The NVIDIA Control Panel looks like it was designed in 2008, mostly because it was. It’s full of settings with names like “Threaded optimization” and “Texture filtering: Negative LOD bias,” and almost nobody knows which ones matter.

Good news: only a handful actually make a difference. This guide covers the settings worth changing for gaming, what each one does, and which ones you should just leave alone.

Control Panel or NVIDIA App?

NVIDIA now has two places to change settings: the classic NVIDIA Control Panel and the newer NVIDIA App, which is slowly taking over its job. Most of the settings below exist in both. In the NVIDIA App, look under the Graphics tab. In the Control Panel, go to Manage 3D settings.

You can change settings for all games at once (Global settings) or for one game at a time (Program settings). Start with Global, then tweak individual games if needed.

Before You Start

Update your graphics driver first. New drivers fix bugs and add game-specific improvements. You can update from the NVIDIA App or NVIDIA’s website.

The Settings That Matter

Setting	Recommended	Why
Low Latency Mode	On (Ultra if the game has no Reflex)	Reduces input lag in GPU-heavy games
Power Management Mode	Prefer maximum performance	Stops the GPU from lowering clocks mid-game
Max Frame Rate	A few FPS below your refresh rate (with G-Sync)	Keeps frame times smooth and G-Sync active
Vertical Sync	On if you use G-Sync, otherwise Off	Prevents tearing when paired with G-Sync
Texture Filtering Quality	High performance	Small FPS gain with almost no visible change
Shader Cache Size	Driver default or larger	Reduces stutter from shader compiling
Monitor Technology	G-SYNC Compatible (if supported)	Turns on variable refresh rate
Threaded Optimization	Auto	Let the driver decide
Anisotropic Filtering	Application-controlled	Set it in the game instead
Antialiasing settings	Application-controlled	Set it in the game instead

Low Latency Mode

This setting limits how many frames your CPU prepares ahead of your GPU. Fewer queued frames means your mouse inputs show up on screen sooner.

• Off: The game decides.
• On: Limits the queue to one frame.
• Ultra: Sends frames just in time, for the lowest latency.

If a game has NVIDIA Reflex, turn Reflex on in the game settings instead. Reflex does a better job than Low Latency Mode, and the driver setting is ignored when Reflex is active.

Power Management Mode

Set this to Prefer maximum performance. Normally, your GPU lowers its clock speed when it thinks it doesn’t need full power. In games with uneven loads, that can cause small FPS dips. This setting keeps the GPU ready.

The trade-off is slightly higher power use and heat while the setting is active. Laptop users who care about battery life can apply this only to specific games under Program settings.

Max Frame Rate

Capping your FPS sounds like the opposite of what you want, but it helps in a few ways:

• If you use G-Sync, capping a few FPS below your refresh rate keeps you inside the G-Sync range. On a 144Hz monitor, 141 FPS is a common choice.
• It keeps frame pacing smoother, so the game feels less jittery.
• It lowers GPU temperature and fan noise.

If you play competitive shooters without G-Sync and want the absolute lowest latency, you can leave it uncapped.

Vertical Sync and G-Sync

The best setup for most players with a G-Sync or G-Sync Compatible monitor:

1. Turn on G-Sync in Display > Set up G-SYNC.
2. Set Vertical sync to On in Manage 3D settings.
3. Turn V-Sync off inside the game itself.
4. Set Max Frame Rate a few FPS below your refresh rate.

This combination gives you no tearing and very low input lag. Our V-Sync vs G-Sync vs FreeSync guide explains why it works.

Two Settings Outside Manage 3D Settings

Change resolution: Make sure your refresh rate is set to the highest your monitor supports. A surprising number of people are stuck at 60Hz. Here’s how to check if your monitor is really running at 144Hz.

Output dynamic range: On the same page, if you use HDMI, set Output dynamic range to Full. If it’s on Limited, blacks look washed out and gray.

Settings to Leave Alone

• Image Scaling: Leave it off unless you specifically want the driver to upscale a game. Use DLSS in game instead.
• Anisotropic filtering and antialiasing overrides: Games handle these better on their own.
• Triple buffering: Only affects OpenGL games. Leave it off.
• CUDA and OpenGL rendering GPU: Leave on Auto unless you know you need to change them.

Laptop Tip

If you’re on a gaming laptop, go to Manage 3D settings > Preferred graphics processor and choose High-performance NVIDIA processor. Otherwise some games may run on your weaker integrated graphics. Our gaming laptop low FPS guidecovers this in more detail.

FAQs

What are the best NVIDIA Control Panel settings for FPS?

Set Power Management Mode to Prefer maximum performance, Texture Filtering Quality to High performance, and Low Latency Mode to On. Use in-game settings like DLSS for bigger FPS gains.

Should I use Low Latency Mode or NVIDIA Reflex?

Use Reflex when a game supports it. Use Low Latency Mode for games that don’t.

Should V-Sync be on or off in NVIDIA Control Panel?

On if you use G-Sync, along with an FPS cap. Off if you don’t have a G-Sync compatible monitor.

Do NVIDIA Control Panel settings really increase FPS?

A little. Most of the gains are in smoothness and input lag, not big FPS jumps. In-game settings matter more for raw FPS.

Using an AMD card instead? Read our guide to the best AMD Adrenalin settings for gaming.