DLSS & FSR (Beginner Explanation) – Which Games & How does it work?

List of Games with FSR & DLSS Support

Note: The availability of DLSS and FSR support, as well as their versions, can change with game updates. It’s advisable to check the latest patch notes or official game websites for the most current information.

DLSS and FSR Versions

Both DLSS (by NVIDIA) and FSR (by AMD) have evolved over time, introducing new features and improvements in each version. Here’s a simple guide to understand what each version offers.

DLSS 1.0

• The Basics: Introduced in 2019, it was NVIDIA’s first attempt at AI-based upscaling. It used AI to upscale lower-resolution images to higher resolutions.
• Issues: Image quality was often blurry, and the performance gains weren’t consistent across all games.
• Games: Very few supported it initially, such as Final Fantasy XV.

DLSS 2.0

• Big Improvements: A complete overhaul. This version significantly improved image quality, making it look close to or even better than native resolution in some cases.
• How It Works:
  • Uses AI models trained on general data, making it adaptable to many games.
  • Sharpens edges and textures for a more natural look.
• Advantages:
  • Huge boost to frame rates.
  • Widely adopted in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Control.

DLSS 3.0

• Frame Generation Introduced: This is the big one. DLSS 3 doesn’t just upscale images; it creates entirely new frames using AI.
  • Example: If your GPU produces 60 FPS, DLSS 3 can generate enough frames to make it feel like 120 FPS.
• Who Can Use It:
  • Exclusive to RTX 40-series GPUs because it relies on the Optical Flow Accelerator and advanced Tensor Cores.
• Ideal Use: Great for single-player and visually demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing enabled.

DLSS 3.5

• Introduced Ray Reconstruction:
  • Uses AI to improve the quality of ray-traced effects (e.g., lighting, shadows, reflections).
  • Removes noise and enhances realism, especially in scenes with heavy ray tracing.
• Works on More GPUs: Unlike DLSS 3.0, ray reconstruction works on RTX 20-series and 30-series GPUs, too.

FSR Versions

FSR 1.0

• Basic Upscaling: Launched in 2021, it was AMD’s answer to DLSS but without AI. It upscales low-res frames and sharpens the image.
• How It Works:
  • Spatial Upscaling: Processes each frame individually to enhance clarity.
• Issues: Quality wasn’t great in fast-moving scenes, and artifacts were noticeable.
• Compatibility: Worked on almost any GPU (AMD, NVIDIA, and Intel), making it very accessible.

FSR 2.0

• Smarter Upscaling:
  • Introduced temporal data, meaning it uses information from multiple frames to improve the final image.
  • Reduced artifacts and improved quality, especially in motion-heavy scenes.
• Improved Image Quality:
  • Comes closer to DLSS 2.0 in sharpness and detail.
• Compatibility: Still works on most GPUs, including older ones.

FSR 3.0

• Frame Generation Added: AMD’s response to DLSS 3.0. FSR 3 introduces frame generation, creating additional frames to improve smoothness.
• Advantages:
  • Works on AMD RDNA 3 GPUs and later (Radeon 7000 series).
  • Open source, so developers can integrate it more broadly.
• Challenges: Frame generation isn’t as widely supported yet compared to DLSS 3.

Comparison of DLSS/FSR Versions