As we speak we’re taking a better take a look at Nvidia DLSS upscaling when used to render video games at 1080p. That is one thing that we have largely ignored when discussing the standard of varied upscaling options, generally specializing in greater resolutions like 1440p and 4K. Nonetheless, 1080p stays a related decision in 2024, making it important to look at how upscaling performs at this stage.
The truth is that many players are nonetheless rocking a 1080p show. They’re reasonably priced, they’re widespread, and the decision is not too demanding for these with entry-level {hardware}. Whereas greater decision screens are gaining popularity and we usually suggest them, 1080p continues to be the decision with essentially the most utilization share amongst PC players by a major margin.
When testing upscaling applied sciences like DLSS or FSR, the outcomes noticed at greater resolutions don’t immediately translate to decrease resolutions. A recreation and approach that seem glorious at 4K could not yield the identical high quality at 1080p as a result of each the output and render resolutions are decrease, leading to fewer samples being fed into the upscaling algorithm. Which means the conclusions drawn about DLSS efficiency at 4K on an RTX 4090 might not be relevant to a gamer utilizing an RTX 4060 at 1080p.
We have put collectively a ten recreation comparability wanting particularly at DLSS, we have centered on DLSS High quality mode at 1080p evaluating that output in opposition to native decision rendering utilizing TAA. In a observe up check we may add FSR and XeSS to the combo. With out additional ado, let’s get into the standard testing.
Cyberpunk 2077
The primary recreation we’ve got lined up is Cyberpunk 2077 which presently makes use of DLSS 3.5.10 for upscaling. In all of those comparisons we have tried to match sharpening between strategies in static pictures, however that is all the time a bit tough. We have additionally disabled movement blur in all video games.
For dwell picture high quality comparisons, take a look at the HUB video above.
There are a number of instantly apparent points when utilizing DLSS High quality as a substitute of native TAA at 1080p. The primary is ghosting. Whereas driving this automobile I noticed apparent taillight ghosting on this scene that you aren’t getting within the native picture. Relying on the precise a part of this scene, the quantity of ghosting may be fairly distracting and appears fairly unhealthy. Apparently, when working this very same move utilizing DLSS High quality at 4K as a substitute, you get nearly no ghosting, an instance of how the upper decision delivers a lot better upscaled outcomes.
It was additionally pretty evident that the DLSS High quality picture is blurrier. That is particularly noticeable on the street textures close to the automobile, and the automobile itself. Stationary, these components look fairly related between DLSS and native. In movement there’s a clear discount intimately and sharpness on the DLSS aspect.
In case YouTube compression destroys this element, we have slowed down the footage so you possibly can spot the distinction, which is clear in actual time. When viewing the street farther from the car there is not an enormous distinction between DLSS and native, however something within the foreground is considerably clearer when viewing the native picture. It is this a part of the scene that strikes the quickest that DLSS has the largest subject with.
As for picture stability it actually relies upon the place you look as as to if DLSS or native rendering is superior. This utility pole seems a bit much less steady within the DLSS picture, however at instances different components look higher within the DLSS picture.
In a second Cyberpunk scene, what’s fascinating is that there are clear variations even when stationary. The native picture struggles with the clear inexperienced aspect and the distant spires on buildings. The DLSS High quality picture struggles with the grates on the constructing and the road lights.
In movement it is pretty just like the earlier comparability we checked out, the place the native picture has greater element and seems sharper. Once more it is dependent upon precisely the place you take a look at however to me the native picture additionally had fewer artifacts and fewer ghosting in movement, making it the higher strategy to play the sport when not factoring in efficiency.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Aside
In Ratchet & Clank there’s extra artifacts in movement round Ratchet’s footwear with the native presentation, nonetheless native preserves extra fur element. On this opening scene the DLSS (3.5.0) picture had some moire sample artifacts on the purple carpet in addition to much less stability within the grass, nonetheless the DLSS picture was clearly superior at reconstructing the clear components on the rostrum whereas Ratchet is shifting.
For dwell picture high quality comparisons, take a look at the HUB video above.
In contrast to in Cyberpunk I felt that on this recreation, there wasn’t a noticeable lack of element and blurry look to the picture when utilizing DLSS within the High quality mode. Artifacts can commerce blows between DLSS and native relying on the place you look, however usually I felt the extent of artifacting was much less noticeable within the DLSS picture, in order that’s an amazing consequence for upscaling at 1080p.
I do not suppose I might go to the size of claiming that DLSS on this title is healthier, however it’s within the ballpark of being equal in picture high quality, so for many players could be the preferable strategy to play.
Useless House
Useless House is utilizing an older model of DLSS model 2.5.0. This title has points with DLSS ghosting at 1080p across the character mannequin in movement, significantly in darker environments, which is many of the recreation. The go well with itself is that little bit sharper and extra detailed within the native picture, and across the arms and weapon there’s noticeably much less artifacting.
For dwell picture high quality comparisons, take a look at the HUB video above.
DLSS High quality mode additionally usually produced the softer picture even when stationary, native 1080p had higher element and this continued in movement the place DLSS was wherever from a bit mushy to fairly blurry. That is regardless of Useless House usually being a slower paced recreation, simply shifting round ranges in actual time I believed it was fairly simple to inform that DLSS was rendering at a decrease decision.
Nonetheless there’s one factor that DLSS is excellent at and that’s reconstructing textual content on among the translucent holograms floating above doorways. Whereas not rendering at an particularly excessive decision, DLSS was capable of produce clearer and readable textual content at a smaller dimension on display relative to native rendering. Sometimes this meant I may learn an indication above a door from additional away. However curiously while you’re a lot nearer to a few of these indicators, the DLSS picture may be barely much less detailed, at instances a bit blurry and is liable to moire artifacts as these holograms can have detailed repeating patterns.
Spider-Man Miles Morales
Spider-Man Miles Morales is not as mushy or blurry as Useless House or Cyberpunk 2077, usually reproducing an analogous stage of element whether or not you might be utilizing DLSS High quality or native 1080p rendering utilizing TAA. There is a first rate quantity of sharpening adjustability right here with numerous sliders however this is not the one facet that permits the Miles Morales presentation to look first rate, it is also the precise stage of element that is being upscaled accurately.
For dwell picture high quality comparisons, take a look at the HUB video above.
Nonetheless the trade-off on this recreation is that DLSS High quality at 1080p has noticeably extra artifacts in movement. In the course of the opening cutscene as showcased within the video above, the main points are the reconstruction of hair and fur which sizzles extra within the DLSS picture, whereas native 1080p appears to be like comparatively steady.
Like earlier titles, fantastic texture particulars are liable to moire results even when utilizing the very best DLSS upscaled high quality setting. I additionally observed all through gameplay that DLSS has extra disocclusion artifacts round foliage particularly, so that you see that unstable flicker-like impact as you progress and take a look at bushes, particularly these with out leaves.
That is to not say the native picture is completely steady although, there are related points seen utilizing TAA at instances, and even some circumstances the place the DLSS picture is extra steady. However usually on this title my most well-liked strategy to play visually was native rendering.
Name of Responsibility: Trendy Warfare 3
Trendy Warfare 3 is an instance the place DLSS High quality at 1080p appears to be like worse than native rendering, however not so unhealthy that it is unusable throughout basic gameplay. DLSS at this decision does produce extra artifacts in comparison with native, nonetheless for those who’re simply centered on gameplay the artifacts aren’t distracting to the purpose the place you possibly can’t goal enemies or the sport turns into disagreeable to play.
For dwell picture high quality comparisons, take a look at the HUB video above.
The principle points with DLSS on this recreation is stability. With sharpening set to 50, matched within the native mode, element is not too unhealthy and the presentation is not blurry. The tradeoff is scorching round excessive distinction edges in movement, a little bit of ghosting, flicker and jaggies. Components like wires, foliage, home windows, benchtops all look like rendered at a decrease decision when DLSS is used, so the sport does really feel just like the decision has been lowered when taking part in with the DLSS High quality mode.
Although it is tough to identify this throughout quick paced gameplay, and it isn’t like a Cyberpunk scenario the place you may be driving a automobile and that automobile takes up a little bit of the display always, it is apparent the standard of that aspect is diminished. Your gun in MW3 would not look too unhealthy with DLSS enabled, and the little artifacts you see right here and there simply add as much as a basic really feel that the sport is working at a decrease decision with out being a deal breaker.
Star Wars Jedi Survivor
Jedi Survivor merely appears to be like terrible at 1080p. It appears to be like terrible utilizing native TAA and it appears to be like terrible utilizing DLSS High quality. We will not be certain what it’s about this recreation that simply would not play properly with 1080p, however the recreation would not look good in any respect right here and clearly advantages from the next output decision.
For dwell picture high quality comparisons, take a look at the HUB video above.
The problem with native rendering is a mushy presentation, ghosting and a few scorching artifacts in movement. Jedi Survivor may be very blurry utilizing native TAA at 1080p, a very terrible implementation of the expertise. Then when enabling DLSS the sport is a little bit crisper, however fairly a number of artifacts are launched in movement, extra scorching round grass and some extra disocclusion artifacts.
And when wd say a bit crisper, we solely imply barely. It is nonetheless fairly blurry for a 1080p recreation in comparison with among the others we have examined.
Hogwarts Legacy
There’s not rather a lot separating DLSS High quality and native TAA at 1080p in Hogwarts Legacy. In each configurations the sport is sort of mushy and lacks element, although not practically to the diploma of Jedi Survivor. It seems to be one other recreation that’s primarily designed to be performed at greater resolutions as not a lot tuning has been completed for 1080p.
For dwell picture high quality comparisons, take a look at the HUB video above.
We discovered the DLSS picture to be extra steady in some minor areas, for instance, disocclusion artifacts when the background is foliage. So on the whole I might give a small edge to DLSS High quality mode right here for total picture high quality, although it was fairly tough on the whole to identify a distinction whereas taking part in the sport. I might personally select to play at the next stage of sharpness, although this footage has been sharpness matched.
Starfield
Starfield reveals us a extra typical instance of the distinction between native rendering and DLSS High quality at 1080p. Take the doorway to Neon. When stationary, DLSS High quality seems to reconstruct extra element within the signal, however as quickly as you begin shifting, the signal sparkles badly and turns into a distraction in its quest to provide higher ranges of element. At the next output decision this largely succeeds, however not at 1080p when the render decision is near 720p.
For dwell picture high quality comparisons, take a look at the HUB video above.
As we transfer by way of the opening which has plenty of wire and mesh element, the native presentation appears to be like sharper and clearer with fewer artifacts significantly on these aspect meshes. I additionally observed that reflections and shadows had been greater element at instances, although this wasn’t all the time the case and could possibly be to do with stage of element configurations between native and DLSS. However the basic stage of element and softness is analogous in movement, it would not seem as if we’re getting a Cyberpunk-like penalty when shifting round and utilizing DLSS upscaling.
However, on this title we really feel DLSS High quality just isn’t producing a picture on the extent of native rendering and we would favor to play the sport at native 1080p. Sadly, Starfield continues to be a title that requires a variety of efficiency to play at prime quality settings, in order that is not all the time achievable on entry-level {hardware}.
The Talos Precept 2
The Talos Precept 2 is a superb instance for upscaling due to its excessive stage of element and its use of the most recent upscaling applied sciences, DLSS 3.5.10 on this case. When a foliage heavy check scene you possibly can clearly see the discount in picture high quality when utilizing DLSS High quality mode as a substitute of native rendering with TAA. The palm tree within the sky sizzles considerably extra within the DLSS picture, and the standard of grass is diminished with extra scorching and a decrease decision look. Whereas sharpness is matched standing nonetheless, the DLSS picture turns into barely softer in movement.
For dwell picture high quality comparisons, take a look at the HUB video above.
Nonetheless, in a second scene you possibly can see the struggles that native TAA has with the grate aspect within the distance. DLSS High quality mode is much more steady for that individual merchandise, though the problems with foliage described earlier additionally apply.
So like in among the different video games we have assessed right this moment, the general stability of the picture at 1080p can differ between strategies relying on the place you are wanting and it might be a private desire factor as to which points you’d quite have.
Murderer’s Creed Mirage
The ultimate recreation we’re right this moment makes use of the oldest DLSS implementation at model 2.3.1, regardless of being a more moderen launch. Murderer’s Creed Mirage is a title the place DLSS and native decision look related when stationary by way of softness and element, however native rendering has an enormous benefit in movement, as DLSS High quality mode turns into notably softer and fewer detailed. Which means as you play the sport, the obvious decision of native rendering is greater, and you may inform DLSS is using information from a low render decision.
For dwell picture high quality comparisons, take a look at the HUB video above.
There are some areas the place DLSS performs properly, like in its picture stability. In the course of the synchronization transfer in the beginning of this sequence, DLSS did a greater job of maintaining fantastic detailed components like mesh and fencing grates steady. Like The Talos Precept 2 although, there are occasions the place the DLSS picture has much less stability round foliage so as soon as once more it relies upon precise the place you look as as to if DLSS has a bonus in stability.
Generally, Murderer’s Creed Mirage is healthier performed utilizing native rendering at 1080p due to the discount intimately, even when adjusting sharpening settings).
1080p Efficiency: DLSS vs Native
Picture high quality is barely a part of the story right here, after all: DLSS is mostly used to enhance efficiency. So for benchmarking at 1080p we determined to check with a GeForce RTX 3060 12GB, a card that has mainstream ranges of efficiency and is mostly suited to gaming at 1080p at extremely settings.
With its 12GB of VRAM, the RTX 3060 hardly ever runs into VRAM points at this decision, and we paired it with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D to stop CPU limitations alongside 32GB of DDR5-6000 reminiscence. All video games have been examined utilizing Extremely or Max settings, usually with ray tracing disabled, though we left RT turned on for Useless House and Miles Morales.
In many of the titles examined utilizing max settings, the RTX 3060 scores round 50 to 70 FPS at 1080p utilizing native rendering. Slightly sooner for Trendy Warfare 3 utilizing Extremely, a little bit slower at 40 FPS taking part in Starfield utilizing Extremely settings.
With DLSS set to the High quality mode, the RTX 3060 turns into extra of a 70 to 90 FPS card. For instance, Cyberpunk 2077 that ran the Extremely preset at 54 FPS in our check space, improved to 69 FPS on common utilizing DLSS High quality. Ratchet and Clank that ran at 72 FPS on native, improved to 96 FPS utilizing DLSS High quality. In each circumstances the uplift was round 30%.
There are some outliers like Useless House which noticed an enormous 59% efficiency uplift utilizing DLSS High quality, and Star Wars Jedi Survivor additionally surpassed the 50% efficiency uplift barrier when utilizing upscaling. On the opposite finish, Murderer’s Creed Mirage solely noticed a 16% efficiency enchancment and Starfield noticed a milder 25% enhance.
On common, DLSS High quality delivered a 36% efficiency enchancment throughout these 10 video games in comparison with native rendering at 1080p on the RTX 3060 gaming (common FPS), together with a 32% enchancment to 1% lows. Utilizing this common, it means a given recreation that runs at 60 FPS utilizing native rendering improves to round 82 FPS utilizing DLSS High quality, or if the baseline efficiency is 40 FPS, efficiency would find yourself round 54 FPS.
Upscaling at 1080p: What We Discovered
Having performed these video games extensively utilizing DLSS at 1080p, our opinion stays largely unchanged from our preliminary experiences with upscaling at this decision. DLSS is much much less efficient at 1080p in comparison with 1440p or 4K, due to how upscaling at this decision makes use of a really low render decision. The the DLSS High quality mode renders video games at simply 720p earlier than upscaling to 1080p, providing restricted pixel information for the algorithm to work with.
After we examined DLSS throughout 26 titles at 4K and 1440p, we noticed that DLSS typically produced higher or related picture high quality to native rendering. At 4K utilizing the High quality mode, we discovered that 10 video games regarded higher with DLSS, 4 video games had been on par, and 10 video games achieved higher outcomes with native rendering. At 1440p, utilizing the High quality mode, DLSS outperformed native rendering in 10 video games, tied in 5, and was outperformed by native rendering in 9 video games. Thus, in roughly 36% of circumstances, we most well-liked native rendering, often by a slight margin.
With a pattern dimension of 10 video games at 1080p, we discovered that native rendering usually delivered higher outcomes. DLSS produced comparable picture high quality to native in solely 3 titles, certainly one of which was Jedi Survivor, the place each DLSS and native rendering had been subpar. For the remaining video games, the outcomes ranged from clear superiority of native rendering to DLSS being usable however considerably inferior. This evaluation was based mostly on the very best accessible DLSS upscaled setting, the High quality mode, with six titles utilizing the most recent DLSS 3.5 model and two utilizing DLSS 3.1.
The large theme to return out of this testing are points we have talked about earlier than utilizing DLSS at 1080p. In some titles, DLSS produces a noticeably blurrier picture in movement, with much less element and a softer picture even after matching the sharpness to native rendering in static scenes. Utilizing DLSS at 1080p can also be extra more likely to produce upscaling artifacts, like shimmering, scorching, ghosting and poor picture stability – artifacts which are considerably minimized or not current utilizing DLSS at 4K utilizing the High quality mode for instance.
Nonetheless, there have been additionally situations the place DLSS improved picture stability relative to native rendering and TAA. In some video games, like Hogwarts Legacy, this made DLSS price utilizing as its picture high quality was just like native. In different titles, improved picture stability was solely the case for some components, and at different instances TAA could be extra steady.
If you play at 1440p or greater it is easy to overlook how unhealthy a few of these video games look even at native 1080p utilizing the very best settings, it feels very uncared for from an optimization and picture high quality perspective.
Our emotions in the direction of DLSS at 1080p are blended as a result of first rate efficiency uplift it gives – on common, a 36% enhance in comparison with native rendering on a mainstream RTX 3060. For these with decrease tier {hardware}, that is not too shabby in any respect, particularly for those who do not thoughts the diminished picture high quality. I believe it is usually a case by case foundation, some video games DLSS goes to be an amazing alternative because the picture high quality hit is not too unhealthy for the efficiency uplift it gives, in different titles it isn’t price getting such a lift when you need to introduce a blurrier or much less steady presentation.
The ultimate problem for DLSS is that 1080p just isn’t a very excessive decision, so any lack of element or introduction of artifacts is much extra noticeable than at 4K, the place the superior picture high quality can take up a small hit. It’s significantly irritating when upscaling makes an already detail-lacking picture blurrier, a problem some have criticized with native TAA, not to mention upscaling.
If you play at 1440p or greater it is easy to overlook how unhealthy a few of these video games look even at native 1080p utilizing the very best settings, it feels very uncared for from an optimization and picture high quality perspective.
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