NVIDIA Low Latency Mode question

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speancer
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NVIDIA Low Latency Mode question

Post by speancer » 28 Sep 2020, 05:33

Does enabling Low Latency Mode in NVIDIA Control Panel (either "on" or "ultra") do anything at all in terms of input lag reduction if you play a game at very high frame rate (200+ at all times) that is not GPU-bound at all (e.g. CS:GO) ? Is there any negative performance impact coming from enabling this option in high frame rate non GPU-bound scenario?
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jorimt
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Re: NVIDIA Low Latency Mode question

Post by jorimt » 28 Sep 2020, 07:34

speancer wrote:
28 Sep 2020, 05:33
If you're system isn't GPU-bound, the only thing LLM might theoretically do is affect frame pacing, depending on how the given engine handles the the pre-rendered frames queue, and if it allows LLM override to take effect (a LOT of games don't, and DX12/Vulkan games don't at all).

LLM "On" is typically safe to leave enabled on a gaming-capable system, GPU-bound or no.

Battle(non)sense found LLM "Ultra" slightly increased input lag in non-GPU-bound scenarios. I haven't tested that myself, so I can only guess why he found that to be the case, said guess being it caused repeat frames here and there due to its "just-in-time" delivery component acting up when the system wasn't GPU-bound, but that's up in the air.

Anyway, as I've said elsewhere, LLM is a highly overvalued setting. Even at its best, it doesn't do much to reduce input lag; typically around 1 to a little over 1 frame reduction in GPU-bound scenarios.
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Re: NVIDIA Low Latency Mode question

Post by MatrixQW » 28 Sep 2020, 13:13

jorimt wrote:
28 Sep 2020, 07:34
If you're system isn't GPU-bound, the only thing LLM might theoretically do is affect frame pacing
What does/do you mean by frame pacing?
Detrimental or beneficial?

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Re: NVIDIA Low Latency Mode question

Post by jorimt » 28 Sep 2020, 14:37

MatrixQW wrote:
28 Sep 2020, 13:13
jorimt wrote:
28 Sep 2020, 07:34
If you're system isn't GPU-bound, the only thing LLM might theoretically do is affect frame pacing
What does/do you mean by frame pacing?
Detrimental or beneficial?
In non-GPU-bound scenarios LLM "On" potentially neutral/beneficial, LLM "Ultra" potentially neutral/detrimental.
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Re: NVIDIA Low Latency Mode question

Post by disq » 28 Sep 2020, 22:51

btw and sorry to (kinda) hijack the thread

when a game reaches 95%+ of GPU usage for a couple of frames, like this:

Image

would this be considered "GPU bound"? and so the need to use LLM?

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Re: NVIDIA Low Latency Mode question

Post by jorimt » 29 Sep 2020, 10:07

disq wrote:
28 Sep 2020, 22:51
would this be considered "GPU bound"? and so the need to use LLM?
Unless you've closely monitored each game, determined your minimum achievable framerate, and set the FPS limiter to that, the likelihood is, in many games, unless said games are heavily CPU-dependent (e.g. CS:GO), your system is going to drop in and out of GPU-bound scenarios at any given time depending on the demands of the given scene.

This is why I typically recommend keeping LLM "On" (with or without G-SYNC), so IF your system becomes GPU-bound at any point, and IF the game in question supports LLM override, you'll potentially keep the pre-rendered frames queue lower.

I personally just keep LLM globally set to "On," since at worst, it does nothing, and at best, you could reduce input lag by about 1 frame in GPU-bound scenarios.
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Author: Blur Busters "G-SYNC 101" Series

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disq
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Re: NVIDIA Low Latency Mode question

Post by disq » 29 Sep 2020, 12:11

Forgot to mention that i already capped my frames, and i'm only talking about one game, which i locked at 120fps (with GSYNC) but as you can see above, it still goes to 95%+ GPU Usage in some frames

My confusion comes from Battle(non)sense video (https://youtu.be/Gub1bI12ODY?t=277) where in the smooth case he keeps LLM off with a cap

I guess that in my case 120fps is still too much and i need to lower it more to avoid those tiny spikes to 95% or above in few frames?!

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Re: NVIDIA Low Latency Mode question

Post by jorimt » 29 Sep 2020, 12:32

disq wrote:
29 Sep 2020, 12:11
I guess that in my case 120fps is still too much and i need to lower it more to avoid those tiny spikes to 95% or above in few frames?!
< 95% can still be in the "safe" range, but yes, if you want to ensure your system is never GPU-bound in that game, you'll need to lower your cap to more closely match your 1% lows, for instance.
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disq
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Re: NVIDIA Low Latency Mode question

Post by disq » 29 Sep 2020, 15:28

that's what i was thinking, thanks for your input @jorimt :)

and sorry @speancer for the slightly thread hijack :oops:

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Re: NVIDIA Low Latency Mode question

Post by jorimt » 29 Sep 2020, 16:01

disq wrote:
29 Sep 2020, 15:28
that's what i was thinking, thanks for your input @jorimt :)

and sorry @speancer for the slightly thread hijack :oops:
No worries @disq, and it was still within subject ;)
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Author: Blur Busters "G-SYNC 101" Series

Displays: ASUS PG27AQN, LG 48CX VR: Beyond, Quest 3, Reverb G2, Index OS: Windows 11 Pro Case: Fractal Design Torrent PSU: Seasonic PRIME TX-1000 MB: ASUS Z790 Hero CPU: Intel i9-13900k w/Noctua NH-U12A GPU: GIGABYTE RTX 4090 GAMING OC RAM: 32GB G.SKILL Trident Z5 DDR5 6400MHz CL32 SSDs: 2TB WD_BLACK SN850 (OS), 4TB WD_BLACK SN850X (Games) Keyboards: Wooting 60HE, Logitech G915 TKL Mice: Razer Viper Mini SE, Razer Viper 8kHz Sound: Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2 (speakers/amp/DAC), AFUL Performer 8 (IEMs)

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