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“RivaTuner FPS Limiter” usually means the frame-rate limiter built into RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS). It is not the formal name of a separate application. RTSS lets you cap FPS for individual games, monitor frame times, display an on-screen overlay, and create application profiles.
Use a game’s own limiter first when it works reliably. Choose RTSS when a title has no dependable cap, when you want consistent per-game profiles, or when FPS and frametime monitoring are important.
What is the RivaTuner FPS limiter?
RTSS’s Framerate limit control restricts how many frames a selected application can present each second. It is a cap, not a performance booster: it does not make a slow game render faster.
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A frame cap can reduce unnecessary GPU work, power consumption, heat and fan noise. It can also help maintain a steadier frame rate and keep a game within the operating range of a variable-refresh-rate display. The result depends on the game engine, graphics API, display settings and the limiter being used.
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RTSS supports monitoring for DirectX, OpenGL and Vulkan applications and provides application profiles, an in-game overlay and frame-rate limiting. API support does not guarantee that every game will hook successfully.
RivaTuner, RTSS and MSI Afterburner: what is the difference?
- RivaTuner: the older graphics-card tweaking utility from which the name originated.
- RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS): the current Windows utility that provides the limiter, frametime and FPS monitoring, profiles and overlay functions.
- MSI Afterburner: a separate hardware-monitoring and overclocking utility that commonly installs or uses RTSS for its on-screen display.
RTSS can be installed on its own. Installing MSI Afterburner does not make the two programs the same product, and an FPS overlay does not necessarily mean that an FPS limit is active.
Is RTSS free, and where should you download it?
RTSS is distributed as free Windows software. Download it from the official Guru3D RTSS distribution page. Guru3D identifies its page as the official distribution location and warns against spoofed or unrelated download sites that may provide repackaged or malicious installers.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteAs of August 18, 2026, that page listed RTSS 7.3.7 Final, with a listed update date of September 30, 2025. Version information can change, so check the download page rather than relying on an old installer or a third-party download listing. Current MSI Afterburner packages may also include a stable RTSS build, but RTSS remains available separately.
How to set an FPS limit in RTSS
- Download and install RTSS from Guru3D. Approve administrator elevation if Windows requests it.
- Launch RTSS from the Start menu or notification area.
- Choose the Global profile for a general default, or select a game profile.
- If the game is not listed, add its actual game executable. Selecting only the launcher may not apply the setting to the game.
- Enter the target number in Framerate limit.
- Leave the value at 0 to disable RTSS limiting for that profile.
- Start the game and verify that its FPS remains near the selected value.
For most users, begin with the basic frame-limit field. Do not change advanced detection or hooking options unless the normal profile does not work.
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Global profiles versus per-game profiles
A Global profile acts as a default for detected applications. A per-game profile can override that default for one executable.
Keep the global limit at 0 if different games need different targets. Use individual profiles for games with unusual refresh rates, frame-generation settings or performance limits. If a game ignores your global value, check whether its own profile contains another limit. A per-game profile can override the global setting.
What FPS cap should you use?
There is no universal best number. Choose the cap according to your display, sustained performance and priority: smoothness, lower latency, reduced heat or lower power use.
| Display refresh rate | Possible starting point |
|---|---|
| 60 Hz | 60 FPS, or slightly below for some VRR setups |
| 120 Hz | Approximately 117–120 FPS |
| 144 Hz | Approximately 138–144 FPS |
| 165 Hz | Approximately 158–165 FPS |
| 240 Hz | Approximately 230–240 FPS |
These are starting points, not fixed rules. For VRR, many players cap below the monitor’s maximum refresh rate to reduce the chance of repeatedly hitting the top of the variable-refresh range. The ideal offset depends on the monitor, driver, V-Sync configuration, game and latency preference.
If a game cannot sustain the display’s refresh rate, a stable lower cap is often more useful than a fluctuating target. If your goal is cooler, quieter operation, cap below the maximum the GPU can produce. For menus and loading screens, a separate lower profile can prevent unnecessary rendering.
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RTSS versus the in-game FPS limiter
RTSS is not automatically better than a game’s own limiter.
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- It is reliable and provides the behavior you want.
- The game has unusual rendering, simulation or presentation logic.
- The title uses frame generation or a specialized latency system.
- You want to avoid third-party injection, especially in competitive or anti-cheat-protected games.
Consider RTSS when:
- The game has no useful built-in cap.
- The built-in limiter is inconsistent or fails in the selected rendering API.
- You want one profile system for multiple games.
- You need FPS and frametime monitoring alongside the limit.
- You are tuning an emulator, older game, benchmark or unusual application.
Test both when possible. Frame pacing and input latency vary by game, API, cap value and implementation, so there is no universal winner.
RTSS versus NVIDIA and AMD driver limiters
NVIDIA users can use the Control Panel’s Max Frame Rate setting under the relevant 3D application profile. NVIDIA documents a selectable range of 20–1000 FPS for that setting in its 3D Settings documentation.
AMD documents Frame Rate Target Control (FRTC) as a way to cap rendering in 3D applications, including menus and loading screens. Its availability and interface can vary by Radeon hardware and Adrenalin driver generation, so check the current AMD software on your system. See AMD’s FRTC documentation.
| Consideration | RTSS | Driver limiter |
|---|---|---|
| Profiles | Strong application-profile workflow | Driver-specific per-program profiles |
| Monitoring | FPS, frametime and OSD features | Not primarily an overlay tool |
| Installation | Separate utility or bundled with Afterburner | Included with the graphics driver software |
| Hardware scope | Broad DirectX, OpenGL and Vulkan use according to RTSS documentation | Usually tied to the relevant GPU vendor |
| Compatibility | Hooks and overlays can conflict with games or anti-cheat | Driver-level behavior still varies by game |
Use RTSS for a cross-game monitoring and profile workflow. Use the driver limiter when you want a vendor-provided cap without installing another overlay utility.
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RTSS with VRR, V-Sync and tearing
These technologies do different jobs:
- Frame limiter: controls how quickly the game produces frames.
- V-Sync: coordinates frame presentation with the display refresh cycle.
- VRR: lets technologies such as G-SYNC or FreeSync vary the display’s refresh timing within a supported range.
An RTSS cap alone does not guarantee tear-free output. A cap above the monitor’s refresh rate cannot guarantee that either. With VRR, a cap below the display’s maximum refresh rate is a common starting point, but the correct V-Sync and driver configuration depends on the monitor, game and driver. NVIDIA’s 3D Settings documentation covers its frame-rate and G-SYNC-related controls.
Frame generation and RTSS
Modern games may report rendered frames, generated frames or displayed frames differently. DLSS, FSR, XeSS and driver-level frame generation can therefore change what an FPS cap is actually controlling.
RTSS 7.3.7 lists compatibility work for NVIDIA Smooth Motion, improved injected NVIDIA Reflex latency markers and Vulkan hooking reliability. That does not guarantee compatibility with every frame-generation implementation. Test the particular game and determine whether the limit applies to base-rendered frames, generated output or both.
If frame generation, an overlay or a game update causes problems, first disable the RTSS overlay or exclude that executable from RTSS detection. The game’s own limiter may be the better choice for specialized rendering paths.
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Advanced feature: Scanline Sync
Scanline Sync is not an ordinary FPS limiter. It is an advanced RTSS feature intended to synchronize rendering with a display scan position. Guru3D describes it as a specialized option that requires per-game tuning.
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It can be sensitive to GPU load, resolution, refresh rate and game behavior. Most VRR users should not start with it. Treat Scanline Sync as an enthusiast experiment for fixed-refresh setups rather than a default solution.
Troubleshooting RTSS
The FPS cap does not work
- Confirm that RTSS is running.
- Confirm that the correct game executable is selected.
- Check that Framerate limit is not set to 0.
- Check whether the game launched a second executable.
- Inspect the per-game profile for a value overriding the global profile.
- Temporarily disable other overlays.
- Test another display mode or rendering API.
- For diagnosis, disable frame generation and unusual launcher or anti-cheat hooks.
- If an update broke behavior, uninstall RTSS and Afterburner completely, remove profiles if necessary, and perform a clean reinstall.
The overlay appears, but the cap does not
Overlay detection and frame limiting are separate functions. An overlay can appear even when the wrong profile is selected, another limiter takes precedence, the renderer is not intercepted as expected, or frame generation changes which presentation calls RTSS observes.
The game crashes or performance drops
- Reset the game’s RTSS profile.
- Set Framerate limit to 0.
- Disable the RTSS overlay for that executable.
- Disable specialized options such as NVIDIA Reflex marker injection or unusual hooking modes.
- Test with RTSS completely closed.
- Re-enable features one at a time if the game becomes stable.
- Keep RTSS disabled for that title if its anti-cheat or rendering technology is incompatible.
Anti-cheat policies and overlay compatibility can change between games and updates. The RTSS distribution page warns that some anti-cheat systems and other on-screen-display tools may block or conflict with RTSS.
Which limiter should you choose?
- Choose RTSS if you need application profiles, monitoring, a cap for an older or unusual game, or a consistent workflow across different graphics APIs.
- Prefer the in-game limiter if it is stable, the game uses frame generation or specialized latency features, or anti-cheat rules make injection undesirable.
- Prefer the driver limiter if you want a driver-level solution, use one GPU vendor and do not need RTSS’s overlay or telemetry.
The main RTSS trade-off is flexibility versus compatibility. It can be highly useful, but its injection model adds another component that may conflict with overlays, launchers, anti-cheat systems, frame-generation features or future game updates.
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