Recent reports indicate that the new Nvidia app is causing frame rate drops in specific 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 Select Games and Systems
Testing conducted by PC Gamer on December 18th revealed that the Nvidia app negatively impacts the performance of some games and PCs. Several users have reported stuttering. As a temporary workaround, an Nvidia representative suggested 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 framerate improvement (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 on a Core Ultra 9 285K and RTX 4080 Super showed no noticeable performance difference with the overlay enabled or disabled. This suggests the issue is game and system-specific.
PC Gamer's investigation followed user reports on Twitter (X), utilizing the Nvidia-suggested workaround. Despite disabling the overlay, many users continue to experience instability. Some Twitter users suggested reverting to older graphics drivers, while others are trying to identify affected titles. Currently, Nvidia's official response is limited to the overlay disabling suggestion.
Nvidia App's Official Release
Initially launched in beta on February 22, 2024, the Nvidia app replaced GeForce Experience, providing Nvidia GPU users with tools for GPU optimization, game recording, and more.
Following a beta period, the app officially launched in November 2024, completely replacing GeForce Experience. This release coincided with a graphics driver update in preparation for new game releases. The new app features a redesigned overlay and eliminates the need for account login.
Despite the improved features, Nvidia needs to address the performance issues affecting certain games and PC configurations.
