Reddit Discovers a Neat Performance Improving Trick for NVIDIA Users

[btarunr]

An honorable citizen of the PC Master Race on Reddit discovered a neat little trick with which NVIDIA GeForce users could score a tiny but potentially useful frame-rate increase. The user discovered that disabling the "NVIDIA Streaming" Windows service (which is set to start-up automatically and always run, by default), results in a 3-5% frame-rate increase. It may not be much, but the increase could prove to be the difference between "playable" and "slide-show," particularly with machines built on a shoestring budget.

The service enables you to stream your game to an NVIDIA Shield handheld console, and unless you actually own one, we don't see the utility in "nvstreamsvc.exe" running at all times, especially if it has a performance penalty of any measure. To disable this service, simply look up "NVIDIA Streamer Service" in Windows Services (type "services.msc" in Run), and disable it by setting its "start-up type" to "Disabled," in its properties, and restarting your machine. This service is also required for ShadowPlay, and if you use that feature, you could set the service for "Manual" start-up.



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[Disparia]

I disabled it in the past for a reason I don't recall at the moment, but good to know I got a couple more FPS from doing so.

-edit- Now I remember, was trouble-shooting a problem with GeForce Experience.

 

[rtwjunkie]

So, apparently the service is still running, even if we have unchecked the box in GeForce Experience, huh? Good to know. I'll be sure to turn that service to disabled, since I never, ever use it.

 

[Jorge]

Not likely that a 3-5% change will make a game playable. Lets say we're at 10 FPS and you gain 5%. The net is 10.5 FPS. I doubt a half FPS is the diff in playability. If we're at 20 FPS then it's still only 1 FPS diff. It simply is not going to change a "no go" game into a playable game.

 

[looniam]

this is (one reason) why i use custom and install only the driver during installation.

 

[NorthboundOcclusive]

could always just not install GeForce Experience, use just the vanilla driver package, and the streaming service wont be installed in the first place.

 

[rodneyhchef]

Great. Disabling this tonight!

 

[PLAfiller]

this is (one reason) why i use custom and install only the driver during installation.

I always go Custom, because my GT630/640 doesn't support shadow play. I don't need GeForce Experience. But apparently whether I pick what I want from the driver package, makes little difference and that pisses me off in a way.

EDIT: I spoke too soon. I just came from work and checked, there is no such process running on my rig, so...it's all good for me. But still a nice find though.

 

[RCoon]

Not likely that a 3-5% change will make a game playable. Lets say we're at 10 FPS and you gain 5%. The net is 10.5 FPS. I doubt a half FPS is the diff in playability. If we're at 20 FPS then it's still only 1 FPS diff. It simply is not going to change a "no go" game into a playable game.

You're on an enthusiast site, where 5-10% performance increase is what we strive for on a daily basis for GPUs with overclocking. Granted, CPU's not so much.

This isn't SevenForums for your grandma.

 

[W1zzard]

and that's why I always do custom install, and deselect everything:

Apparently the service doesn't exist if you don't install GFE

Another NVIDIA tip: delete this folder to free up some space on your C: drive

 

[Kaynar]

The only NVIDIA item in my services panel is the "Display Driver Service"

All this useless bloat slows down your computer, its nothing new. Same when I had AMD cards, I didnt even install their control panel, just the raw driver. You always score 5-10% more and have better real-life performance that way. It's nothing new.

 

[XL-R8R]

This doesnt appear to be an issue if you dont install the "GeForce Experience" (not like its much of one).... or, should I say, I didnt manage to find something to disabled lol


Edit: Its already been mentioned Make sure to refresh your tab before posting, kids!

 

[Caring1]

I was expecting to see a joke reply along the lines of instal an AMD card... lol

 

[xorbe]

And people praised streaming for not hitting fps when enabled ... lol because it was enabled all the time!

 

[nickbaldwin86]

With the current system I installed the whole gamete of waste that comes with the driver package... but after reading this I think I will uninstall and install just the driver, like I used too. I rarely use Shadowplay. I wish I didn't have to download the HUGE driver package when all I need is the driver!

 

[P4-630]

I wish I didn't have to download the HUGE driver package when all I need is the driver!

Yeah, I can understand that when you have a slow internet connection

 

[kajson]

Another NVIDIA tip: delete this folder to free up some space on your C: drive
TE]

Couple of months back I used "space sniffer" on my 120gb ssd only laptop, I had been using it for about 2 years by then. It visualizes what programs/files use your hdd space. Turns out Nvidia had backed up all previous installers on alternate locations in two different ways mostly too. I free'd up over 4GB I think it was even more, from tracking these backups to their locations. (we're talking 16 driver updates at about 256-512MB a pop) I do always update my drivers when new ones come out, but I never realized Nvidia copied all used installers to alternate locations. They were easily spotted with the sniffer program because the driver version was in the package name and it was just one big installer file.

 

[nickbaldwin86]

Yeah, I can understand that when you have a slow internet connection

For those with slow connections yes!
shoot, I got fast cable (50/10) downloads in seconds, but I still don't want to waste that time or effort when it isn't needed/wanted, back when you could get just the driver. that was nice, AMD still do that? haven't run AMD since it was ATI lol
I know that they do it because they want you to run all that baggage. it is full of marketing too.

 

[rtwjunkie]

For those with slow connections yes!
shoot, I got fast cable (50/10) downloads in seconds, but I still don't want to waste that time or effort when it isn't needed/wanted, back when you could get just the driver. that was nice, AMD still do that? haven't run AMD since it was ATI lol
I know that they do it because they want you to run all that baggage. it is full of marketing too.

I find GeForce is useful for ShadowPlay, and that's about it. It definately is whacked out on some of it's "optimize" recommendations, either their settings are too high to be playable well, or they simply laugh and say, "you want to do what?", whereas if you set your own settings the game plays perfectly fine and looks great..

 

[P4-630]

For those with slow connections yes!
shoot, I got fast cable (50/10) downloads in seconds, but I still don't want to waste that time or effort when it isn't needed/wanted, back when you could get just the driver. that was nice, AMD still do that? haven't run AMD since it was ATI lol
I know that they do it because they want you to run all that baggage. it is full of marketing too.

I upgraded my dads pc a while ago with SSD and and a fresh windows 8.1 installation, he has a hd 4870 installed, and I could not find a driver for it anymore.
But it appeared windows 8.1 automatically installed the driver for it, no CCC , just the display driver.

 

[P4-630]

I find GeForce is useful for ShadowPlay, and that's about it. It definately is whacked out on some of it's "optimize" recommendations, either their settings are too high to be playable well, or they simply laugh and say, "you want to do what?", whereas if you set your own settings the game plays perfectly fine and looks great..

I used Geforce Experience for GTA V, but I saw jaggies in the game, FXAA was off , I have set FXAA on and have set the texture quality to very high textures, looks so much much better!

 

[rtwjunkie]

I upgraded my dads pc a while ago with SSD and and a fresh windows 8.1 installation, he has a hd 4870 installed, and I could not find a driver for it anymore.
But it appeared windows 8.1 automatically installed the driver for it, no CCC , just the display driver.

They are pretty good about gettiing you a driver you can use in a pinch. At least with their Nvidia drivers, though, it's always at least 2 versions behind.

 

[P4-630]

They are pretty good about gettiing you a driver you can use in a pinch. At least with their Nvidia drivers, though, it's always at least 2 versions behind.

My dad does not game, so there is not really a "latest driver" needed anyway, everything works great!

 

[BiggieShady]

Ha! All those custom installs and painstakingly clicking checkboxes has finally paid off with a confirmation that I'm not crazy ... I mean at least in that regard.

 

[natr0n]

This is no different than disabling, amd external events utility / amd fuel services.

You can disable ccc from startup as well... same shit more performance.