Curated by THEOUTPOST
On Wed, 15 Jan, 4:01 PM UTC
9 Sources
[1]
Nvidia might've just given you a reason to skip RTX 50-series
Nvidia's RTX 50-series graphics cards are set to arrive in a matter of days, and although they could be among the best graphics cards you can buy, Nvidia itself might've just given PC gamers a reason to sit out this generation. According to Nvidia's Bryan Catanzaro -- the company's DLSS champion -- it might be possible to add features like DLSS Multi-Frame Generation to older generations of graphics cards. The news comes via an interview Catanzaro did with Digital Foundry, where the question about frame generation on RTX 30-series GPUs came up. Catanzaro says enabling frame generation on older generations "is primarily a question of optimization," and says that Nvidia will "see what we're able to squeeze out of older hardware in the future." Over the past two generations, Nvidia has put a much greater emphasis on DLSS when marketing its graphics cards. That's true with its latest RTX 50-series GPUs, as well, which promise up to 4X frame generation with DLSS 4. That feature is exclusive to Nvidia's latest graphics cards, but Catanzaro's comment doesn't rule out the possibility of these features coming to older generations in the future. Recommended Videos It should be possible, albeit with a quality or performance loss. Tools like Lossless Scaling have provided a glimpse into multi-frame generation, and although the experience isn't perfect, it's still usable. Nvidia's older RTX 40-series and 30-series GPUs may not have the latest Tensor cores available on RTX 50-series GPUs, but they still have some AI hardware -- and they should, theoretically, be able to perform frame generation. Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming ReSpec Subscribe Check your inbox! Privacy Policy The question for Nvidia, it seems, isn't about if frame generation is possible on older generations; it's if frame generation is practical. There would likely be a quality loss if Nvidia were to backport its frame generation tech, but the larger concern is performance. It's possible that enabling these features on older graphics cards could bring up several issues. First, there's the overhead. Faster Tensor cores means that RTX 50-series GPUs don't need to spend a long time on the frame generation algorithm, and with weaker AI hardware, older generations may spend too long processing the algorithm. That could lead to little or no performance gain. There's also the issue of frame pacing to contend with, which is something Nvidia has to keep in careful balance with RTX 40-series and 50-series GPUs. Although it's an open question as to if Nvidia will bring frame generation to previous generations, all RTX graphics cards will benefit from DLSS 4. The company moved from a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to a transformer model, which it says provides quality improvements for all RTX graphics cards that are using DLSS in some fashion.
[2]
Now Nvidia's hardware blocks have been AI'd out of existence all it will take for Frame Generation support on RTX 20- and 30-series GPUs is 'further optimization and testing'
The pros and cons of backporting Frame Gen to RTX 20- and 30-series graphics cards. A lot of things are going to change when Nvidia's new RTX Blackwell cards launch this month, with a bunch of it coming to existing cards as well as the RTX 50-series. But will one of those changes see DLSS Frame Generation coming to the Ampere-based RTX 30-series? It's possible, because now we're just talking about "further optimization and testing" rather than dedicated hardware locks. Previously, the main reason given for Nvidia's Frame Generation feature to be locked to the RTX 40-series of cards was that it had dropped in an enhanced lump of silicon into the new Ada GPUs. The optical flow accelerator was key to Nvidia's Frame Gen being something more stable and accurate than the sort of interpolation used by other systems. But the RTX 30-series optical flow units weren't as capable, and so Nvidia chose to hardware-lock the feature to the RTX 40-series, and above. The situation has changed now, as the new frame generation model no longer makes use of the optical flow accelerator hardware at all and has been entirely replaced by a more efficient AI model. Alongside the frame generation AI model, the optical flow AI model helps reduce the computational cost of generating these in between frames, with a touted 30% reduction in VRAM usage and a potential 10% uplift in overall frame rates. And this isn't just when it comes to the new Multi Frame Generation feature of the RTX Blackwell cards, either. This new model is rolling out across any game that currently supports Frame Generation, whether by native integration by the game devs or via the DLSS Override settings in the Nvidia App. The obvious question from that is if the hardware-blockage which stopped the RTX 30-series from using the Frame Generation feature is being AI'd out of existence, why can't we have nice things on the older cards, too? I put that question to Nvidia myself and it turns out that there are no hardware reasons that it cannot work. "DLSS Frame Generation was designed and optimized for RTX 40 Series and later," says Nvidia. "Support for previous GPU architectures would take further optimization and testing." So, 'all' it takes is some optimisation to get the feature working on the RTX 30-series, and maybe even the RTX 20-series given that those GPUs, too, contain the Tensor Cores required for the actual nuts and bolts of the Frame Generation calculations. There are performance differences between those Tensor Cores and the units inside the RTX 40-series, so this is certainly no tacit admission that Frame Gen is coming to older cards, just that it would need some tweaking and testing by Nvidia to ensure that it's in a fit state for release. What I would say is that I know Nvidia has been messing around with the RTX 30-series and Frame Generation for a while now, likely more seriously when it first started working with the AI-replacement for the optical flow accelerator. For me, that makes it more likely we'll see a potential fillip for RTX 30-series folk down the line. Nvidia, however, would likely say it only wants to release such an update should the feature be strong enough on the older cards. And, granted, Frame Generation works its best when you've already got frame rates of around 60 fps+ without it, so if you were hoping that such an update would suddenly make your RTX 3060 a monster we probably need to have a talk. The flip side of that, however, is that AMD's agnostic frame generation feature is already being used by a ton of RTX 30-series owners to good effect. And, while it may not deliver the sort of image quality DLSS Frame Generation can deliver natively, users are generally happy with getting themselves some higher frame rates gratis. What has Nvidia got to lose by offering the new feature to existing users, then? Well, if you look at the RTX 50-series line up you could make the case that it's there specifically for RTX 20- and 30-series owners in terms of the upgrade cycle. And if you just hand over a free speed boost to those gamers are they going to be as willing to drop a ton of cash on a whole new graphics card?
[3]
Game-changing Nvidia DLSS 4 feature may come to non-RTX 50 series gaming laptops
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang showing off an RTX 50-series GPU at CES 2025 (Image credit: Nvidia) Nvidia's highly-anticipated GeForce RTX 50-series GPUs are finally here, along with some exciting details on DLSS 4, the latest version of Nvidia's graphics upscaling tech. However, one of the most important DLSS 4 features, Multi Frame Generation, may not be exclusive to Nvidia's new GPUs. At CES 2025 earlier this month, Nvidia announced a slew of exciting features for DLSS 4, launching alongside its new RTX 50-series graphics cards on January 30, 2025. One DLSS 4 feature -- Multi Frame Generation, which uses AI to significantly increase FPS by up to eight times -- was initially thought to be exclusively available on the 50-series GPUs. However, that might not be the case for long. According to Nvidia's Bryan Catanzaro, Multi Frame Generation may eventually make its way to older hardware, meaning you might not need to upgrade your gaming laptop just yet. In an interview with Digital Foundry published on January 19, Bryan Catanzaro, VP of Applied Deep Learning Research at Nvidia, shared some details about what lies ahead for the new DLSS 4 features announced at CES 2025. Specifically, Catanzaro hinted at the possibility of the new Multi Frame Generation feature on older GPUs. When asked if Multi Frame Generation in DLSS 4 could run on RTX 30-series graphics cards, Catanzaro explained, "I think this is primarily a question of optimization and also engineering, and then the ultimate user experience. "We're launching this frame generation, the best multi-frame generation technology, with the 50 series and we'll see what we're able to squeeze out of older hardware in the future." That's not any confirmation Multi Frame Generation will definitely come to older GPUs down the road, but it certainly leaves the door open for that possibility. From what Catanzaro said, it sounds like a question of whether or not Nvidia can optimize the feature well enough to run on older hardware. While DLSS 4 is coming to all RTX GPUs, Multi Frame Generation was initially unveiled as an RTX 50-series exclusive. Older RTX 40, 30, and 20 series GPUs will also receive DLSS 4 improvements, but only in a limited manner. It would be a huge win for many gaming laptop owners to see Multi Frame Generation eventually make its way to RTX 40-series and maybe even RTX 30-series GPUs. This DLSS 4 feature could not only boost frame rates and improve performance on higher resolutions, but it could also help gamers get a little more longevity out of their current hardware, which already lacks the horsepower of their desktop contemporaries. Of course, we're still excited to see how new gaming laptops with RTX 50-series GPUs perform, but if you just bought a sweet new RTX 40-series laptop, you may be set for a surprise boost in graphical output should Nvidia follow through on this opportunity.
[4]
If you still own an RTX 3000 series GPU, you might be in luck - Nvidia could bring Frame Generation to your old hardware
Tensor Cores could be the deciding factor for the RTX 3000 series receiving Frame Generation With Nvidia's RTX 5000 series launch on the horizon, it's easy to be tempted into buying the latest and (hopefully) the greatest, but Frame Generation could change that - it's not just being improved on RTX 4000 series GPUs and Team Green's latest Blackwell GPUs like the RTX 5090 (Multi Frame Generation), but potentially RTX 3000 GPUs as well. Hints that older Nvidia GPUs might finally get Frame Generation, a clever feature that uses AI to generate additional frames to boost overall frame rates, comes from Digital Foundry's interview (which you can view below) with Nvidia's Applied Deep Learning Research VP, Bryan Catanzaro - as reported by Wccftech, Catanzaro mentioned Nvidia will be looking at ways to get the best out of older hardware. We know that the current model of Frame Generation will receive improvements later this month once the RTX 5080 and 5090 launch, which will utilize less VRAM while providing better performance thanks to Tensor Cores. Catanzaro made it clear that DLSS 3 Frame Generation was built upon Nvidia's Optical Flow hardware accelerator (motion detector for objects between frames), with the RTX 4000 series GPUs maintaining a much more improved version compared to RTX 3000 GPUs - the new model of Frame Generation (and Multi Frame Generation exclusive to RTX 5000 series GPUs) won't require the Optical Flow accelerator, but rather an AI-based solution. Since the new model will rely on a higher standard of Tensor Cores (which increases AI performance) which both RTX 4000 and RTX 5000 GPUs come with, it isn't that simple for Team Green to bring Frame Generation to the older GPUs. With Frame Generation supposedly using much less VRAM usage and not needing an Optical Flow accelerator, however, RTX 3000 users could be in luck (despite the weaker Tensor Cores). While this is essentially just speculation about future possibilities, there's a chance that Nvidia RTX 3000 series users could get the full package of DLSS 4 that includes Frame Generation. DLSS 3 has been available to both RTX 3000 and 2000 series users with super-resolution, DLAA, and ray reconstruction at their disposal - but Frame Generation has so far been exclusive to the RTX 4000 series. With the requirement of an Optical Flow accelerator now gone, the chances of Frame Generation making its way to RTX 3000 GPUs are now much higher. The main hurdle that could stop this is the weaker Tensor Cores as I mentioned, but the fact that we're at least getting discussions about it with Catanzaro shouldn't be taken lightly. For now, it's best to look forward to what improvements DLSS 4 will bring to older GPUs and stay patient for any future updates. If Frame Generation for RTX 3000 GPUs does happen, it could breathe new life into the older graphics cards, and could mean gamers that can't afford a new RTX 5000 series GPU will continue to be able to play new PC games for a few more years.
[5]
GeForce RTX 50 Series owners will get to choose how many AI frames DLSS 4 renders
TL;DR: The GeForce RTX 50 Series, launching soon, introduces DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation, exclusive to this series, allowing up to three AI-generated frames with minimal latency. This technology enhances frame pacing and performance, especially in games with Path Tracing. DLSS 4 also improves image quality and performance across RTX 20, 30, and 40 Series cards, with notable advancements in AI models and hardware. With the GeForce RTX 50 Series set to launch later this month with the new flagship GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, one of the significant features for PC gamers coming with the new Blackwell generation is DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation. Compared to the DLSS 3 Frame Generation, the new DLSS 4 version, exclusive to the RTX 50 Series, introduces an updated AI model and hardware that can generate up to three frames instead of one. With the new Blackwell 'Flip Metering' technology, DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation can generate more frames with consistent frame pacing and virtually no additional latency. During a live demonstration of the technology at NVIDIA's Editor's Day at CES 2025, running on a preview build of Cyberpunk 2077, each additional generated frame only added 1-2ms of latency. The latency is essentially the same when stacked against the original DLSS Frame Generation. This is how the GeForce RTX 5090 can achieve 240+ FPS in games with full Path Tracing, which is a remarkable result because it's roughly an 8X increase over native rendering. However, the AI-generated frames are imperfect because there are 'blink and you'll miss it' artifacts, so those who love tinkering with settings can choose how many AI-generated frames are rendered. The idea is that DLSS Multi Frame Generation, with NVIDIA Reflex and G-Sync support, is for gamers who want to 'max out' their display's refresh rate - in addition to being tailor-made for Path Tracing. I've got MSI's brilliant MAG 321UPX QD-OLED 4K 240Hz display, so generating three frames to hit 240 FPS makes sense. However, if you've got a 4K 144Hz display, limiting the additional frames of the DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation to two makes more sense. These controls will be added in-game to the display and graphics settings section where DLSS controls are kept. In Cyberpunk 2077, you've got the option of 2X, 3X, and 4X for DLSS Multi Frame Generation (which counts the native or DLSS Super Resolution rendered frame). With DLSS 4, in-game settings are now more detailed to cover the new Transformer model and Multi Frame Generation. What makes this even more exciting is that DLSS 4 upgrades and overhauls all aspects of the AI-powered technology. With the new 'Transformer' model, which has double the parameters and four times the computing power, DLSS Super Resolution and Ray Reconstruction image quality has been noticeably improved compared to DLSS 3.5 - and is available for all GeForce RTX 20, 30, and 40 Series owners. DLSS 4's revamped Frame Generation will also work on all GeForce RTX 40 Series cards, upgraded to deliver notable performance gains with lower VRAM usage. Albeit limited to a single AI-generated frame. RTX Blackwell is bringing significant improvements to its Tensor Cores while integrating AI workloads for games into the rendering pipeline like never before, so naturally, all of this will run faster on the GeForce RTX 50 Series.
[6]
Your old RTX 3080 and other older GPUs could get new AI superpowers after RTX 5090 launch, and I'm happy Nvidia is even considering it
Nvidia Frame Generation for older graphics cards isn't off the table. Those of you with an RTX 3080 or one of Nvidia's older GPUs will no doubt be feeling a bit of Frame Generation FOMO. The tech first arrived alongside the RTX 40-series and has since evolved into a new Multi-Frame Generation feature supported by cards like the RTX 5080 via DLSS 4. However, the green teams seems to have older models on its mind, and support for your old Ampere graphics card isn't out of the question. In an interview with Digital Foundry, Nvidia's Deep Learning VP Bryan Catanzaro delved into DLSS 4, the AI upscaling suite that could convince you to buy an RTX 5080. During the chat, Catanzaro is quizzed on what's keeping the feature from running on RTX 3000, a question that's been on my mind for years seeing as it can unofficially run on those cards. Thankfully, Catanzaro's response was pretty hopeful, as the VP says while "it's primarily a question of optimization, and also engineering, and then the ultimate user experience," Nvidia apparently plans to see what it can "squeeze out of older hardware in the future." Naturally, the company is primarily focused on DLSS 4 right now, using those juicy new Tensor cores to push Frame Generation to new heights. But, once the next generation store settles down and we're out of the RTX 5090 pre-order woods, perhaps we'll see the green team imbue RTX 30-series GPUs with some of those abilities, even if the "multi" part is reserved for new cards. A lot has changed within the best graphics card scene since the RTX 3080 and its siblings arrived. It was once revered as an excellent GPU with balanced abilities for its price. I'd argue it still is to this day, but since you'll soon be able to buy an RTX 5070 with similar capabilities to the GeForce RTX 4090, it's perhaps time to start chatting about gaming PC upgrades. That's not to say you should immediately go and swap your RTX 3080 for a shiny new RTX 5080. Even before we get to the idea of Frame Generation potentially coming to Ampere in the future, Nvidia has confirmed its updating its DLSS 4 model for cards as far back as the RTX 20-series. Basically, you'll still have access to the AI Super Resolution portion of the tech, DLAA, and even Ray Reconstruction, so you'll have plenty of tricks to boost performance and enhance your visuals. There are largely two things I'd look at as a PC player before upgrading your graphics card to a new-gen model. The first is whether or not you're actually struggling to run games using your current gaming monitor. Those of you still using a 1080p or 1440p screen are going to have a much easier time combatting troublesome system requirements now and in the future, whereas itching to play new romps at 4K will start to feel the pressure. If you happen to have a 12GB RTX 3080, the extra VRAM will help you enjoy higher resolutions and textures than with the 10GB. However, the 16GB GDDR7 modules included with the RTX 5080 will give you a bit more headroom. Of course, features like DLSS 4 will also take a lot of extra stress off of the new 80-series contender, and while some of you might wonder why the 80-series card isn't matching the RTX 4090 on memory, you might not need it in practice. Simply put, if you're struggling to boost fps right now on the RTX 3080 using your preferred settings, it might be time to consider a new RTX 50-series card. It doesn't have to be an RTX 5080, but typically speaking, sticking with the same GPU tier means it'll directly cater to a higher end experience. Yes, the RTX 5070 will pull off phenomenal tricks using DLSS 4, but unless it comes really close to its sibling during testing, it'll still be the proper pick for solid 4K performance.
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DLSS 4 Improvements Are Coming To All NVIDIA RTX GPUs
NVIDIA's RTX 5000 range of graphics cards pack a huge punch. But one of the biggest improvements of the new GPU range is the addition of DLSS 4, which promises better frame generation and upscaling to make your games feel as native as possible. You might now even be able to enjoy some of these improvements, even if you don't have an RTX 5000 card. ✕ Remove Ads Starting January 30, coinciding with the launch of the new RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs, owners of older RTX cards (2000-series, 3000-series, and 4000-series) will receive the new DLSS 4 in a limited manner. RTX 4000 users will, for one, get enhanced Frame Generation capabilities. NVIDIA promises that these updates will reduce VRAM usage while simultaneously boosting performance and frame rates. It's not full DLSS 4 that's coming to these older cards -- the Multi Frame Generation feature is still exclusive to RTX 5000 cards, likely because it relies on hardware improvements made on the new Blackwell architecture to work properly. But the standard Frame Generation feature is getting way better. Older cards such as the RTX 2000-series, released in 2018, and the RTX 3000-series, released in 2020, will not get Frame Generation since it was first introduced with DLSS 3 on RTX 4000 cards. Their take on DLSS 4 will improve upon what DLSS 2 already does -- upscaling and ray reconstruction. It won't generate new frames from scratch, but you will get the improved upscaling and ray reconstruction from DLSS 4, which will net you higher-quality frames and better performance all around. The DLSS 4 update takes the improvements made on every step of the enhancement system and tries to apply them to the best of the older cards' capabilities, which is amazing. ✕ Remove Ads NVIDIA got criticized back in the day for not bringing DLSS 3 to older cards. These older cards can't do frame generation, likely because the hardware in RTX 4000 and 5000 cards is better suited for AI processing and thus generating those frames, but they can certainly enjoy improvements and optimizations in a lot of other aspects. This move is meant to give owners of older cards that don't want to have to get something newer (for one, I paid an absurd amount of money for an RTX 3070 right amid the great GPU shortage) a breath of fresh air to their cards, to let them squeeze their hardware as long as possible. If you pay upwards of $1,000 for a graphics card, it's not the best feeling to see a new card come out just two years later that performs better for a fraction of the price. The improved DLSS won't make up for that, but it will allow you to keep using your card for longer, especially with newer games starting to target the newer cards. ✕ Remove Ads DLSS 4 is arguably one of the biggest selling points for RTX 5000 cards, so one might see this move as something that makes buying the newer cards unnecessary -- especially if you have an RTX 4000-series card, which is getting frame generation improvements. It might not be necessary if you already have an RTX 4000 card and it's working well for you (especially since it'll work even better). But as we pointed out above, older cards aren't getting the full version of DLSS 4 and the biggest improvement, multi-frame generation (which generates up to three frames with AI from scratch for every frame actually rendered by the card), is still exclusive to RTX 5000. Plus, RTX 5000 packs a lot of other improvements that aren't DLSS-related. If you have one of these older cards, you'll find these improvements to be a nice upgrade to your gaming experience. But it doesn't take away from the fact that the RTX 5070 is an amazing deal if it lives up to its promise of performing like a 4090. Source: TechRadar ✕ Remove Ads
[8]
NVIDIA Confirms Updated DLSS Frame Generation On RTX 40 GPUs, Leads to Lower VRAM Usage & Faster Performance
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 GPUs are also getting a better AI model for superior DLSS frame generation and lower VRAM requirements. NVIDIA's Frame Generation technique was released with the DLSS 3.0 for the RTX 40 series GPUs. Since then, the DLSS technology has gone through various developments, enhancing both the upscaling quality and performance. The Frame Generation technique is NVIDIA's ultimate tool to fill the gap between the frames for a smoother gaming experience and is about to get better with the updated version. The company recently announced DLSS 4.0 alongside RTX 50 series GPUs. Even though DLSS 4.0 will work with RTX 40 series GPUs, it won't receive the multi-frame generation feature. Nonetheless, what we got to know is that NVIDIA is upgrading the frame generation technique for RTX 40 series GPUs just as it did for the RTX 50 series. NVIDIA's Jacob Freeman announced that the RTX 40 and RTX 50 series GPUs will now utilize the upgraded Frame Generation technique. As per his post, the Frame Gen will not utilize the newer AI model that will enhance performance, deliver lower latency, and consume less VRAM than before. This means the RTX 40 GPUs will also receive some good advantages, which will allow the GPU to power other aspects of games such as game assets, mods, and textures where higher VRAM is essential. In the shared screenshot, Jacob showed that the new DLSS version enhances the fps slightly and consumes 400 MB less VRAM in this particular instance. This does look like a small improvement but could benefit users with 8 GB GPUs in various scenarios. The DLSS 4.0 introduces not only enhanced DLSS Frame Generation but also Enhanced Ray Reconstruction, Super Resolution, and DLAA for the RTX 40 series. DLAA (Deep Learning Anti-Aliasing) is in the Beta phase at the moment and will work with all the RTX GPUs from RTX 20 to RTX 50 series. The Frame Generation is reserved only for the RTX 40 and RTX 50 GPUs and while it won't compete with Multi Frame Generation, RTX 40 GPU owners can at least enjoy a bit more performance. One thing that still needs comprehensive analysis is the input latency. With the introduction of DLSS 3.0, the Frame Generation introduced a noticeable latency increase, but NVIDIA claims that DLSS 4.0 will reduce it even though frame generation requires a bit more time to predict and render extra frames. As per NVIDIA's comparison of DLSS 2.0 vs DLSS 3.5 vs DLSS 4.0, there is roughly no latency difference. NVIDIA might have turned off Reflex with DLSS 2.0 testing, but since DLSS 3.5 and 4.0 have it as an essential requirement, the latency with DLSS 4 is comparable to DLSS 2, which seems odd.
[9]
NVIDIA Will Update DLSS 3 for RTX 40 Series with Improved Frame Generation Performance
NVIDIA announced an update to the AI frame generation model used in the GeForce RTX 40 series graphics cards, which is expected to yield a performance boost of over 10%. This update is integrated into the existing NVIDIA DLSS 3 ecosystem, ensuring full compatibility with all GeForce RTX 40 series products. The new frame generation model is designed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of AI-assisted frame interpolation, optimizing the graphics rendering pipeline. Technical benchmarks have indicated that the revised technology can produce a noticeable increase in frames per second (FPS) during gameplay while maintaining image quality and reducing memory overhead. Do not confuse this with the new AI DLSS4 feature for RTX 5000 though. The model improves how AI generates frames between those rendered by the GPU, which increases the frame rate and maintains image quality. In tests at 4K resolution, the updated technology raised performance from 124 FPS to 137 FPS, a gain of 10.4%. It also reduced video memory usage from 9GB to 8.6GB, which is a 4.4% decrease. These optimizations help prevent memory saturation and avoid major performance drops, especially in systems with limited video memory. As a result, users can keep their graphics settings high without compromising image quality. The update is not the same as the Multi Frame Generation in DLSS 4, which is exclusive to the GeForce RTX 50 series. Traditional frame generation in DLSS 3 uses AI to create one additional frame between two rendered frames. This technique boosts performance and smoothness. Multi-frame generation can produce up to three frames, which provides greater improvements but is reserved for future hardware. The current focus is on refining the existing model to address graphical defects and optimize efficiency. Enhanced algorithms and technical adjustments result in smoother gameplay and improved image quality. The updated model is particularly beneficial for systems where video memory is a bottleneck. GPUs with more than 12GB of video memory may not notice a big change, but machines with less memory will benefit from the reduction in memory use and higher frame rates. The update allows for maintaining high graphic settings without overloading the system's memory, preventing severe slowdowns
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Nvidia hints at the possibility of bringing DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation to older GPUs, while introducing exclusive features for the upcoming RTX 50-series. This development could impact upgrade decisions for current GPU owners.
In a surprising turn of events, Nvidia has suggested that its latest DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation technology, initially thought to be exclusive to the upcoming RTX 50-series GPUs, might be made available to older graphics cards in the future. This revelation comes from Bryan Catanzaro, Nvidia's VP of Applied Deep Learning Research, in an interview with Digital Foundry 1.
Catanzaro stated that bringing frame generation to older GPUs is "primarily a question of optimization," and that Nvidia will "see what we're able to squeeze out of older hardware in the future" 1. This statement has sparked interest among owners of RTX 30-series and possibly even RTX 20-series GPUs, as it suggests that they might not need to upgrade to the latest hardware to benefit from some of Nvidia's newest AI-powered graphics technologies.
DLSS 4 represents a significant leap in Nvidia's AI-powered upscaling technology. The new version moves from a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to a transformer model, which Nvidia claims provides quality improvements for all RTX graphics cards using DLSS 2.
A key development is that the new frame generation model no longer relies on the optical flow accelerator hardware, which was previously a limiting factor for older GPUs. Instead, it uses a more efficient AI model that reduces computational costs and VRAM usage 2.
While DLSS 4 improvements are confirmed for all RTX GPUs, the possibility of Multi-Frame Generation coming to older hardware could be a game-changer. For RTX 30-series owners, this could mean a significant performance boost without the need for an upgrade 3.
However, Nvidia emphasizes that support for previous GPU architectures would require "further optimization and testing" 4. The main challenge lies in the differences in Tensor Core capabilities between generations, which are crucial for the AI computations involved in frame generation.
While older GPUs may receive some DLSS 4 benefits, the RTX 50-series will still have exclusive features. Most notably, DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation on these new GPUs can generate up to three AI frames instead of one, with minimal added latency 5.
RTX 50-series owners will have the unique ability to choose how many AI frames DLSS 4 renders, allowing for fine-tuning of performance and image quality. This feature is particularly beneficial for games with path tracing, enabling frame rates of 240+ FPS in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 5.
The potential expansion of DLSS 4 features to older GPUs could have significant implications for the gaming and GPU markets. It may extend the lifespan of current hardware, potentially affecting upgrade cycles and sales of new GPUs. However, the exclusive features of the RTX 50-series, such as the ability to generate multiple AI frames, still provide compelling reasons for enthusiasts to consider upgrading.
As the launch of the RTX 50-series approaches, gamers and tech enthusiasts alike will be watching closely to see how Nvidia balances support for older hardware with the promotion of its latest innovations.
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NVIDIA introduces DLSS 4 at CES 2025, featuring Multi Frame Generation technology that promises up to 8x performance boost over traditional rendering, along with significant improvements in image quality and latency reduction.
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Leaked information suggests Nvidia's upcoming RTX 50-series GPUs will feature DLSS 4 with advanced AI capabilities, including neural rendering, promising significant improvements in gaming performance and graphics quality.
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Nvidia's DLSS 4 technology promises massive performance gains and visual improvements, but raises questions about its impact on game design and player experience.
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Nvidia's latest DLSS 4 technology brings significant improvements to gaming performance and visual quality, outperforming competitors and paving the way for 8K gaming.
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Nvidia unveils its new RTX 50 Series GPUs, promising significant performance improvements through AI-driven technologies like DLSS 4, potentially revolutionizing gaming graphics and performance.
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