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NVIDIA Smooth Motion is driver-level AI frame generation. It analyzes rendered frames and inserts an estimated frame between them, making supported games appear smoother without requiring the game to implement native DLSS Frame Generation. Official support is for GeForce RTX 40-series and RTX 50-series GPUs, with current NVIDIA App and driver software. It works only in compatible games and renderers, so a supported graphics card is necessary but not sufficient.
What NVIDIA Smooth Motion actually does
The game still renders its normal frames. Smooth Motion estimates movement and presents an additional generated frame between two real frames:
Rendered frame A → generated frame → rendered frame B
This can increase the displayed or perceived frame rate by approximately two times in suitable conditions, according to NVIDIA’s support documentation. It does not double the game’s simulation rate, CPU work, or native rendering performance. A counter showing 100 FPS with Smooth Motion may represent roughly 50 natively rendered frames plus generated frames.
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The feature is intended mainly for games that do not offer native DLSS Frame Generation. It uses GPU resources and can introduce latency or visual artifacts, so it is not simply “free FPS.”
Smooth Motion versus native DLSS Frame Generation
| Characteristic | NVIDIA Smooth Motion | Native DLSS Frame Generation |
|---|---|---|
| Where it is enabled | NVIDIA App game profile | Usually the game’s graphics menu |
| Developer integration | Native DLSS integration is not required | Required |
| Motion information | Driver-level analysis | Can use engine motion vectors and other game data |
| Coverage | Many compatible DX11, DX12 and Vulkan games | Games that implement DLSS support |
| Image and interface handling | May be less consistent between games | Generally better integrated |
When a game has a well-implemented native DLSS Frame Generation option, it is generally the preferable choice because the engine can provide information a generic driver feature may not have. Smooth Motion’s advantage is breadth: it can add frame generation to compatible games without that native feature. It is separate from DLSS Super Resolution, which renders fewer internal pixels and reconstructs the image, and from DLSS Multi Frame Generation features described in NVIDIA’s DLSS 4.5 announcement.
Which graphics cards support Smooth Motion?
| GPU family | Official status |
|---|---|
| GeForce RTX 50 series | Supported |
| GeForce RTX 40 series | Supported with current NVIDIA App and compatible drivers |
| GeForce RTX 30 series | No official support identified |
| GeForce RTX 20 series | No official support identified |
| GeForce GTX | Not supported |
| AMD Radeon or Intel Arc | Not supported; Smooth Motion is an NVIDIA feature |
NVIDIA originally introduced Smooth Motion on RTX 50-series products and later added RTX 40-series support. The current support description is “RTX 40 Series and newer”; older articles may therefore incorrectly list RTX 40 cards as unsupported. Eligibility does not mean identical results: an RTX 4060, RTX 4090, RTX 5060 and RTX 5090 have very different native performance, VRAM, power limits and CPU pairings. See NVIDIA’s RTX 40-series support announcement.
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What games and renderers can use it?
NVIDIA identifies compatible games using DirectX 11, DirectX 12 or Vulkan. That is a prerequisite, not a guarantee. A title may behave differently in each renderer, and profiles, launchers, presentation modes, anti-cheat systems and overlays can prevent the option from appearing or working correctly.
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- Games with DX11, DX12 and Vulkan modes may require testing each mode separately.
- The NVIDIA App profile must target the executable that actually renders the game.
- Competitive titles with strict anti-cheat, emulators, compatibility layers and unusual borderless or multi-executable setups deserve extra caution.
- Unsupported or unstable frame pacing can produce poor results even when the API is eligible.
How to enable Smooth Motion in the NVIDIA App
- Install or update the NVIDIA App.
- Install the current compatible NVIDIA Game Ready or Studio driver.
- Open NVIDIA App and select Graphics.
- Open Program settings and select the game executable or profile.
- Scroll to Driver Settings and switch Smooth Motion on.
- Launch or restart the game, then compare it with the feature disabled.
The setting is applied per game profile rather than being a universal recommendation. If the game already has native DLSS Frame Generation, compare both implementations instead of assuming Smooth Motion is better.
Linux setup
NVIDIA’s Linux driver documentation describes Smooth Motion for RTX 40-series and newer GPUs. For Steam, place this in the game’s launch options:
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NVPRESENT_ENABLE_SMOOTH_MOTION=1 %command%
The result still depends on the installed driver, Proton or other compatibility layer, desktop environment and game renderer. Documentation: NVIDIA Linux driver README.
How much performance should you expect?
Smooth Motion can approximately double the displayed or perceived frame rate in suitable situations, but the native frame rate has not doubled. The most convincing results usually come from a reasonably stable base rate. At a very low or erratic native rate, generated frames have less reliable motion information and can feel delayed or uneven.
Evaluate more than the headline FPS number:
- Native FPS with Smooth Motion disabled.
- Displayed FPS with it enabled.
- Frame-time consistency in a repeatable scene or built-in benchmark.
- Motion clarity during camera turns, combat and traversal.
- Input response and image artifacts.
A stable 45–60 native FPS can be a more sensible starting point than an unstable 20–30 FPS, but there is no universal cutoff for every game or display.
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Does Smooth Motion add input lag?
It can. Generated frames add displayed images without creating game-simulation updates at the same rate, so controls generally remain closer to the underlying rendered frame rate. Smooth Motion is not a latency-reduction technology. NVIDIA Reflex is a separate technology that synchronizes CPU and GPU work to reduce system latency.
For competitive shooters, racing games, fighting games, rhythm games and other latency-sensitive titles, prioritize native FPS and responsive controls over a larger generated-FPS figure.
Possible image-quality problems
Driver-level interpolation has less game-specific information than a native implementation. Depending on the title, you may see:
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- Ghosting or doubled edges around fast objects.
- Warping of thin geometry such as wires, fences, hair and foliage.
- Incorrect particles, smoke or transparency.
- Flicker during rapid camera movement.
- Artifacts in HUDs, text, reticles or inventory panels.
- Uneven motion despite a high counter.
These are possibilities, not guaranteed defects. Inspect busy scenes rather than judging only a quiet corridor or menu.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When to enable it—and when to leave it off
Enable Smooth Motion when
- Your GPU is an RTX 40- or RTX 50-series model.
- The game lacks native DLSS Frame Generation.
- Native frame pacing is reasonably stable.
- You value smoother motion more than minimum input latency.
- The title is primarily single-player, strategic, role-playing or simulation-focused.
- Artifacts are minor on your display.
Leave it disabled when
- Native DLSS Frame Generation looks better in the same game.
- Native FPS is very low or highly unstable.
- You notice distracting ghosting, HUD errors, flicker or crashes.
- You play a latency-critical competitive title.
- Anti-cheat or the publisher’s rules make driver-level injection inappropriate.
- Native rendering already fills your monitor’s refresh rate.
The practical rule is simple: keep it enabled per game only if motion looks smoother without unacceptable artifacts or control delay. A rising FPS counter alone is not enough.
If Smooth Motion is missing or does not work
- Confirm that the GPU is RTX 40 series or RTX 50 series.
- Update NVIDIA App; installing only an old GeForce Experience version is not sufficient.
- Install a current NVIDIA driver.
- Add the game to NVIDIA App if automatic detection selected no profile or the wrong executable.
- Try the game’s DX11, DX12 and Vulkan renderers separately, where available.
- Restart the game after changing the profile.
- Temporarily disable overlays, frame-rate limiters, injectors and other graphics hooks.
- Do not assume manually adding an executable makes an unsupported title compatible, especially with anti-cheat.
If instability appears, turn Smooth Motion off for that profile, restart the game, test another renderer and remove any incorrect manually added profile. If a new driver caused wider problems, returning to the previous stable driver may be appropriate.
Smooth Motion and the alternatives
| Technology | What it does | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Native DLSS Frame Generation | Creates frames with game-engine integration | Usually the first choice when properly supported |
| DLSS Super Resolution | Upscales a lower internal render resolution | Can improve native performance; it is not frame generation |
| NVIDIA Reflex | Coordinates CPU and GPU work to reduce latency | Separate latency feature, not frame generation |
| AMD Fluid Motion Frames | Driver-level frame generation for supported AMD hardware | Not available on GeForce cards |
| Third-party tools such as Lossless Scaling | External frame-generation solutions | Separate compatibility, latency, quality and cost trade-offs |
Smooth Motion should be treated as a bonus feature, not the main reason to buy a GPU. For an upgrade, compare native performance, VRAM, ray-tracing workload, power, price and the games you actually play. A faster card that renders more native frames is usually a more robust solution than using frame generation to compensate for weak base performance. Likewise, a 120 Hz or faster adaptive-sync display can make additional frames more visible, while a 60 Hz panel may show little benefit once native output is near its refresh limit. NVIDIA’s G-SYNC information is available at nvidia.com/geforce/products/g-sync-monitors.
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