Nvidia's New App Causes FPS Drops in Some Games
Nvidia's recently launched application is causing frame rate drops in certain games and on specific PC configurations. This article explores the performance issues stemming from Nvidia's latest game optimization software.
Performance Issues Across Games and Systems
Testing by PC Gamer revealed inconsistent framerates in some games when using the Nvidia app. While some users reported stuttering, an Nvidia staff member suggested temporarily disabling the "Game Filters and Photo Mode" overlay as a workaround.
In tests with Black Myth: Wukong (Ryzen 7 7800X3D and RTX 4070 Super), disabling the overlay resulted in a slight FPS increase (from 59fps to 63fps at 1080p, Very High settings). However, enabling the overlay and lowering graphics settings to Medium caused a significant 12% frame rate drop. Cyberpunk 2077 testing (Core Ultra 9 285K and RTX 4080 Super) showed no noticeable difference with the overlay enabled or disabled. This suggests the problem affects specific games and hardware combinations.
The issue was highlighted after users reported concerns on Twitter (X). While disabling the overlay offers a temporary solution, many players still experience instability. Some users suggested reverting to older graphics drivers, but Nvidia hasn't yet released an official fix beyond the overlay workaround.
Nvidia App: Successor to GeForce Experience
Initially launched in beta in February 2024, the Nvidia App replaced GeForce Experience in November 2024. This coincided with a graphics driver update in preparation for new game releases. The app offers improved features and a new overlay system, eliminating the need for account logins. However, the performance impact on certain games and PCs requires further investigation by Nvidia. The company needs to address these issues to ensure a smooth user experience.
