Nvidia DLSS 3 updates completely change up the game

03/02/2023 | Johnathon Reyes

Maybe the most intriguing development to result from the RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 GPU debuts is Nvidia DLSS 3. Even so, I'll admit there are some restrictions: unlike earlier DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) versions, DLSS 3 is now only compatible with the RTX 40 series models. Until the RTX 4080 is on sale on November 16th, that is. Nevertheless, after trying it out on the RTX 4090, I'm confident it might be just as significant as the graphics cards themselves, particularly if you have a high-refresh-rate gaming panel.

DLSS 3: What it is, and how it works

Fundamentally speaking, DLSS 3 is comparable to DLSS 2, which Nvidia currently refers to as a collective term encompassing DLSS versions 2.0 through 2.4. Since it is an upscaler, it renders a game at a lower resolution than your monitor's native resolution and then reconstructs each frame to make it appear as though it has native-level sharpness. As a result, games run more quickly due to the less workload of the lower render quality, without degrading overall image clarity. AMD FSR and Intel XeSS are comparable, but DLSS has always been the top upscaler because it assembles more precise frames using more advanced machine learning/AI algorithms. Moreover, it has its own anti-aliasing, which supersedes any built-in TAA or MSAA and generally makes images look crisper.

Many times, using DLSS 2 on its highest 'Quality' level can actually improve FPS performance while making games seem even better than they do with native resolution rendering. This is unaffected by DLSS 3; on its highest settings, it still has its own intelligent AA and looks just as nice as native resolution.

The frame generation function of DLSS 3 is where the game changes. The GPU will utilize its AI expertise to construct entirely new frames and silently insert them between the rendered ones if it is enabled, which is optional. Similar to upscaling, it makes predictions about the appearance of the following generated frame based on information from previous frames.

This immediately improves performance without barely putting any additional load on your computer, as creating these frames requires fewer resources than rendering them. While the appearance of these "false" frames will be discussed later, the effects are not as unappealing as the unsightly motion smoothing effect on some living room TVs. Both use interpolated frames, but DLSS 3 is more advanced in how it collects information from the rendering pipeline to draw those frames, giving the impression that the game is operating at a higher framerate rather than being unnaturally smoothed out. Our brains simply aren't wired to anticipate that every game will run at 24 frames per second, as most TV episodes and movies do.

All in all, the reason I'm happy and sad about this technology is because number one, I have a GTX 3070, and number 2, With DLSS 3 technology, you can play CyberPunk on Max settings with Max ray tracing. It looked incredible on my Sony Bravia tv before on 120hz, upscaled to 4k using DLSS 2. Imagine how it would look like beefed up on DLSS 3? My brain can't fathom it. If you want to donate a 4080 to me though, send us a dm on any of our social media and I'll make sure to do an unboxing just for you.

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