At the point where the graphic settings are being a headache and are generating different errors in the game, be it artifacts, visual noise, or worse performance, the ideal is not to touch what is not understood, because nothing else is better , but many times it does not give less what we are looking for. The solution really goes through an optimal configuration in the NVIDIA drivers, so let’s see how we can do it.
The NVIDIA Control Panel is more powerful than we imagine
When all else fails there are only two possible options and one of which we have already seen in its corresponding article. The first one is the one that corresponds to this, the correct configuration of the NVIDIA control panel to maximize performance, the other is the GeForce Experience configuration to get the most out of the graphics settings.
Therefore, we are going to get to work to get those FPS that you resist, because who does not want to win free performance? We assume that everyone, but in computing there is nothing free, no magic, no tricks as such; where you win on one side you lose on the other.
In the case at hand, we are going to gain performance at the cost of losing graphic quality. Depending on the game and the eye of each user we will see more or less the difference, but in any case it is there whether we like it or not. If you are willing to lose that quality for the sake of performance and more FPS … Read on.
Configure the NVIDIA Control Panel
First of all and although it seems obvious, something must be emphasized: the NVIDIA control panel comes installed from the company’s own driver. That is, we install the driver and it is installed with it, so we will only have to go to any point on the desktop and click the right mouse button to display the Windows context menu.
Once we have clicked it will open and it will be displayed like this:
The section that interests us is precisely the one that is selected in the menu on the left: Control the 3D configuration, where below we will see the different sections that we have to touch and how to do it.
Image Sharpness
It’s NVIDIA’s so-called Image Sharpening, it basically improves game image sharpness and focus at the cost of a slight drop in FPS. In some games it may be imperceptible, while in others it is more noticeable. Better to leave it disabled.
We will also deactivate the setting below called Antialiasing-FXAA, since it is a significant performance loss.
Antialiasing-Mode
Logically we do not want any type of filter in our games, since we want maximum performance, so we mark it as deactivated. In certain games this option can give you some kind of corruption or stuttering problem, it is not normal, but if it does occur then better mark «controlled by the application.
Anti-aliasing-gamma correction
There is not much to comment here, since we do not need to improve the filter and its problems since we have disabled it, so we mark it as disabled to avoid problems.
CUDA-GPU
This option is only useful if we have more than one graphics card installed, because otherwise it will only allow us to select one. It is basically a redirect to the CUDA cores for game physics, which can be computed with the CPU or with the GPU. In the section «Configure SLI, Surround and PhysX» we can select it manually if we need it.
Shader cache
It is the typical cache of shaders, something that modifies the load and the performance of the PC by allocating the load of certain tasks of the shaders as a cache on the HDD or SSD, so they are not kept in the CPU and frees it of said load , but …
Latency is generated and as such, we have to activate the parameter so that the CPU and GPU do their work, which is essential if the processor is moderately powerful. If we were in a scenario where the CPU is very slow, then we could try disabling it to see how the FPS behaves, always having an SSD in the PC of course.
DSR factors
It is a resolution scaler to improve the sharpness of the image in the game, the problem is that it consumes a huge amount of GPU resources, since it scales as DLSS does, but without the Deep Learning work of the same, all based on brute force. It is mandatory to leave it OFF.
Anisotropic filtering
We are not going to talk about anisotropic here for obvious reasons, just better to leave it off for the best performance and FPS.
Texture Filtering-Quality
Here we must not extend too much, since the filtering of the textures affects everything that appears on the screen. The setting is as clear as it is simple: High performance to improve FPS.
Texture Filtering-Negative LOD Difference
Here we do not have to touch anything and leave it with Allow, since we have the anisotropic filter deactivated and therefore we do not want to improve the image quality.
Texture Filtering-Anisotropic Optimization
Nor is there much to explain since the anisotropic filter is deactivated, so we do the same and leave it deactivated anyway.
Texture Filtering-Trilinear Optimization
We have to activate this filter, mainly because we have high-performance texture filtering and this implies that we do not want trilinear filtering to be applied to the entire screen. Therefore, we have to activate it at the cost of losing a bit of image quality.
Pre-processed frames for virtual reality
There is some controversy here, since although NVIDIA recommends using setting 1 to accelerate the FPS step from the CPU to the GPU and from there to the glasses, the reality is that on some PCs it is better to use the setting that the game has, since it can produce stuttering if we force it to the value suggested by the green ones.
Preferred refresh rate
It is another parameter with controversy, since we have two options. It all depends on whether we are using G-SYNC or G-SYNC Compatible, V-SYNC or we are not setting any of these. If you’re looking for the highest FPS rate outside of your monitor’s range, then let the app control the setting.
If you want to stick to the values of any of the three synchronization technologies then select the highest available.
Power Control Mode
Here the setting to choose is simple: Maximum preferred performance, since we are looking for precisely that. The problem is that this will not let the GPU drop in frequency and therefore voltage, so it will heat up a bit more and sound accordingly.
Ambient occlusion
Controversy also for its use. We will leave it in two very simple options:
- Do you play in DX12? Then select off.
- Do you play on an API other than DX12? You can select off or performance, depending on how it affects the graphic quality as you see the shadows of the game, as it can sometimes produce unwanted effects.
Linked optimization
Fortunately, there is no debate here, we need the CPU and its multiple threads to dispense the information worked or to be worked to the GPU and RAM, therefore leaving the parameter in automatic is correct, but we recommend activated as long as it does not interfere with stuttering in the game.
Therefore, it is something that you will have to try yourself in the different games and decide how it suits you best.
Vertical Sync
One of the most talked about parameters in the history of GPUs. It simply must go to deactivated unless we have G-SYNC or G-SYNC Compatible where we will have to mark Activated.
On (Smooth) and fast imply a small restriction in the synchronization with the panel and therefore produce latency even if the FPS is not blocked, as in Fast-SYNC (Fast). If we do not notice the input latency, then we can opt for them if necessary, if instead we need the minimum response time, everything is reduced has been deactivated.
Monitor Technology, Triple Buffer, Maximum Frame Rate, and Per Application
They are parameters that may be important when combined with others or when we seek limits. Monitor technology for example is only useful if the monitor is G-SYNC or G-SYNC Compatible, which should be mirrored and selected as such.
Triple Buffer is only activated when vertical synchronization is activated and we DO NOT have G-SYNC or G-SYNC Compatible, a fact that must be emphasized because then the experience would be annoying.
Maximum frame rate and maximum frame rate in background applications is only useful if we want to limit the FPS to a maximum number. This is useful in certain situations, such as those monitors that work best with 1 FPS less than the Hz limit of the panel, something very rare today.
Other games have a maximum FPS limit and cannot work if it is not met, so these settings are useful in this type of case.
