A MaximusFPS guide
Which NVIDIA and AMD settings affect gaming performance?
Driver settings can affect frame caps, presentation, latency features and image quality, but the right combination depends on the game, GPU and display. Start with a per-game profile and supported in-game settings. A universal “maximum performance” preset can waste power or introduce conflicts without improving your actual problem.
What to check first
- Record driver version and existing per-game overrides.
- Confirm display VRR support and its compatible connection.
- Check whether the game has its own cap, latency feature and upscaling options.
Likely causes and how to distinguish them
Multiple caps or presentation overrides can produce confusing results. A game setting and a forced driver setting may not behave as expected together.
NVIDIA Reflex applies to supported games and addresses PC rendering latency. G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync address display synchronization; they are not substitutes for fixing CPU stalls or packet loss.
Upscaling lowers internal rendering load and changes image quality. Frame generation, where supported, is not equivalent to faster game simulation or equally reduced input latency.
Diagnostic steps, in order
- Document overrides, then use a supported default/per-game starting point instead of stacking downloaded presets.
- Choose one frame cap and test it in a repeatable scene. Check the game’s own guidance before forcing driver-wide options.
- Enable supported VRR and latency features individually and compare tearing, pacing and delay. Follow GPU/display documentation for compatibility.
- Compare rendering quality and upscaling separately from latency tests. Keep resolution and settings noted so FPS comparisons are meaningful.
Limitations and when help may be appropriate
Not every option exists on every GPU or driver, and names can change. Seek help for conflicting profiles, but do not accept a claim that one preset solves every game. Avoid unverified anti-cheat-sensitive tools and random global registry changes.
Follow-up questions
Should I force maximum power everywhere?
Not by default. It can increase idle power and heat. Test a per-game option only when clocks or power behaviour are part of the measured problem.
Is generated FPS the same as lower input delay?
No. Additional presented frames are not the same as more frequent simulation/input updates. Evaluate responsiveness separately from the displayed FPS figure.
Official sources and further reading
These documents support the technical explanations; game and driver options can change. Source language may differ from this guide.