Thursday, February 22nd 2024
NVIDIA App Doesn't Need a Login, Unlike GeForce Experience
We found out that the new NVIDIA App doesn't need an NVIDIA Account login, and yet gives you nearly all of its functionality. NVIDIA today rolled out the GeForce 551.61 WHQL drivers, and with it, the new NVIDIA App, as we detailed in the driver's news report. NVIDIA App is the company's latest take on a Control Panel application that combines the functionality of the over 20-year-old NVIDIA Control Panel Win32 application, and the modern GeForce Experience app (GFE). The former focuses on settings related to the display head, with one or more settings for the GPU, but has no hardware monitoring or performance overlay features. GFE is more of a concentric outer layer focused on the games installed in your PC, to which you can figure out and apply optimal settings. The new NVIDIA App essentially combines the functionalities of the two, but it has an ace up its sleeve—you don't need an NVIDIA Account to use it.
One of the biggest drawbacks of GeForce Experience is that it mandates you to create an NVIDIA Account, and keeps you logged into this account to use its functionality. Not everyone wants an app that does this; and so some gamers would want to skip installation of GFE altogether during the GeForce driver installation. NVIDIA App takes a refreshingly different approach. It is currently a public beta, isn't part of the driver package, isn't found on Microsoft Store, but is being distributed as a standalone app with its own installer.
Upon installation and the first run, the app greets you with a selection between the two main driver trunks—GeForce Game Ready and GeForce Studio. Gamers should stick to the first option. The second screen asks whether you want NVIDIA App to automatically apply optimized settings for all the games installed in your system that it can detect. By default, this option is selected, but if you feel NVIDIA's optimal settings are a bit too conservative, you can simply uncheck this toggle and click on "next." The next screen asks you whether you want NVIDIA Performance Overlay enabled. This is an important step, as you get to enable the most important feature of the NVIDIA App—Performance Overlay. When enabled, the key combo "Alt+Z" is bound. At any time, including in the middle of a game, you press these to bring up a Sidebar overlay that gives you access to the most relevant NVIDIA features for capturing, screengrabbing, or streaming your gameplay; as well as a shortcut to NVIDIA's all important Statistics service.
The last screen is what won our confidence, and convinced us that NVIDIA App isn't GeForce Experience with a different name and a slightly different UI. This screen presents you with an incentive to log into your NVIDIA Account, but doesn't impose the login upon you. You have the ability to skip this, and go straight to the home screen of the NVIDIA App. We've been exploring this thing for the past half an hour, and we find that nearly all functionality of the NVIDIA App is available to us without the login. If you do want to log in, NVIDIA rewards you with a promotion under the GeForce Rewards tab—a double XP event for Call of Duty MW3. It's not much, but it's quite welcome, and it's not in-your-face. We plan to do a slightly longer article for the weekend, so stay tuned!
You can download the NVIDIA App from here.
One of the biggest drawbacks of GeForce Experience is that it mandates you to create an NVIDIA Account, and keeps you logged into this account to use its functionality. Not everyone wants an app that does this; and so some gamers would want to skip installation of GFE altogether during the GeForce driver installation. NVIDIA App takes a refreshingly different approach. It is currently a public beta, isn't part of the driver package, isn't found on Microsoft Store, but is being distributed as a standalone app with its own installer.
You can download the NVIDIA App from here.
74 Comments on NVIDIA App Doesn't Need a Login, Unlike GeForce Experience
the show Advanced list button is nowhere to be found. But I can work with that for now.
Power Target etc?
Also, for some games (Helldivers 2) I only saw the ingame settings listed and I couldn't edit the driver specific options.
Used nvclean.... and it came up with 551.61
I installed it and older nvcp is still there thank you @W1zzard :cool:
I didn't but then again I used it on my x99 testbench setup with my 1080ti to test gpu loop for leaks for a buyer
After I'm done I'll reinstall the 980ti back on and use nvclean again now that i know it didn't change anything.
I never noticed nv cp listed in all apps but it was I did not open it there though I use right click desktop path.
Now 4080S costs the same as 4080 at roughly ~1100€. Im not seeing this supposed 200€ cheaper card that Nvidia promised us.Funny you mention bloat. So it's less bloat'y to install several separate programs to get all functions instead of one program?Is anyone forcing you to click these?As if the current nvcp requires zero scrolling and fits all information inside the window? It does not. I agree that there should be a compact UI option in the settings.Then dont click it. It's not even selected by default.Someone missed the fact that it's in BETA. You do realize that it's not the final version right?Oh great. Another program to install for Nvidia users to get all required functionality. Im losing count here. How many is that now? 3? 4? 5?If only there was a way to change mouse DPI on the fly to account for this. No im not sure anyone has invented something like that yet...Not sure what you installed or think you installed. I installed the new NVA and it did not touch the old nvcp. How could it if it literally has links inside NVA to open nvcp...Well at least they are not asking for you to sign up or pay (or both) to test it unlike some games these days.nvcp is never removed, regardless if you install NVA or uninstall it.Im sorry you cant use it on your 720p HD Ready screen.
There are two services running in the background. About half dozen sub processes in task manager.
Less than is required for GFE+nvpp+MSI AB.Yep that's what i've commented in response to people glorifying the old nvpp and not seeing any faults with it.
Don't forget the mouse cursor automatically moving when changing the options on the sidebar or horizontal scroll bars in addition to vertical ones.
And look at all that wasted space that is somehow not a problem.
I won't even mention the lack of dark mode to save my eyes...
Service count is not representative of resource usage. Try using Wireshark or other resource monitoring software to see the actual Internet and resource usage.
The bottom line is, whether we're lucky enough to be able to continue using NVCP, currently, regardless of "beta" status, the installer does not allow us to pick and choose what elements of the driver software we want. You're forced to have the equivalent of GeForce experience plus other phone home bloat that "features" online accounts.
Hence. The new option is pretty, but worse. If that changes for the better in future (I doubt it) I'll reevaluate my analysis.
As others mentioned, I can't see workstation or enterprise putting up with this. So hopefully studio drivers or something similar will still be there for those who like their software environments to be functional over form.
I don't see how a unified installer that has all of these "features" is somehow less bloated than the current drivers that at least have mature third party software to slim them down.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and preference. Unfortunately this release is an example of a shiny new face lift of the same old crap, that removes choice.
It's easy to say "the old control panel is there still, use it!" but that's because the replacement isn't finished yet. What happened to the windows control panel after everything was migrated to the modern interface? Slowly lost functionality and support.
The software is in beta. Now is the time to complain, not just roll over and accept whatever bs they try to slip past with the reskin.
Also current software slimmers benefit from years of development by people like W1zzard here.My point exactly. It was not removed like people fear here. It can still be acessed by typing control in WinKEY+R dialog.
I predict the same will happen with nvcp.
Either they fix the feedback link in the NvidiaApp or provide an alternative way of providing feedback via weblink.
- Yep, so am hoping the NVcleaninstall will still work after the fact...
- That is a very good point, I would be happy to loose a little gaming perf if the studio driver retain the other CP.
- THIS!
- See above.
Which is PRECISELY why we give them immediate and strong feedback. Because if we don't they will think its ok because no one complained about it.There is feedback option inside the new program:
Internet access should not be necessary to access global settings. This i agree with.
Also what version of the NvApp did you get that result on..?I and probably like a lot of people, dont need/want any of the 'crap' nVidia is trying to fist upon us via the NvApp. Namely 'everything that requires an internet connection. All I need is what I currently have via the classic NvCp, which included the global/program settings.
And talking of 'program settings' in the NvApp there is no way to edit the 3D settings per game/program in the NvApp like you can in the NvCp.
Benchmarking I used global all the time adjusting them.
Program section if it's an online game you might have fun using them for obvious reasons hehe