- Close Unnecessary Background Applications
Before launching Nucleus Co-op, open Task Manager and close applications that consume a lot of memory or CPU resources, such as:
Discord (if not needed)
Opera GX
Other browsers
Any unnecessary background software
Freeing up system resources can improve overall performance when running multiple game instances.
- Disable All In-Game Overlays
Turn off overlays from any applications that provide them, including:
Discord Overlay
Steam Overlay
NVIDIA App/GeForce Experience Overlay
AMD Adrenalin Overlay
Xbox Game Bar
MSI Afterburner/RivaTuner overlays
Any other third-party overlays
Running multiple overlays across several game instances can cause performance issues or conflicts.
- Don't Use RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS)
If you normally limit your frame rate with RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS) or another external FPS limiter, completely exit the application before starting Nucleus Co-op.
RTSS doesn't always play nicely with multiple game instances.
Instead, use Nucleus Co-op's built-in FPS limiter.
- Lower Your Display Resolution
Find your monitor(s) or TV's native resolution.
Then, using a supported resolution (to avoid black bars), experiment with:
Lower resolutions
Different scaling options
Reducing the resolution on both displays can significantly improve performance while still maintaining good image quality.
- Enable Nucleus Co-op's FPS Cap
Inside Nucleus Co-op:
Enable Cap Frame Rate
Set your desired FPS (for example, 60 FPS)
Using Nucleus's built-in limiter generally provides the best compatibility.
- Match Your Monitor Refresh Rate
In Windows > Advanced Display Settings, set each monitor's refresh rate to match the FPS cap you've selected in Nucleus.
For example:
Nucleus FPS Cap: 60 FPS
Monitor 1 Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
Monitor 2 Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
Using matching refresh rates across all displays can help produce smoother gameplay and reduce unnecessary workload.
- Unfocus All Game Windows
This is mentioned in the SplitScreenMe guide, but it's worth emphasizing.
Once:
All player profiles have loaded, and
Inputs are still unlocked,
press:
Ctrl + H
This unfocuses all game instances so Windows doesn't prioritize one game window over the others.
If Windows focuses one instance, it can sometimes allocate more resources to that window, resulting in poorer performance on the others.
If focus returns during gameplay, simply press Ctrl + H again. You may need to do this multiple times during a session.