Question:

Why does the off setting for max frame rate in Nvidia Control Panel limit my fps to 64?

I have a high-end gaming PC with an AMD R7 5800X CPU, an RTX 4060 GPU, and 32GB of RAM at 3200Mhz. I also have a MSI Optix G24C4 E2 monitor that supports 180Hz refresh rate and FreeSync technology. I use an HDMI cable to connect my PC and monitor, and I have enabled adaptive sync in the Nvidia Control Panel.

However, when I set the max frame rate option to off, I notice that my fps is capped at 63-64 in most games. This does not happen when I set the max frame rate to a high value like 1000. I wonder what causes this issue and how to fix it. Any expert advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

Answer:

If you are a PC gamer, you probably want to enjoy the smoothest and most immersive gaming experience possible. One of the factors that affects this is the frame rate, or how many times the image on your screen is updated per second. The higher the frame rate, the smoother the motion and the less noticeable the lag or stuttering.

However, some PC gamers have reported a strange issue with their Nvidia graphics cards. When they set the max frame rate option in the Nvidia Control Panel to off, they expect their frame rate to be unlimited and match their monitor’s refresh rate. But instead, they find that their frame rate is locked at 63-64 fps in most games, regardless of the game settings or the monitor’s capabilities.

This can be frustrating and confusing, especially if you have a high-end gaming PC with a powerful CPU, GPU, and RAM, and a monitor that supports a high refresh rate and adaptive sync technology. So what is causing this issue and how can you fix it?

The answer lies in the way the Nvidia Control Panel handles the max frame rate option. According to Nvidia, this option is designed to “reduce power consumption and lower heat generation” by limiting the frame rate to a specific value or to the monitor’s refresh rate. However, when you set this option to off, it does not mean that the frame rate is unlimited. It actually means that the frame rate is limited to the highest refresh rate supported by your monitor’s connection type.

For example, if you use an HDMI cable to connect your PC and monitor, the max frame rate will be limited to the highest refresh rate that the HDMI standard can support. Depending on the HDMI version and the resolution, this can range from 30Hz to 120Hz. However, most HDMI cables and monitors use the HDMI 1.4 standard, which can only support up to 60Hz at 1080p resolution. This means that your frame rate will be capped at 60 fps, or slightly higher due to rounding errors, when you set the max frame rate option to off.

This explains why some PC gamers see their frame rate locked at 63-64 fps when they use an HDMI cable and set the max frame rate option to off. It also explains why the issue does not occur when they set the max frame rate to a high value like 1000. In that case, the frame rate is not limited by the connection type, but by the game settings, the GPU performance, and the monitor’s refresh rate.

So how can you fix this issue and enjoy a higher frame rate in your games? There are a few possible solutions:

• Use a different connection type. If your monitor supports a higher refresh rate than your HDMI cable, you can try using a different connection type that can support it, such as DisplayPort or DVI. These connection types can support up to 240Hz at 1080p resolution, depending on the version and the monitor. However, you need to make sure that your monitor, your GPU, and your cable are compatible with the connection type and the refresh rate that you want to use.
• Change the max frame rate option. If you don’t want to change your connection type, you can also try changing the max frame rate option in the Nvidia Control Panel to a value that is higher than your monitor’s refresh rate. For example, if your monitor supports 180Hz, you can set the max frame rate to 200 or higher. This way, you can avoid the frame rate cap imposed by the connection type and let your GPU render as many frames as possible. However, this may also increase the power consumption and the heat generation of your GPU, so you need to monitor your GPU temperature and fan speed.
• Enable adaptive sync. Another option is to enable adaptive sync in the Nvidia Control Panel and in your monitor’s settings. Adaptive sync is a technology that synchronizes the frame rate of your GPU and your monitor, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering. If your monitor supports FreeSync, which is AMD’s adaptive sync technology, you can also use it with your Nvidia GPU, as long as you have a compatible monitor and a GPU from the GTX 10 series or newer. However, you need to use a DisplayPort cable to enable FreeSync with your Nvidia GPU, as HDMI does not support it.

These are some of the possible ways to fix the issue of the max frame rate option limiting your fps to 64. However, you may also encounter other factors that affect your frame rate, such as the game settings, the CPU performance, the background processes, the drivers, and the software. Therefore, you may need to tweak and optimize these factors as well to achieve the best gaming performance possible.

We hope this article has helped you understand and solve the issue of the max frame rate option limiting your fps to 64. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Happy gaming!

: [https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/geforce-441-87-game-ready-driver/](https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/geforce-441-87-game-ready-driver/) : [https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/game-ready-drivers/13/338559/44187-faq/](https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/game-ready-drivers/13/338559/44187-faq/) : [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Refresh_frequency_limits_for_standard_video](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Refresh_frequency_limits_for_standard_video) : [https://www.displayninja.com/which-cable-do-i-need-for-144hz/](https://www.displayninja.com/which-cable-do-i-need-for-144hz/) : [https://www.displayninja.com/which-cable-do-i-need-for-240hz/](https://www.displayninja.com/which-cable-do-i-need-for-240hz/) : [https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/g-sync-ces-2019-announcements/](https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/g-sync-ces-2019-announcements/) :

[https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/game-ready-drivers/13/338559/44187-faq/](https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/game-ready-drivers/13/338559/44187-faq/)