What is Smooth Motion?
Smooth Motion is NVIDIA's answer to a common request: players want smoother motion in games that do not support DLSS frame generation. This section explains the idea.
Frame generation without the game's help
DLSS Frame Generation needs a game to supply motion information and to integrate Reflex. Many games, especially older ones, never will. Smooth Motion sidesteps that need. It sits in the graphics driver, watches the frames the game produces and creates extra frames between them, all without the game's involvement.
How it differs from DLSS frame generation
Built-in frame generation receives detailed data from the game, such as motion vectors and depth, so it can predict the in-between picture accurately. Smooth Motion only sees the finished images, so it has to estimate motion from them. That is harder, and it explains why quality is usually lower. The guide to DLSS 4 and the whole family shows where each feature fits.
What it does not change
The game still reads your input only at the real frame rate. Smooth Motion makes the picture look smoother, not the game faster, in the same way as other frame generation. Our article on frame generation and input lag explains the delay.
Why NVIDIA built it
Many players own high refresh rate monitors and older or less polished games that run at modest frame rates. A driver-level option gives them smoother motion with a switch in the app, and NVIDIA offers it as a convenience.
Which cards and games support it?
Support has changed over time, so check the NVIDIA App for your own setup.
Cards
Smooth Motion first appeared for RTX 50 series cards. NVIDIA and press reports later described its extension to RTX 40 series cards through driver and app updates. Support for older cards has not been confirmed in the sources available at the time of writing, so check NVIDIA's current documentation. Our guide to GTX versus RTX explains why older cards lack the hardware.
Games
NVIDIA described it as working with a wide range of games that use the DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 graphics interfaces. Some games and some launch methods may not work, and anti-cheat systems in online games can interfere. Read the app's notes for the game.
Games that already have DLSS frame generation
If a game offers its own frame generation, use that instead. It has more information and better latency handling.
How to turn it on
The steps are short, and the app shows the option only on supported setups.
In the NVIDIA App
Make sure your driver and the NVIDIA App are current. Open the app and go to Graphics, then Program settings. Select the game, and look for Smooth Motion in the driver settings for that game. Switch it on, and launch the game. The NVIDIA App guide shows the screens.
What to check in the game
Run the game in a borderless or fullscreen mode that the driver can capture. Turn off any in-game frame generation or other frame interpolation, and disable V-Sync in the game if you use variable refresh rate. Then test the picture.
Confirming that it is working
The NVIDIA overlay or performance counter can show the output frame rate, which should be roughly double the game's own. If it does not, restart the game and check the settings.
Reverting
Switch the option off for that game. Nothing changes in the game files.
What it looks like in practice
Honest expectations help.
Where it works well
Slower games with steady motion, such as exploration, strategy or cinematic titles, often look smoother, and the generated frames are hard to spot. Games played with a controller on a large screen suit it well.
Where it struggles
Fast camera pans, thin lines and busy on-screen text can show artefacts, because the driver cannot tell interface elements from the scene. Games with a lot of rapid, unpredictable motion look worse.
Input delay
Because Smooth Motion lacks Reflex integration in the game, latency can be higher than with built-in frame generation. Competitive players should avoid it.
A fair summary
Smooth Motion is a useful tool for the right games. It is not a replacement for built-in frame generation, and it is not a fix for a low base frame rate.
Smooth Motion compared with DLSS frame generation
| Question | DLSS frame generation | Smooth Motion |
|---|---|---|
| Where it works | In the game, by developer support | In the driver, for many games |
| Information used | Motion vectors, depth, game data | Finished images only |
| Reflex integration | Yes, required | Not integrated in the game |
| Typical quality | Higher | Lower |
| Typical latency | Lower | Higher |
| Best use | Games that support it | Games without frame generation |
How to use the table
If a game offers its own frame generation, choose that. If it does not, Smooth Motion is an optional extra for games where smoothness matters more than precision.
When Smooth Motion makes sense
A few situations show where the feature earns its place.
Older games with locked or low frame rates
Some older games run at 30 or 60 frames per second and cannot go higher. Smooth Motion can double the displayed rate on a high refresh rate monitor, giving a smoother picture without any change to the game.
Why locks matter
Many older titles tie their logic to a fixed frame rate. Changing it can break physics or animation. Driver-level frame generation avoids touching the game, so it is a safer way to gain smoothness.
Games with no DLSS support at all
Plenty of excellent games never added DLSS. If they run at a comfortable frame rate and look choppy on your screen, Smooth Motion can help.
Emulated and retro titles
Some players use it with emulated or remastered games. Results depend on the game and the way it draws, so test.
When it does not make sense
Do not use it when the game already offers DLSS frame generation, when you play competitively or when the base frame rate is low.
Setting up for the best result
A few preparations help.
Check the base frame rate
Run the game without Smooth Motion first, and make sure it holds a comfortable frame rate. If it does not, adjust settings or use upscaling if the game supports it. The guide to DLSS quality modes explains the options for games that do.
Match your monitor
A monitor with a high refresh rate shows the extra frames. Variable refresh rate helps even more. Our explanation of VRR, G-Sync and FreeSync covers the setup.
Choose a suitable display mode
Fullscreen or borderless windowed mode generally works best. Some exclusive modes can prevent the driver from capturing frames.
Disable competing overlays
Other overlays and capture tools can interfere. Turn them off while testing.
Visual artefacts to watch for
Because the driver does not know what is interface and what is scene, certain problems can appear.
Interface elements
Text, health bars and minimaps can ripple or ghost, because the driver treats them as part of the moving image. Games with a lot of on-screen information show this most.
Thin lines and repeated patterns
Fences, wires and grids can shimmer, particularly in fast motion.
Scene cuts and fast transitions
Cuts between scenes can show one odd frame, as the driver tries to blend between unrelated pictures.
How to judge
Play a part of the game with plenty of text and fast camera movement. If the artefacts bother you, switch the option off for that game.
A comparison of smoothness tools
Players have several ways to improve smoothness, and a table clarifies them.
| Tool | Needs game support | Raises real frame rate | Raises displayed frame rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| DLSS Super Resolution | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DLSS frame generation | Yes | No | Yes |
| Smooth Motion | No | No | Yes |
| Lowering settings | No | Yes | Yes |
How to use the table
If you need responsiveness as well as smoothness, only the first and last rows help. If you only need smoother motion, any of the rows will do. Use the lightest tool that meets your goal.
Four example players
These illustrations show how people use the feature.
The retro explorer
This player has an older open-world game locked to 60 frames per second. Smooth Motion lifts it to a displayed 120 on their monitor, and the picture looks silky. They use a controller and notice no delay.
The competitive player
This player tries Smooth Motion in a shooter and feels the aim drag. They turn it off at once and keep using upscaling instead.
The strategy fan
This player enables it in a slow strategy game with plenty of on-screen text. They see some ripple on the interface and decide it is not worth it.
The couch gamer
This player uses it in a third-person adventure on a large television. They enjoy the smoother camera and never look back.
What the four show
The same feature suits some games and not others, and personal testing beats general advice.
How Smooth Motion creates its frames
A little background helps you understand its strengths and limits.
Estimating motion from pictures alone
Built-in frame generation is given motion vectors by the game. Smooth Motion has nothing but the finished images, so it uses a technique called optical flow, which compares two images and estimates how each part moved. From that estimate, it builds a picture that sits between them.
Why optical flow can go wrong
Estimating motion from pictures is ambiguous. A rotating wheel, a flickering light or a repeated pattern can fool the estimate, and the generated frame shows a small mistake. Fast motion makes it harder, because parts move far between frames.
Why AI helps
NVIDIA uses an AI model to improve the estimate and to fill gaps, which is why the result is far better than simple blending. The model still lacks the game's own data, so it remains less accurate than integrated methods.
What it does with the interface
Because it cannot tell the interface from the scene, it treats both as one image. A static health bar is easy, but a bar that animates while the camera moves can ripple. This is a main reason why some games look worse with it than others.
Performance, heat and power
Generating frames uses the graphics card, and you may notice side effects.
The cost of generating
Smooth Motion needs a share of the card's time. The real frame rate can dip slightly when you turn it on, so the displayed rate is a little below double. Cards with spare performance handle it comfortably.
Heat and noise
Because the card draws fewer real frames than it displays, power use may stay moderate. Still, check temperatures, particularly on laptops. The guide to thermal and power limits explains how to read them.
Video memory
Extra buffers use a little memory. On cards with 8 GB, combine it with high textures and ray tracing carefully. See how much VRAM you need.
Questions to ask before you use it
- Does the game offer DLSS frame generation, which would be a better choice?
- Is my base frame rate comfortable?
- Do I play with a controller or in a slow game?
- Does my monitor have a high refresh rate?
- Can I accept slight artefacts on interface elements?
Reading your answers
If you answered yes to the second to fifth, the feature is likely to suit you. If you answered yes to the first, use the built-in option instead.
A reminder about competitive play
Online games with anti-cheat may block driver-level features, and competitive players seldom want added delay. If you play competitively, check the game's rules first.
How Smooth Motion fits with other NVIDIA tools
NVIDIA offers a family of features, and they can complement one another.
With DLSS Super Resolution
In games with DLSS upscaling but no frame generation, you can use Super Resolution to raise the base frame rate, and Smooth Motion to fill the monitor. The two do not conflict, though image quality depends on both.
With Reflex
Smooth Motion cannot add Reflex to a game that lacks it, but the driver-level low latency options in the NVIDIA App can still reduce queueing. See the guide to NVIDIA Reflex for how Reflex works.
With RTX HDR and other filters
You can combine it with other driver-level features. Test the combination, because stacking several filters can multiply artefacts.
Keep it simple
One or two features at a time are easier to judge than a long list. Add features gradually.
Settings by game type
Different games call for different choices, and a short tour helps.
Exploration and open-world games
These games have moderate motion and a lot of scenery, so Smooth Motion can make the camera glide. Check foliage and distant fences for shimmer, and keep the base frame rate comfortable.
Racing games
Fast scenery and repeated trackside patterns can confuse motion estimation. Test carefully, and prefer built-in frame generation if the game offers it.
Platformers and fast action games
Precise timing matters, and small delays hurt. Many players leave it off.
Strategy, simulation and management games
These games often have dense interface text and little fast motion. The interface ripple can outweigh the benefit, so test before committing.
Visual novels and slow games
Delay and artefacts rarely matter, but neither does extra smoothness. The feature adds little.
How much smoother will it look?
The effect depends on your monitor and your base frame rate.
The arithmetic
Smooth Motion roughly doubles the displayed frame rate. A game at 60 real frames shows about 120, minus overhead. On a 120 Hz or faster monitor, that fills the screen. On a 60 Hz monitor, it has no visible benefit, because the screen cannot show more than 60 pictures a second.
Why the monitor matters
Without a high refresh rate display, extra frames are discarded or cause tearing. Check your monitor's refresh rate in Windows before you spend time on the feature.
Judging smoothness
Look at slow camera pans across detailed scenery. The generated frames make the movement flow, and judder disappears. If you do not see the improvement, check that the feature is on and that the display mode is correct.
Comparing it with alternatives
Several options aim to make games look smoother, and each has strengths.
Raising the real frame rate
Lowering settings or using upscaling raises the real frame rate, improving both smoothness and responsiveness. This is the best option whenever it is available. The guide to DLSS quality modes explains how upscaling helps.
Using the game's own frame generation
Built-in frame generation gives better quality than driver-level methods. If a game has it, use it. The article on Multi Frame Generation shows what it offers.
Accepting the native frame rate
In some games, the native frame rate is perfectly good. There is no need to add features just because they exist.
The best tool for each job
Use upscaling for speed, built-in frame generation for smoothness and driver-level frame generation for games with no other option.
What to expect in the future
NVIDIA has extended Smooth Motion since launch, and it may continue to improve and expand. Software features of this kind tend to gain quality as models improve and as the company gathers feedback. That does not mean you should buy hardware for the sake of it. Choose a card for its current performance, memory and price, and treat extra software features as bonuses. The RTX 50 series beginner guide helps you weigh those points.
How to stay informed
Watch the release notes of the NVIDIA App and drivers. When a new version adds supported games or improves quality, retest the games that disappointed you before.
A first test, step by step
Follow this routine the first time you try the feature.
Step one: pick a suitable game
Choose a game without built-in frame generation, with moderate motion and a steady frame rate. A slow adventure or exploration game works well.
Step two: note the baseline
Play for two minutes with Smooth Motion off, and write down the frame rate and your impression of the motion. Pay attention to camera pans.
Step three: enable it
Switch Smooth Motion on in the NVIDIA App, restart the game and play the same route. Watch the displayed frame rate, which should be roughly double the real figure.
Step four: look for problems
Check the interface, thin lines and fast turns. If text ripples or the picture shimmers distractingly, note it.
Step five: decide
If the smoother motion delights you and the artefacts are minor, keep it. If the artefacts or delay bother you, switch it off for that game, and consider other options.
Step six: repeat for other games
Do not assume one result applies everywhere. Each game behaves differently, so build a short list of games where the feature works well for you.
Summary
Smooth Motion is NVIDIA's driver-level frame generation, and it offers a convenient way to add smoothness to games that lack DLSS frame generation. It began on RTX 50 series cards and has been extended to RTX 40 series cards, according to NVIDIA and press reports, and the NVIDIA App is the place to check your own support. It works without the game's help, so it has less information than built-in frame generation, and quality and latency are usually worse. Use it in slower games, with a comfortable base frame rate and a high refresh rate monitor, and avoid it in competitive play. Prefer a game's own frame generation when it exists, and raise the real frame rate with settings or upscaling whenever you can. Test, keep notes and enjoy the games where it helps.
Myths about Smooth Motion
Myth: it works like DLSS frame generation
It produces a similar result by a different, less informed method. The two are not equal.
Myth: it doubles your performance
It doubles the displayed frame rate, not the game's real performance. Controls stay at the real rate.
Myth: it is only for the newest cards
It started on the newest cards, and NVIDIA extended it. Check the app for your card.
Myth: it never causes problems
It can cause artefacts and delay. Use it where it helps and switch it off where it does not.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Option missing in the app | Unsupported card, driver or game | Update the driver and app, check the card |
| No change in frame rate | Wrong display mode or conflict | Use borderless or fullscreen, remove overlays |
| Heavy artefacts on text | Interface not separated | Switch it off for that game |
| Worse delay than expected | No Reflex integration | Use it only in slower games |
| Stutter after enabling | Memory or base frame rate | Lower settings, close other programs |
Keep notes
Record which games you enable it for, because behaviour differs. A short list in a text file serves well.
What we know and what to check yourself
Smooth Motion has changed since launch, and press coverage has not always agreed on details such as which cards received official support and when. This guide reports what NVIDIA and reputable outlets have said at the time of writing, and it flags uncertainty where it exists. Because the NVIDIA App is the source of truth for your computer, treat the options it shows as final. If this guide and your app disagree, trust the app, and check NVIDIA's release notes for changes.
Why this honesty matters
Software features evolve quickly. A confident statement that becomes wrong helps nobody, and a clear note about uncertainty lets you verify what matters to you.
Privacy, safety and fair play
Because Smooth Motion works inside the driver, a few practical points are worth stating.
It does not change game files
The feature does not edit the game, so you can enable and disable it freely. That makes it safe for single-player games.
Online games and anti-cheat
Some online games check for tools that hook into rendering. Driver features from NVIDIA are designed to be compatible, but a game's policy decides. If you play an online game seriously, read its rules or support pages before you use any frame generation add-on.
Updates can change behaviour
Driver updates may change which games work well. After large updates, retest your favourite games, and keep notes of your settings so that you can restore them.
Official sources only
Use NVIDIA's own drivers and app. Unofficial tools that claim to add frame generation to every game may be unreliable or unsafe, and they are outside the scope of this guide.
Keep expectations grounded
Driver-level frame generation is a clever convenience, and it is not magic. It will never match a game that was built with frame generation in mind, and it cannot repair a game that runs poorly. If you treat it as an optional extra for the right games, you will enjoy it. If you expect it to transform every title, you will be disappointed. A balanced attitude, plus a few minutes of testing, is all you need.
Share your findings kindly
If you post about Smooth Motion online, describe your card, monitor and the game, and say whether you used a mouse or controller. Reports that include those details help other players decide, while a bare "it works" or "it is awful" does not.
Short glossary for this article
- Smooth Motion: NVIDIA's driver-level frame generation.
- Driver-level: working inside the graphics driver, not inside a game.
- Motion vectors: data that tells frame generation how objects moved.
- Base frame rate: the real frames a game produces each second.
- Artefact: a visual glitch caused by a wrong prediction.
- Borderless windowed: a display mode that looks like fullscreen but behaves like a window.
Frequently asked questions about Smooth Motion
What is NVIDIA Smooth Motion?
Smooth Motion is a driver-level feature that adds generated frames to games that do not support DLSS frame generation. You switch it on per game in the NVIDIA App. It makes motion look smoother, but it does not make the game respond faster, and its quality is usually below built-in frame generation.
Which cards support Smooth Motion?
It launched for RTX 50 series cards and was later extended to RTX 40 series cards through driver and app updates, according to NVIDIA and press coverage. Support for older cards has not been confirmed in the sources available, so check the NVIDIA App or NVIDIA's documentation for your card.
Is Smooth Motion as good as DLSS frame generation?
Usually not. DLSS frame generation receives motion and depth data from the game and integrates Reflex, so it produces better quality and lower latency. Smooth Motion only sees finished frames and estimates motion, so artefacts and delay are more likely. Use it when a game offers nothing better.
Does Smooth Motion add input lag?
Yes, and often more than built-in frame generation, because it lacks the game's Reflex integration. For slow or controller-driven games, many players do not notice. For fast competitive games with a mouse, most players leave it off and use upscaling instead.
How do I enable Smooth Motion?
Update your driver and the NVIDIA App, open Graphics and Program settings, select the game and switch Smooth Motion on in the driver settings. Run the game in a mode the driver can capture, and turn off any other frame generation. If the option is missing, your card or the game may not support it.
Should I use Smooth Motion with a low frame rate?
No. A low base frame rate gives poor results, because the generated frames are guesses between frames that are far apart in time. Raise the real frame rate first with lower settings or upscaling. Smooth Motion works best when the game already runs at a comfortable rate.