PC gaming just keeps levelling up. Cutting-edge graphic cards can now help create massive worlds full of rich detail. Meanwhile, ray tracing makes light and shadows look incredibly realistic.
Gaming has never looked better, but all those amazing visuals can be a real workout for your graphics card – and some struggle to cope. That’s where NVIDIA’s DLSS comes in, with Ai-powered tech designed to makes games look spectacular, and run super smooth at the same time. Let’s see what makes it a must-have for anyone serious about gaming.
What is DLSS?
DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) is an Ai-powered rendering technology that’s exclusive to NVIDIA GPUs. It helps games run at higher frame rates and resolutions without putting too much strain on your graphics card.
Originally, DLSS was all about upscaling. It renders games at a lower resolution, like 1080p or 1440p, and then uses deep learning algorithms to upscale the image to 4K. The result? You get visuals that look just as good as native 4K rendering, but with better performance.
Over time, DLSS has gotten even better. The latest version, DLSS 4, can boost your frame rates by up to 8 times, enhance ray-tracing, and reduce latency with NVIDIA Reflex. This means you get faster, more responsive gameplay with super detailed visuals.
Here's a quick breakdown of what the DLSS acronym means:
Deep Learning: Refers to the Ai model that’s trained on thousands of reference images, so it can understand how various graphical elements (such as lighting, textures, and edges) should appear.
Super Sampling: Refers to the technique where lower resolution images are rendered and then upscaled to a higher resolution. This results in high-quality visuals without the drop in performance you might get with native rending.
How does DLSS work?
DLSS really shines at higher resolutions, like 4K, where you can see the biggest performance boost. At its heart, DLSS uses a smart deep learning neural network that’s been trained on high-resolution images. This network recognises patterns and details in game graphics, which helps it create high-quality images from lower-resolution inputs. Here’s how it works:
Low-resolution rendering: The game initially renders at a lower internal resolution, reducing the workload on the GPU.
Motion vector analysis: DLSS examines how pixels are moving between frames to understand the scene's motion.
Ai upscaling: The neural network uses this information to intelligently add pixels, reconstructing a higher-resolution image.
Temporal feedback: Information from previous frames is used to refine and stabilise the image over time.
DLSS requires specialised hardware in the form of Tensor Cores, which are present in NVIDIA's RTX series GPUs. These cores are designed specifically for Ai computations, allowing DLSS to work its magic without impacting your overall GPU performance.
The gaming benefits of DLSS
If you’re serious about gaming, DLSS can be a real secret weapon. Here’s how:
More FPS, smoother action. DLSS can double or even triple your frame rates, especially at 4K. If you’ve got a game struggling at 30 FPS, DLSS can push it past 60 FPS – even with ray tracing enabled.
Sharper than the original. Thanks to Ai, DLSS can make fine details like edges and textures look better than its native rendering.
Plays nice with old GPUs. Not ready to upgrade? DLSS helps you squeeze more life out of your current hardware.
DLSS through the years: versions and improvements
DLSS has evolved a lot since it launched, as you can see:
DLSS 1.0: The pioneering version
This is the first version of DLSS, introduced in 2018. While it offered performance gains, it sometimes resulted in blurry images and required per-game training. This means a separate neural network had to be trained for each game, which limited it's adoption in the gaming world. But despite these drawback, it laid the groundwork for future improvements.
DLSS 2: A leap forward
DLSS 2.0 launched in 2020, and fixed a lot of the issues from the first version. The main highlight was DLSS Super Resolution. This rendered games at lower resolutions, and then upscaled them to higher resolutions for better performance and image quality. Here are the key benefits:
Improved image quality: Often better than native resolution, giving you a super sharp and detailed picture.
Generalised Ai model: No more per-game training needed, making it easier to use across different games.
Quality modes: You could choose from Performance, Balanced, and Quality modes to find the perfect balance for you.
Wider game compatibility: More games support DLSS 2.0, so more players can enjoy the benefits.
DLSS 2.1 and 2.2: Refinement and expansion
These updates brought some great new features:
VR support: Now you can enjoy DLSS in virtual reality.
Dynamic resolution support: The game can adjust the resolution on the fly for smoother performance.
Ultra performance mode: Perfect for 8K gaming, giving you even more performance headroom.
Reduced ghosting and improved stability: Smoother visuals and a more stable experience overall.
DLSS 3: Frame Generation
Launched with the RTX 40 series, DLSS 3 introduced Frame Generation. This Ai-powered technique creates new frames, potentially doubling or tripling frame rates in supported games.
DLSS 3.5: Ray Reconstruction
Introduced in 2023, DLSS 3.5 focused on improving ray-traced image quality with Ray Reconstruction. This Ai technique enhances the clarity and detail of ray-traced elements, reducing noise and visual imperfections without a big hit to performance.
DLSS 4: Multi Frame Generation
DLSS 4 was released in January 2025 with the new RTX 50 series GPUs. It works on all GeForce RTX GPUs, including the 20 Series, but not all features will be available on older GPUs.
NVIDIA introduced Reflex 2.0 with DLSS 4 to reduce latency. Multi Frame Generation is another great addition, which is exclusive to the new GeForce RTX 50 Series graphics cards and laptops.
Multi Frame Generation is an advanced Ai technique that generates up to three additional frames for every traditionally rendered frame.
It will multiply frame rates by up to 8 times over traditional rendering.
Up to 75 games and apps that already use Frame Generation can be upgraded to Multi Frame Generation on GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs.
Which GPUs support DLSS?
To use DLSS, you’ll need an NVIDIA RTX GPU. Here’s a quick guide:
RTX 20 series: The first generation to support DLSS, including models like the RTX 2060, RTX 2070, RTX 2080, and their SUPER variants.
RTX 30 series: The second generation, offering improved DLSS performance, including models like the RTX 3060, RTX 3070, RTX 3080, and RTX 3090.
RTX 40 series: The third generation, adding support for Frame Generation with models like the RTX 4060, RTX 4070, RTX 4080, and RTX 4090.
RTX 50 series: The latest generation, supporting all DLSS features including Multi-Frame Generation, with models like the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070, and RTX 5070 Ti.
What games support DLSS?
As for games, over 600 titles now support DLSS, including big names like:
Cyberpunk 2077
Live on the edge in a neon-lit futuristic city. With DLSS you’ll enjoy smoother frame rates, letting you experience the city's vibrant streets without any hiccups.
Control. Solve puzzles in a mysterious, ever-shifting building filled with supernatural powers. DLSS improves visual fidelity, making the game's surreal environments and dynamic combat even more captivating
Minecraft. A blocky world of endless possibilities. DLSS ensures that the enhanced graphics run smoothly, so you can create something as soon as you imagine it.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Your chance to pilot almost any aircraft you can think of across a meticulously detailed globe. DLSS enhances frame rates, for a more immersive flying experience over diverse terrains.
NVIDIA is also partnering with developers to integrate DLSS into popular game engines like Unreal Engine 5, so expect even more games to jump on board.
How Does DLSS Compare to AMD FSR and Intel XeSS?
DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS are all technologies designed to make PC gaming smoother by improving frame rates and making visuals look better. They all work in roughly the same way, but there are some key differences.
AMD FSR: simplicity plus compatibility
FSR works on lots of different GPUs including Nvidia and Intel – but it doesn’t rely on Ai. Instead, it uses a simpler method to upscale images. This means it’s not as sharp as DLSS, especially during motion.
Intel XeSS: A versatile Ai option
XeSS combines Ai upscaling with support for a variety of GPUs. It comes with several settings to suit different performance requirements, making it a versatile option - although DLSS usually delivers sharper visuals and performance.
DLAA: A non-upscaling alternative to DLSS
NVIDIA also offers DLAA (Deep Learning Anti-Aliasing). It uses the same Ai tech as DLSS, but focuses on making native-resolution games look smoother and more detailed – rather than upscaling from a low-res version.
What’s next for DLSS Ai in gaming?
DLSS is always learning. In the future, its Ai could reshape how games are played and even how they’re made. Here are a few features we’re hoping to see soon:
In-game asset creation. Your favourite game could look completely different every time you play it, with Ai generating textures, objects, and even whole environments on the fly.
Smarter NPCs. Imagine game characters that react in more realistic ways. That’ll be the next step in Ai driven behaviour.
More speed and quality. As Ai algorithms gets even smarter, expect faster load times and higher-quality in-game characters and features.
Ready to give DLSS a try?
DLSS isn’t just a tool - it’s literally a game-changer. Whether you’re chasing high frame rates or looking for super sharp visuals, NVIDIA’s Ai-powered tech will help you reach the gaming levels you need.
Ready for the next step? Check out our NVIDIA RTX graphics cards and up your game!
