RivaTuner Statistics Server
(Redirected from RTSS)
What is RivaTuner Statistics Server?
RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) is a lightweight, widely used free tool that provides on-screen FPS and hardware monitoring overlays in games, frame rate limiting, and performance stats, most commonly paired with MSI Afterburner.
Alternatives
- Special K - Like RTSS but more, much more. "Best known for fixing and enhancing graphics, its many detailed performance analysis and correction mods, and a constantly growing palette of tools that solve a wide variety of issues affecting PC games." [1]
- If you're new to framerate limiting then you should probably stick with RTSS until you find you need some more features that Special K provides
Tips
RTSS Framerate Limiter is better than just framerate limiting
- tl;dr Using RTSS Framerate Limiter also adds framepacing smoothing, in addition to limiting the fraemrate, which reduces frametime jitter ie. you get a flat/flatter frametime graph and the visuals look and feel much smoother
- When you framerate limit with RTSS you are not only getting a stable FPS but you are getting more stable frametimes
- This is important because with too much variability in frametimes, even at higher and stable framerates, the visual experience can be poor
- A stable framerate and stable frametimes provides the best experience
- So, even if you use another framerate limiter eg. in-game limiters, try adding RTSS framerate limiting and see if it improves your experience
- See Improved Frametimes using both CCGEP DXVK Framerate Limiter and RTSS RivaTuner Statistics Server Framerate Limiter for an anecdote about unstable-to-stable frametimes with RTSS framerate limiting
One-click automatic optimal RTSS Framerate Limiter calculation
- tl;dr "If you use RTSS and right click the framecap box, it does the math for you based on your monitors refresh rate. Hence for a 240hz display, a cap of 224fps is the proper way to go." [2]
- "Right click on the number beside Framerate limit in RTSS and you'll see the recommended VRR frame cap in 2nd option" [3]
- To clarify, RTSS sets Framerate Limiter to non-VRR refresh rate or 95% of refresh rate for Gsync/FreeSync/VRR [4]
- So the modern manual framerate limit calculation may still be useful: Refresh - (Refresh x Refresh / 4096) = FPS Cap
- Old manual calculation: Subtract 3-5 from monitor's refresh rate
- Context: Formula for optimal framerate cap limit
Backup and Restore Profiles
- Backup files in C:\Program Files (x86)\RivaTuner Statistics Server\Profiles
- Restore backup files to the same folder
- Caution: This is what people say when I search but I have yet to test this out
Related:
- Backup MSI Afterburner profiles in C:\Program Files (x86)\MSI Afterburner\Profiles
Known Issues
RivaTuner Statistics Server Is Known To Prevent Some Applications From Starting Up
- tl;dr Set Application Detection Level to None for the problem EXE
- Alternative for Framerate Limiter: Try Special K or NVIDIA Control Panel. This solved a situation where I couldn't use RTSS to limit FPS in WRC 5 but NVIDIA Control Panel worked.
- I've now seen in more than one place people saying some applications, games, etc., won't start up with RTSS operating
- Related to multiplayer/esport anticheat software(?)
- I've now seen this first hand with the Steam WRC 5 game
- You can add an EXE to RTSS and set the Application Detection Level to None and this may help
- You can do this via the main interface when you open RTSS ie. titled General Properties where it allows you to add Application Profile Properties
List of Games RTSS Causes Problems With
Prevents Startup:
- WRC 5 (Steam)
- Burnout Paradise Remastered (Steam)
I'm sure there are plenty more. Try searching online or ask an AI. These are just the ones I have personal experience with.