How to Fix Sudden FPS Drops and Stuttering on NVIDIA GPUs?

If a game that used to feel smooth suddenly has stutters, FPS drops, or uneven frame times, it’s almost always caused by a change outside the game. The most common triggers are a recent NVIDIA driver update, a Windows update, or a game patch that forces shader recompilation and breaks old caches.

This issue is usually about frame pacing (inconsistent frame delivery), not your GPU “getting weaker.” It can also be made worse by overlays (Discord, Steam, NVIDIA), background recording (Game Bar), browser/RGB tools, or an unstable overclock/undervolt that was previously “fine.”

Fix 1. Clean-Install or Reinstall NVIDIA Drivers

Driver updates can leave behind old profiles or partially corrupted components. The driver may “install fine” but still cause stutter because the new driver is running with messy leftovers. A clean install resets driver profiles and replaces components so you’re testing from a known-good baseline.

If the problem started right after updating: try a previous driver version (one release older). Some systems respond better to a slightly older driver than the newest one.

1. Download the latest NVIDIA driver from NVIDIA’s official site.
2. Run the installer.
3. Select Custom (Advanced).
4. Check Perform a clean installation.
5. Finish the install and restart.
6. Launch the game and check if stutter/FPS dips improved.

2. Reset Shader Cache (NVIDIA Shader Cache Size)

The shader cache stores precompiled shaders to reduce compilation stutter. After a driver update or game patch, the cache can become outdated or incompatible. When the game tries to reuse bad cache data, you can get microstutters and sudden frame-time spikes. To fix this, we are going to reset Nvidia’s shader cache data.

Important: The setting name varies by driver version (Shader Cache or Shader Cache Size). Some versions also don’t show a Disabled option. If you can’t disable it, choose Driver Default and continue.

1. Right-click desktop → open NVIDIA Control Panel.
2. Go to Manage 3D settings.
3. Find Shader Cache or Shader Cache Size.
4. If Disabled exists, select it (temporary reset). If it doesn’t, select Driver Default.
5. Click Apply.
6. Restart the PC and test the game.

Note: If disabling shader cache makes things worse in a specific game, set it back to Driver Default and retest.

3. NVIDIA Control Panel 3D Settings (Stability and Frame Pacing)

Some NVIDIA settings can cause the GPU to behave inconsistently, especially if it’s allowed to downclock aggressively or queue frames in a way that hurts frame pacing. These tweaks aim for steadier behavior during gameplay. We are going to show you optimized Nvidia 3D settings to help you fix stutters.

Best practice: Use Program Settings for the specific game first. Use Global Settings only if you want the same behavior for all games.

1. Open NVIDIA Control Panel → Manage 3D settings.
2. Open Program Settings and select your game (or click Add and choose the game exe).
3. Set Power management mode to Prefer maximum performance.
4. Set Low Latency Mode to On first. If stutter continues, test Ultra and keep whichever feels smoother.
5. Set Vertical Sync to Off for testing.
6. Click Apply.
7. Restart the game and test.

VRR note (G-Sync/FreeSync): If you use VRR and V-Sync off causes tearing or worse pacing, try V-Sync On in NVIDIA Control Panel and cap FPS slightly below refresh rate (example: 141 for 144Hz, 237 for 240Hz). This often improves frame-time consistency.

4. Reduce Windows Background Hooks (Overlays, Captures, Power)

Overlays, capture features, browsers, RGB tools, and active scans can steal CPU/GPU time or hook into rendering. Even if your average FPS looks fine, these interruptions can create stutters. The goal is to remove extra load while testing so you can confirm what’s actually causing the dips.

4.1 Close Heavy Apps, Disable Overlays, Pause Active Scans

Prioritize: Steam overlay, Discord overlay, NVIDIA overlay, browsers with many tabs, recorders, and active antivirus scans. You’re not uninstalling anything, just reducing interference for a clean test.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Close heavy apps (especially browsers), or end task for a quick test.
3. End Discord as a test, then reopen it and disable the overlay in Settings → Overlay.
4. Disable Discord overlay.
5. Open NVIDIA App (or GeForce Experience) and turn In-Game Overlay off.
6. In Steam, disable Steam Overlay in Settings → In-Game.
7. Pause any active antivirus scan (or add the game folder as an exclusion if you trust the game install).

4.2 Set Windows Power Plan to High Performance

Balanced power modes can reduce CPU boost behavior and allow more downclocking. High performance (or Best performance) helps keep clocks steadier, which often improves frame-time consistency.

1. Press Windows + R, type control, press Enter.
2. Open Power Options.
3. Select High performance (or Show additional plans if hidden).

If High performance isn’t listed: Go to Settings → System → Power & battery and set Power mode to Best performance.

4.3 Disable Game Bar and Full-Screen Optimizations

Game Bar and background capture can hook into rendering. Full-screen optimizations can also add a compatibility layer that hurts pacing on some systems. Disabling them is a clean test for stutter caused by Windows hooks.

1. Press Windows + I → go to Gaming.
2. Open Xbox Game Bar and turn it off.
3. Go to Settings → Gaming → Captures and turn off background recording options (if enabled).

Disable Full-Screen Optimizations for the game exe:

1. Locate the game exe:
   • Steam: Library → right-click game → Manage → Browse local files
   • Shortcut: right-click → Open file location
   • Epic/other: use “Open install location” if available
2. Right-click the game exe → Properties.
3. Compatibility tab → check Disable fullscreen optimizations.
4. Click Apply → OK.

If you want to disable even more overlays, check out our detailed guide on it: How to Disable In-Game Overlays to Fix Lag & FPS Drops?

5. Quick Game-Side Fixes (If Only One Game Stutters)

When only one title has stutters, it’s usually the game’s files, settings, or post-update shader rebuild behavior.

1. Verify game files (Steam/Epic/launcher).
2. Reset graphics settings to default, test, then change options one by one (so you can spot the setting causing dips).
3. After big updates, let the game sit in the menu for a few minutes or play briefly so shaders rebuild.
4. If you enabled DLSS/FSR, Frame Generation, or heavy post-processing, disable them temporarily to confirm they are not hurting frame pacing.

6. When to Suspect Heat, Power, or Overclock Instability

If stutter comes with driver crashes, freezes, black screens, or artifacts, treat it as stability first, not settings.

• Temps: If CPU/GPU temps are high, clean dust, improve airflow, or adjust fan curves.
• Overclock/undervolt: Revert GPU and RAM to stock for testing. Instability often shows as random dips or sudden hitching.
• Power: Reseat GPU power cables. If your GPU uses multiple connectors, avoid daisy-chaining if your PSU supports separate runs.