You don’t need to do a clean install every time your driver updates, as usually, all you need to do is just update the driver and everything is okay. However, sometimes you have to do a clean install to prevent conflicts and issues that a corrupted driver might cause.

A clean installation is also recommended when you have replaced your graphics card, as the old graphics drivers might interfere with the performance of the new graphics card.

Now that you know about clean installation and its uses, let’s move on to how to clean install a driver.

STEP 1. Download New Drivers

1. Download the latest drivers from Nvidia’s Official Driver Webpage.
2. Choose the specific model of your Nvidia graphics card and download the latest driver version.
   

Now, once your driver is downloaded, we will uninstall the existing driver.

STEP 2. Uninstall the Existing Driver

There are two ways to perform a clean install of an Nvidia driver:

1. Using the built-in “Perform a clean installation” checkbox.
2. Using “DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller)” – A well-known and reputable program specifically designed to remove all residual files and configurations.

Usually, the first method works fine for most users. However, in some cases, using DDU may be necessary to ensure no residual files and settings conflict with your current driver.

Note: Clean installation will remove all the settings and configurations. So, be prepared to reconfigure your graphics driver once you follow the methods mentioned below.

Now that we know about both methods, let’s check the step-by-step procedure of both methods.

Method 1. Clean Installation Through Nvidia Installer:

1. Launch the setup file of the downloaded driver.
2. Select the directory where you want to extract the drivers and wait for the process to complete.
   
3. The setup will perform a system check to ensure compatibility and correct GPU connection.
4. Click ‘Agree and Continue’ to proceed.
   
5. Choose ‘Custom (Advanced)’ and click ‘Next’.
   
6. Check the ‘Perform a clean installation’ box and click ‘Next’.
   
7. Wait for the installation to complete. Note: If your screen flickers during the installation process, it’s completely normal and expected, so don’t worry about it.
8. Follow the prompts to restart your PC.
   
9. After the restart, the driver installation will continue. Click ‘Close’ once the installation is complete.
   
10. After the drivers have been installed, click on Close.

Now, test and check if everything is working properly and reconfigure your settings and configurations. If anything is wrong, you can follow the procedure using DDU below.

Method 2. Clean Install using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU):

1. Go to the DDU download page.
2. Download and extract the file using a zip file extracting tool such as 7zip or WinRAR.
3. Launch the “DDU v*****” file, select a directory to unpack the installer, and then press the “Extract” button.
   Note: “v******” corresponds to the version number of DDU, as it might be different at the time you view this article. We mentioned it like that for your understanding.
4. Once extracted, go to the directory (where you unpacked the installer) and launch the “Display Driver Uninstall.exe” file.
5. Once the program opens, press “OK” and check all boxes under ‘Nvidia Specific Options’. Then press Close.
   
6. Choose ‘GPU’ for the device type and ‘Nvidia’ for the manufacturer.
   
7. Click ‘Clean and Restart’. If installing a new graphics card, select ‘Clean and Shut Down’ instead, install your graphics card, and then turn ON your computer again.

Now your computer will boot up again and it might have a weird low-resolution mode. Do not be alarmed by that, as it’s completely normal for Windows to boot your computer in low-resolution mode if it doesn’t find any driver installed for your graphics card.

At this point, it might be necessary to pause Windows updates for 1-2 hours, as it may try to install Nvidia drivers automatically. This can ruin the installation process, as it’s been reported many times that Windows updates install older or buggy drivers that aren’t usually compatible with your graphics driver properly.

This is especially the case with laptops, as their manufacturers tend to customize the Nvidia driver before deploying it to better optimize the driver for that specific hardware.

To stop Windows updates temporarily:

“Select Start > Settings > Windows Update. Next to Pause updates, in the dropdown list, select Pause for 1 week, then click Pause for 1 week.”

You can learn more about this on the official Dell support article.

Once paused, we can continue with the installation process. Installation steps are the same as those mentioned in the first method, so just follow those steps and you should be good to go.

The post How to do a Clean Installation of Nvidia Drivers? appeared first on Appuals.

Various reasons can cause this issue, but mainly it happens due to problems with the graphics driver. Additionally, the recent change in the location of the DX cache folder might be the reason you cannot see any file or DX cache folder in the location where you used to see it.

1. Verify the Shader Cache Settings in the Nvidia Control Panel

If the shader cache option is not enabled, your GPU driver won’t create shader cache files even if you play the game for several hours; you will find the DX cache folder empty. Therefore, ensure that the shader cache option is turned on in the Nvidia Control Panel.

1. Hold the Shift key, right-click the desktop, and select Nvidia Control Panel.
   
2. Go to Manage 3D settings from the left.
3. In the right pane, find the Shader Cache option listed under Settings and make sure it is turned on.
   
4. Once done, click Apply and check if the files are being created under the cache folder.

2. Verify the DX Cache Location

Recently, the location of the DirectX cache folder has been moved from the Local folder to LocalLow, which might be why you are unable to see it in the location where you used to.

1. Press the Win + R keys simultaneously and type Appdata in the input box.
2. Click OK to navigate to the folder.
   
3. Navigate to LocalLow\NVIDIA\; here, you should see the DX cache folder listed. If you cannot see it, you can also check the Local folder. If it still cannot be found, proceed to the following methods to fix the issue.
   

3. Use DDU to Reinstall the Driver

The DX cache folder files might not be created due to a problem with your GPU driver. Reinstalling the GPU driver using DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) will remove all the traces of the previous driver, which might be corrupted, resulting in this issue.

1. Download the Display Driver Uninstaller using the link.
   
2. Once downloaded, extract the folder using WinRar or 7zip.
   
3. Now, navigate to the extracted folder and run the DDU 7zip file.
4. Click on the Extract option and navigate to the extracted folder once done.
5. Then, run the Display Driver Uninstaller application.
6. Select the GPU from the device type and the GPU vendor.
7. Then, click Clean and Restart.
   
8. Once done, install the GPU Driver from the official manufacturer’s site.
9. Once done, restart your computer.
10. Then, launch the game and see if the problem is resolved.

4. Manually Create DXCache Folder

Manually creating the DXCache folder directory in the right location will help the games access and create the necessary cache files. Sometimes, issues with the profile usernames and incorrect driver installation prevent the applications from saving the cache files. Therefore, manually creating the folder might resolve the issue.

1. Press the Win + R keys simultaneously to open the Run window.
2. Type AppData in the input box and click OK.
   
3. Now, navigate to the following directory and create a folder with the name DXCache.

   AppData\LocalLow\NVIDIA\PerDriverVersion\

   

4. Once done, see if the issue is resolved or not.

5. Verify the Game Permissions

Another reason could be a lack of permissions, which could prevent the game from storing the shader cache. To address this, try running the game as an administrator and verify that you have full control over the DXCache folder to create the necessary files.

Running the game as an administrator will ensure that the application has all the necessary permissions to perform the required actions.

1. Right-click the game and select Run as administrator.
2. If you find the issue is fixed, then configure the game or application to always run with administrator privileges.
   
3. Again, right-click the game, go to Properties from the top, then go to Compatibility and tick Run this program as an administrator.
   
4. Once done, click Apply and click OK.
5. Then, check if the issue is fixed or not.

Lastly, if none of the solutions work, you can try using the system restore utility to revert Windows to a previous state. This requires having a restore point from before you encountered the issue. If you don’t have any restore points, resetting the PC without losing data might be the best solution.

The post How to Fix an Empty DXCache Folder in Windows? appeared first on Appuals.

With AMD’s AFMF setting a new standard for a simple ‘Click and Play‘ frame generation utility, will NVIDIA too follow AMD’s steps and implement a universal, driver-based frame generation solution? Let’s find out.

Will NVIDIA Make a Driver-Based Frame Generation Solution?

Before we talk about the topic at hand, let’s go over how Upscaling and Frame Generation work and a few important-to-understand terminologies.

DLSS stands for Deep Learning Super Sampling and was introduced by NVIDIA in 2018 as a part of its RTX lineup of GPUs. Put simply, DLSS scans and collects data from the past frames and uses this data to fill in the missing pixels in the new frame. With a hint of AI, you receive an upscaled image with enhanced performance.

AMD’s FSR or Fidelity FX Super Resolution on the contrary can work on almost every GPU. It uses a special open-source spatial upscaling algorithm to upscale the game from a lower to a higher resolution. It is far more applicable than DLSS, since it is not hardware-dependent.

READ MORE: NVIDIA DLSS 3.0 Frame Generation Modded To Work With RTX 2000 & RTX 3000 GPUs ➜

A Few Important Terms and an Introduction to Frame Generation

With the RTX 40 lineup came along DLSS 3.0 and NVIDIA Frame Generation. What exactly is the meaning of ‘generating frames’? Frame Generation is at its simplest, inserting a frame within two other frames. This process is called Interpolation. It has been a popular technique with TVs to increase the framerate of the displayed content to match the TV’s refresh rate.

Upscaling simply improves the image quality and increases performance. Meanwhile, Frame Generation or FG for short creates an entirely new frame within two existing frames, displays them, and guesses the next frame, all the while managing an acceptable latency.

This tech-wizardry requires the understanding of 2 core concepts in this field: Optical Flow Analysis and Motion Vectors. Let’s go over them one by one:

1) Optical Flow Analysis

This technique takes a series of images and estimates what the next iteration of the image could look like. This estimation is done by analyzing the velocity, color, and brightness of objects in the image. Instead of a clear-cut result, you obtain a mere approximation.

Consider a ball rolling on the floor towards the right. The ball reaches its destination in 5 discrete steps. Assume its motion to be almost linear and in a straight line and you could determine its final destination beforehand. If you’ve studied Analytical Geometry, you must have come across the 2-point form:

y - y1 = (x-x1)(y2-y1) / (x2-x1)

From just two points, we can determine the equation of the given line. Since the slope is constant, predicting the next position of the image/point is not tricky. Do note that the actual technology is much more complicated than this.

Most importantly, Optical Flow Analysis does not require access to the game engine’s data. It can be implemented on the driver level, wherein the driver interpolates (inserts) frames by predicting motion on the screen. In simple terms, Optical Flow Analysis does not interact with the game engine.

The disadvantage is that the driver is unable to distinguish between UI and the actual 3D environment, so unforeseen artifacts may occur. Moreover, the output will never be as refined since it uses the raw frame data.

2) Game Engine Motion Vectors

Motion vectors are directional vectors that indicate the displacement of objects from one frame to another. They are a game engine component and represent objects’ transformation and animation. This is a more robust way of representing motion than simply ‘guessing’ the object’s position.

If you were wondering, motion vectors are a crucial part of Frame Generation. Only that there needs to be some correspondence with the driver and the game engine to share this data. Achieving this correspondence requires implementation from the game developers.

Therefore, while being a superior option to Optical Flow Analysis, motion vectors are greatly limited in their scope and scalability since not every game will have this option. If you were to play an old title from the 2010s, motion vector-powered FG solutions (DLSS FG, FSR 3 FG) are very likely not to be present.

READ MORE: What is Resizable BAR & Should You Enable it? (Guide) ➜

DLSS Frame Generation vs FSR Frame Generation

Now let’s see how the current frame generation tech from both Team Green and Team Red stack up against each other.

NVIDIA:

NVIDIA’s version of Frame Generation uses a combination of motion vectors and optical flow analysis. The Optical Flow Accelerator with RTX 40 GPUs analyzes two frames. It then determines the information the game’s motion vectors do not include, such as particles, reflections, shadows etcetera. In the example below, Optical Flow Analysis allows for accurate tracking of the shadow.

The Motion Vector part on the contrary tracks the 3D environment and the scene geometry. In the same bike example, motion vectors can pinpoint the accurate future position of the biker or the road mathematically. However, they cannot determine the shadow for which Optical Flow Analysis is used. Thus, these two must work in tandem to produce an accurate image.

• Requires game developer support
• Uses a combination of Optical Flow Analysis and Motion Vectors
• Is hardware locked on RTX 40 GPUs
• Cannot be implemented on the driver-level

AMD:

FSR 3 Frame Generation is very similar to NVIDIA’s DLSS Frame Generation. Apart from a few naming changes, this technology also incorporates a combination of Optical Flow Analysis and Motion Vectors. For reasons obvious, both technologies require support from game developers.

• Requires game developer support
• Uses a combination of Optical Flow Analysis and Motion Vectors
• Can be enabled on RX 5000/6000 and RTX 20/30/40 Series GPUs
• Cannot be implemented on the driver-level

READ MORE: What is a Teraflop? Understanding The New Graphics Buzzword ➜

The Anomaly: AMD Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF)

The closest thing we have to a driver-level frame generation utility is AMD Fluid Motion Frames. AFMF does not interact with the game in any way whatsoever. It is purely based on Optical Flow Analysis, or a prediction of the next frame.

This allows it to work with almost every DirectX 11/12 title since no software support is required. AFMF does not actually increase the framerate, rather it makes the game appear smoother as you will see more frames on your screen.

So, what’s the catch? Well, AFMF is not even close to matching DLSS FG or FSR FG. Moreover, the glitches introduced in the UI are also something users have to tackle with. However, since it works on the hardware level, it is a pretty neat option if you are willing to deal with the errors that may occur.

• Does not require game developer support
• Uses only Optical Flow Analysis
• Only supports RDNA2 or newer GPUs
• Works purely on the driver level

READ MORE: AMD is Preparing its Own Video Upscaler for YouTube and VLC ➜

Will NVIDIA Respond to AFMF?

The clear answer is ‘We don’t know‘, because NVIDIA is still yet to make any statement regarding such an option. AMD’s Aaron Steinman asserts that their move will push NVIDIA to develop something like AFMF soon.

“I would be curious to know if Nvidia feels now they have to match what we’ve done in making some of these solutions driver-based”

Aaron Steinman, to PC Gamer

It’s quite interesting how we haven’t seen NVIDIA’s version of AFMF since it was once proudly said that the RTX 40 lineup has a better Optical Flow Accelerator as compared to Ampere (RTX 30). This was the very reason, why NVIDIA FG (Using Optical Flow + Motion Vectors) can only be enabled on Ada Lovelace.

On the other hand, NVIDIA may need to train another model from scratch for this project, which requires significant overhead.

Is it Even Viable?

Frame Generation using both Optical Flow Analysis and Motion Vectors isn’t flawless. The input latency introduced by these features makes them highly unappealing to gamers. On the flip side, the driver-based AFMF isn’t any better as it eats away at your FPS due to interpolation, while being inconsistent and prone to graphical glitches and bugs.

A better question would be, ‘Shouldn’t NVIDIA improve DLSS Frame Generation first?’. Given that AI tends to improve with time, the latency issue should be resolved, to a great extent. Unless NVIDIA is strictly bound by its data models, making a driver-level FG solution shouldn’t be tricky, but is it worth the hassle?

Would it be Pointless?

Hypothetically, where would you use NVIDIA’s variant of AFMF? NVIDIA would probably restrict it to RTX 40 or higher GPUs, which by themselves are powerful enough to run old titles at great framerates. Newer games more often than not, do feature DLSS 3 FG / FSR 3 FG support.

Mobile GPUs are a different case, but a driver-level approach would be very useful for older architectures such as Pascal, Maxwell, Kepler and Fermi. Sadly, due to technical reasons, it would be almost impossible to extend this feature to those GPUs. They lack Tensor Cores, meanwhile, CUDA can only do so much. Even AFMF only works with RDNA2 or newer architectures.

Hopes for RTX 50 ‘Blackwell’

As per rumors, the RTX 50 lineup will debut in Q4 2024. Expect a large number of announcements, which may or may not include a universal Frame Generation solution. Despite the expected hardware lock to the RTX 40/50 lineup, it is not like NVIDIA to get left behind in any department. This is just pure speculation, however, and no rumors indicate such plans from NVIDIA.

READ MORE: HDMI 2.1 vs DisplayPort 1.4 – Which is Better in 2024? ➜

Conclusion

While AI has seen unprecedented levels of growth, you need adequate hardware for AI Inference and Acceleration. If your GPU’s cores aren’t fast enough, it is simply not possible to interpolate frames in real time. You can offload this processing to a server, but that’d require a subscription and abysmal latency numbers. It is pertinent for GPU manufacturers to strike a balance. What are your thoughts on this matter? Tell us in the comments.

The post How NVIDIA Plans on Doing Driver-Based Frame Generation appeared first on Appuals.

What is AMDRSServ.exe?

AMDRSServ.exe is a valid Windows process, a component of the AMD Radeon software that operates the Radeon ReLive feature. This feature enables users to record and stream their gameplay. The file is typically found in the C:/Program Files/AMD/Cnext/Cnext folder. While AMDRSServ.exe is not vital for running Windows, it is necessary for the functionality of Radeon ReLive.

If this executable has issues and you’ve enabled Radeon’s ReLive feature, a system error may occur. This error primarily results from corrupt GPU drivers, or potential system malware infections.

To help you resolve this issue, we’ve created this guide to provide you with the quickest and simplest solutions to resolve this error.

1. Reinstall GPU Drivers

Instead of simply downloading new drivers to replace the current ones, it’s recommended to first completely uninstall your current drivers. This will ensure that there’s no conflict between the new and old driver files.

To do so, you can either use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) or AMD Cleanup Utility.

Follow these steps to uninstall drivers using the AMD Cleanup Utility:

1. Visit this website and click the download link for the AMD Cleanup Utility file

   

2. After the download completes, double-click the file and select “Yes” to reboot the system into Safe Mode.

   

3. Wait for your system to restart.
4. After your system restarts, press “OK” to remove AMD driver files when prompted.
5. Wait for the driver files to be removed from your system. Keep in mind that your screen may flicker and/or go black momentarily during the removal process. If this happens, don’t be alarmed as it is part of the process.
6. Once the driver files are successfully removed, press “Finish” and then select “Yes” when asked permission for one last system reboot.

After your system reboots, your GPU drivers will be completely wiped. You now need to reinstall fresh drivers; but to do that, you need to know the exact model of your GPU. If you’re unsure what Graphics Card you have installed in your system, follow this guide.

1. Visit this website and use the search bar to search for your exact GPU model.
2. Press the SUBMIT button.
3. Select the operating system that you’re using on your system.
4. Download the latest AMD Software (Adrenalin Edition). 

   

5. Once it’s downloaded, double-click the file to run it. 
6. Select the destination folder and wait for the AMD Software to install.
7. Once it’s installed, it will show you the latest drivers available for your GPU. Download the newest driver and wait for it to install.

   

8. After the drivers have finished installing, restart your computer

After your computer boots up, the error should no longer pop up. But if it does, try the next solution listed in this guide. 

2. Run SFC and DISM Scan

When you perform the SFC and DISM scans, they will thoroughly examine your system and look for any files that are missing or corrupted, such as any Dynamic Link Library (.dll) files. And if any such files are found, they will be replaced automatically from your system’s backup (SFC scan) or from an external source, such as through a Windows update (DISM scan).  

Since the error indicates a missing OpenCl.dll file in your system, running scans can resolve the issue by replacing this file on your computer.

To perform an SFC scan, follow the steps we’ve given below:

1. Press the Windows Key, type Command Prompt, and click on “Run as administrator.”
   

   

2. Type the following command in the Command Prompt Window and press enter:

   sfc /scannow

3. Wait for the SFC scan to be completed.

   

Once the scan is completed, it will display a message that will tell you whether it found and replaced any corrupted/missing files. 

The DISM scan is even more thorough than the SFC scan, so it will be able to find any system irregularities that the SFC scan looked over.

To perform the DISM scan, simply enter the following command into Command Prompt and press enter:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Note: Before performing this scan, make sure that your system has an active internet connection. 

Once the scan is finished, restart your system and check whether the error message appears again.

3. Manually Install the OpenCl.dll File

If the SFC and DISM scans didn’t replace the missing file on your system, you will need to do it manually. The DLL files of your system are stored in the System32 folder. Simply download the missing file and locate it there.

But before you do so, you need to check whether your system is 32-bit or 64-bit. To do so, simply press Windows Key + I together and navigate to System > About. In this menu, check your System Type under Device Specifications. 

After that, follow the steps below to install the OpenCl.dll file manually:

1. Visit this website and download the latest file according to your System Type (32 or 64-bit). 
2. Place the ZIP file into a new folder, then right-click on the file, and select “Extract/Unzip here.”
   

   

3. Right-click on the OpenCl.dll file and select “Cut.”
4. Copy this address and paste it into File Explorer’s address bar:

   C:\Windows\System32

5. Paste the file in this folder.
6. Restart your PC. 

4. Scan Your System for Malware

If the error persists after DLL file installation, likely, malware is infecting your system, blocking access to the file, and thus, causing the recurring error.

To resolve this issue, conduct a malware scan using a reputable antivirus program on your computer. If already installed, open the program’s menu and initiate the malware scan.

We recommend Malwarebytes for a thorough system scan and complete malware elimination. Refer to our guide for detailed instructions on conducting a malware scan with this program.

5. Renaming the AMDRSServ.exe File

If the above solutions have not resolved the AMDRSServ.exe system error, another method you can try is renaming the AMDRSServ.exe file. This can prevent the system from loading the problematic file on startup, which might be a temporary workaround until a more permanent solution is found or an official update is released that addresses the issue. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open File Explorer by pressing Windows Key + E on your keyboard. Navigate to the directory where the AMDRSServ.exe file is located, which is usually:

   C:\Program Files\AMD\CNext\CNext

   

2. Locate the AMDRSServ.exe file. Before proceeding, ensure that no AMD-related programs are running in the background.
3. Right-click on the AMDRSServ.exe file and select Rename from the context menu.
   
4. Change the filename by adding any alphabet or number. For example, you could rename it to FAMDRSServ.exe. This change will prevent the system from recognizing and running the file in its original form.
   
5. Press Enter to save the renamed file.
6. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

After completing these steps, your system will no longer attempt to run the AMDRSServ.exe file on startup, which should prevent the error message from appearing. Keep in mind that this is a workaround and it may disable certain functionalities associated with the AMD Radeon software, such as the Radeon ReLive feature. If an update from AMD becomes available that addresses this error, it is recommended to rename the file back to its original name before applying the update to ensure proper installation and functionality.

Contact AMD Customer Support

If you’ve followed the previous solutions, including renaming the AMDRSServ.exe file (as described in Method 5), and the system error persists, it may be time to seek assistance from AMD Customer Support. Their team has the expertise to provide guidance on complex issues that aren’t resolved through standard troubleshooting steps.

To contact the AMD Customer Support Team, follow the steps below:

1. Visit the AMD Support website. 
2. Select your preferred language and wait for the form to load. 

   

3. Fill out the required information in the form. 
4. Select “Graphics” as your Product Type. 
5. In the Subject box, type “AMDRSServ.exe System Error (OpenCL.dll file missing)” 
6. In the Problem Description box, describe your problem in detail. 
7. Press the Upload Files button and attach a screenshot of the error alert.
8. Complete the reCaptcha and press the Submit button.

Note: In the Problem Description box, you need to provide as much information as you possibly can. Make sure to mention the following points: 

1. The entire error message.
2. When the error started occurring and how often it occurs. 
3. Your system specifications.
4. The changes you made to your system right before the error occurred. 
5. All of the solutions you’ve tried to fix the error. 

Once you’ve submitted the form, the Support Team will send you an email within a day or two with guidance on how to fix the error. If their solution doesn’t resolve the error, make sure to reply to that email and inform them that their solution didn’t work. 

The post How to Fix AMDRSServ.exe System Error in Windows? appeared first on Appuals.

Before diving into the solutions, ensure that your Windows is up to date with all the latest updates installed. This can sometimes resolve compatibility issues that may be causing the GeForce Experience errors.

Many users on forums, such as Reddit, have reported success by performing a clean installation of both GeForce Experience and the NVIDIA drivers. This approach often resolves errors that occur due to corrupt installations or conflicts with previous driver versions.

1. Running GeForce Experience as an Administrator

One common solution to address the “Driver download failed” error in GeForce Experience is to run the GeForce Experience with administrative privileges. This helps ensure that GeForce Experience has the necessary permissions to carry out driver installations. Here’s how to do it:

1. Close GeForce Experience if it’s currently running.
2. Open your computer’s Start Menu and search for “GeForce Experience.”
3. Right-click on the GeForce Experience icon and select “Run as administrator.”

   

4. If prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click “Yes” to grant administrative privileges.
5. Launch GeForce Experience and check if you can now download and install the driver without encountering any issues.

2. Disabling Your Antivirus Program

The “Driver download failed” error in GeForce Experience can sometimes be triggered by your antivirus software. These security programs are designed to protect your system, but they can occasionally interfere with the normal operation of applications like GeForce Experience. To address this issue, you may need to temporarily disable your antivirus program. Here’s how to do it:

1. First, identify the antivirus software you have installed on your computer. Common examples include Windows Defender, McAfee, Norton, or third-party security suites.
2. Specific instructions may vary depending on your antivirus software:- Windows Defender: To disable Windows Defender, open the “Windows Security” settings. Under “Virus & threat protection,” click “Manage settings” and toggle off “Real-time protection.”- Third-party Antivirus: For other antivirus programs, open the software’s settings or control panel and look for options like “Disable” or “Turn off real-time protection.”
3. With the real-time protection temporarily disabled, launch GeForce Experience and attempt to download and install the drivers again.
4. Once you’ve successfully downloaded and installed the drivers, it’s important to re-enable your antivirus program’s real-time protection to keep your system secure.

3. Manual Driver Installation

If you are unable to download the graphics drivers via the GeForce Experience app, manually installing the drivers can be a reliable alternative. To do this, you’ll need to identify your graphics card model and your Windows operating system version (e.g., Windows 10 or Windows 11). Follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Open your web browser and go to the official NVIDIA Drivers page by clicking here.
2. On the NVIDIA Drivers page, use the drop-down menus to select your graphics card model under “Product Series” and “Product.” Choose your Windows version under “Operating System.” If you are unsure about your graphics card, visit our guide on how to identify your GPU’s model.

   

3. Click the “Search” button to view the available drivers compatible with your graphics card and Windows version.
4. Then, click the Download button.
5. Once the driver has been downloaded, Run the downloaded driver file and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
6. After the installation is complete, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

Manually installing graphics drivers ensures that you have the latest driver version tailored to your specific hardware and operating system. This can be a helpful workaround if GeForce Experience encounters difficulties.

4. Reinstalling GeForce Experience

If you’ve encountered the “Driver download failed” error and suspect that your GeForce Experience installation is causing the issue, a fresh reinstallation can often resolve the problem. This is particularly useful when your current installation is corrupted or outdated. Follow these detailed steps to reinstall GeForce Experience:

1. Begin by opening your computer’s Start Menu and searching for “Control Panel.” Open the Control Panel.

   

2. In the Control Panel, click on the “Uninstall a program” option.

   

3. You’ll see a list of installed programs. Locate “GeForce Experience” from the list.

   

4. Double-click on “GeForce Experience” to initiate the uninstallation process.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation. This will remove GeForce Experience from your system.
6. After successful uninstallation, go to the official GeForce Experience website. You can find it by clicking here.
7. Download the latest version of GeForce Experience from the official website.
8. Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts to install GeForce Experience on your computer.
9. Once the installation is complete, launch GeForce Experience and check if you can now download and install the driver without encountering the error.

5. Clean Installing NVIDIA Drivers

Sometimes, the “Driver download failed” error in GeForce Experience can be attributed to corrupted or problematic graphics drivers.

In such cases, performing a clean install of graphics drivers is a recommended solution to ensure a fresh and error-free installation. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

1. Download the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) utility from its official website. DDU is a third-party tool that assists in completely removing existing graphics drivers from your system.
2. Once the DDU utility is downloaded, extract the file.
3. Open the folder and run the tool via the Display Driver Uninstaller.exe file.
4. When the DDU utility opens, you’ll be presented with options. Click “Continue” to proceed.

   

5. In the device type menu, select “GPU.”

   

6. In the “Select device” menu, choose “NVIDIA” since we’re dealing with NVIDIA graphics drivers.

   

7. Click “Clean and restart” to initiate the removal process. This action will completely remove your current NVIDIA graphics drivers, ensuring a clean slate for the new installation.

   

8. Once your computer restarts, visit the official NVIDIA Drivers page to download the latest graphics drivers for your specific graphics card model and Windows version.
9. Download the latest drivers and install them.
10. See if the installation proceeds without any issue. 

6. Clean Boot your PC

If none of the previous solutions have resolved the “Driver download failed” error, it’s possible that a third-party program or service is interfering with the driver installation process.

To identify and isolate this interference, you can perform a clean boot, which allows Windows to start with only essential system services running, blocking third-party services and startup applications that may be causing conflicts.

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog.
2. Type “msconfig” and press Enter.

   

3. In the System Configuration window, navigate to the “Services” tab.
4. Check the box labeled “Hide all Microsoft services.” This ensures that only third-party services are displayed.

   

5. Click the “Disable all” button to disable all third-party services.
6. Click “Apply” to save the changes and then click “OK.”
7. You’ll be prompted to restart your computer. Click “Restart” to initiate the clean boot.

   

After your PC reboots, it will start with minimal services and applications. This allows you to test if the “Driver download failed” error still occurs. If the problem disappears, it’s likely that a third-party program was causing the interference. You can then enable services and applications one by one to pinpoint the culprit.

These solutions should allow you to get around the driver download failed error in GeForce Experience. In case you are still not able to update to the latest version available, we recommend reaching out to the NVIDIA support team for further guidance regarding the problem. 

The post How to Fix Driver Download Failed Error in GeForce Experience? appeared first on Appuals.

Resizable Bar, or rBAR, is another attempt by NVIDIA that promises to provide additional frames in the games you play. This comes at no additional cost and can be activated with just a few mouse clicks. It may sound too good to be true, but it is indeed real.

What is Resizable Bar? 

You are probably wondering, ‘What exactly is Resizable Bar, and how does it improve the performance of games?’ The answer to these questions is really straightforward. Resizable Bar essentially uses an advanced feature of PCI Express technology that allows for improvement in in-game performance.

When you are playing a game, you move around the game world, forcing the game to load textures and shaders for the new locations. These textures are transferred to the graphics card through the GPU memory or VRAM via many small CPUs. Modern games often have larger assets, which ultimately results in more transfers of the textures to the GPU.

The number of transfers can often have a negative impact on the performance of the game. This is because these transfers queue up and wait for the former to finish before proceeding. With Resizable Bar, you are able to allow the CPU access to the entirety of the GPU frame buffer.

Normally, the processor on your system is limited to accessing only 256MBs of GPU memory. This creates a bottleneck on modern graphics cards that offer a larger size of VRAM. In addition, it also results in a longer wait time for the game assets to arrive via the CPU to the graphics card to be rendered. 

Resizable Bar tackles this problem and instead of only limiting your processor to the mere 256MB of GPU memory, it allows it to access the entire frame buffer. This, as a result, allows the CPU to send in bigger assets quickly since it is able to send in more assets at a time. Thus, by removing this cap from the processor, the performance of games can improve. 

Smart Access Memory: AMD’s Counterpart

While Resizable Bar is from NVIDIA, AMD has been quick to come up with its own name for the same technology, known as Smart Access Memory or SAM. The underlying concept of both remains the same. You will be able to use SAM on AMD graphics cards, while Resizable Bar works for NVIDIA GPUs.

This can give rise to the question, does Resizable Bar work on all NVIDIA graphics cards? To answer this, let us have a more detailed look at the support and compatibility of Resizable Bar. 

Resizable Bar Requirements

As it turns out, you cannot use Resizable Bar on all NVIDIA cards. To be able to take advantage of the Resizable Bar technology, you need to have an RTX 30 series or newer graphics card along with a compatible processor and chipset. 

Intel Support for Resizable Bar

On Intel, the following or newer generations are able to use Resizable Bar. 

Intel Chipsets

Intel CPUs

AMD Support for Resizable Bar

On AMD, the following or newer generations are able to use Resizable Bar. 

AMD Chipsets

AMD CPUs

Resizable Bar Impact on Game Performance

Resizable Bar is a technology that has good potential to improve even further in future. At this current moment, there is a small but visible change in game performances. Technologies like DLSS can often a significantly better improvement in performance than Resizable Bar.

• According to NVIDIA’s official charts, a 12 percent increase in game performance can be achieved with Resizable Bar. 

In addition to that, it is also important to note that Resizable Bar will not impact every game on your computer. This is because not every game is able to support the technology and thus enabling it does not impact the performance of the game. 

How to turn on Resizable Bar?

With all of that out of the way, we can now focus on enabling the feature on your computer. Before proceeding, make sure that you meet the requirements above, i.e. you have a compatible chipset and processor. 

Once you are set there, you can follow the instructions below to enable Resizable Bar. 

1. First of all, you will need to update your BIOS firmware. This is because the feature cannot be accessed on older versions of BIOS and was only made available through updates.
2. To update your BIOS, head to your motherboard manufacturer’s website and download the latest available BIOS. Use the instructions provided by your manufacturer to update your BIOS. 
3. If you are unaware of your motherboard details, press the Win key + R on your keyboard.
4. Type in msinfo32 and hit Enter in the Run box.

   

5. Then, in the System Information window, look for the BaseBoard Manufacturer and BaseBoard Product options. This will reveal your motherboard model and brand.

   

6. After updating your BIOS, restart your computer and boot into your BIOS. 
7. In some cases, you will find an easy Resize Bar option in your BIOS menu to enable Resizable Bar. 
8. Click on the Resize Bar option, if available, to enable it.

   

9. In case you do not have the quick Resize Bar option, you will have to navigate to your PCI Subsystem Settings. This will be located under the Advanced tab. 
10. Then, you will need to enable the Above 4G Decoding and Re-Size BAR Support options. The exact wording can vary slightly depending on your motherboard manufacturer.

    

11. After that, you will need to disable Compatibility Support Module (CSM) in your BIOS as well. 
12. You can find this option under the Boot menu. 
13. Save the settings and exit the BIOS menu. 

With that, you should be able to turn on Resizable Bar on your computer, if supported. 

The post What is Resizable BAR & Should You Enable it? (Guide) appeared first on Appuals.

This simply means that the Windows update utility has detected an update for your graphics driver from its server, which ended up replacing the compatible AMD graphics driver.

AMD Radeon Software needs to communicate with the compatible driver to do various tasks, such as providing access to the latest features, performance reports, driver updates, and more. 

According to the reports, the screen automatically goes black and starts flickering when users encounter this error message. Thus, it is essential to fix this problem as it is related to the graphics driver.

1. Roll back the graphics driver

The simple and basic solution to this issue is to roll back the AMD graphics driver. It is recommended to start troubleshooting by rolling back the graphics driver. When you update the driver, Windows automatically backs up the old driver, which can be installed later if the user experiences issues with the latest driver.

Since Windows has automatically updated the graphics driver, the Roll Back Driver option will be available. To roll back the AMD graphics driver, follow the steps:

1. Right-click the Start Menu button and select Device Manager to open it.
   
2. Now expand the Display adapters and right-click the graphics driver.
3. Select Properties and go to Driver.
   
4. Here click Roll Back Driver.
   
5. Select any reason why you are rolling back. Then, click Yes to install the previous driver.
   
6. If the Roll Back Driver option is disabled, then click Update driver.
   
7. Select Browse my computer for drivers and select Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
   
8. Tick Show compatible hardware and select the old driver.
   
9. Then, click Next to install the driver. If that does not work for you, move on to the following methods.

2. Download the AMD graphics driver

Since the Windows update has replaced the AMD graphics driver with the incompatible one, you can try downloading the compatible AMD driver from the official site, which could fix this error. To do so, follow the steps:

1. Head to the official AMD site.
2. Select the graphic card and click Submit.
3. Then, select the Operating System and click Download.
   
4. Once the installer is downloaded, simply run it to install the graphics driver.
5. Once done, restart your computer and try launching AMD Radeon Software.

3. Use DDU to reinstall the graphics driver

If the error still persists, then you need to reinstall the graphics driver completely from the system. This can be achieved by using the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) application. DDU allows users to remove the drivers with their associated registry files, which ensures a clean uninstallation without any file leftover behind. To use the DDU to reinstall the drivers, follow the steps:

1. Download Display Driver Uninstaller by navigating the website through the link.
2. Once you downloaded it, you will have to extract the folder. For that, you can use WinRar or 7Zip to extract the folder.
   
3. Open the extracted folder, and run the DDU 7Zip file to extract the DDU folder.
   
4. Now navigate to the extracted folder and run the DDU application.
5. Select the Device and the Device type.
6. Then, click Clean and restart.
7. Once done, follow the 2nd method to download the latest driver from the official manufacturer’s suite.

4. Disable Windows MPO

Windows Multiplane Overlay is a part of the display driver, and it is designed to reduce the CPU and GPU load. When this feature was introduced to Radeon Setup Tool, it started causing this error along with several problems, such as flicker or stutter. Therefore, try disabling the MPO feature by following the instructions.

1. Download the Disable MPO registry file through the link.
2. Once it is downloaded, open the registry entry file.
3. Click Run, and click Yes when UAC prompts.
   
4. Click Yes when it says Are you sure you want to continue?
   
5. Once done, restart your computer for the registry changes to take effect.

5. Perform a System Restore

If you are familiar with the System Restore utility, you may have created a restore point that can be used to revert to the previous version of Windows that did not have this issue. System Restore is a utility that saves the system files, drivers, and registry files into a restore point so if anything unusual happens, the user can use the System Restore utility to fix the issues.

To perform a system restore point, follow the steps:

1. Click the Start Menu and type the system restore command rstrui.
   
2. Hit Enter to run the system restore utility.
3. Click Next and select a restore point.
   
4. Again, click Next and click Finish to restore the Windows to a previous state.

That’s it! this will fix your issue. However, if certain settings are not configured correctly you can face this issue again if Windows update replaces the driver. To prevent it from happening again, you have to follow the following method:

Prevent Windows Update from automatically installing the drivers

In this method, we will tell Windows not to update the drivers from it’s database. Follow the steps:

6.1 Disable driver updates through Group Policy Editor

1. Click the Start Menu and type Edit group policy.
   
2. Hit Enter to open the group policy editor.
3. Navigate to the following destination using the left pane.
   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage updates offered from Windows Update.
4. In the right pane, double-click the Do not include drivers with Windows update.
   
5. Select Enabled, click Apply and click OK.
   
6. Now your Windows will no longer include drivers in Windows updates. You can now install the latest AMD graphics driver to replace the driver downloaded via the Windows update utility to fix this error.
7. In case the error persists, try disabling driver updates using the registry editor.

6.2 Disable driver updates through Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu and type regedit.
2. Press Enter and click Yes when UAC prompts appear to open the registry editor.
   
3. Use the left sidebar to navigate to the following destination.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DriverSearching

   

4. Double-click the SearchOrderConfig and change its value data to 0 to dsiable the driver updates.
5. Once done, click OK, close the registry editor, and restart your computer.
   
6. Then, try installing the AMD graphics driver and see if the error is resolved.

In case you want to enable the Windows to update drivers from it’s database again, simply follow the steps mentioned above but this time put Value data to ‘1’ instead of ‘0’.

The post Fix: Windows Update Automatically Replaced AMD Graphics Driver appeared first on Appuals.

However, encountering an issue where you can’t move mouse in NVIDIA Overlay can be pretty frustrating. To deal with this situation, you would need to figure out the potential causes before delving into the troubleshooting methods.

So, whether you’re an avid gamer or a tech enthusiast, this guide will provide you with all the necessary information and effective fixes for the stated issue. In no time, you will regain full control over your mouse within the NVIDIA Overlay. Now, let’s dive right into it!

Reasons Why You Can’t Move Mouse in NVIDIA Overlay

The NVIDIA official webpage attributes the issue of your mouse becoming unresponsive in the NVIDIA Overlay to the EasyAntiCheat update. According to this, games that integrate EasyAntiCheat have been particularly affected by the stated error, including Valorant, Fortnite, etc.

Don’t understand yet? Well, EasyAntiCheat, as the name implies, is an anti-cheat service used in multiplayer games to ensure fair gameplay. Though effective in its intended purpose, some updates may occasionally result in conflicts with other software components like the NVIDIA Overlay.

However, this isn’t the only cause for experiencing mouse unresponsiveness in the overlay. Other reasons may include outdated or incompatible graphics drivers, misconfigured overlay settings, overlapping hotkeys, or a software bug. 

Now that you’re well aware of the potential culprits behind this issue, let’s explore some effective solutions to overcome the situation at hand.

1. Restart Your Game

When trying to fix any software-related issue, your number one approach should be to remove any possible glitches or temporary bugs from within. To do that, you can simply restart your game.

Here’s how to ensure the effectiveness of this method:

1. Prior to quitting your game, save any progress to avoid loss of data.
2. Exit the game from the game menu options or use an appropriate keyboard shortcut (e.g. Alt + F4 for Windows).
3. While you’re at it, quit all background processes related to the game. For that, launch Task Manager, choose the process, and click on End task.

4. Wait for a couple of moments then relaunch the game.
5. Once you’re back in, activate the NVIDIA Overlay and check if the mouse cursor is moving without any issues.

2. Reset In-Game Overlay

When the mouse stops moving within the NVIDIA Overlay, users fail to interact with its features and perform the required functions. In that case, restarting the overlay may refresh its settings and restore normal functionality.

The method essentially involves disabling and re-enabling the in-game Overlay option. This allows the internal processes to refresh and eliminate any temporary glitches responsible for the mouse issue. Below are the steps you need to follow:

1. While in the game, press the keyboard shortcut keys to bring up the overlay. Usually, it’s Alt + Z or Alt + F3, however, it may vary depending on your custom settings.
2. Next, click on the Gear icon to access the overlay Settings.
3. In the General tab, toggle off In-Game Overlay.

4. Wait for some time before re-enabling the option.
5. Now, relaunch the game and check if the issue persists.

3. Enable Borderless Window

Most users who can’t move mouse in NVIDIA Overlay often overcome this issue by exiting the Fullscreen mode and shifting to a borderless window. This allows the game to cover the entire screen of the window without borders and title bars typically associated with the traditional mode. 

While it allows the mouse cursor to move again, it also provides better frame rates, less latency, smoother transitions between applications, and other benefits. Here’s what you must do:

1. First, launch the game and go to its Settings.
2. Next, go to the Video tab and change the Display Mode to Borderless Window.

3. Also, change the Aspect ratio to 4:3 and 5:4 and set the Resolution to 1280 x 980.
4. Lastly, save the changes and go back to NVIDIA Overlay to check if the issue has been resolved.

Note that the steps to make your window borderless may differ for each game.

4. Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Switch Between Programs

The Alt + Tab keyboard shortcut allows you to switch between applications without the use of the mouse. This is especially useful in your case since a stuck mouse cursor prevents you from trying anything else.

This method allows you to switch to another already-open program while the game is still running. Using the shortcut again relaunches the conflicting game and possibly helps restore mouse functionality within the NVIDIA Overlay.

While this method may not always be a permanent fix, it can provide a temporary solution while you explore other ways to tackle the issue.

5. Update or Reinstall NVIDIA Graphics Drivers

Graphics drivers serve as a crucial link between the hardware components of your computer, i.e. the NVIDIA graphics card, and the software applications that rely on them, i.e. the NVIDIA Overlay. 

Hence, the graphics drivers becoming outdated or incompatible with the running program could be one reason why you can’t move mouse in NVIDIA Overlay. For this reason, updating these drivers is an essential step when troubleshooting the stated problem.

Before proceeding, you’ll need to identify the model of your NVIDIA graphics card. This information can be obtained through either the NVIDIA Control Panel or the Device Manager in Windows.

Afterward, Follow the steps below:

1. To begin, head over to the official NVIDIA Drivers webpage to download the latest drivers.
2. Input the necessary details and click on the Search button.
3. Next, click on Download to get the updated driver specific to your card model.

4. Once it’s downloaded, navigate to the location of the file and initiate the installation process.
5. Continue to follow the instructions in the installation wizard to update the driver.

The post Can’t Move Mouse in NVIDIA Overlay? Here’s the Fix! appeared first on Appuals.

This problem is most commonly caused by a DCH driver that throws this error when you try to update it with a standard Nvidia driver package. Other potential causes include a faulty GPU extender, custom BIOS firmware, or driver inconsistency.

Below, you have a list of confirmed fixes that can be deployed to resolve the black screen issue affecting Nvidia driver installations:

1. Replace the Nvidia DCH driver with standard drivers.

If you are using Windows 10 or Windows 11, there is a high likelihood that this issue is caused by the DCH driver.

Note: Numerous user reports confirm that the DCH driver from Nvidia causes significant instability when G-Sync is actively used or when users attempt to employ a variable refresh rate.

Since there’s nothing inherently different between the Nvidia Standard and the Nvidia DCH Display drivers that are packaged with the new universal Windows driver package, you can most likely avoid this issue entirely by replacing the DCH driver with the standard equivalent.

To do this, you will first need to use the DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) tool to remove every remnant file from the DCH installation, and then install the Standard Nvidia Driver.

Here is a quick guide on how to do this:

1. Open your preferred browser and visit the official download page of the DDU tool.
2. Once you’re inside the correct location, scroll all the way down to the ‘Download Locations‘ menu and use one of the available download mirrors to download the Display Driver Uninstaller package.

   

3. Once the download is complete, extract the contents of the zip file.
4. Next, unplug the internet cable from your PC or disconnect it from the Wi-Fi network.
   Note: This is necessary to prevent your OS from reinstalling the DCH drivers before you complete this procedure.
5. Press Windows key + R to open up the Run box.
6. Type ‘appwiz.cpl‘ and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Programs and Features menu.

   

7. At the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to grant admin access. 
8. Inside the Programs and Features menu, click on the Publisher column to arrange all installed programs based on their publisher.
9. Once the list is ordered correctly, scroll down to all the currently installed Nvidia drivers and uninstall everything systematically by right-clicking each item and selecting ‘Uninstall.’

   

   Note: Keep in mind that while you are conducting this procedure, some screen flickering is to be expected. Don’t worry, as this is completely normal.

10. Next, reboot your PC in safe mode to ensure that the Display Driver Uninstaller will run with maximum efficiency. 
11. Once your PC boots in Safe Mode, right-click the main DDU executable and click ‘Run as Administrator.’

    

12. From the UAC (User Account Control) context menu, click on Yes to grant admin access. 
13. At the first DDU screen, select your GPU from the drop-down menu (under Select Device Type). 
14. Next, click on Clean and restart to begin the process of cleaning up your DCH Nvidia driver.

    

15. Once the operation is complete, restart as instructed.
16. At the next startup, reconnect your internet cable or connect to Wi-Fi again, and access the official Nvidia download directory.
17. Scroll down to the NVIDIA Driver Downloads section and select the Product Type, Product Series, Product, Operating System, and Language according to your particular scenario. 

    

    Note: In this directory, you will only find standard Nvidia drivers, so you won’t run the risk of reinstalling the DCH driver.

18. Click the Search button and wait until the list of compatible drivers is generated.

    

    Note: Depending on what you are using your GPU for (gaming or video editing/rendering), select either the NVIDIA Studio Driver or the GeForce Game Ready Driver. Avoid downloading the Beta Release driver, as it is often unstable and may cause additional issues.

19. Click on the driver that you want to download, then click on the associated Download button. 
20. After the driver has been downloaded locally, open it with administrator access and follow the on-screen prompts to install it locally.

2. Replace the GPU extender (if applicable).

If replacing the DCH driver with the standard Nvidia drivers didn’t work in your case and you’re using a GPU extender, there’s a high chance you’re dealing with a hardware issue.

There are many faulty GPU extenders out there, which have now been confirmed to cause this problem intermittently, regardless of your GPU manufacturer.

If you are using a GPU extender, get in contact with the retailer that sold it to you and see if you are eligible to send it back. Chances are, if you bought it from Riser, you can take advantage of the callback program and return it even if your warranty is void.

3. Revert to standard BIOS (if applicable).

If you previously had a custom BIOS installed specifically for your overclocking needs, this is likely the cause of the black screen you are experiencing.

Customized BIOS flashes are known to conflict with new NVIDIA update drivers especially since they changed their packaging method.

If this scenario is applicable, you can fix the issue by reflashing your BIOS with the original BIOS flash provided by your manufacturer.

Important: This operation will vary depending on your motherboard manufacturer. Consult the official documentation before attempting to flash your BIOS. If you have never done this before, leave this task to a certified professional, as you run the risk of bricking your motherboard.

4. Add the NoLockScreen to the registry (if applicable).

If the screen goes black immediately after you reach the initial login screen, where you need to log in with your user account, you might be able to circumvent the issue completely by disabling the lock screen entirely with a minor registry tweak.

Important: Exercise caution while modifying the registry. Inadvertently removing or altering registry values may render your computer unstable. It is recommended that you back up your registry beforehand.

Here is a quick guide on adding the NoLockScreen fix to the Registry Editor to avoid a black screen during every startup:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box.
2. Next, type ‘regedit‘ and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Registry Editor with admin access.

   

3. When you see the User Account Control (UAC), click ‘Yes‘ to grant administrative privileges to the Registry Editor.
4. Inside the Registry Editor, navigate to the following location:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization

   Note: If the Personalization key doesn’t exist, right-click on the Windows key and click on New > Key to create it. 

5. Inside the Personalization key, right-click on an empty space and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value. 

   

6. Rename the newly created DWORD to ‘NoLockScreen’, then double-click on it and set its base to Hexadecimal and its value data to 1. 
7. Click OK to save the changes then restart your PC and see if the issue is now fixed. 

5. Connect to the VGA output (if applicable).

If your GPU has a VGA output and your display is compatible, try connecting your monitor using the VGA output to see if you finally receive a signal.

Chances are, you’ll find that all functions are working properly while you’re connected via VGA.

If this workaround works, simply use the VGA connection until a new driver version is available for your NVIDIA GPU. When a new update becomes available, follow the update instructions and check if the problem is resolved afterward.

The post Fix: Black Screen after Installing Nvidia Graphics Driver in Windows appeared first on Appuals.

The NVIDIA Control Panel gives users the ability to customize their graphics settings according to their preferences. Not only can you improve gaming performance using this tool, but you can also enhance video playback quality and increase the overall performance of your system. 

To help you get the most performance out of your NVIDIA GPU, this guide will show you the best NVIDIA Control Panel settings that will improve the framerate of your games and reduce input lag while maintaining visual quality. 

Before we start, Update your NVIDIA Graphis Drivers

Before we dive into the best NVIDIA Control Panel settings for gaming, you should check whether your GPU drivers are up to date. 

Using the latest GPU drivers is very important, as these new drivers provide better performance in the latest games, and are usually more optimized than older drivers. 

To check whether you are using the latest drivers, follow the steps we’ve listed below:

1. Press the Windows Key to open the Start menu. 
2. Type “GeForce Experience” and press enter.

   

3. Click on the “Driver” option at the top-left corner of the Window.
4. Click on the “Check for Updates” option.  

   

If the Check for Updates option shows no new drivers on the page, it means that you’re already using the latest drivers for your GPU. But if you see a new driver appear, you should download and install it on your system before proceeding to the next section of this guide. 

Best NVIDIA Control Panel Settings for Maximum Performance

Setting	Best Option
Image Scaling	ON (Unless using DLSS)
Ambient Occlusion	OFF
Anisotropic Filtering	OFF
Antialiasing - FXAA	OFF
Antialiasing - Gamma Correction	ON
Antialiasing - Mode	Application-controlled
Antialiasing - Setting	Application-controlled
Antialiasing - Transparency	OFF
Background Application Max Frame Rate	30
CUDA - GPUs	All
DSR - Factors and Smoothness	OFF
Low Latency Mode	ON
Max Frame Rate	User-specific
Multi-Frame Sampled AA (MFAA)	OFF
Monitor Technology	Fixed Refresh Rate for low latency; GSYNC for more smoothness
OpenGL Rendering GPU	Auto-select
Power Management Mode	Prefer Maximum Performance
Shader Cache Size	Driver Default
Texture Filtering - Anisotropic Sample Optimization	ON
Texture Filtering - Negative LOD Bias	Allow
Texture Filtering - Quality	Performance
Trilinear Optimization	ON
Threaded Optimization	ON
Vertical Sync	OFF
Triple Buffering	OFF
Virtual Reality Pre-Rendered Frames	1

To open the Control Panel, simply right-click on an empty space on your desktop and select “NVIDIA Control Panel”. 

If you do not see the Control Panel in the menu, your NVIDIA Display Container service is likely not running. You can easily fix this issue by following this guide. 

Once the panel has opened, you’ll see many different options in the column on the left side of the menu. Below, we’ll be guiding you through all of the settings in each of the three categories: 3D Settings, Display, and Video. 

1. Best 3D Settings

The first option in the 3D Settings category is “Adjust image settings with preview”. This option allows you to quickly adjust the quality-to-performance ratio of the Direct3D and OpenGL applications on your system. 

When you have the “Use my preference” option selected, you can move the slider to the left to increase performance (and decrease quality) or to the right to increase quality (and decrease performance). The 3D model will give you an idea of how much the quality is increasing/decreasing as you move the slider. 

While this is a quick and easy way to improve performance, it is highly inefficient, as it does not allow you to tweak the individual settings to squeeze the most performance out of your GPU. So instead of using the slider, click on the “Use the advanced 3D image settings” option and then click on “Take me there” to view all the settings. 

In the Manage 3D Settings menu, you’ll see a whole list of graphics settings under the “Global Settings” tab that you can tweak according to your preference. The settings in this tab will affect each and every program on your PC. Whereas in the “Program Settings” tab, you can opt to tweak settings for only a specific program.

The list below covers the purpose of each setting in this list and the optimal configuration for achieving an ideal balance between performance and visuals. 

Note: Some settings are not available on certain Graphics Cards, and some are exclusive to PC GPUs only – so laptop users may not see certain settings in their NVIDIA Control Panel application. 

Image Scaling

The Image Scaling setting upscales the resolution of your games by using a complex algorithm. This algorithm analyzes the image on your screen and fills in the missing pixels, making the image appear as if it were rendered at a higher resolution than it actually was. 

So if you are running a game on a resolution that is lower than your monitor’s native resolution (for example, 720p instead of 1080p), Image Scaling will upscale the image to 1080p without sacrificing the framerate of the game.

Image Scaling is similar to the NVIDIA DLSS technology but one advantage it has over DLSS is that it is supported by a lot more NVIDIA GPUs. However, even Image Scaling may not work on certain GPUs. 

If you are playing graphic-intensive games and have a low to medium-end GPU, it is recommended to turn Image Scaling ON. This will allow you to increase the visual quality of your games without sacrificing performance. 

If you are using a high-end GPU, Image Scaling will likely have little to no effect on the visuals and performance of your games. Additionally, if you prefer to see a pixel-perfect image with no artifacts or added effects, it’s best to keep this setting OFF. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you are already using DLSS in a game, there’s no point in using Image Scaling. This is because DLSS is already doing the same job, and doing it much better than Image Scaling can.

Ambient Occlusion

The Ambient Occlusion setting is responsible for the lighting of objects in games. When you have this setting turned on, it will make the lighting and shadows of your games much more realistic, but there will be a noticeable effect on the game’s performance. 

If you have a low to medium-end GPU, it is recommended to turn this setting OFF, as it will give you a considerable boost in performance. However, if you want to improve the visuals in the game, set it to Performance to enhance the game’s lighting and shadows without completely tanking your FPS. 

Anisotropic Filtering

Anisotropic Filtering improves the clarity and sharpness of the textures in games. When you play a game at a high resolution, this setting will help eliminate blurriness and distortion in the textures. The more you increase this setting, the sharper the textures will be.

It is recommended to leave this setting turned OFF (or set to a very low value, such as 2x or 4x) in the NVIDIA Control Panel, as most games come with built-in Anisotropic Filtering controls which are much more efficient. Furthermore, this setting has a massive effect on the framerate of games, so leaving it turned on will significantly reduce your FPS.

Antialiasing

There are 5 unique Antialiasing settings in the Control Panel:

1. Antialiasing – FXAA.
2. Antialiasing – Gamma Correction.
3. Antialiasing – Mode.
4. Antialiasing – Transparency.
5. Antialiasing – Setting.

Out of these 5 settings, the ones you actually need to care about are Antialiasing – FXAA and Antialiasing -Setting. 

Both of these settings work to reduce jagged edges in the images displayed on your screen. However, they work in different ways. 

Antialiasing FXAA is a unique Antialiasing technique that eliminates jagged edges while maintaining a minimal effect on performance. However, this setting does not give you much control, as it can only be turned on or off, instead of giving you the option to adjust its intensity.

Antialiasing – Setting, on the other hand, combines different techniques, such as Multisampling and Supersampling. It gives you a range of values to work with, giving you much more control over its intensity. However, it generally has a bigger impact on performance.

It is recommended to turn both of these settings OFF as most modern games come with these settings built-in. It is much more efficient to use the built-in Antialiasing settings of games instead of using these ones. 

That said, if you have a very powerful PC and wish to squeeze the most visuals out of your game, you should turn Antialiasing FXAA on. 

As for Gamma Correction, Mode, and Transparency, Gamma Correction should be turned ON as it improves the color of 3D images without having any noticeable effect on performance. The Mode setting should be set to Application-controlled and Transparency should be turned OFF or to Multisampling (depending on the power of your GPU). 

Background Application Max Frame Rate 

This is a very important, yet often overlooked setting in the Control Panel. This setting will allow you to limit the framerate of your games while you’re switched over to a different application. 

You should keep this setting ON and set it to 20-30 FPS, as this will significantly decrease the power consumption of your PC and reduce fan noise. This will be very beneficial to your PC in the long run.

CUDA – GPUs

This setting is for those people who have multiple GPUs installed on their computers. This setting allows you to choose how many GPUs you want to use for CUDA applications, such as PhysX. If you want to use all of your GPUs, set this setting to All.

If you only have one GPU installed on your computer, you should just leave this setting set to its default value. It will have no effect on your system’s performance.

DSR – Factors and Smoothness

Dynamic Super Resolution (DSR) is a setting that’s catered towards players who purely care about visuals. When you have this setting enabled, it renders the game at a high resolution (of your choice), and then downscales it to the native resolution of your monitor. This results in an incredibly sharp and clear image, but it severely reduces your FPS. 

If you care about performance, you should always keep DSR – Factors OFF. This setting should only be enabled if you have an extremely powerful system, and want to maximize a game’s visual quality. If you choose to enable DSR – Factors, you can use the DSR – Smoothness setting to adjust the smoothness of the downscaled image.

Low Latency Mode

When Low Latency Mode is enabled, it restricts the number of frames that the CPU can prepare before they are given to the GPU for processing. In layman’s terms, this stops the CPU from preparing too many frames in advance, which leads to decreased input lag and faster response times. 

Low Latency Mode should be kept ON, especially if you play competitive games like CS:GO and Valorant where low latency is key. You can even set this setting to Ultra, as it does not have any effect on your framerate. 

Do note that some games come with this setting built into their settings menu. It is named “NVIDIA Reflex” and has two values: ON or ON + Boost. 

If you’re already using the NVIDIA Reflex setting in a game, it will override the Low Latency Mode setting of the Control Panel. Therefore, you don’t need to change this setting for each individual game – you can just set it to ON in the Global Settings tab. 

Max Frame Rate

The Max Frame Rate setting is a tricky one to discuss. This setting allows you to limit the framerate of a program to as many FPS as you want. 

The first thing to note about this setting is that you should never set it in the Global Settings tab. Instead, you should be changing it individually for your games. 

If you’re playing a competitive game where decreased input lag and low frametimes are key (such as CS:GO or Warzone), your game will benefit from having an uncapped (unlimited) framerate. Keeping the FPS uncapped will decrease the frametimes as much as possible, resulting in low input lag. However, this can lead to screen tearing if your FPS stays above your monitor’s refresh rate. 

If you’re bothered by screen tearing, it’s best to keep your FPS limited/capped. And if you’re facing stutters while playing a game where your FPS quickly drops from a very high number to a very low one, and then back up (for example, from 120 to 60, then back to 120), limiting your framerate could fix your issue.

It will fix it by preventing your FPS from going up too high, so when you experience the stutters, they will not feel as jarring. 

Furthermore, if you’re playing a slow-paced game where input lag and frametimes aren’t an issue, it’s a good idea to cap your framerate. This will reduce GPU usage and prevent overheating, and can also decrease screen tearing and other visual artifacts that occur when your GPU usage is very high. However, this will increase frametimes, so your gameplay may feel slightly sluggish. 

The number you should set the Max Frame Rate to mostly depends on your specific situation. But generally, it’s best to set it to the refresh rate of your monitor. You should experiment with different Max Frame Rate settings for each game and find the sweet spot that balances performance, visual quality, and response times.

Multi-Frame Sampled AA (MFAA)

The Multi-Frame Sampled AA (MFAA) setting is essentially an advanced version of the anti-aliasing setting. When enabled, it takes multiple samples of each pixel in an image and then combines them to significantly decrease jagged edges in the final result.

This setting should generally be turned OFF, as it is not as optimized as the built-in anti-aliasing setting of most games. Therefore, it can potentially decrease your FPS quite a bit. 

Monitor Technology

The Monitor Technology setting is only visible to those users who have monitors with variable refresh rates. If you see this setting, you’ll notice that it has three options: G-SYNC, ULMB, and Fixed Refresh Rate. 

If you mostly play competitive games where latency matters, then you should choose Fixed Refresh Rate. However, if you like playing slow-paced games where you aren’t worried about latency, you should select G-SYNC. 

G-SYNC matches your monitor’s refresh rate with the frame output of your GPU. This (generally) results in less screen tearing and stuttering, but your FPS will be much lower. 

OpenGL Rendering GPU 

This is another setting for those people who have multiple GPUs installed in the system. It allows you to select a specific GPU to be used by OpenGL applications. If you only have a single GPU, leave this setting to its default value.

Power Management Mode

If you want to squeeze the most performance out of your NVIDIA GPU, you should select the “Prefer maximum performance” option for this setting. However, keep in mind that this can lead to overheating issues with your GPU in the long run and it also results in increased power consumption. 

If you care about your GPU’s lifespan and your system’s power consumption, you should select the “Adaptive” option instead. This will allow your GPU driver to control your GPU’s usage, resulting in lower power consumption and fewer overheating issues. 

Shader Cache Size

This setting allows you to control the maximum amount of disk space used by your GPU driver for saving shader compiles. Your GPU saves these shader compiles so that it doesn’t need to re-compile the shaders the next time they’re needed. This results in fewer stutters and quicker startup time for games.

The “Driver Default” option for this setting generally works best for most users. But if you want to ensure that you’re reserving enough space for the shaders of all of your games, you can set a custom value. Make sure to allocate at least 10 GB for the Shader Cache Size. 

Texture Filtering

There are 4 unique Texture Filtering settings in the Control Panel:

1. Texture Filtering – Anisotropic Sample Optimization.
2. Texture Filtering – Negative LOD Bias.
3. Texture Filtering – Quality.
4. Texture Filtering – Trilinear Optimization. 

When enabled, the Anisotropic Sample Optimization setting improves performance but results in a slightly less sharp image. When disabled, it improves image quality at the cost of a slight decrease in performance. This setting should be turned ON as it gives a noticeable boost in performance without having a significant effect on visuals. 

The Negative LOD (Level of Detail) Bias setting improves the quality of stationary images on your screen. This setting should always be set to “Allow” as it leads to higher performance. 

The Quality setting allows you to adjust the texture filtering of your games to either improve performance or visuals or find a balance of both. This setting depends on your system’s performance. If your system struggles to load textures in graphically-intensive games, choose the “Performance” or “High Performance” option. And if you have a powerful GPU that can handle all kinds of textures, you can choose the “Quality” or “High Quality” option. 

And finally, Trilinear Optimization adjusts the use of bilinear and trilinear filtering in games in real-time, improving performance but slightly decreasing image quality. This setting should always be turned ON as it gives a noticeable increase in FPS, and the loss in image quality is almost negligible.

Threaded Optimization 

Threaded Optimization should always be set to ON or Auto as it allows applications to use the multiple cores in your CPU. If you disable this setting, you’ll immediately notice a decrease in your FPS.

Vertical Sync 

Vertical Sync, aka VSYNC, matches the FPS of the application to your monitor’s refresh rate to reduce screen-tearing and other display issues, just like GSYNC. However, VSYNC is much less optimized than its GSYNC counterpart, as it results in a noticeably high increase in input lag and FPS.

Therefore, VSYNC should always be turned OFF if your monitor supports GYNC. But if it does not, then you can use VSYNC to fix screen tearing issues. But keep in mind that this will noticeably increase input latency and frametimes. 

Triple Buffering 

This setting is contingent on VSYNC. If you choose to enable VSYNC, you can turn this setting on to improve performance. But if you have VSYNC disabled, make sure to disable this setting as well. 

Virtual Reality Pre-Rendered Frames

As the name suggests, this setting is purely designed for Virtual Reality games. It allows you to limit the number of frames the CPU can generate before the GPU processes them. This results in improved performance, but also increases latency. You can experiment with this setting to find the perfect balance between performance and latency. 

Note: After you’ve finished tweaking the settings, remember to click the Apply button at the bottom to save them – otherwise, your settings will not be saved! And if you face any errors when trying to apply the setting, take a look at our guide to solve the issue. 

2. Best Display Settings

The settings in the display tab allow you to tweak the display settings of your monitor. You can adjust its resolution, refresh rate, color settings, image orientation, and also set up multiple monitors. 

Note: If you do not see the Display tab, there could be an issue with your GPU drivers or BIOS settings. Check out our guide to solve the issue. 

Resolution, Refresh Rate, and Color `

In the “Change resolution” menu, make sure that it is set to your monitor’s native resolution. The list will show you what your monitor’s native resolution is. 

For the Refresh Rate, make sure that the highest value is selected. The higher the refresh rate of your monitor, the more times it will refresh the image on the screen per second. This will result in a smoother and more fluid output. But keep in mind that the benefit of a high refresh rate may be limited by the capabilities of your graphics card.

If you have a 60 Hz monitor, you can generally overclock it to 75 Hz in the Control Panel. But if you don’t see any option for 75 Hz in the menu, you can follow this guide to overclock your monitor through other methods.

While still in the “Change resolution” menu, scroll down to the color settings and select “Use NVIDIA color settings” and ensure that the following options are selected:

1. Desktop color depth: Highest (32-bit)
2. Output color depth: 8 bpc
3. Output color format: RGB
4. Output dynamic range: Full

After that, you can move on to the “Adjust desktop color settings” menu. This menu will allow you to further tweak the color settings of your monitor. You can adjust its brightness, contrast gamma, digital vibrance, and hue to your liking. This is all completely up to your personal preference. 

Desktop Size and Position

In the “Adjust desktop size and position” menu, navigate to the Scaling tab. If you want to use the famous 4:3 aspect ratio, also known as “Stretched” in games like CS:GO and Valorant, ensure that “Full-screen” is selected as the Scaling Mode.

But if you do not play games at a stretched resolution, and want as little input latency as possible, change this option to “No Scaling”. This will give you a slight improvement in performance. 

After that, set the “Perform Scaling on” option to GPU. The GPU Scaling option will instruct your GPU to perform the scaling instead of your monitor, which will result in more precise and accurate scaling, and may even increase your FPS.  

Set up Multiple Displays

If you have more than 1 monitor, this menu will allow you to configure their layout. Firstly, you can select which monitor to use as your main one. Ensure that your using the monitor with the higher resolution and refresh rate as your main.

After that, you can drag the icons of your monitors around to set their layout. Set the layout according to your preference. 

3. Best Video Settings

Finally, in the Video tab, you can tweak the video color and image settings of your monitor(s). But to do so, you’ll have to first select the “Use the NVIDIA setting” option. 

Once you’ve done that, you can adjust the brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, gamma, and dynamic range of the videos displayed on your screen, and can even perform edge enhancement (to increase sharpness) and noise reduction. 

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