Dragon NaturallySpeaking is highly sensitive to system performance, audio quality, and background processes. This guide focuses on the system-level settings that ensure Dragon runs smoothly on M-Tech hardware. For Dragon-specific commands, vocabulary, or scripting, we recommend working with Lunis at KnowBrainer.

1. Power and Performance Settings

• Use NVIDIA-Only Mode (if available)
  Hybrid mode routes display output through the Intel GPU, which can introduce latency and instability. NVIDIA-only mode provides lower latency and more stable external monitor behavior.
• Use the M-Tech High Performance Power Mode
  Ensures maximum CPU responsiveness, prevents down-clocking during dictation, and maintains stable performance during long sessions.

2. Audio Optimization

Dragon depends heavily on clean, stable audio. These settings help ensure the best possible input quality.

• Recommended Microphone Setup
  Plug directly into the laptop (avoid docks), use a dedicated USB port, disable unused audio devices, and set microphone gain manually.
• Disable Windows Audio Enhancements
  Turn off noise suppression, echo cancellation, and all audio "enhancements.” Dragon performs best with raw, unprocessed audio.

3. Background Process Cleanup

Dragon slows down when background tasks consume CPU or RAM. Customers should:

• Close unused applications
• Pause OneDrive during long sessions
• Avoid running Zoom or Teams at the same time
• Restart Windows daily

Your optimization script already handles most of this automatically.

4. USB and Docking Stability

Dragon users often rely on external monitors. If the display stack becomes unstable, Dragon performance can drop.

• Avoid USB-C docks for audio
• Plug the microphone directly into the laptop
• Use high-quality cables
• If the monitor goes dark, follow the Display Recovery steps

5. When Dragon Feels Slow

Before assuming Dragon is the problem, check:

• CPU usage
• RAM usage
• Background tasks
• Audio device switching
• External monitor handshake issues
• GPU mode (Hybrid vs NVIDIA-only)

Most "Dragon is lagging” complaints are actually system-level issues.

6. When to Call M-Tech vs When to Call Lunis

M-Tech handles system-level issues. Lunis handles Dragon-specific issues. See the full guide for details.