Nvidia App: the new chameleon interface leaves its beta phase with its first stable version!

We had the opportunity to preview Nv App during February. Our feeling was very positive, with a responsive interface, up to date but which needed to be developed since many options were missing. It was during the beta phase that Nvidia incrementally added a good part of these, but not all of them. Do not see this as a form of laziness or possible technical difficulties, it is a choice perfectly accepted by the Greens. The latter consider that certain functionalities are now obsolete and their renewal would only make the interface heavier and complicate the search for more relevant options.

As a reminder, in addition to replacing the very dated driver interface, Nvidia App also replaces GeForce Experience and is presented as a separate application from the driver, therefore requiring an additional download. As such, it benefits from dissociated and automated updates, reducing the weight of the driver to download during updates of the latter. If you have no driver installed, you can start by Nv Appwhich after downloading and installation, will offer you to automatically install the latest drivers. Here we offer you a quick overview of version 11.0.1.147, representative of the first stable version which should be available at the time of reading these lines.

The interface is very similar to that of GFE, but more responsive and above all not requiring the creation of an Nvidia account, nor any identification to be functional. However, it is entirely possible to do so for those who wish, which allows, among other things, to benefit from bonuses offered by the chameleon from time to time. The home page consists of a carousel-type information area at the top. Just below, a second carousel appears which allows you to consult your library of games or software detected by the application. Finally, the lower part allows you to download or launch (if already installed) specific greens applications such as GeForce Now, Broadcastetc.

By clicking on the “drivers” choice in the left side menu, you will find the details of the installed version, the presence (or not) of updates and the configuration of the driver version Game Ready or Studio. It is also possible to reinstall the driver if necessary.

The “Graphics” choice (still in the side menu), lists the games/applications detected (Program Settings tab) and for each of them, the settings currently applied and those recommended by the chameleon for your configuration. It is possible to apply these automatically by clicking on the optimize button and even vary the level of this optimization (more quality or performance) via a slider. The values ​​of the different options (Preview column) are updated instantly at each level chosen.

We therefore find the GFE philosophy here, this will be very practical for those who do not want to bother with the settings (and get closer to a console experience), but will not necessarily satisfy our readers who are optimizing their settings very carefully. However, this should be nuanced, because the number of adjustment levels can be very large and therefore satisfy many users. In all cases, a small reference point reminds us of the recommendations for our configuration. The small arrow next to the optimize button also allows you to directly select the definition for rendering the game.

Below, some of the options present in the old driver interface will appear for a setting specific to this game (thus replacing the “profiles”). These same settings can be found under the “Global Settings” tab and any modification at this level will then apply to all games. This is where a good purification took place, since the possibility of forcing FXAA, MFAA, anisotropic filtering and ambient occlusion (for the best known) via the driver has disappeared. However, modern games often include these options or better, but this may disappoint fans of embellishing very old titles. They will nevertheless remain available via the old control panel, as long as the latter persists, its disappearance not being on the agenda according to Nvidia, even if most “general public” users will no longer use it.

The “system” choice in the side menu was absent at the launch of the beta, it appeared a few months later and was enriched at several times. There we find the “displays” section which will allow you to select the definition, the refresh rate and, if necessary, the activation of G-Sync, but also the orientation of the display. The “video” tab will allow you to activate the VSR options (Video Super Resolution) and HDR (High Dynamic Range). The third choice, “performance”, will allow you to overclock or play on the temperature, power and ventilation limits, like what was possible to find within GFE. Finally, My Equipment will display the configuration details and this is also where there is (at the very bottom) a link to access the old drivers interface.

Let’s continue with the “Use” choice in the left side menu. Here you can activate a code giving access to the game(s) offered in bundles or other types of rewards. On the other hand, it will be necessary here to connect with a valid Nvidia account, in order to activate said code.

Let’s finish with the last choice called “Settings”. As its name suggests, this is where you can make settings for the application itself. The first tab, “Characteristics”, will allow the activation of theoverlay and filters. There are also options relating to the behavior of the application with regard to updating drivers, but also options allowing you to locate the applications and games installed on your configuration. The last two Tabs, respectively “Notifications” and “About” are rather self-explanatory. The first allows you to manage the different messages that may be sent to you by the application. The second will recall the different legal components of the software, manage the distribution channel for application updates (beta or stable), but also provide access to settings for the level of confidentiality of the data transmitted. You will also find the key points of the installed version.

That’s it for the application in this stable version. It has evolved very smoothly since the beta and if some will be disappointed by the (announced) disappearance of certain settings, these will remain accessible via the old control panel, as long as the latter continues. Some reminders aboutoverlay now.

To access the menu of theoverlayyou must either use the “Alt + Z” shortcut, or click on the triangle-shaped symbol (with a circle at each vertex) at the top right of the window. Nv App. Note that right next to it there is a “bubble” (with an exclamation point) allowing you to transmit to Nvidia any possible bugs or other requests for additions/modifications to the application. Once in the overlay menu, you have several choices available to you. Note the Gallery choice which will display screenshots and videos via thumbnails, allowing them to be accessed and identified easily. By clicking on the gear icon, you access the parameters of this overlay.

We are not going to detail all the submenus, note that it is possible here to modify keyboard shortcuts, audio sources, video recording parameters and storage locations. The AV1 is now offered for video recording via ShadowPlaywhich was not the case when the beta was launched. The head-up display (ATH) or HUD (Heads Up Display) for English speakers, is now widely customizable, both in terms of its positioning as well as its shape and colors. Below you will find an anthology of possible options.

In addition to the traditional more or less visible vertically stacked ATH, a 2-column option appears or even a horizontal layout. These possibilities are interesting, but their practical application has unfortunately not been refined with space management still clumsy on our screen.

It is of course possible to configure the information (called statistics here) that you wish to appear at the ATH level, thus making it possible to follow a particular element (which it is even possible to “trace” finely via a file logging). That’s all for this brief overview of Nvidia Appwhich is coming out of its beta phase. If everything is not yet perfect, this application will advantageously replace the more than dated driver interface as well as GFE for those who have not yet taken the plunge and preferring to wait for the official version here.

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