# Nvidia preview driver adds Smooth Motion to RTX 40 cards

**Published:** 2026-07-04T14:51:21.251Z  
**Topic:** Nvidia%5C  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/89c9797a-3ffd-40c3-8ede-134593ee635d

Nvidia’s GeForce 590.26 preview driver lets RTX 40 owners double frame rates with Smooth Motion, a feature previously limited to RTX 50 GPUs.

Nvidia released the GeForce 590.26 preview driver, enabling Smooth Motion frame‑generation on Ada Lovlace RTX 40 GPUs such as the 4080 and 4060, and instantly doubled FPS in several titles for developers with access [1].

| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Driver version | GeForce 590.26 (preview) |
| Feature | Smooth Motion frame generation |
| GPUs supported | RTX 4080, RTX 4060 (Ada Lovlace) |
| Reported FPS gain | Up to 2× (e.g., WoW 82 → 164 FPS) |

## Preview driver brings RTX 50 tech to RTX 40  

Smooth Motion, Nvidia’s AI‑driven frame‑generation that inserts interpolated images between rendered frames, was first rolled out on the RTX 50 series launched in January 2025. The new preview driver extends the same capability to RTX 40 cards, allowing owners to achieve “almost twice the frame rate in many games,” according to VideoCardz [1]. Early testing on the Guru3D forums showed World of Warcraft climbing from 82 FPS to 164 FPS, while Company of Heroes 3 exhibited similar jumps. The boost is most pronounced in older, CPU‑limited titles that lack native DLSS 3 support, though the visual quality does not fully match DLSS 3’s frame generation.

## Access limits and rollout outlook  

The feature is currently gated behind a developer account and requires the Nvidia Profile Inspector tool from GitHub to enable, meaning only a subset of users can test it today. Nvidia has indicated that a final, consumer‑ready version will arrive later, simplifying activation and removing the developer‑only restriction [1]. If the final release lives up to the preview’s performance gains, it could extend the practical lifespan of RTX 40 GPUs, offering a free performance uplift without new hardware purchases.

## What to watch  
- **Final driver release date** – Nvidia has not announced when the consumer‑ready Smooth Motion update will ship.  
- **Broader game support** – Monitoring which titles receive official Smooth Motion integration beyond the driver‑level AI generation.  
- **Competitor response** – AMD’s Fluid Motion Frames and any forthcoming updates that could narrow the performance gap.

By retrofitting RTX 40 cards with a technology previously exclusive to the newer RTX 50 line, Nvidia signals a strategy of extracting additional value from existing hardware, potentially reshaping upgrade cycles for gamers seeking higher frame rates without buying a new GPU. The ultimate impact will hinge on how quickly the feature becomes widely available and how developers respond.

## Sources
1. PC World — [Nvidia is doubling the frame rate of RTX 40 graphics cards for free](https://www.pcworld.com/article/2847583/nvidia-is-doubling-the-frame-rate-of-rtx-40-graphics-cards-for-free.html)
2. TWCN Tech News — [How to install and use NVIDIA App on Windows 11](https://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-install-and-use-nvidia-app-on-windows)
3. TWCN Tech News — [GeForce Game Ready Driver Installation can’t continue in Windows 11](https://www.thewindowsclub.com/geforce-game-ready-driver-installation-error)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Nvidia preview driver adds Smooth Motion to RTX 40 cards", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/89c9797a-3ffd-40c3-8ede-134593ee635d