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NVIDIA Smooth Motion is a driver-level frame-interpolation feature for GeForce RTX 40- and RTX 50-series graphics cards. It uses an AI model to insert an inferred frame between two traditionally rendered frames, giving compatible games smoother displayed motion without requiring the developer to integrate native DLSS Frame Generation. It is most useful when a game has a stable base frame rate but no built-in frame generation; it does not turn a low-refresh, high-latency game into one with the responsiveness of a higher native frame rate.
What NVIDIA Smooth Motion does
Native rendering produces the game frames that contain new simulation and input information. Smooth Motion examines consecutive rendered frames and creates an intermediate image at presentation time. In a 2× interpolation mode, the display may show roughly twice as many frames as the game renders, but the game simulation, input sampling and underlying render workload remain at the original rate.
That distinction matters: a counter showing 100 displayed FPS does not mean the game is simulating or responding like a native 100-FPS render. Smooth Motion is a compatibility layer for smoother-looking motion, not a replacement for faster rendering.
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Who can use it
- Officially supported: GeForce RTX 40-series and RTX 50-series GPUs on Windows.
- Not officially listed: RTX 30-series, older GeForce, Radeon and Intel Arc GPUs.
- Software: the current NVIDIA App and a compatible NVIDIA driver, which you can obtain from the driver-download page.
RTX 40 support was added after the feature first appeared for RTX 50 cards; describing Smooth Motion as RTX 50-only is no longer current. NVIDIA still qualifies support by game and rendering path. DirectX 11, DirectX 12 and Vulkan are listed, but profiles, launch executables, anti-cheat, overlays and display modes can determine whether a particular title works.
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Enable Smooth Motion in Windows
- Install or update the NVIDIA App.
- Open the App’s Drivers tab and install the current compatible Game Ready Driver.
- Open Graphics, then Program settings.
- Select the game you want to configure.
- Scroll to Driver Settings and set Smooth Motion to On.
- Restart the game, then compare native FPS, displayed FPS, frame times and image quality.
Use a per-game profile rather than forcing the option globally. Unsupported titles can react differently, and an enabled profile does not guarantee that the presentation layer will attach successfully.
Linux and Proton
On Linux, NVIDIA documents Smooth Motion through its Vulkan presentation layer rather than the Windows App toggle. Set the following environment variable when launching a Vulkan application:
NVPRESENT_ENABLE_SMOOTH_MOTION=1For diagnostics, NVIDIA documents:
NVPRESENT_LOG_LEVEL=4
VK_LOADER_DEBUG=layer
NVPRESENT_LOG_FILE=/path/to/logfileThe presentation layer may use an asynchronous compute queue and can conflict with overlays. NVIDIA’s documented workaround is:
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NVPRESENT_QUEUE_FAMILY=1This forces presentation through a graphics queue and may reduce performance. The Linux variables and the Windows NVIDIA App setting are separate methods; enabling one does not configure the other.
Smooth Motion versus native DLSS Frame Generation
| Characteristic | Smooth Motion | Native DLSS Frame Generation |
|---|---|---|
| Integration | Driver-level presentation layer | Integrated by the game |
| Motion data | Does not require engine motion vectors from the developer | Normally uses engine-provided motion data |
| Where it is configured | NVIDIA App per-game profile | Game’s graphics settings |
| Primary purpose | Games without native DLSS Frame Generation | Games with official DLSS support |
| Image-quality information | Infers motion from the presented image and can be more vulnerable to UI, transparency and fast-motion artifacts | Has deeper access to engine data and is generally the preferable implementation when available |
Native DLSS Frame Generation should be the first choice when a game supports it. NVIDIA explicitly advises against enabling native DLSS Frame Generation and Smooth Motion together because the two systems can compete, reducing performance and increasing artifacts. DLSS Multi Frame Generation is a separate native DLSS feature; it is not a reason to stack Smooth Motion on top.
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Performance, frame rate and latency
Smooth Motion can approximately double the presented frame count in a 2× mode. It does not double native rendering performance, simulation rate or input samples. NVIDIA does not publish a universal minimum base-FPS rule, so treat frame-rate guidance as practical rather than a guarantee.
- A stable 30-FPS base can look smoother, but controls still feel much closer to 30 FPS.
- A stable 40–60-FPS base is generally a more sensible target for playability.
- Fluctuating frame times can make generated frames appear uneven even when the average counter is high.
- For competitive shooters, fighting games, rhythm games and other latency-sensitive play, native FPS and responsive input should take priority.
NVIDIA Reflex is a separate CPU/GPU synchronization technology intended to reduce system latency; its presence does not make Smooth Motion equivalent to native high-FPS rendering. Judge responsiveness with an input-latency measurement where possible, not by the displayed-FPS number alone.
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Artifacts and compatibility failures
Because Smooth Motion works at the presentation layer, it has less scene information than an engine-integrated solution. Depending on the title and driver profile, inspect for:
- Halos or warping around characters, vehicles and other moving objects.
- Distortion in particles, foliage, transparencies, thin geometry and weapon effects.
- Smeared HUD or text when the layer cannot separate interface elements from world motion.
- Uneven pacing when the base frame rate is unstable.
- Tearing or synchronization problems in some fullscreen and borderless configurations.
- Overlay, capture-tool or anti-cheat conflicts.
- A profile targeting the wrong executable or an API path that the title does not actually use.
NVIDIA lists compatible DirectX 11, DirectX 12 and Vulkan games, not every game. A title can fail to activate or behave differently after a driver update, API change or launcher change.
When it is worth trying
Single-player RPGs and adventure games
Often a good fit when native rendering is stable but camera motion feels coarse. Test dialogue text, foliage and particle effects before keeping it enabled.
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Racing games
Potentially useful for smoother track movement, but inspect thin objects, car edges, cockpit displays and UI during rapid pans.
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Scrolling can benefit, while small text, menus and cursor movement may reveal interpolation errors.
Competitive shooters and fighting games
Generally prioritize native frame rate and latency. A smoother image is not the same as faster input response.
Older 30- or 60-FPS titles
These can be compelling use cases if the presentation is clean and the game is not latency-critical.
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| Option | Best fit | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Native DLSS Frame Generation | Games with official integration | Usually has better engine motion information; use it instead of Smooth Motion. |
| Lossless Scaling (LSFG) | Users without RTX 40/50 hardware or those wanting broader hardware and scaling support | Paid Steam software; its listing identifies GeForce RTX 30-series, Radeon RX 6000-series and Intel Arc support. It can add configuration, overlay, artifact and pacing issues. |
| AMD Fluid Motion Frames | Compatible Radeon owners | Driver-integrated through AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition; AMD warns it can add latency and recommends Radeon Anti-Lag. |
| Intel XeSS Frame Generation | Games with native XeSS-FG integration | Intel’s developer guidance suggests at least 40 FPS for adequate reconstruction and 60 FPS for the best latency experience; those figures are not Smooth Motion requirements. |
How to test whether it helps
- Record a repeatable route or camera sweep with Smooth Motion off.
- Measure native FPS, frame times, GPU utilization and, where possible, end-to-end latency.
- Enable Smooth Motion and repeat the same route.
- Compare both the native and displayed frame rates; do not treat the latter as rendered performance.
- Pause on fast pans and inspect characters, foliage, particles, transparencies, HUD text and subtitles.
- Check frame pacing and synchronization in the exact fullscreen or borderless mode you use.
NVIDIA’s FrameView can report FPS, frame-time-related metrics and PC latency in supported configurations. An in-game counter alone cannot establish that Smooth Motion improved responsiveness or image quality.
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Smooth Motion is best understood as a useful compatibility layer: free for existing RTX 40- and RTX 50-series owners, easy to apply per game, and valuable when a title has a solid base frame rate but no native frame generation. Choose native DLSS Frame Generation whenever it is available, avoid stacking the two, and disable Smooth Motion when latency, HUD clarity, frame pacing or artifacting matters more than a smoother-looking presentation.
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