Nvidia created DLSS or Deep Learning Super Sampling as a necessity when it launched its first-generation RTX graphics cards in 2018. The unprecedented performance overhead of ray tracing had to be offset (to some degree) with Nvidia's DLSS upscaling technology. It has since grown to encompass a wider range of techniques and algorithms, including AI to generate new frames in addition to simply lowering the render resolution and then upscaling it to a higher one.

AMD joined the party with its open-source alternative called FSR or FidelityFX Super Resolution, which, with its latest iteration, has also brought frame generation to a larger set of graphics cards. While both DLSS and FSR come with a few downsides, they are absolutely game-changing for budget graphics cards. Let's break down how.

5 Budget GPUs need all the help they can get

Upscaling promises a much-needed FPS boost

As you probably know, budget PCs do not have the luxury of brute forcing through demanding games to yield 60+ or even 100+ FPS, especially at resolutions like 1440p and 4K. A budget graphics card needs every ounce of performance boost it can get to reach playable frame rates at the desired resolution. 1080p might not be too taxing on budget GPUs in most games, but 1440p is a whole different challenge.

Over the last few generations of graphics cards, budget offerings have struggled to offer a reasonable gaming experience in demanding titles. In such a situation, when a gamer turns on DLSS or FSR, they are guaranteed at least a decent FPS boost, whatever the resolution they are using. Frame generation, if available on the graphics card, and supported by the game, can take the performance to the next level.

Turning on upscaling can often transform a 30 FPS experience into a 60+ FPS one, which is nothing short of revolutionary. Of course, there's a significant caveat here — the graphics card should be able to render the game at a reasonable resolution and frame rate before upscaling comes into the picture. If not, DLSS and FSR will most likely not generate desirable results, resulting in excess noise and artifacts.

4 DLSS and FSR have come a long way

Loss of image quality is less of a concern now

The challenges surrounding image quality retention have been solved to a great extent compared to when DLSS and FSR were in their infancy. In the earlier iterations, it was much more common to see weird artifacts and behavior around certain objects in games, such as fences, thin power cables, and more. You might still spot this behavior today, but due to advances in their underlying algorithms and AI models, DLSS and FSR are now way more adept at dealing with them.

Premium and high-end GPUs can already render games at higher resolutions, so DLSS and FSR have much more information available to generate the final output. However, budget GPUs do not have this luxury, since increasing the base resolution will reduce the base frame rate to a level that's not ideal for the upscaler to work with. Hence, the improvements we have seen in DLSS and FSR seem much more impressive when they are in action on more affordable offerings from Nvidia and AMD.

Although it's possible to pixel-peep and find minor faults with the output of DLSS and FSR, most gamers won't do that. As long as they're seeing smoother gameplay combined with image quality that looks "fine" on the surface, they really don't care.

3 FSR is a godsend for budget GPUs

AMD is sticking to its open-source stance

Nvidia's DLSS might still be the superior technology compared to AMD's FSR or even Intel's XeSS, but not all of its features are available on all GPUs, even on some of Nvidia's own products. For instance, the game-changing frame generation feature is limited to Nvidia's RTX 40 series graphics cards, as they are the only ones with the necessary hardware. This leaves owners of the RTX 30 series GPUs high and dry, especially a large group using budget 30 series GPUs like the RTX 3060.

FSR, being open source, doesn't limit any of its upscaling or frame generation features to AMD's own graphics cards. It is available to use not just on AMD GPUs, but also those from Nvidia and Intel. Budget shoppers opting for cheaper options like the previous-generation RTX 30 series cards or more cost-effective models from AMD, still have access to the latest and greatest FSR features; not being locked down to specific hardware to access almost-necessary software is always a bonus.

FSR might technically be inferior to DLSS right now, but the gulf between them has reduced significantly over the years. With the next generation of AMD GPUs reportedly launching with a new version of FSR, which will leverage AI to greater heights, it's almost certain that this gulf will reduce even further. And with the confirmation that AMD will launch only budget and mid-range GPUs this generation, gamers using Team Red's GPUs will be able to boost in-game performance without breaking the bank.

2 Budget shoppers can delay their GPU upgrade

Why upgrade when you have an extra tank of free FPS?

Naturally, a major priority for budget shoppers is maximizing value for money and longevity. Budget GPU buyers usually do not prefer to upgrade graphics cards every generation or even every other generation. Making their budget GPU last for as long as possible allows them to reduce the lifetime cost of their PC as well as save up for an eventual GPU upgrade.

DLSS and FSR, by offering budget gamers an easy way of boosting performance beyond the base capability of their hardware, provide a neat way of delaying a GPU upgrade by a few more years. Considering the performance tiers offered by DLSS and FSR, such as the quality, performance, and ultra performance modes, gamers also have significant control over the kind of balance they want to strike between image quality and FPS.

We have seen gen-on-gen improvements hit a ceiling on the more affordable graphics cards, especially when comparing the RTX 40 and RTX 30 series graphics cards. This trend will probably continue into the next generation of GPUs, making the bulk of performance improvements come from software advancements rather than hardware innovation. Moore's Law isn't on the side of consumers anymore, and budget shoppers especially will look to technologies like DLSS and FSR to provide much-needed generational improvements on mainstream graphics cards.

1 DLSS and FSR have made PC gaming more accessible

Allow me to make some controversial points

This might not be news to most of you, but for the uninitiated, I'd like to point out that since technologies like DLSS and FSR have joined the fray, gamers feel that game developers have grown lax when it comes to game optimization. Instead of ensuring their games perform well on a variety of hardware, they seem to be overly relying on upscaling tech to pick up the slack. We have already seen this in several prominent titles such as Starfield, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and Hogwarts Legacy.

Launching poorly optimized, unfinished, or downright broken titles is a trend that, sadly, does not seem to be going away anytime soon. The crunch culture in the video game industry, combined with the bad precedents set by past titles, will probably ensure that optimization in PC gaming will continue on its downward spiral. Whether it's right or not, DLSS and FSR will remain integral to acceptable gaming performance, especially for budget GPUs.

Additionally, it will probably be easier for budget shoppers to stomach any disappointment around not enjoying games at native resolutions. Gamers opting for halo products from Nvidia and AMD will pay top dollar, expect groundbreaking performance, but will still have to rely on upscaling to generate playable FPS at higher resolutions. In contrast, gamers who pay a fifth of the price will be comparatively less miffed at their purchase. Gamers can opt for a budget GPU instead of an overpriced one, and still enjoy the same benefits and disappointments that premium buyers get to experience.

DLSS and FSR are staples of modern gaming

DLSS, FSR, XeSS, and now, even PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) on the PS5 Pro are all versions of upscaling or AI-enhanced frame generation that have become part and parcel of modern games and gaming hardware. These performance-boosting techniques have improved in quality as well as efficiency to the point that keeping them disabled is akin to leaving performance on the table.

With gen-on-gen hardware improvements not likely to be game-changing in the budget segment, DLSS and FSR are quite promising for budget gaming PCs. Nvidia, AMDs, and others will increasingly leverage AI to improve their upscaling and frame generation tech with each generation of graphics cards, ensuring competition remains high and gamers are the ones to benefit.