GPU, graphics & drivers
FSR vs DLSS: which upscaler should you use?
Reviewed July 2026
RTX card and game support → try DLSS first: best reconstruction, especially in motion. No RTX or FSR-only game → FSR, the universal option, now very close. Start at Quality preset. Frame Generation adds smoothness AND latency — off in competitive.
When should you use FSR vs DLSS?
01 What upscaling is, and why it gives you FPS
Upscaling renders the game internally at a lower resolution than your display, then reconstructs the image up to your output resolution. Because the GPU draws far fewer pixels, you gain FPS; the reconstructor (DLSS, FSR or XeSS) does the work of making the result still look close to native. The honest catch: it isn't magic or free FPS at no cost. It's a trade — you gain performance in exchange for a loss of sharpness that, used well, is usually small.
02 DLSS: NVIDIA's option (RTX only)
DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) is NVIDIA's technology and runs only on GeForce RTX cards, because it uses the AI (Tensor) cores on those GPUs. It's built in game by game, so it only appears in titles that support it. It generally reconstructs the image best, especially in motion, where it holds edges and fine detail with fewer artifacts. If you own an RTX card and the game offers it, it's the first thing worth trying.
03 FSR: AMD's open option (runs on almost anything)
FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) is AMD's open technology, and its biggest strength is compatibility: it runs on almost any modern GPU, including NVIDIA and Intel cards, not just Radeon. That makes it the universal option if you don't have an RTX card, or if a game offers FSR but not DLSS. Modern FSR versions have improved image quality a lot and now land close to DLSS, though the result varies by game and how it's implemented.
04 Intel XeSS: the third option
XeSS is Intel's upscaler. It looks best on Intel Arc cards (where it uses dedicated hardware), but it also has a more universal mode that runs on NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, usually with somewhat less quality or performance than on an Arc. You won't always have it available, but if a game offers XeSS and not DLSS, it's often a good third option to compare against FSR.
05 Image quality: the honest reality
Broadly, DLSS generally looks best in motion, modern FSR is close and improving, and XeSS lands in between depending on hardware. But results vary from game to game based on how each one is implemented, so the ranking isn't absolute. Artifacts to watch for: edges with slight shimmer or a ghosting trail behind moving objects, and some loss of fine detail. The only test that counts is your own: try all three if the game has them and keep whichever looks best on your screen.
06 Presets: Quality vs Balanced vs Performance
Each upscaler ships presets that decide how low the internal resolution goes. Quality renders closest to native: less extra FPS, but the best image. Performance and Ultra Performance render much lower: more FPS, but more artifacts and lost sharpness. Balanced sits in the middle. Rule of thumb: start on Quality. At 1440p or 4K there are pixels to spare and the more aggressive presets hold up well; at 1080p, Performance mode often looks soft, so stay on Quality or Balanced.
07 Frame Generation: smoother, but it adds latency
Frame Generation (DLSS 3 Frame Gen and FSR 3 Frame Gen) is different from upscaling: it inserts generated frames between the real ones so motion looks smoother. It gives a greater sense of smoothness, but those extra frames don't respond to your input, so it adds some latency (input lag) and needs a decent base FPS to feel right — turning it on when you're already at a low frame rate usually makes the experience worse, not better. It shines in single-player games where smoothness matters more than response; in competitive games, where latency rules, it's usually best left off.
08 Honest verdict: which to use
If you have an RTX card, try DLSS first: it's usually the best image and costs you nothing but turning it on. If you don't have RTX (or the game doesn't offer DLSS), FSR is the universal option and looks very good today. XeSS is a third alternative worth comparing, especially on Arc cards. In every case, start on the Quality preset to keep things sharp, add Frame Generation only if you already have a solid base FPS, and remember: it's a real performance win in exchange for a small quality cost — not free FPS.
09 Where Neon helps (honestly)
Neon isn't an upscaler and doesn't replace DLSS or FSR: those options live inside each game and you always turn them on yourself. What Neon does is measure real numbers from your system (CPU, RAM and GPU usage and speed) and explain them in plain language, so you know whether you're GPU-limited — where upscaling helps most — before changing anything. The wins it does automate are Windows-side, safe and reversible, and every change is logged so you can undo it. It never touches your BIOS or forces your hardware. Every manual step in this guide works without Neon.
DLSS vs FSR vs XeSS at a glance
| Aspect | DLSS | FSR | XeSS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who makes it | NVIDIA | AMD | Intel |
| Where it runs | GeForce RTX only | Almost any GPU | Best on Arc; also others |
| Quality in motion | Generally the best | Close and improving | In between |
| Model | Proprietary | Open | Open |
Where Neon helps
Upscaling is turned on inside the game, not in Neon. What Neon adds is knowing, with real numbers, whether you're GPU-limited — which is where upscaling pays off most — before you touch any settings.
- Reads your CPU, RAM and GPU's real usage and speed, so you know whether upscaling is worth it before you turn it on.
- It isn't an upscaler and doesn't replace DLSS or FSR: those options live in each game and you always turn them on yourself.
- The wins it automates are Windows-side, safe and reversible, and every change is logged so you can undo it with one click.
- It never touches your BIOS or forces your hardware. Choosing the upscaler, the preset or Frame Generation is always your call.
Common questions
- Should I use FSR or DLSS?
- If you own an NVIDIA RTX card, try DLSS first: it's the best reconstruction and just needs enabling. No RTX or FSR-only game → FSR is the universal option, now very close to DLSS in quality. XeSS is a third alternative worth comparing, especially on Intel Arc cards. In all cases, start on the Quality preset.
- What is the difference between FSR and DLSS?
- DLSS (NVIDIA) runs only on GeForce RTX cards and uses a neural network trained on high/low-res image pairs — temporal sampling from multiple frames gives very sharp results. FSR (AMD) is open-source and runs on nearly any GPU including NVIDIA and Intel — it uses a spatial algorithm requiring no specialized hardware. Both render from a lower resolution to reach native; DLSS generally wins on image quality, FSR wins on universality.
- Does upscaling increase FPS?
- Yes, but it's a trade-off: the GPU renders at a lower resolution, then the upscaler reconstructs to native size. FPS rises because there's less real render work — in exchange, image sharpness is slightly below true native. How much FPS rises depends on your GPU, the game, and the preset. Quality presets give the smallest image loss; Performance and Ultra Performance give more FPS but softer images.
- Should I use Frame Generation with upscaling?
- Frame Generation inserts generated frames between real ones to make motion feel smoother, but it adds latency (input lag) and needs a decent base FPS to feel right. Turning it on at low frame rates usually makes the experience worse. It shines in single-player games where smoothness matters more than response; in competitive games, where latency rules, it's usually best left off.
Want to squeeze out more frames? See the guide on the best settings for more FPS, or the full picture in how to speed up your PC for gaming.
SourcesFuentes
- NVIDIA DLSS — NVIDIA official DLSS technology page
- AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) — AMD official FSR technology page
- Intel XeSS — Intel official XeSS technology page