NVIDIA's DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) is a proprietary upscaling technology that boosts game performance by rendering at a lower internal resolution and using AI to upscale to your monitor's native resolution. When implemented well, DLSS lets you increase graphical settings beyond what your GPU could handle natively while maintaining playable framerates, or push framerates higher at lower settings—ideal for high refresh rate monitors. The technology relies on machine learning models trained to interpret motion vectors, depth, and brightness data.
Different DLSS modes determine the internal render resolution: Quality mode renders at 66.7% of target resolution (e.g., 1440p for a 4K monitor), offering the best image quality with moderate FPS gains. Balanced mode uses 58% of target resolution, striking a middle ground between quality and performance. Performance mode renders at 50% (e.g., 720p internal for 1440p output), while Ultra Performance mode, at 33.3%, is designed for 8K monitors and may appear blurry on lower-resolution displays.
For 1440p monitors, DLSS Quality is a solid starting point; drop to Balanced for higher framerates. For 4K, begin with Balanced and shift to Performance if more frames are needed. DLSS also encompasses related technologies that can be used together, though the article notes the branding has grown to include several features under one name.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing