About NVIDIA DLSS: How to Boost Game FPS

NVIDIA DLSS is a feature of NVIDIA graphics cards and is a technology that improves game graphics and frame rates.

This technology uses deep learning (AI) to convert low-resolution images to high resolution and generate intermediate frames, allowing for smoother and more beautiful game graphics.

Depending on the graphics card, the compatibility and supported version of DLSS will vary, and the compatibility of each game is also different.

Therefore, it is necessary to understand these points before choosing a graphics card, otherwise this feature cannot be used.

This article explains in detail the basics of NVIDIA DLSS, how this technology enhances and optimizes the gaming experience.

This article also explains the basics of how to read graphics card manufacturers and model numbers, performance benchmarks, and how to choose from the perspective of performance and compatibility.

≫ Related article: How to Choose a Graphics Card for a Custom PC [Performance / Features / Compatibility]

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About NVIDIA DLSS

First, let’s look at the basics and features of NVIDIA DLSS.

What is NVIDIA DLSS?

NVIDIA DLSS is an innovative technology developed by NVIDIA, and stands for Deep Learning Super Sampling.

This technology aims to improve game graphics and frame rates by utilizing deep learning.

DLSS is especially effective in games that use high resolution or ray tracing, as well as on high-resolution displays and in VR environments, providing players with a smooth and beautiful visual experience.

Improving Frame Rates in 3D Games

DLSS mainly improves the frame rate of 3D games through the following two functions:

• Upscaling (increasing resolution)
• Intermediate frame generation (DLSS 3.0 and later)

The mechanisms of each will be explained later.

First, frame rate (FPS) is often used as a performance indicator for 3D games.

Frame rate is an indicator that shows the number of frames (still images) displayed per second in a video or image.

It is mainly expressed in units of “FPS (Frames Per Second)”, for example, “60FPS” means 60 frames are displayed per second.

The higher this value, the smoother the screen. Conversely, if it is low, the game will feel choppy and uncomfortable to play.

By using DLSS’s upscaling and intermediate frame generation features, the number of frames per second can be increased, resulting in a more comfortable gaming experience.

How NVIDIA DLSS Works

Let’s take a closer look at the two core technologies of NVIDIA DLSS.

Upscaling (Increasing Resolution)

Upscaling is a technology that increases the resolution of low-resolution images or videos.

For example, it can convert an FHD (1,920×1,080) image to 4K (3,840×2,160).

The main purposes are “improving image quality” and “reducing GPU load”.

About Image Quality Improvement

Upscaling provides clearer and more detailed images by converting low-resolution images to high resolution.

Even at the same resolution, it can achieve equal or even better image quality.

Specifically, when a game is rendered, AI fills in missing parts of the image to generate smooth and realistic visuals.

This allows for a high-quality visual experience without sacrificing performance.

About Reducing GPU Load

DLSS is designed to improve frame rates, but increasing resolution does not directly increase frame rates.

Also, as many gamers know, the resolution of the game screen is specified in the graphics settings, so it will ultimately be displayed at that resolution.

The main purpose of this upscaling is not only to improve image quality, but mainly to reduce the rendering load on the GPU.

In 3D games, various graphics calculations such as player movement, lighting and shadow expression, effects, geometry calculations (coordinate calculations), and physics simulations are constantly performed, and as a result, a single image is rendered and displayed.

These calculations and rendering are processed by the CUDA cores of the graphics card, and the higher the resolution, the greater the load.

Simply put, the total number of pixels in 4K resolution is four times that of FHD, so the load is four times greater.

*This is the rendering load; some graphics calculations such as geometry and physics simulations do not depend on resolution, so not all loads are quadrupled.

Therefore, increasing the resolution increases the load on the CUDA cores, but with DLSS upscaling, rendering is done at a lower resolution, reducing the burden on the CUDA cores.

The upscaling itself uses the Tensor cores of the graphics card, which are separate from the CUDA cores.

By distributing processing to each core in this way, the load on the CUDA cores to generate one frame is reduced, and one frame can be generated in a shorter time.

Shortening the time to generate one frame means that more frames can be generated per second, resulting in improved game frame rates.

In other words, the key point of this feature is that upscaling reduces rendering load, allowing more images to be generated per second and thus improving frame rates.

Intermediate Frame Generation (DLSS 3.0 and Later)

NVIDIA DLSS 3 introduces a new feature called “Frame Generation,” which achieves even higher frame rates with a different approach from previous DLSS versions.

Intermediate frame generation is a technology that uses AI to generate new frames between rendered frames.

This makes it visually appear as if more frames are being displayed, without actually increasing the number of rendered frames.

In normal frame rendering, each frame is directly drawn by the CUDA cores of the graphics card.

As a result, the rendering load is high, which can limit the frame rate.

With DLSS 3, the movement between two internally generated frames is analyzed, and a new intermediate frame is generated by AI to achieve higher frame rates.

Since this intermediate frame is a virtual frame that is not actually rendered, it greatly reduces the rendering cost on the CUDA cores while maintaining a high visual frame rate.

This makes games smoother, which is a big advantage for gamers who want high resolution and high frame rates.

However, since DLSS 3’s intermediate frame generation uses AI prediction technology, it may not be able to respond in real time to player actions or sudden camera changes.

This is because, even if the latest frame has already been generated internally, a delay occurs when the intermediate frame is inserted and displayed first.

Prioritizing the display of intermediate frames can cause a slight delay in the screen’s response to player input, leading to input lag.

Especially in FPS games or action games that require quick response, this delay can cause discomfort in gameplay.

Also, if the movement between frames is misrecognized, visual errors such as ghosting (afterimages) or object distortion may occur, and these effects are more noticeable in complex scenes or scenes with many fast-moving objects.

Therefore, whether to use DLSS 3 should be carefully considered depending on the type of game and play style.

It is very effective for those who prioritize smooth visuals, but for games where input accuracy and real-time response are important, it is recommended to disable DLSS 3 or adjust the settings to find the optimal balance.

About NVIDIA DLSS Versions and Compatibility

Let’s look at the versions of NVIDIA DLSS.

*Only the most important versions for explaining DLSS are summarized here.

DLSS 3.5

DLSS 3.5 (around September 2023) aims to further improve graphics quality and performance, and introduces a new technology called “Ray Reconstruction”.

This is a new algorithm introduced to further advance ray tracing.

It uses AI to optimize real-time light reflection, refraction, and shadow expression, which were difficult with conventional ray tracing technology, to achieve more realistic visuals.

Compatible graphics cards are the RTX 20 series, RTX 30 series, and RTX 40 series.

This means that while Ray Reconstruction is supported, the intermediate frame generation feature added in DLSS 3.0 cannot be used on the RTX 20 and RTX 30 series.

DLSS 3.0

DLSS 3.0 (around October 2022) not only provides upscaling, but also achieves higher frame rates by using AI to generate intermediate frames.

The details of intermediate frame generation were explained earlier.

This is an important technology for gamers seeking high resolution and high frame rates, enabling more realistic and immersive gameplay.

Compatible graphics cards are the NVIDIA RTX 40 series.

DLSS 2.0

DLSS 2.0 (around April 2020) uses a general-purpose AI model, so individual training for each game is no longer necessary, making it easier to implement in more games.

Image quality and frame rate improvements have also been greatly enhanced, making the benefits clearer for players.

Compared to previous versions, it uses a more flexible and efficient algorithm, supporting various resolutions and frame rates.

Furthermore, DLSS 2.0 trains the AI model in the cloud, so game developers do not need to handle it individually, making it easy to implement in more games.

This reduces game development costs while providing players with beautiful visuals and improved frame rates.

The ease of implementation and increase in supported games led to the widespread recognition of DLSS as a technology.

Compatible graphics cards are the NVIDIA RTX 20 series and RTX 30 series.

DLSS 1.0

DLSS 1.0 (around February 2019) was the first deep learning super sampling technology introduced by NVIDIA, aiming to improve game graphics quality.

This version was only available for specific game titles and improved performance by using AI to upscale low-resolution images to high resolution.

This technology was expected to improve frame rates, especially during high-resolution gameplay.

However, DLSS 1.0 required individual AI training for each game, so only a limited number of games were supported.

Compatible graphics cards are the NVIDIA RTX 20 series.

Summary: For Maximum FPS, the Latest GPU is Recommended!

This article explained the basic mechanisms of NVIDIA DLSS technology and how it enhances the gaming experience.

Here are the key points again.

In summary, if the goal is to maximize FPS, it is recommended to use the latest GPU that supports the newest version and features.

In particular, DLSS demonstrates its full potential with the latest NVIDIA RTX series graphics cards, providing benefits for gamers seeking high resolution and high frame rates.

This article also explains the basics of how to read graphics card manufacturers and model numbers, performance benchmarks, and how to choose from the perspective of performance and compatibility.

≫ Related article: How to Choose a Graphics Card for a Custom PC [Performance / Features / Compatibility]

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PC Parts Estimation & Compatibility Check Tool

Automatically checks each component you need when selecting parts for a custom-built PC—perfect for beginners.