Guides/Graphics
NVIDIA Control Panel settings for gaming: what each one does
The NVIDIA Control Panel has dozens of 3D settings, and most tweak lists change all of them. Only a few make a measurable difference. Here's what each important one does and what to pick.
All of these are under NVIDIA Control Panel → Manage 3D settings. Global Settings apply to every game; Program Settings override them for one game.
Low Latency Mode#
Limits how many frames the processor prepares ahead of the graphics card. On allows one, Ultra sends frames just in time. It lowers input delay when the graphics card is fully loaded. In games with NVIDIA Reflex, use Reflex in the game instead: it overrides this setting and works better.
Vertical sync#
On if you use G-Sync (together with a frame cap below the refresh rate), otherwise Off or Use the 3D application setting. The right G-Sync settings.
Max Frame Rate#
A frame limiter that works in every game. Use it when the game has no limiter of its own, or to stay below the refresh rate with G-Sync. Where to cap and why.
Power management mode#
Normal lets the card lower its clock when it has little to do; Prefer maximum performance keeps it high. Current cards boost instantly under load, so the difference in games is small. Prefer maximum performance can help in light games where the card keeps clocking down, at the cost of more power at idle. Set it per game rather than globally.
Shader Cache Size#
How much disk space compiled shaders may use. Driver Default is fine; larger or Unlimited helps if you play many big games and see compilation stutter again and again. Shader compilation stutter.
Texture filtering – Quality#
High performance trades a little texture sharpness for speed. On current cards the gain is tiny. Leave it on Quality unless you need every frame.
Preferred refresh rate#
Highest available makes sure games use the monitor's maximum refresh rate even if they ask for less.
Leave these alone#
Settings like Threaded optimization, Triple buffering (OpenGL only), Anisotropic filtering and Antialiasing overrides rarely help in modern games. Games set their own anti-aliasing and filtering, and the driver override can cause problems.
Questions#
Should I use Low Latency Mode Ultra?
Does Prefer maximum performance increase FPS?
Frametide has these NVIDIA settings under Tweaks, reads their current value from the driver, and switches them and back with one click (some need Premium). Frametide measures FPS, 1% and 0.1% lows and stutters per minute in your own game with PresentMon, before and after a change, so you don't have to guess (Premium).