How to optimize NVIDIA GeForce Now settings for best performance
Having the best time with NVIDIA GeForce Now might mean tweaking your settings a little. We’ll show you how to optimize your play.
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Whether you have a gaming PC or not, one of the best things about a cloud gaming service, such asNVIDIA GeForce Now, is that you don’t need to spend time optimizing in-game settings. NVIDIA does all the hard work for you when it comes to graphics settings to make sure your games look amazing whatever you’re playing them on.
But to make sure you have the best experience possible you should take a few minutes to optimize your GeForce Now settings. By default, the service will do what it thinks is best, but there’s quite a bit you can do yourself to help it along.
Whether you’re using the desktop client or the browser version, here’s what you can do.
How to optimize NVIDIA GeForce Now settings in the desktop app
The desktop app is the recommended way to play GeForce Now if you’re on Windows, and this is in part down to the extra control you have over the settings. There’s just more you’re able to control versus using the web app.
The auto settings will do a good job most of the time, especially if you’re on a fast connection. But if you’re a little more limited on bandwidth, it’s a valuable exercise to do a little optimization.
The first thing you should look at is how well your connection will fare using the built-in bandwidth check tool. You’ll find this next to the server location dropdown, which by default will be set to automatically choose the best server.
Running the bandwidth test will provide you with some useful information. Not only will it recommend a maximum resolution and frame rate, but it will also show you how your download, packet loss, and ping (latency) match up against what NVIDIA requires. It will do this against any server you choose, too, though if you venture from the auto setting you’ll be given a warning that choosing a server could have detrimental effects.
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The best reason to run this first is that it completely ignores whatever current settings you have enabled and just tells you what your connection can handle. You can then take this information into the next step and adjust your settings to suit.
NVIDIA includes a number of presets in the desktop app to allow easy optimization, but there’s also a good chance they compromise a little too much. But using the information you gained in the bandwidth test, select thecustomoption, and try these steps.
By contrast, if you have a high-speed connection, you can use the custom settings to make sure everything is turned up to the maximum. Bit rate tops out at 50mbps, which is pretty good, though you’ll always be limited to 60 FPS. At least for now. The app will also tell you what your current settings look like in terms of estimated hourly data usage for some idea of how much strain you’ll be putting on your network.
How to optimize NVIDIA GeForce Now settings in the Google Chrome browser
The Google Chrome browser version of GeForce Now is, mostly, identical to the desktop client. The user interface is exactly the same but there are fewer settings you can change.
The bandwidth checker is not available and you have only two options under quality,balancedandcustom. The custom option allows the same customization as the desktop client, with the exception of a V-Sync toggle.
But you should follow a similar process to get the best experience as detailed above. Run a web-based speed test first to see what your ping and download looks like, and then use this information to adjust your bitrate. Again, if your network is busy or unstable, lower is better for stability.
Set the frame rate to 60 FPS unless on a slow connection and as above, if you’re playing on a laptop you can definitely drop the resolution. As with the desktop client, the web app will tell you what kind of hourly data usage your settings can expect to produce for an added indicator on the strain you’ll be putting on your network.
Other things you can try
Besides tweaking the settings to make sure you’re getting both a good quality stream and a reliable one, there’s also the matter of your home network to consider. Here are a few things you can try that should make your experience a little better.
While there’s no single one size fits all solution, it’s still very straightforward to optimize your NVIDIA GeForce Now settings to have the best time. Whether you just want everything to look its absolute best or you have to consider your network conditions carefully, GeForce Now has the flexibility to be enjoyed by all.
NVIDIA’s cloud game streaming service is one of the best available today, delivering lag-free gaming at 1080p/60fps. The fact that you can access NVIDIA’s servers for free makes it an easy sell, and the $4.99 plan makes it an immediately enticing option for seasoned gamers.
Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you’ll find him steering the site’s coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon atmstdn.social/@richdevine
