Nvidia App Causes FPS Drops in Some Games and PCs

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

Nvidia App Performance Impact

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 staff member suggested a temporary workaround: 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 reducing graphics to Medium resulted in a significant 12% frame rate drop.

Cyberpunk 2077 testing (Core Ultra 9 285K and RTX 4080 Super) showed stable framerates regardless of overlay status, suggesting the problem is game and/or hardware specific.

PC Gamer's investigation followed user concerns expressed on Twitter (X), utilizing the Nvidia forum-recommended fix. Despite disabling the overlay, many players still reported unstable performance. Some Twitter users suggested reverting graphics drivers, while others questioned which games are affected. Currently, Nvidia's only official response is to disable 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, offering GPU optimization, game recording, and more.

Following beta testing, the app officially launched in November 2024, replacing GeForce Experience and coinciding with a graphics driver update. The new app features a redesigned overlay and eliminates the need for account logins.

While offering enhanced features, Nvidia needs to address the negative performance impact on specific games and PC configurations.