Nvidia App Causes FPS Drops in Some Games and PCs

The newly released Nvidia App is causing frame rate drops in some games and on specific PC configurations. This article explores this performance issue stemming from Nvidia's latest game optimization software.

Nvidia App Impacts Game Performance

Frame Rate Instability Affects Specific Games and PC Builds

PC Gamer's December 18th testing revealed performance inconsistencies with the Nvidia App. Several users reported stuttering. An Nvidia employee suggested a temporary fix: disabling the "Game Filters and Photo Mode" overlay.

Testing Black Myth: Wukong on a high-end system (Ryzen 7 7800X3D and RTX 4070 Super) showed a slight framerate increase (59 fps to 63 fps at 1080p Very High settings) with the overlay off. At 1440p, the difference was negligible. However, enabling the overlay and lowering graphics to Medium resulted in a significant 12% frame rate drop.

Cyberpunk 2077 testing on a Core Ultra 9 285K and RTX 4080 Super showed stable framerates regardless of overlay status. This suggests the problem is game and/or hardware-specific.

PC Gamer's testing, prompted by user concerns on Twitter (X), confirmed the temporary fix (disabling the overlay). However, many users still report instability. Some Twitter (X) users suggested reverting graphics drivers, while others are seeking clarification on which games are affected. Nvidia hasn't yet released a permanent fix beyond disabling the overlay.

Nvidia App's Official Launch

Initially launched in beta on February 22, 2024, the Nvidia App replaced GeForce Experience. Both applications are designed for Nvidia GPU users, providing GPU optimization, game recording, and more.

Following beta testing, the official launch occurred in November 2024, replacing GeForce Experience. This release coincided with a driver update in preparation for new game releases. The new app features a redesigned overlay and eliminates the need for account login.

Despite improved features, Nvidia needs to investigate the performance impact on specific games and hardware configurations.