NVIDIA Smooth Motion now works on all GeForce RTX 40-series GPUs through the NVIDIA App and a compatible Game Ready Driver. The driver inserts an AI-inferred frame between rendered frames in compatible DirectX 11, DirectX 12, and Vulkan games, and NVIDIA says the feature can typically double perceived frame rate—not unique frames rendered or guaranteed responsiveness.
Smooth Motion is aimed at games that lack native DLSS Frame Generation. The feature can improve visual smoothness without developer integration, but baseline performance, frame pacing, artifacts, latency, and the game’s rendering API determine whether the result is worthwhile.
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Key takeaways
- NVIDIA Smooth Motion officially supports all GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs with the updated NVIDIA App and a compatible Game Ready Driver.
- Smooth Motion inserts an AI-inferred frame between two rendered frames; it does not make the game engine render twice as many unique frames.
- You enable Smooth Motion per game under Graphics > Program settings > Driver Settings in the NVIDIA App.
- NVIDIA says Smooth Motion can typically double perceived frame rate, but the result depends on baseline FPS, frame pacing, visual artifacts, latency, and game compatibility.
- AMD Fluid Motion Frames is a similar driver-level technology, but AFMF uses supported Radeon hardware and AMD Software: Adrenalin.
Does NVIDIA Smooth Motion work on RTX 40 series?
Yes. NVIDIA Smooth Motion works on all GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs when the updated NVIDIA App and a compatible Game Ready Driver are installed. NVIDIA designed the driver-based feature for compatible DirectX 11, DirectX 12, and Vulkan games that do not provide native DLSS Frame Generation support.
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The RTX 40-series rollout is significant because Smooth Motion was initially associated with newer RTX 50-series hardware. NVIDIA later extended support to the entire RTX 40 Series family, including users who already own an RTX 40-series card. The exact current NVIDIA App and driver version should be checked before installation because the official rollout guidance establishes updated software as a requirement but does not provide stable version numbers in the available documentation. See NVIDIA’s official RTX 40-series Smooth Motion announcement.
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How does NVIDIA Smooth Motion work?
NVIDIA describes Smooth Motion as “a new driver-based AI model that delivers smoother gameplay by inferring an additional frame between two rendered frames.” The game renders its normal frames, while the driver analyzes information from neighboring frames and generates an intermediate image for presentation between them.
Because Smooth Motion operates at the driver level, a game developer does not need to add native frame-generation support for the feature to be available. NVIDIA positions Smooth Motion for games without DLSS Frame Generation, and the support documentation says it can be used with native resolution, super-resolution technologies, or other scaling methods.
Driver-level frame generation does not remove the original CPU or GPU workload. The game still has to produce a sufficiently consistent sequence of rendered frames for the inserted frame to look convincing. Fast camera movement, particles, thin geometry, rapidly changing UI elements, and inconsistent frame pacing can expose artifacts or reduce the practical benefit.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchHow do you turn on Smooth Motion in the NVIDIA App?
Enable NVIDIA Smooth Motion for each supported game through the NVIDIA App’s per-program graphics settings:
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- Install the current NVIDIA App and a compatible Game Ready Driver.
- Open the NVIDIA App and select Graphics.
- Open Program settings.
- Select the game you want to configure.
- Scroll to Driver Settings.
- Switch Smooth Motion on.
NVIDIA’s setup guidance identifies compatible DirectX 11, DirectX 12, and Vulkan games. Compatibility can still vary by title, rendering API, display mode, and driver profile, so the Smooth Motion option appearing in the NVIDIA App does not guarantee identical results in every game. NVIDIA also documents a Vulkan presentation layer for Linux that injects additional frames on RTX 40-series and newer GPUs in its technical documentation.
Does Smooth Motion really double FPS?
NVIDIA says Smooth Motion can “typically” double the perceived frame rate. That wording matters: Smooth Motion may increase the number of frames presented to the display or shown by an FPS counter, but it does not double the number of unique frames independently rendered by the game engine.
For example, a game producing a stable baseline can appear substantially smoother when the driver inserts an additional inferred frame between rendered frames. The displayed cadence may look closer to twice the original rate, while the game’s underlying simulation, input processing, and rendering workload remain tied to the original frames. NVIDIA’s official Smooth Motion support guidance characterizes the result as a typical perceived-frame-rate increase, not an all-games guarantee.
A higher FPS counter also does not automatically mean lower input latency. Generated frames improve visual continuity, but they are not independently produced responses to new input. Poor baseline performance, uneven frame pacing, artifacts, or an uncomfortable delay can outweigh the smoother appearance. The most useful starting point is a reasonably stable native render rate rather than the lowest possible FPS.
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What is the difference between Smooth Motion and native DLSS Frame Generation?
NVIDIA Smooth Motion and native DLSS Frame Generation both add generated frames, but they enter the rendering process differently. Native DLSS Frame Generation is implemented by a game with the support required by NVIDIA’s DLSS technology, while Smooth Motion is applied through the driver as a fallback for compatible games that lack native DLSS Frame Generation.
| Feature | NVIDIA Smooth Motion | Native DLSS Frame Generation |
|---|---|---|
| Where it operates | Driver-level NVIDIA App setting | Inside a supported game implementation |
| Primary purpose | Add an inferred frame to compatible games without native DLSS Frame Generation | Generate frames through the game’s native DLSS integration |
| Hardware in this dossier | All GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs | Depends on the game’s and DLSS feature’s supported hardware requirements |
| Game setup | Per-game setting under NVIDIA App Driver Settings | Game-specific graphics option |
| Expected result | Potentially smoother perceived motion, with results varying by title | Game-specific image quality, latency, and frame-pacing behavior |
Native support may behave differently from a driver-level fallback because the game controls how frame generation is integrated with its rendering pipeline. Smooth Motion is valuable where native support is unavailable, but the two modes should not be treated as interchangeable or assumed to have identical image quality or responsiveness.
Is NVIDIA Smooth Motion the same as AMD Fluid Motion Frames?
NVIDIA Smooth Motion and AMD Fluid Motion Frames are comparable driver/software-level frame-generation technologies, but they are not interchangeable. Smooth Motion is tied to supported GeForce RTX hardware and NVIDIA’s software stack, while AFMF is tied to supported Radeon hardware and AMD Software: Adrenalin.
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| Comparison | NVIDIA Smooth Motion | AMD Fluid Motion Frames |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | NVIDIA | AMD |
| Hardware path | GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs, according to NVIDIA’s rollout announcement | Supported Radeon hardware |
| Software path | NVIDIA App and compatible Game Ready Driver | AMD Software: Adrenalin |
| Game/API scope | Compatible DirectX 11, DirectX 12, and Vulkan games | AMD documents AFMF support for supported DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 games |
| Claimed performance figure | NVIDIA: typically doubling perceived frame rate | AMD reported up to a 97% average performance increase in a specified 2024 test configuration |
AMD’s “up to 97% average increase in performance” figure came from AMD’s 2024 Adrenalin 24.1.1 release notes using a Radeon RX 7600 XT, selected games, 1080p resolution, and a specified FSR 2 configuration. The figure is not a measurement of RTX 40-series Smooth Motion and should not be used as a direct vendor-to-vendor benchmark. AMD’s Adrenalin 24.1.1 release notes provide that test qualification, while AMD’s AFMF documentation describes the technology’s supported Radeon software path.
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What should you check before enabling Smooth Motion?
Check five practical factors before judging whether Smooth Motion helps a particular game:
- Baseline FPS: A stable underlying render rate gives frame generation better material to work with. Smooth Motion does not turn severe stutter into consistently responsive gameplay.
- Frame pacing: An average FPS increase is less useful if frame delivery remains uneven.
- Latency: More displayed frames do not automatically reduce input latency. Competitive players should judge responsiveness separately from visual smoothness.
- Visual quality: Inspect fast motion, particles, thin objects, HUD elements, and camera pans for generated-frame artifacts.
- Native support: If a game includes native DLSS Frame Generation, compare that implementation with the driver-level fallback rather than assuming Smooth Motion is the better mode.
A high-refresh-rate monitor can make smoother displayed motion easier to see, but the supplied NVIDIA documentation does not establish a monitor as a strict requirement. Smooth Motion should therefore be treated as a software feature for supported RTX 40-series owners, not as a reason by itself to buy a new display.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you buy an RTX 40-series GPU for Smooth Motion?
Smooth Motion alone is not enough to justify buying a specific graphics card. NVIDIA officially supports the full GeForce RTX 40 Series, but the feature does not guarantee that every game will double its useful FPS, eliminate latency, or match native frame generation.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesAn existing RTX 40-series owner can try Smooth Motion after updating the NVIDIA App and Game Ready Driver, then compare the game’s baseline FPS, frame pacing, image quality, and input response with the feature enabled and disabled. A buyer considering a GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics card should evaluate the card’s overall performance, memory capacity, price, and game requirements as well as Smooth Motion eligibility.
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The most accurate verdict is that NVIDIA Smooth Motion is a useful RTX 40-series frame-generation fallback for compatible games without native DLSS Frame Generation. NVIDIA’s “double your FPS” message describes a typical perceived-frame-rate outcome in suitable conditions, not twice the engine-rendered performance in every game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does NVIDIA Smooth Motion work on RTX 40 series?
Yes. NVIDIA officially extended Smooth Motion support to all GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs, provided users install the updated NVIDIA App and a compatible Game Ready Driver.
How do I turn on Smooth Motion in the NVIDIA App?
Open NVIDIA App, go to Graphics > Program settings, select the game, scroll to Driver Settings, and switch Smooth Motion on. NVIDIA identifies compatible DirectX 11, DirectX 12, and Vulkan games.
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NVIDIA says Smooth Motion can typically double perceived frame rate by inserting an inferred frame, but it does not double the number of unique frames rendered by the game engine. Results depend on baseline FPS, frame pacing, artifacts, and latency.
Is NVIDIA Smooth Motion the same as AMD Fluid Motion Frames?
Smooth Motion and AMD Fluid Motion Frames are similar driver-level frame-generation technologies, but Smooth Motion requires supported GeForce RTX hardware and NVIDIA software, while AFMF requires supported Radeon hardware and AMD Software: Adrenalin.
The Bottom Line
NVIDIA Smooth Motion is now available across GeForce RTX 40-series GPUs through the NVIDIA App and a compatible Game Ready Driver. It can make supported games look smoother by inserting inferred frames, but “double FPS” means a typical perceived-frame-rate increase—not twice as many unique rendered frames or a guarantee of lower latency.
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