To reduce input lag in a PC first-person shooter, first enable the latency feature supported by your game and graphics card, then tune synchronization and check your mouse and display settings. Change one setting at a time and compare the same scene. There is no universally best configuration: the right choice depends on whether you prioritize the lowest possible delay, tear-free motion, or a balance of both.
What causes input lag in an FPS?
Input lag is the delay between moving your mouse or pressing a key and seeing the result on screen. It can come from several parts of the chain: the peripheral, the game and PC’s rendering pipeline, and the display. A high frame rate can make motion look smoother, but FPS is throughput—not a complete measurement of input-to-display latency. NVIDIA distinguishes render latency from PC-plus-display and full-system latency in its Reflex Analyzer documentation.
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How to reduce input lag, step by step
1. Establish a repeatable baseline
Choose a repeatable scene or practice area and note how responsive aiming and movement feel. Keep the game, scene, display mode, and other settings consistent as you test. If the game exposes latency statistics and your setup supports them, record those too. Change one setting at a time so you can tell what helped or made the experience worse.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsDo not treat an FPS counter as an input-lag meter. NVIDIA’s Reflex Analyzer can report PC-plus-display latency; measuring full system latency also requires compatible mouse measurement hardware. An Analyzer-compatible display and mouse are specialized measurement equipment, not prerequisites for the software adjustments below.
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2. Turn on the latency feature your game supports
NVIDIA GPU: If the game offers NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency, enable it in the game’s graphics or video settings. NVIDIA recommends Reflex when a title supports it. If Reflex is unavailable, NVIDIA’s driver-level Ultra Low Latency Mode is an alternative; Reflex overrides that driver functionality when both are enabled. See NVIDIA’s system-latency guide.
AMD GPU: Radeon Anti-Lag is a driver feature that adjusts frame timing. AMD says it is most useful when the system is GPU-limited. Anti-Lag 2 requires integration by the game developer, so it appears only in supported games. See AMD Radeon Anti-Lag and AMD’s Anti-Lag configuration guidance.
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These options depend on the GPU, game, graphics API, driver, and software version. Confirm what is available in your game and current driver rather than assuming every title supports every feature.
3. Choose synchronization based on your tolerance for tearing
V-Sync can prevent visible tearing, but synchronization choices involve a latency tradeoff. For NVIDIA users prioritizing low latency who accept tearing, NVIDIA recommends turning V-Sync off. If you use a G-SYNC display and want to avoid tearing, NVIDIA describes a G-SYNC plus V-Sync plus Reflex configuration; it can add slightly more latency than uncapped Reflex. Compare the options in your game rather than treating either approach as a universal rule.
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AMD’s Enhanced Sync is an alternative intended to reduce tearing without limiting frame rates when a game runs above the display’s refresh rate. Its behavior and availability depend on the game and setup; AMD explains the setting in its Adrenalin graphics-settings guide.
4. Compare display modes and Windows Game Mode
NVIDIA’s October 2020 system-latency guide recommends exclusive fullscreen where a game offers it and enabling Windows Game Mode. Treat these as options to test, not guaranteed wins: the result can vary with the Windows version and the game’s implementation, and borderless-window behavior has changed over time. Compare the supported display modes in your own title.
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5. Check mouse polling and the monitor’s active refresh rate
If your mouse software provides a polling-rate control, check that it is set as desired. A higher polling rate lets the mouse report movement and clicks more frequently, but it is only one part of the input chain and does not by itself mean you need a new mouse.
Also verify that your operating system and game are using a refresh rate supported by your monitor. A display running below its available refresh capability can limit how often it presents new frames. Exact menu paths vary by Windows version, display connection, and game; consult the controls for your current setup.
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6. Re-test after every change
Return to the same scene and compare responsiveness, tearing, and stability after each adjustment. The vendor sources describe settings and measurement concepts, but they do not establish a single millisecond target or a guaranteed reduction that applies to every PC and shooter. Keep the configuration that improves response without introducing tradeoffs you dislike.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which settings should you try first?
| Option | When it fits | Tradeoff or requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Game-integrated NVIDIA Reflex | Your NVIDIA-powered game offers Reflex. | Requires support in the title; NVIDIA recommends it over relying on driver Ultra Low Latency when Reflex is available. |
| NVIDIA driver Ultra Low Latency Mode | The game lacks Reflex and the driver option is available. | Driver-level fallback; Reflex overrides it when both are enabled. |
| AMD Radeon Anti-Lag | You have a supported AMD setup, particularly when GPU-limited. | Benefit depends on the workload and configuration. |
| AMD Anti-Lag 2 | The game specifically supports developer-integrated Anti-Lag 2. | Requires integration by the game developer. |
| V-Sync off | You prioritize low latency and accept possible tearing. | Can show tearing. |
| G-SYNC with V-Sync and Reflex | You want to avoid tearing on a compatible variable-refresh NVIDIA display. | NVIDIA describes a modest latency tradeoff versus uncapped Reflex. |
| AMD Enhanced Sync | You want to reduce tearing without limiting frame rates when the game exceeds display refresh. | Availability and results depend on the AMD setup and game. |
When should you consider new hardware?
Consider a higher-refresh-rate monitor only after confirming your current display is a constraint and trying the settings changes. A faster display is an optional hardware route, not a requirement for enabling software latency features. A configurable-polling-rate gaming mouse is worth considering only if your current mouse lacks the control you need or is malfunctioning. Reflex Analyzer-compatible monitor and mouse equipment is for specialized measurement, not a general input-lag fix.
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