The biggest performance "cheat code" of the last few years is, without a doubt, upscaling technology. But it's easy to get lost between "DLSS" and "FSR" — which one works on which card, which one looks better, and is it actually "cheating"? This guide breaks it all down.
What does upscaling actually do?
The idea is simple: the GPU renders the game at a lower internal resolution than your target (say, 1440p instead of 4K) — which is much faster — and then an algorithm intelligently "upscales" that image to your target resolution. Done well, the visible quality loss is minimal, but the FPS gain is large, because the GPU rendered fewer pixels in the first place.
DLSS (NVIDIA)
DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) is NVIDIA's AI-based solution. It uses the dedicated "Tensor Cores" on RTX GPUs to upscale the image. The general consensus is that it produces a slightly sharper/cleaner result than FSR at the same quality setting — especially in fine detail (grass, hair, distant objects) and with less "ghosting" during motion.
Requirement: Only works on NVIDIA RTX series cards (RTX 20/30/40/50 series). Not available on GTX cards or AMD/Intel GPUs.
FSR (AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution)
FSR is AMD's solution, and its biggest advantage is that it's brand-agnostic — it works on NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel GPUs (even on older GTX-generation cards). This means it can be enabled on virtually any system where the game supports FSR. FSR 1's quality was noticeably behind DLSS, but the gap has closed significantly with FSR 3 and 4 — especially since AMD moved to its own AI-based approach in newer versions.
Requirement: Works on almost any modern GPU — so if you have an older or budget card, this is likely your only option.
XeSS (Intel)
XeSS, which comes with Intel's Arc GPUs, uses AI similar to DLSS. It performs best on Intel Arc cards, but is designed to also work (at reduced efficiency) on other brands. It's not as widely supported as DLSS and FSR yet, but more games are adding it over time.
Which quality mode should you pick?
All of these technologies typically offer a few quality tiers:
- Quality: The smallest FPS gain, the highest visual fidelity. Pick this if visual integrity matters most to you.
- Balanced: A middle ground.
- Performance: More FPS, slightly more blur. Makes sense in competitive games where FPS is the priority.
- Ultra Performance: Usually only makes sense at 4K — the quality loss is very noticeable at lower resolutions.
How much FPS does it actually add?
This depends on the game, resolution, and mode you pick, but you can generally expect a 30-50% gain in "Balanced" mode, with even more in "Performance" mode. To see the real numbers on your own hardware, try switching the upscaling option in our FPS calculator for an instant comparison.
How do you turn it on?
In almost every modern game, it's found under the "Graphics" or "Video Quality" settings tab — usually listed as "Upscaling," "Super Resolution," or directly by name ("DLSS"/"FSR"). Just pick a quality mode after enabling it; no game restart needed.
Don't confuse it with Frame Generation
DLSS 3/4 and FSR 3 also include a "Frame Generation" feature — this is a different technology from upscaling, where the GPU generates in-between frames it never actually rendered, which can increase input lag. Use it carefully in competitive games; it's generally fine in single-player, cinematic titles.
Summary
If you have an NVIDIA RTX card, DLSS usually gives the best result. If you have AMD, Intel, or an older NVIDIA GTX card, FSR is built for you. If both are available, trying both and comparing with your own eyes is the best approach — the quality difference can vary by game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning on DLSS noticeably hurt image quality?
In Quality mode, the difference is usually very hard to spot — in some cases, DLSS's own sharpening can even make it look crisper than native resolution. In Performance and Ultra Performance modes, you may notice slight blurring, especially in fine detail.
Does FSR really work on every GPU?
Yes — FSR's biggest advantage is being brand-agnostic. It works on NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel cards, even on GTX-generation cards from a few years back. The only requirement is that the game you're playing supports FSR.
Can DLSS and FSR be enabled at the same time in one game?
No, only one can be active in a given session. Just pick whichever matches your card (DLSS for NVIDIA RTX, FSR for everything else) in the settings menu.