Nvidia App Causes FPS Drops in Some Games and PCs

The newly released Nvidia app is causing frustrating FPS drops in some games and on certain PC configurations. Let's delve into this performance issue affecting Nvidia's latest game optimization software.

Nvidia App: Impact on Game Performance

Unstable Framerates Plague Some Games and PC Builds

Recent testing by PC Gamer (December 18th) revealed that the Nvidia app is negatively impacting performance for some users and games. Reports of stuttering and unstable framerates have surfaced, prompting concern within the gaming community. An Nvidia staff member suggested a temporary workaround: disabling the "Game Filters and Photo Mode" overlay.

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

Further testing with Cyberpunk 2077 on a Core Ultra 9 285K and RTX 4080 Super system showed no noticeable performance difference with the overlay enabled or disabled. This suggests the issue's impact varies depending on the game and PC hardware.

Following user reports on Twitter (X), PC Gamer replicated the issue and confirmed the effectiveness of the temporary fix provided by Nvidia. Disabling the overlay alleviates the problem for some, but many users still report persistent instability. Some community suggestions include reverting to older graphics drivers. Currently, Nvidia's official response is limited to recommending overlay deactivation.

Nvidia App: Official Launch and Subsequent Issues

Initially launched in beta on February 22nd, 2024, the Nvidia app replaced GeForce Experience, offering optimized GPU settings, game recording, and more for Nvidia GPU users. Its official release in November 2024 coincided with a graphics driver update in preparation for upcoming game releases. The new app features a redesigned overlay and account login system.

While the app boasts improved features, Nvidia needs to address the performance issues affecting specific games and PC configurations. Further investigation and a dedicated fix are necessary to ensure a smooth gaming experience for all users.