NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution is designed to increase frame rates by rendering a game at a lower internal resolution and reconstructing a sharper final image using AI. DLSS 4.5 builds on that idea with improved reconstruction and reduced artifacts in many titles. This guide shows you how to enable DLSS, pick the right mode, and tune common settings for your display and GPU.

What DLSS Super Resolution does (and what it doesn’t)

  • DLSS Super Resolution improves performance by upscaling from a lower render resolution to your target resolution.
  • It is not the same as DLAA (which targets quality at native resolution) or Frame Generation (which inserts AI-generated frames). A game can offer one, two, or all of these separately.
  • DLSS quality depends on the game’s implementation, your selected mode, and your post-processing settings (sharpening, film grain, motion blur, etc.).

Prerequisites checklist

  • Compatible hardware: DLSS Super Resolution requires an NVIDIA RTX GPU.
  • Up-to-date drivers: Install the latest NVIDIA Game Ready (or Studio) driver for best compatibility.
  • A DLSS-enabled game: DLSS must be integrated by the game. If you don’t see it in the graphics menu, the title may not support it.

Step 1: Enable DLSS in-game

  1. Open the game’s Settings → Graphics or Display menu.
  2. Find an option labeled DLSS, NVIDIA DLSS, or Upscaling.
  3. Set Upscaler to DLSS (if the game offers multiple upscalers like FSR/XeSS).
  4. Choose a DLSS Mode (Quality/Balanced/Performance/Ultra Performance) or a Preset depending on the game’s UI.
  5. Apply changes and restart the game if prompted.

Step 2: Pick the right DLSS mode for your resolution

Use these as practical starting points. You can then adjust based on the game and your tolerance for softness or shimmer.

  • 1080p: Start with Quality. (Performance modes can look too soft at 1080p in some games.)
  • 1440p: Start with Quality or Balanced if you need extra FPS.
  • 4K: Start with Balanced or Performance if you’re targeting high refresh rates or heavy ray tracing.
  • Ultra Performance: Usually best reserved for very high target resolutions (like 8K) or extreme GPU limits. Try it only if other modes can’t reach your FPS goal.

Step 3: Tune key settings that strongly affect DLSS image quality

Sharpening

  • If the game includes a DLSS Sharpen or Upscaling Sharpen slider, begin low (or even off) and increase gradually.
  • Oversharpening can create halos around edges and make foliage look noisy.

Film grain, chromatic aberration, depth of field

  • For cleaner reconstruction, consider lowering or disabling film grain and chromatic aberration.
  • Depth of field is taste-based, but strong DOF can mask fine detail and complicate comparisons.

Motion blur

  • If you notice smearing or odd trails during fast camera pans, try reducing motion blur first before changing DLSS mode.

Ray tracing and other heavy effects

  • Ray tracing can dramatically increase GPU load. DLSS often shines most when RT is enabled.
  • If you’re close to your FPS target, switching DLSS from Quality → Balanced is usually less noticeable than reducing texture quality or view distance.

Step 4: Validate performance and quality (quick test method)

  1. Go to a stable, repeatable scene (same location, same time of day, same camera direction).
  2. Toggle between DLSS Quality and Balanced (or your two candidates).
  3. Look specifically at:
    • Fine geometry (fences, wires, railings)
    • Foliage shimmer (trees/grass)
    • Text clarity (signs, UI-adjacent world text)
    • Ghosting on moving objects (NPCs, particles, weapon sights)
  4. Keep the mode that meets your FPS goal with the fewest visible artifacts in motion (not just in still frames).

Common problems and fixes

DLSS looks too soft

  • Move one step toward quality (e.g., Performance → Balanced or Balanced → Quality).
  • Increase sharpening slightly (avoid extremes).
  • At 1080p, favor Quality or consider native + TAA if you already have enough FPS.

Shimmering foliage or crawling edges

  • Try a higher-quality DLSS mode.
  • Reduce over-sharpening.
  • If the game offers separate anti-aliasing options, avoid stacking aggressive AA methods on top of DLSS unless recommended by the game.

Ghosting behind moving objects

  • Lower motion blur and film grain.
  • Try a different DLSS mode; some implementations behave better in Quality than Performance.
  • Check for a game patch—temporal reconstruction issues are often improved over time.

Recommended “safe” starting presets

  • Competitive FPS (1440p high refresh): DLSS Quality or Balanced, low sharpening, minimal post-processing.
  • Single-player cinematic with ray tracing (4K): DLSS Balanced (or Performance if needed), moderate sharpening, keep textures high.
  • Midrange GPU struggling with RT: Turn on DLSS first before lowering textures; then adjust RT quality levels.

Takeaway

DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution is most effective when you treat it as a tuning tool: choose the highest-quality mode that still hits your FPS target, keep sharpening conservative, and evaluate results in motion. With a few minutes of testing, you can often gain substantial performance with minimal visual tradeoffs.