In the world of PC gaming and hardware monitoring, Rivatuner Statistics Server (RTSS) is the undisputed king of overlays. While modern launchers like Steam, GeForce Experience, and Xbox Game Bar have introduced their own performance trackers, RTSS remains the preferred choice for enthusiasts, overclockers, and competitive gamers.
Its dominance comes down to one core principle: granularity. Unlike "one-size-fits-all" solutions, RTSS allows you to build a custom HUD (Heads-Up Display) that shows exactly what you need to know, nothing more and nothing less.
Here is a breakdown of the best overlay features and configurations for RTSS.
RTSS can show overlay in DX12/Vulkan games better than most tools – always use the latest RTSS version (≥7.3.5).
You can also add custom plugins (like HWiNFO) to RTSS for voltage/power data. rivatuner overlays best
Never install RTSS alone. Download MSI Afterburner (which bundles RTSS). Afterburner provides the hardware monitoring server. RTSS provides the OSD. Install both.
Even the best RivaTuner overlay can run into issues. Here are the fixes.
Problem: Overlay doesn’t show up in Game Pass / UWP games. Fix: Enable "Custom Direct3D support" in RTSS settings. Restart the game. For Forza Horizon 5, you may need to run RTSS as Administrator. The Gold Standard: Why Rivatuner Statistics Server (RTSS)
Problem: Overlay causes anticheat bans (Easy Anti-Cheat, Vanguard). Fix: RTSS is whitelisted by all major anticheats (Valorant, EFT, Fortnite). However, do not use "Stealth Mode" or "Occlusion Query" hacks. Use default detection levels. If banned, it is not RTSS—it is something else.
Problem: Numbers flicker or render corruptly. Fix: Switch rendering mode from "Vector 2D" to "Raster 3D" in the RTSS properties. Alternatively, reduce the "On-Screen Display Zoom" to 100%.
Problem: Too much data on screen. Fix: Use the "Cycle OSD" hotkey (default: Ctrl+O). Set up three profiles: "Minimal," "Normal," and "Full." Tap the hotkey during gameplay to swap between them without alt-tabbing. Step 1: Install the Dynamic Duo Never install RTSS alone
Even the best configuration fails if the software fights you. Here are the top fixes when your RivaTuner overlay refuses to show up.
F7 (default hotkey) to cycle backgrounds.A good overlay answers three questions instantly:
Right-click the RTSS system tray icon → "On-Screen Display" layout editor.
[R,G,B,Alpha] values. For OLED users, set Alpha to 0 to prevent burn-in.