PC Surprising Fps Improvement And Quality Using Nvidia Smooth Motion [40 And 50 Series Only].

Discussion in 'TSW General Discussion' started by Zdx, Feb 18, 2026.

  1. Zdx

    Zdx New Member

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    I have tinkered with Lossless Scaling for frame generation in the past, but the results are not ideal. Huge latency and artifacting which might make the experience even worse than native.

    If you also have this problem, or want to try frame generation for free (as long as you have a 40 or 50 series Nvidia GPU) I definitely recommend you try smooth motion. It is basically your good old Nvidia Frame Generation technology but for games that dont support it natively. It can be activated through the Nvidia app once you add the TSW6.exe to the app (Important: the one in TS2Protoype/Binaries/Win64).

    I have never seen this talked about here, it was always about Lossless Scaling. I am seeing some great results, barely any artifacting and no latency.
     

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  2. class71

    class71 Member

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    Giving it a try with my 5090 I've copied your settings looks very good
     
  3. Scorpion71

    Scorpion71 Well-Known Member

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    Be about another year before I buy a new PC with a 5090TI or even a series 6? (getting ready for GTA6) but thanks for the heads up on this, I have a 3080TI at the minute so that currently counts me out.
     
  4. countcussy

    countcussy Well-Known Member

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    View attachment 210184
    Be very interested how you got this working properly.
    I have a 4070 super, have added TSW6 to the program list, and enabled smooth motion.
    Set the FPS to 47 but It refuses to activate. The SM in the overlay should be green or say active. It does neither and frame rate remains the same.
    See attached.
    Any ideas?

    TSW6SM.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2026 at 1:20 PM
  5. fanta1682002

    fanta1682002 Well-Known Member

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  6. countcussy

    countcussy Well-Known Member

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    User error. I have now put an image at the bottom of the post.
    TSW6SM.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2026 at 1:37 PM
  7. Zdx

    Zdx New Member

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    Did you use the .exe in TS2Protoype/Binaries/Win64? If you used the one in WindowsNoEditor i'm not sure that one works. Also make sure you are using DX12 and check that you are using windowed fullscreen or fullscreen. If none of this works maybe try forcing it through Profile Inspector.
     
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  8. countcussy

    countcussy Well-Known Member

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    That was it. Proper schoolboy error. Thank you so much. :)
     
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  9. Sharon E

    Sharon E Well-Known Member

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    I am running a 4090 and was told by the app that a 50 series was needed to run smooth motion.
     
  10. WaveyDavey

    WaveyDavey Well-Known Member

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    Ok I've enabled it within the Nvidia app as per the image.

    I open TSW6 via a link in my start menu that opens TSW via Steam.

    Questions.....

    Does the Nvidia app need to be running when you run TSW6 or is it only used to actually enable Smooth Motion?

    How do you know if it is actually running once you are in TSW6? (I've brought up the Nvidia HUD and the FPS figure shown there always matches the FPS shown in game using CTRL+F3)

    Screenshot 2026-02-22 142218.png
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2026 at 4:08 PM
  11. countcussy

    countcussy Well-Known Member

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    The Nvidia app is always running, even if you cant see it.
    Press alt + z to bring up the overlay. Enable monitoring in the settings. (Top bar in my pic above) Configure what you want the monitoring overlay to show. It will then tell you if smooth motion is active.
     
  12. WaveyDavey

    WaveyDavey Well-Known Member

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    I've got the Nvidia overlay open and there is no mention of SM and the FPS always just matches the FPS shown within TSW using ctrl+f3.

    Just to add to my previous post.......For reasons unknown if I try and open the TSW.exe file in the Binaries\Win64 folder it just tries to re-install TSW5 from Steam and doesn't run TSW6...... Hence me using the TSW6 shortcut that was installed on my desktop when I upgraded to TSW6 and that points to a Steam URL.

    How the hell do I get the Nvidia App linked with the TSW6 i'm having to use?
     
  13. WaveyDavey

    WaveyDavey Well-Known Member

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    Here is the TSW6.exe in the Win64 folder..... If I double click it I get a TSW6 splash screen for a split second and then the TSW5 install screen in Steam.

    Screenshot 2026-02-22 162029.png
    Screenshot 2026-02-22 162047.png
     
  14. Zdx

    Zdx New Member

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    Go to Steam, TSW6 and properties. I am pretty sure the .exe you should add to the Nvidia app is the one in "Target". I have never had the TSW5 thing you mention happen unfortunately.
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2026 at 4:32 PM
  15. WaveyDavey

    WaveyDavey Well-Known Member

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    Another update...... I removed the existing TSW6 entry in the Nvidia App and added a new one pointing to the same TSW6 shortcut I use and which points to a Steam URL..... The app named this with URL on the end as can be seen.


    I then ran the game and the SM option within the Nvidia HUD shows as N/A as can be seen.

    Screenshot 2026-02-22 163001.png
    Screenshot 2026-02-22 162910.png
     
  16. WaveyDavey

    WaveyDavey Well-Known Member

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    Steam doesn't give a target file under properties or anywhere that I can see.

    This is what I get when selecting Properties for TSW6.....


    Screenshot 2026-02-22 163639.png
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2026 at 4:37 PM
  17. Zdx

    Zdx New Member

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    You are probably either using the shortcut instead of the actual .exe, not using DX12, or both.
     
  18. WaveyDavey

    WaveyDavey Well-Known Member

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    The only .exe I have in the Win64 folder does as I showed above...... As per my previous post Steam doesn't give a target and as per the same post you can clearly see i'm using DX12.
     
  19. Zdx

    Zdx New Member

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    Yes my bad I don't have TSW6 on Steam, I got confused with something else.
     
  20. WaveyDavey

    WaveyDavey Well-Known Member

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    I thought I would try the TSW.exe file in the general Train Sim World 6 folder rather than the one in the Win64 folder but that too just opens up steam and a window to install TSW5!!!!

    What the hell is going on here? Up to TSW5 i ran the game from the .exe files on the laptop but now my TSW6 install will only run when using the link to open the game from the Steam weblink and not the files installed on the laptop?!?!?!?
     
  21. Zdx

    Zdx New Member

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    I mean the game must be installed somewhere, where does that .url take you? In Steam go to TSW6, manage and browse local files. That's where the game is, and if that is not working then I just have no idea what to tell you, it might just be something wrong with Steam.
     
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  22. WaveyDavey

    WaveyDavey Well-Known Member

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    When using the only method of running TSW6 I have to use this shortcut which takes you to this URL.....
    Screenshot 2026-02-22 171909.png


    Installed files within Steam gives you this and then takes you to here..... Which is where the .exe files are located which when I try and run them just tries to re-install TSW5 as i said earlier.
    Screenshot 2026-02-22 172001.png

    Screenshot 2026-02-22 172018.png


    Look what I have found though when searching for TSW6 tries to reinstall TSW5.......

    https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/steam-keeps-asking-me-to-install-tsw5-again.94177/


    So not just myself having the situation where the TSW6 install just wants to try and re-install TSW5 back again.





    So with all this in mind I'm assuming using SM is out as I cannot use the .exe files and can ONLY use a Steam weblink that the Nvidia app doesn't want to play ball with. :mad::mad::mad:

    Looks like i have to stick with the LS app instead.
     
  23. aroused by trains

    aroused by trains Well-Known Member

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    I got this. Needed to update the drivers. Have now enabled and will see what all the fuss is about...
     
  24. OpenMinded

    OpenMinded Well-Known Member

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    Absolutely amazed by the improvements this brings! Thank you very much for sharing this with the rest of us!
     
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  25. Shaun123

    Shaun123 Well-Known Member

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    I tried this too, RTX 5080. As long as you enable it in the Nvidia app like the OP said, TS2Protoype/Binaries/Win64 - it does work a treat! Need to play around with some other settings but a lot better than Lossless Scaling!
     
  26. WaveyDavey

    WaveyDavey Well-Known Member

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    Ok I've carried out a full TSW6 uninstall then re-install but still had the same issues with the .exe files. I then searched some more and found another post on here where someone had rectified the issue by adding a text file called "steam_appid.txt" and adding the text "3656800" within it to the Win64 folder. This then means the .exe file opens TSW6 and doesn't try to re-instal TSW5.

    I've then added the .exe to the Nvidia App and enabled SM and now it shows as running in the HUD and the FPS is doubled as it should be.


    I've just got to get all my mods back installed now!!!!
     
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  27. Ghostface1701

    Ghostface1701 Well-Known Member

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    Many thanks for this - I had a little trouble resulting from me pointing to the wrong .exe, but I got it working. I agree that it seems to work much better than Lossless Scaling, although nothing's perfect and there's a trade-off with some other minor artifacting - I noticed some shimmering with horizontally scrolling text in the menus, as well as on some in-game assets, but on the whole I can live with it. :cool:
     
  28. Zdx

    Zdx New Member

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    I agree it is very much useable. Honestly at this point the artifacting caused by TAA is much more annoying and noticeable than frame gen.
     
  29. jesper2805

    jesper2805 Well-Known Member

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    I’d like to get something off my chest about the title… it already says everything: “FPS improvement”! All that really means is that fake FPS are being added, without actually improving the game’s stability. Tools like these may look appealing, but the side effects are often more annoying than the supposed benefits.
    Let’s be clear: there will always be people claiming they see improvements, but don’t let yourself be fooled most of the time it’s a big placebo effect, and you end up disappointed. These kinds of AI‑driven techniques are, like many AI tools, a bit of a bubble. All this AI chatter is massively overhyped, and Smooth Motion or Fluid Motion Frames fall into the same category.


    Additionally, there’s the fact that frame generation as it’s actually called isn’t being added to the game by DTG because it delivers very little, and I think that’s the right decision. Unreal Engine simply has major limitations, and you’re not going to fix those by bolting on features like this.
    The only thing that truly helps is having a more powerful graphics card that can natively reach 60 FPS, and that only happens if you’re willing to invest in it. And no, this isn’t a sales pitch it’s just the reality that TSW is graphically demanding. On top of that, the CPU is also extremely important, because a well‑balanced PC simply performs better.
    Unfortunately, I still see people on the forum with a CPU that lags far behind their GPU.

    For example, a:
    5800X3D
    &
    RTX5070TI

    This may look up to date, but it really isn’t. Your CPU is simply too weak to properly drive the graphics card, and on routes like Frankfurt S‑Bahn you can clearly see the effect: the GPU drops to almost no usage while the game goes wild with stutters.
    But anyway, I’ve given this explanation so many times, and it remains difficult for people to accept. There’s just so much being sold on the market without proper support, or pre‑built PCs advertised as “high‑end” that are actually junk and then you end up paying 2000 euros for it and get ripped off.
     
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  30. Zdx

    Zdx New Member

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    Well... I agree that frame generation isn't really a substitute to GPU raw power, but if there is a type of game where frame generation can work really well is one where you are looking out a window, without fast camera movements and where you don't need that much responsiveness for gameplay to feel "good". Games like TSW or MSFS are perfect for this type of thing, which is ironic because they are never used in promotional material by Nvidia, instead using games that you would never want to use Frame Gen with like first person shooters. Of course I would rather not use this and have real frames, but Moore's law is dead, and so is the hardware market until the bubble pops.
     
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  31. Ghostface1701

    Ghostface1701 Well-Known Member

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    I'm under no illusion that the frames being generated in this way are 'genuine' but, as video games graphics are pushed ever further, AI frame generation is a valid option for high frame rates. I could get a native 60fps from TSW6 - I choose not to, and instead push other graphics settings as high as I can with mods. As Zdx said, TSW is well-suited to it, as it doesn't require low latency and, well, half the screen isn't moving.
     
  32. class71

    class71 Member

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    The benefit for me is the card runs cooler ,fan noise is minimal and I can not see a difference but there again my mince pies are 71 years old.
     
  33. shinkansen_15

    shinkansen_15 Member

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    A 5800X3D should much more then enough for a UE4 game like TSW. As long as you have a mid-Tier GPU released in the last 5 years.
    The only issue is game and engine optimization and what you describe is just brute forcing that to some extend by using new extremely powerful hardware. The smarter approach is always to have the developer optimize his game better or use smart settings like Frame Generation, FSR and DLSS or the 36 FPS trick.
     
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  34. subwayg0at

    subwayg0at Well-Known Member

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    Smooth Motion sometimes breaks after a few alt-tabs when it will try to smooth the frame a couple of frames before. Will absolutely cause motion sickness.
     
  35. WaveyDavey

    WaveyDavey Well-Known Member

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    I've started a seperate post but thought I'd ask here too....... Is anyone also using the RTX Dynamic Vibrance utility with TSW? Just wondered if you are what settings you've settled on for it?
     

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