RivaTuner Statistics Server

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.

Tips

RTSS Framerate Limiter is better than just framerate limiting

• tl;dr Using RTSS Framerate Limiter not only limits the framerate but adds framepacing smoothing which reduces frametime jitter ie. you get a flat/flatter frametime graph
• When you framerate limit with RTSS you are not only getting a stable FPS but you are getting more stable frametime
• This is important because with too much variability in frametimes, even at higher and stable framerates, the visual experience can be poor
• So a stable framerate and stable frametimes provides the best experience
• So, even if you use another framerate limiter, 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." [1]
  • Right click on the number beside Framerate limit in RTSS and you'll see the recommended VRR frame cap in 2nd option [2]
  • Correction: RTSS sets Framerate Limiter to non-VRR refresh rate or VRR 95% of refresh rate [3]
    • So the modern manual framerate limit calculation may still be useful: Refresh - (Refresh x Refresh / 4096) = FPS Cap
• Context: Formula for optimal framerate cap limit

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: Use the 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)

Tips and Tricks

Automatic Framerate Limiter Calculation With Right-click

• Right-click the Framerate Limiter box to set to the non-VRR refresh rate or, for Gsync/FreeSync/VRR displays, set to 95% of refresh rate.
  • Old manual calculation: Subtract 3-5 from monitor's refresh rate
  • Modern calculation: Refresh - (Refresh x Refresh / 4096) = FPS Cap [4]

Backup and Restore Profiles

• Backup files in C:\Program Files (x86)\RivaTuner Statistics Server\Profiles
  • How to Backup / Export MSI Afterburner & RivaTuner Statistics Settings in Windows [Video]
• 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