Have you been trying to crank up the frames in Mafia: Definitive Edition only to be capped at 60Hz? Does it feel like you’re playing an outdated slideshow on what should be buttery smooth 144Hz gaming? Well, you’re not alone.

Many PC players have found that even with beefy rigs, the game stubbornly sticks to 60Hz refresh rate. And for those used to silky 144Hz gaming, being locked at 60Hz can be a bummer.

But don’t smash your monitor in frustration just yet. There are a few tricks that can get this mobster adventure cruising at high frame rates. Let’s walk through how to unleash the full potential of your shiny 144Hz display in Mafia: Definitive Edition.

Start With The In-Game Graphics Settings

The first place to start is in the game’s graphics options. Here are a couple of tweaks that can remove the 60Hz handcuffs:

Turn Off V-Sync

Open the graphics settings and turn off V-Sync. This syncs the frame rate with your monitor’s refresh rate as a way to reduce screen tearing. But it also caps the frame rate at 60Hz. Flicking V-Sync off removes this limit so your frames can hit 144Hz.

Use Borderless Windowed Mode

Change the display mode from fullscreen exclusive to borderless windowed. For some reason, fullscreen in Mafia: Definitive Edition restricts the refresh rate. But running it windowed borderless allows higher Hz.

Once you’ve turned off V-Sync and enabled borderless windowed mode, you also want to make sure:

• Fullscreen mode is on
• Borderless mode is off
• V-Sync remains disabled

With these simple in-game tweaks, you’ve removed the 60Hz handcuffs and let your game engine rev its RPMs. But we’re just getting started.

Leverage Windows Compatibility Options

If setting the in-game options to borderless windowed doesn’t do the trick, the next stop is your operating system settings.

Windows 10 has some handy compatibility options we can leverage:

Disable Fullscreen Optimizations

Right-click on the Mafia: Definitive Edition executable file on your desktop or in your Steam library. Select Properties, then click the Compatibility tab. Check the box for “Disable fullscreen optimizations”.

This compatibility setting often resolves fullscreen refresh rate issues in games. Give it a shot and see if your frame rate leaps from 60Hz purgatory.

Force 144Hz In Nvidia Control Panel

If you have an Nvidia GPU, the Nvidia Control Panel gives us even more tools to unleash Mafia’s potential.

Hop into Control Panel and:

1. Click on Manage 3D Settings
2. Open the Program Settings tab
3. Find Mafia: Definitive Edition in the program list, or add it manually if not there already
4. Scroll down and set “Monitor Technology” to “Fixed refresh rate”
5. Set “Preferred refresh rate” to “Highest available”

This forces your GPU to pump out the max Hz for Mafia: Definitive Edition rather than limiting performance.

Set 144Hz Refresh Rate for AMD Cards

For AMD card owners, head into Radeon Software and look for options like “Display” or “Gaming”. There you can find settings to force 144Hz refresh rate for Mafia: Definitive Edition.

Try Launch Options And DXGI DLL File

Some players have resolved the 60Hz lock by using launch options or replacing a DLL file. Give these a go if the above steps fall short:

Use Launch Option

Right-click Mafia: Definitive Edition in Steam, go to Properties > Set Launch Options and enter:

-refresh 144

This forces 144Hz refresh rate from the game launch.

Replace DXGI DLL File

Download the DXGI DLL file from Reshade and copy dxgi.dll into the Mafia: Definitive Edition game folder. Overwriting the existing DXGI file forces uncapped frame rates.

Lower Graphic Settings If Needed

Mafia: Definitive Edition demands a lot from your hardware if you want to hit 144Hz at max settings. Don’t be afraid to lower some graphics options to remove bottlenecks:

• Reduce anti-aliasing to lower GPU load
• Lower shadow quality which is very demanding
• Dial back reflection quality and soft shadows
• Adjust ambient occlusion, texture filtering, and view distance

Experiment with different settings to find the sweet spot between visuals and performance for your particular hardware. With the right balance, you can achieve 144Hz.

Update GPU Drivers

Before slamming the panic button, make sure your graphics drivers are up to date. Outdated drivers are often the culprit behind poor game performance.

Head to Nvidia or AMD’s website and grab the latest stable drivers. Perform a clean install for best results. Keep drivers updated to ensure peak optimization in games.

Is 144Hz Support Still Lacking?

Even after trying all the above troubleshooting, some players report Mafia: Definitive Edition still doesn’t run properly at 144Hz.

The game engine itself seems to lack full native support and optimizations for high refresh rates. Much of the experience may come down to luck based on your specific hardware and Windows setup.

While the workarounds help, they won’t necessarily provide a flawless 144Hz experience. Poorly optimized engines can struggle to churn out enough frames.

Hopefully the developers patch in better refresh rate support down the road. But in the meantime, the tips here will help unleash the most frames possible from Mafia: Definitive Edition.

FAQ

Still have some questions about juicing up the frames in this mobster remake? Here are answers to common queries:

In Summary

Mafia: Definitive Edition may want to play mob boss and lock you to 60Hz. But with this inside scoop, you can break out of its refresh rate racket.

A few simple tweaks to unlock the frame rate combined with optimizing your system can let your high Hertz hardware hit its full potential.

Ride through the streets of Lost Heaven at an ultra-fluid 144 frames per second. Once you get a taste, 60Hz will feel like a throwback to the stone ages.

So use these tips to squeeze every last drop of performance out of your gear. Pretty soon you’ll leave 60Hz in the dust and never look back. Game on!