings.ini

and add

MaxSmoothedFrameRate=144 (this doesn't exist there by default)

to the [SystemSettings] section. It will redefine Coalesced variables similarly to how it works in the other games based on Unreal Engine 3.

hey im on origin have tried but there is no gamersettings.ini file would you have that info to find it in origin thxs

decided to try my steam version also cannot find the gamersettings.ini there either is it under another name ? or the bioware file

[x86]

Good tutorial. Helped me a lot :)

[Ancalagon]

Thanks! It worked perfectly. Ignore all the comments, follow the steps carefully in the tutorial. In case you were confused by any of the comments, these are the two important things you must do:

1) Change the wanted FPS in two places.
2) Then, remove two characters from anywhere else in the .ini (I just backspaced two trailing zeroes).

Done and working! Confirmed 144 fps in game, and buttery smooth. Thanks.

[Lucas Kasecker]

Just followed the steps on the OP. Worked like a charm, didn't need a fix from Nexus nor anything. Thanks a lot!