The verdict
A 7-step guide to enabling NVIDIA Reflex and tuning Windows plus the Control Panel to drop input lag below 15 ms in Valorant, CS2, and Apex Legends.
The problem: why your shots feel slower than the enemy’s
In competitive shooters like Valorant, Counter-Strike 2, and Apex Legends, every millisecond counts. “Input lag” — the time between a mouse click and the result appearing on screen — can make your shots feel late even when your aim is perfect. The fix is system tuning, not new hardware.
What is NVIDIA Reflex, and why use it
NVIDIA Reflex is a system latency reduction technology baked into GeForce drivers and supported in 100+ games, including Fortnite, Valorant, Apex Legends, and Counter-Strike 2 [NVIDIA Official Guide]. The newer Reflex 2, launched in early 2026, cuts latency by up to 75% using Frame Warp, which updates mouse input just before the frame is sent to the display [NVIDIA News].
7 steps to enable NVIDIA Reflex
Step 1: Confirm Reflex is supported in-game
Open the game → Settings/Options → look for “NVIDIA Reflex” or “Low Latency Mode.” If you find it, the game supports Reflex directly — always enable it in-game first, since that’s more effective than driver-level settings.
Step 2: Choose “On + Boost”
Set NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency = On + Boost. The Boost option keeps GPU clocks higher to reduce frame-time variance — ideal for competitive games already running at high FPS [Steam Community Guide CS2].
Step 3: Configure NVIDIA Control Panel
Right-click the desktop → NVIDIA Control Panel → Manage 3D Settings:
- Power management mode: “Prefer maximum performance”
- Low Latency Mode: if the game does not support Reflex directly, set this to “Ultra.” If the game does support Reflex, set this to “Off” and rely on in-game Reflex instead [Switchblade Gaming].
- Vertical sync: Off
Step 4: Disable V-Sync in both game and driver
V-Sync clearly increases latency. If you see screen tearing, use G-SYNC or FreeSync on a compatible monitor and cap your FPS 3 below the refresh rate. That kills tearing and input lag at the same time.
Step 5: Set Windows to High Performance
Go to Settings → System → Power → Power mode = “Best performance,” or Control Panel → Power Options → “High performance.” This stops the CPU from entering sleep states and having to wake up — a hidden source of input lag.
Step 6: Set an appropriate FPS cap
Use RTSS or an in-game limiter to cap FPS roughly 1.5–2x your monitor’s refresh rate. For a 240Hz display, a 400 FPS cap prevents the unpredictable latency spikes that come from being GPU-bound.
Step 7: Verify the result
Several games — including Valorant and CS2 — have a Reflex latency stats overlay. Watch “PC Latency”: under 15 ms in a competitive game means you’re tuned well. On mid-range hardware, hitting 20 ms is still solid.
If input lag is still too high
- Update GeForce drivers to the latest via the NVIDIA App or GeForce Experience — some versions add 15–20% FPS by squashing bugs.
- Disable overlays like Discord, Xbox Game Bar, and MSI Afterburner that hook into the game — they cause DPC spikes.
- Check your mouse — polling rate should be 1000Hz or higher (for 4000Hz/8000Hz mice, max it out if your CPU can handle it).
- If you’re on a 60Hz monitor, getting input lag below 30 ms is technically impossible. Consider upgrading to 144Hz or higher.
What about AMD or Intel GPUs
AMD users can use Radeon Anti-Lag or Anti-Lag 2 in Adrenalin Software — same principle, enable it in supported games first. Intel Arc users have Intel XeLL, available in Arc Control.
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