The Finals Lowest Input Lag Settings for Competitive Play
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The Finals is fast and chaotic, and with whole buildings collapsing around you the player whose shots register first usually takes the cashout. Most of the input lag in The Finals is controllable through the video menu and your Windows setup. Here is the exact configuration for the lowest input lag in The Finals.
Reflex on, frame generation off, Fullscreen, V-Sync off, and a frame cap below your refresh — that’s the low-latency core.
Enable NVIDIA Reflex
The Finals supports NVIDIA Reflex in its UE5-based engine. In Settings → Video, set NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency to Enabled + Boost. Reflex stops the CPU from running ahead of the GPU and removes render-queue latency, which is most valuable when destruction effects spike GPU load. On AMD cards, enable Radeon Anti-Lag in Adrenalin instead.
Turn frame generation off
This is the key one for The Finals. DLSS Frame Generation and FSR Frame Generation insert interpolated frames between real ones, which makes the frame counter climb but adds latency because the engine has to hold a frame to interpolate. For competitive play, set Frame Generation to Off. If you need more performance, use DLSS/FSR upscaling (Quality or Balanced) without frame-gen — upscaling alone does not add the same delay. More on the trade-off in should you use NVIDIA frame generation.
Use Fullscreen
Set Display Mode to Fullscreen, not Borderless. Exclusive fullscreen skips the desktop compositor and removes a frame of presentation delay, and it lets G-Sync/FreeSync operate correctly.
Cap FPS below your refresh
Use the in-game Max Frame Rate limiter and cap a few frames below your refresh rate:
| Monitor refresh | Suggested cap |
|---|---|
| 144 Hz | 138 |
| 165 Hz | 158 |
| 240 Hz | 234 |
Capping below your refresh keeps the GPU off 100% so it never builds a queue — the core reason Reflex and a cap work together.
Turn off V-Sync and latency-adding settings
- V-Sync: Off. Use G-Sync/FreeSync plus your cap for tear-free, low-latency frames.
- Resolution Scale / dynamic resolution: fixed. Avoid letting the game throttle resolution dynamically, which adds inconsistency.
- Lower shadows, effects quality, and global illumination on weaker GPUs to keep usage below full load — UE5 lighting is demanding.
Keep the GPU below 99%
If the GPU sits at 99–100%, frames queue up and latency climbs. The combination of Reflex plus a frame cap below your refresh keeps usage in the safe range so inputs reach the screen quickly. Check GPU usage with an overlay during a real match, not just the practice range.
Use a high mouse polling rate
A 1000 Hz (or higher) mouse polling rate samples your aim far more often than a 125 Hz mouse, trimming the input stage. Set the highest stable rate in your mouse software.
Fix Windows-level latency
- Set Windows to a high-performance power plan.
- Enable and test Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS).
- Turn on Game Mode in Settings → Gaming.
- Raise your Windows timer resolution with Tier1Timer. The default timer ticks slowly; raising the resolution samples input more often and smooths frame pacing, with Auto Mode that applies on launch and reverts on exit. See the ultimate guide to timer resolution.
Related guides
- How to Minimize Input Delay for Competitive Gaming
- Should You Use NVIDIA Frame Generation
- The Finals Stretched Resolution Guide
- How to Measure Input Lag
The lowest input lag in The Finals comes from Reflex Enabled + Boost, frame generation off, Fullscreen, V-Sync off with a frame cap below your refresh, and a clean Windows setup. Keep the GPU off the ceiling and your fights resolve in your favor.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reduce input lag in The Finals?
Enable NVIDIA Reflex, turn frame generation off, run the game in Fullscreen, disable V-Sync, and cap your frame rate a few frames below your refresh rate. The Finals runs on Unreal Engine 5, so keeping the GPU off 100% matters a lot. Together these remove most of the controllable delay.
Does NVIDIA Reflex lower input lag in The Finals?
Yes. The Finals supports NVIDIA Reflex on supported GPUs, and it is one of the biggest latency wins. It stops the CPU from queuing frames ahead of the GPU and trims render-queue delay, which is most valuable in destructible-environment chaos when frames dip.
Should I turn frame generation off in The Finals?
For the lowest input lag, yes. DLSS and FSR frame generation insert interpolated frames, which raises latency even though the on-screen frame rate looks higher. Competitive players should disable frame generation and rely on Reflex plus a real frame cap instead. Use upscaling without frame-gen if you need more performance.
Should I cap my FPS in The Finals?
Yes. Use the in-game frame rate limiter and cap a few frames below your monitor's refresh rate. Capping keeps the GPU below 100% so it never builds a render queue, which keeps latency low and frame times consistent during heavy destruction sequences.
Does timer resolution reduce input lag in The Finals?
It can improve input-sampling consistency and frame pacing at the system level. The default Windows timer ticks slowly, and raising the resolution with Tier1Timer samples inputs more often. It is a Windows-wide tweak rather than a game setting, so use it to support Reflex and your FPS cap.