Nvidia's new app for gamers, which replaces Nvidia GeForce Experience, is already causing a stir among those who use it to enhance their PC gaming experience. In fact, the Nvidia apps are actually degrading the performance of popular PC games.

Tom's Hardware has tested that Nvidia apps have reduced frame rates by up to 15% in several titles, including Baldur's Gate 3, Black Myth: Wukong, Flight Simulator 2024, and Stalker 2. The report states that the problem is a result of the apps' inability to run on the same platform. According to the report, the problem was attributed to the app's new AI-powered RTX game filter, even when not in active use.

Even using the default settings of the Nvidia app once installed, the results show an average performance loss of 6% when playing at 1080p on medium settings and 2.5% at 1440p (this depends on the game being played).

The tests were conducted using an RTX 4060, and while the frame rate drop due to CPU and GPU differences could be less than 15%, it is still a significant impact for those who choose to use Nvidia apps.

Fortunately, Nvidia has identified the app issue and is “actively investigating” it. The options causing the problem are game filters and photo mode.

If you are encountering similar issues, you should turn off the game filter and photo mode features as a workaround.

Nvidia suggests turning off Game Filters by going to Nvidia App Settings > Features > Overlay > Game Filters and Photo Mode. Then restart the selected game and allow it to run normally.

The Nvidia app is provided with Nvidia driver updates, so many PC gamers have likely downloaded it. However, if you do not want to bother with the Nvidia app, you can uncheck the box when updating the Nvidia drivers, so there is no need to install the app.

Despite the performance degradation, Nvidia is working to fix the problem. The app serves as a unified place to update video card drivers, optimize game settings based on PC specs, configure display settings, and adjust GPU performance. PC games should run normally with the game filter and photo mode turned off, so if it makes it easier to fine-tune your gaming experience, this app is worth a try.

According to a post on the Nvidia blog, there will be “new features and further enhancements” in addition to additional control panel options such as surround sound and multi-display mode. Hopefully these “enhancements” will also address performance issues.

We will likely see Nvidia's next generation of graphics cards at CES 2025, given the string of leaks of the Nvidia RTX 50 series GPUs. And with the new Nvidia apps, we will see apps take advantage of the upcoming GPUs.