Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To reduce input lag in a PC first-person shooter, first enable the latency-reduction feature supported by your game and graphics card, then tune sync, display mode, mouse polling, and refresh rate one change at a time. The best settings depend on whether your priority is the lowest possible response time or avoiding screen tearing.
What causes input lag in an FPS?
Input lag is the delay between moving your mouse or pressing a key and seeing the result on screen. It can come from several parts of the chain: the peripheral, the game and PC rendering pipeline, and the display. A high frame rate can make motion look smoother, but FPS is throughput—not a complete measure of input-to-display latency. NVIDIA distinguishes render latency from system latency, which includes the PC and display, in its Reflex Analyzer documentation.
Establish a repeatable baseline
Before changing settings, note how the game responds in a repeatable scene. Use the same game, scene, display mode, and settings for each comparison. Change one setting at a time so you can tell whether it helped or introduced an unwanted effect such as tearing or instability.
- If your game provides latency statistics and your system supports them, record those readings before and after a change.
- NVIDIA Reflex Analyzer is an optional measurement system. Its PC-plus-display reading differs from full system latency; measuring the latter requires compatible mouse measurement hardware. Neither a compatible display nor mouse is required for the software changes below.
- Do not treat FPS as a substitute for a latency measurement. The vendor sources do not establish a universal number of milliseconds every player should expect to save.
Enable the latency feature your game and GPU support
NVIDIA Reflex
If you use an NVIDIA GPU and your game offers NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency, enable it in the game’s graphics or display settings. NVIDIA’s system-latency guide recommends Reflex when it is available in a title: NVIDIA’s guide, published October 1, 2020. Exact menu names and availability vary by game, GPU, and software version.
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NVIDIA Ultra Low Latency Mode
If Reflex is not available, NVIDIA describes Ultra Low Latency Mode in the graphics driver as an alternative. Reflex overrides that driver functionality when both are enabled, so setting the driver option is not a replacement for in-game Reflex in a supported title. Confirm current driver options for your system.
AMD Radeon Anti-Lag
On a supported AMD system, Radeon Anti-Lag is another vendor-specific option. AMD says it dynamically adjusts frame timing and works best when the game is GPU-limited. AMD’s configuration instructions were last updated February 28, 2025, and the illustrated steps use Adrenalin Edition 23.9.1; current menus may differ. See AMD’s Anti-Lag configuration guide.
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AMD Anti-Lag 2 requires integration by the game developer, so it is available only in supported titles. Check the game’s current settings and AMD’s Radeon Anti-Lag information for compatibility rather than assuming every game supports it.
Choose synchronization based on tearing tolerance
V-Sync and variable-refresh options affect the tradeoff between latency and tearing. There is no single synchronization setting that is right for every player and display.
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| Option | When to consider it | Tradeoff or condition |
|---|---|---|
| V-Sync off | You prioritize lower latency and accept possible tearing. | NVIDIA recommends disabling V-Sync for players who accept tearing. Results depend on the game and setup. |
| G-SYNC with V-Sync and Reflex | You use a compatible variable-refresh display and want to avoid tearing. | NVIDIA describes this as a way to avoid tearing with a modest latency tradeoff compared with uncapped Reflex. |
| AMD Enhanced Sync | You use a supported AMD setup and want to reduce tearing without limiting frame rates when a game exceeds display refresh. | AMD presents it as an alternative; verify compatibility and compare it in your game. See AMD’s graphics-settings guide. |
These are vendor-documented options, not a guarantee that one will feel best on every PC. Test the relevant choice in the same repeatable scene.
Compare display mode and Windows Game Mode
NVIDIA’s October 2020 guide recommends exclusive fullscreen where available and enabling Windows Game Mode. Treat these as options to compare, not universal rules: behavior can depend on the Windows version and how the game implements fullscreen and borderless modes. Borderless behavior has changed over time, so try the modes your title supports and keep the one that gives you the better response without unwanted side effects.
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Check your mouse polling rate and monitor refresh rate
Mouse polling rate
Polling rate is how frequently a mouse reports its movement and clicks to the PC. NVIDIA lists maximizing the mouse polling rate as a possible peripheral optimization. If your mouse software exposes a polling-rate setting, compare its available options in your game. This does not by itself mean you need a new mouse; consider replacing one only if your current device is malfunctioning or lacks a control you need.
Active monitor refresh rate
Confirm that your operating system and game are using the refresh rate your monitor supports. A monitor capable of a higher refresh rate can be an optional upgrade if the current display is a limiting part of your setup; it is not a substitute for checking the settings you already have. NVIDIA discusses faster displays and Reflex Analyzer-compatible equipment in its system-latency guide and Analyzer documentation. Analyzer-compatible hardware is specialized measurement equipment, not a prerequisite for reducing lag.
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Use this order when troubleshooting
- Record a baseline: Use the same game scene, mode, and settings, and note any available latency statistics or your consistent subjective impression.
- Turn on the supported game-level latency feature: Use Reflex if your NVIDIA game supports it; otherwise check the appropriate vendor feature and its game compatibility.
- Compare synchronization settings: Choose between accepting tearing for a lower-latency path and using a compatible variable-refresh configuration to reduce tearing.
- Compare display mode and Game Mode: Test supported fullscreen or borderless modes and Windows Game Mode on your current Windows version.
- Check peripheral and display settings: Review mouse polling rate and ensure the monitor is running at its supported refresh rate.
- Re-test after each individual change: Keep a setting only if the same scene feels or measures better without a tradeoff you find unacceptable.
Vendor features and supported titles can change with game, GPU, API, driver, and software versions. Confirm the options currently shown by your game and graphics software. The cited vendor material does not establish a general millisecond reduction for an arbitrary player’s PC, game, and monitor.
