The best NVCleanstall settings are not the smallest possible package. They are the smallest sensible package for your hardware and the features you actually use. This guide builds a conservative baseline and explains when to keep optional components.
Start with a conservative baseline
Keep the Display Driver
The core display driver is required. Treat it as non-negotiable for a normal NVIDIA GPU installation.
Keep PhysX when your games use it
PhysX is still useful for compatibility with games that depend on NVIDIA PhysX runtime components. If you are unsure, keeping it is the safer choice.
Keep HD Audio only when you need display audio
Keep NVIDIA HD Audio when sound travels through HDMI or DisplayPort. If all sound uses a separate audio device, you may not need it.
Laptop-specific choices
Do not remove platform support blindly
Version 1.19.0 clarified NV Platform Controllers for laptops and includes them in the Recommended selection on laptops. Mobile systems often need components that a desktop can omit safely.
Optional cleanup choices
Telemetry and extras
Optional telemetry, advertising-related installer extras, and features you never use can be candidates for removal. Review each item rather than selecting every aggressive tweak at once.
Use one change set at a time
When tuning a stable PC, change a small number of options per install. This makes troubleshooting much easier if a feature later appears missing.
Balanced profile example
Gaming desktop
Display Driver, PhysX, HD Audio only if needed, and any game-specific component you recognize. Skip laptop-only components on a desktop.
Creator or streaming PC
Keep components required by your editing, capture, audio, and encode workflow. A minimal gaming preset is not automatically right for a creator workstation.