Nvidia App Causes FPS Drops in Games

The newly released Nvidia App is reportedly causing frame rate drops in specific games and PC configurations. Continue reading to understand more about these performance issues stemming from Nvidia's latest gameplay optimization tool.

Nvidia App Performance Concerns

Frame Rate Instability Reported on Select Games and Hardware Setups

Testing conducted by PC GAMER on December 18 reveals the Nvidia App is impacting performance in certain system configurations. Multiple users have reported noticeable stuttering while running the application. In response to mounting reports, an Nvidia support representative suggested temporarily disabling the "Game Filters and Photo Mode" overlay as an interim solution.

Initial testing involved Black Myth: Wukong running on a high-performance Ryzen 7 7800X3D with RTX 4070 Super combination. With the overlay disabled at 1080p Very High settings, PC Gamer observed a modest frame rate improvement from 59 fps to 63 fps. The 1440p testing showed negligible differences, but activating the overlay at Medium settings resulted in a significant 12% performance reduction.

Additional testing with Cyberpunk 2077 on a Core Ultra 9 285K paired with RTX 4080 Super demonstrated stable performance regardless of overlay status. These findings suggest the issue may be specific to particular game titles and hardware combinations.

PC GAMER initiated these tests after numerous users raised concerns on Twitter/X, following the temporary workaround proposed by Nvidia staff in official forums. While disabling the overlay provides some relief, many community members continue reporting inconsistent performance across different titles.

Discussion threads on Twitter/X feature various user recommendations, including reverting to previous graphics drivers as an alternative solution. Meanwhile, the PC gaming community remains uncertain about which specific games might be affected. Nvidia has yet to release a comprehensive fix beyond the overlay toggle recommendation.

Transition From Beta to Official Release

The Nvidia App debuted in beta on February 22, 2024, designed as the successor to GeForce Experience. Both applications serve Nvidia GPU owners with gameplay optimization tools, recording features, and additional utilities.

Following extensive beta testing, the software officially launched in November 2024, fully replacing the GeForce Experience platform. This release coincided with a graphics driver update optimized for upcoming game titles. The redesigned application no longer requires user authentication and introduces a revamped overlay system.

While the new software offers enhanced functionality, performance inconsistencies affecting select games and hardware configurations warrant further investigation by Nvidia's development team.