No, the Nvidia application is not affecting your PC's performance.
It has been mentioned that the Nvidia application could affect your PC's performance, but the situation has more details to consider.
Recently, a conversation has erupted regarding the impact of Nvidia's new software on video game performance. The controversy arose following a post by Sebastian Castellanos on X, which mentioned a performance decrease of up to 15% with the Nvidia application installed, specifically in the titles Black Myth: Wukong and The Talos Principle 2. The news was quickly spread by various platforms, including Tom’s Hardware and Dark Side of Gaming, which presented evidence supporting the reported performance loss.
However, subsequent investigations have clarified that the Nvidia application itself is not the cause of the problem. In light of the numerous posts on Reddit and comments on social media about this situation, tests were conducted with four video games to demonstrate the true origin of the performance reduction in Nvidia graphics cards.
During the tests, a measurable increase in performance was observed upon uninstalling the application, which was reflected in the different games evaluated. This increase was not directly related to the installation of the Nvidia application, but rather to the use of the Nvidia overlay. To better understand the situation, an analysis of titles powered by Unreal Engine 5 was conducted, including Black Myth: Wukong, Stalker 2, and Silent Hill 2, as well as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, to verify whether the effect was exclusive to games with that graphics engine.
The results showed a notable performance increase upon uninstalling the Nvidia application. Although the variation in performance may not be decisive for the gaming experience, a 5% to 10% increase can be significant for some players. However, the widespread narrative suggests that uninstalling the app automatically translates into a performance boost.
Interestingly, by keeping the application installed and disabling the Nvidia overlay, performance returns to levels similar to when the application was not installed. In the Silent Hill 2 test, even a slightly superior performance was observed, a change likely attributable to variability in testing conditions.
It is worth noting that the Nvidia overlay is activated by default upon installing the application, even if it is never used. This overlay includes game filters, photo mode, and various recording and monitoring options. To disable it, one simply needs to access the settings of the Nvidia application and uncheck the corresponding option.
Given the rapid spread of the news, it seems that the tests conducted were not thorough enough, creating confusion between correlation and causation. While performance improves upon uninstalling the application, the true cause of the performance drop lies in the overlay, a phenomenon that is not exclusive to Nvidia, as other applications like the Xbox Game Bar, Discord, and many more can have a similar effect.
The controversy surrounding the Nvidia application does not seem justified, as it does not provide clear evidence of being the direct source of the performance reduction. Despite recommendations to uninstall the application if its additional functions are not used, it is suggested to keep it installed. This is because it allows users to stay informed about new driver updates, which are crucial for improving performance, especially for new game releases.
