NVIDIA’s Smooth Motion isn’t just for the RTX 50 series anymore—after launching in January 2025, this “driver-level frame generation” feature has officially began rolling out to RTX 40-series GPUs via a beta driver.
🧩 What Is Smooth Motion?
Smooth Motion is NVIDIA’s implementation of frame interpolation at the driver level. It inserts an AI-generated frame between each pair of rendered frames, effectively doubling your perceived FPS even in games without DLSS support, similar to AMD’s Fluid Motion Frames. Unlike DLSS Frame Generation, it doesn’t require game developer implementation because it operates entirely through the driver.
❓Sorry, I still don’t know what that means?
Think of Smooth Motion as a magic in between frame creator.
• Your game still draws its normal frames.
• The graphics card then guesses a brand new frame to go between each pair.
• On screen motion looks twice as smooth, even if the game itself isn’t running twice as fast.
🚀 Performance Gains & User Feedback
• World of Warcraft: jumped from 82 → 164 FPS on RTX 4090 with no added latency
• Escape From Tarkov: users on RTX 4060/4080 report significantly smoother gameplay when paired with DLSS/“DLAA” settings.
• Vulkan-based emulators see doubled frame rates in Wii U and PS3 titles
⚠️ Limitations & Considerations
Factor Notes
Beta Status Preview driver; expect visual artifacts, occasional stutters or instability
Image Quality Better than nothing, but not as sharp or low-latency as DLSS 4 or DLSS 3/FPS generation on RTX 50
Latency Impact Added input lag is minimal (~10 ms typical for interpolation tech), and testers reported no noticeable lag in-game overlays
Game Compatibility Works best in CPU-limited or older titles; less effective in fast-paced eSports games
🔜 What’s Next?
NVIDIA plans to roll out Smooth Motion to RTX 40 cards in an official, stable GeForce Game Ready Driver soon—likely in the next few months. When that happens, the toggle will be available via the standard NVIDIA App Control Panel, just like on RTX 50.
In the meantime, enthusiasts can experiment with the preview driver and share feedback. Expect driver optimisations, artifact fixes, and expanded game compatibility leading up to the official launch. We recommend waiting for the stable driver to be launched.
✅ Final Thoughts
Smooth Motion brings an exciting quality-of-life upgrade for RTX 40 users:
• +100 % perceived FPS in many titles
• Broader compatibility—works in almost any DX11/12/Vulkan game
• Nearly plug-and-play, once enabled
Once enabled officially, Smooth Motion could become a staple for those seeking smoother gameplay without needing native game integration. Great news for those who already have a 40 series graphics card or are looking to buy one.
