This Is The DLSS Configuration You Should Use

Summary

In this video, the comparison between DLSS 4.5's preset L and preset M is explored, with a focus on visual quality and performance. Preset L, optimized for ultra performance, offers a better image quality than preset M, reducing sharpness and grain while maintaining fine detail. However, both presets have similar artifacts, and preset L shines in foliage and particle quality. While ultra performance mode is technically impressive, it still faces motion artifacts and significant quality loss. The video concludes that preset L provides the best visual experience, albeit with a slight performance hit, and is recommended for those prioritizing image quality.

Takeaways

• 😀 Preset L of DLSS 4.5 offers the best image quality overall compared to preset M, with fewer artifacts and sharper textures.
• 😀 Preset M is designed for performance mode, while preset L is optimized for ultra-performance mode, offering a balance between quality and performance.
• 😀 DLSS 4.5 preset L outperforms older DLSS 4 presets (like K) in terms of image quality, reducing grain and pixelation in complex scenes.
• 😀 Preset L offers improvements in foliage quality, particularly in grass and trees, showing less grain and a more natural level of sharpness compared to preset M.
• 😀 The ultra-performance mode (preset L) can now be considered somewhat usable for 4K gaming, though it still suffers from visible artifacts like smearing and instability in motion.
• 😀 While DLSS 4.5 preset L offers better visual fidelity, it comes at a slight performance cost, with up to 5-6% slower frame rates compared to preset M in some games.
• 😀 Preset L has improved stability when rendering fine details in motion, reducing ghosting artifacts compared to preset M.
• 😀 In tests like Horizon Zero Dawn and Spider-Man 2, preset L provides clearer, more stable details in motion compared to DLSS 4 preset K, which struggles with artifacts.
• 😀 The ultra-performance mode in DLSS 4.5 (preset L) still has too many motion artifacts and is not recommended for most gaming setups, especially on desktops.
• 😀 Despite a slightly higher performance overhead, preset L's improved image quality is generally worth the trade-off for users prioritizing visual fidelity over raw FPS.
• 😀 Preset L is more efficient than previous DLSS iterations (like DLSS 4), showing better upscaling results, especially in ultra-performance mode at 4K.
• 😀 While DLSS 4.5 has notable improvements, the ultra-performance mode still falls short of providing a truly 4K-like experience due to motion artifacts and reduced detail.

Q & A

What is the main difference between DLSS 4.5 preset M and preset L?

Preset M is optimized for performance, offering sharper and crisper visuals, but can sometimes appear overly sharp or crunchy. Preset L, on the other hand, is optimized for ultra performance and provides a more natural sharpness while reducing artifacts like grain and pixelation, making it visually superior in many cases.

Why do some users prefer preset L over preset M?

Many users prefer preset L because it tones down the oversharpness present in preset M, offering more balanced and natural-looking visuals. It also improves grass and foliage quality by reducing pixelation and grain, which is especially noticeable in titles like Horizon Zero Dawn and The Last of Us Part One.

How does DLSS 4.5 preset L compare to the older DLSS 4 preset K?

Preset L generally offers better image quality than preset K, especially in reducing sharpness and grain. However, preset K still excels in certain fine detail scenarios, such as maintaining stability in complex textures and minimizing certain artifacts. Overall, preset L strikes a better balance between sharpness and stability.

What kind of artifacts are common in both DLSS 4.5 preset L and preset M?

Both presets suffer from similar artifacts, such as pattern distortions and flickering, particularly in motion-heavy scenes. This is noticeable in titles like Cyberpunk 2077. However, preset L tends to manage these artifacts better than preset M in most cases.

How does the ultra performance mode impact visual quality in DLSS 4.5?

DLSS 4.5's ultra performance mode is an improvement over previous versions, offering sharper, more stable images compared to the older ultra performance modes of DLSS 4 and FSR4. However, it still introduces noticeable artifacts, such as grain, pixelation, and instability in motion, especially at lower resolutions like 720p upscaled to 4K.

Why is ultra performance mode not recommended for desktop gaming?

Ultra performance mode, while technically impressive, still suffers from too many visible artifacts and quality loss compared to regular modes like quality or performance. The upscaled image may look grainy, blurry, or unstable, which makes it less suitable for desktop gaming where visual clarity is a priority.

What improvements does DLSS 4.5 preset L bring to foliage quality?

Preset L significantly improves the quality of foliage, reducing pixelation and grain, especially in grass and tree canopies. Unlike preset M, which sometimes introduced grainy textures in dense grass, preset L provides a more natural and stable representation of these details, making it the best preset for foliage upscaling.

How does the performance of DLSS 4.5 preset L compare to preset M on different GPUs?

On lower-end GPUs, DLSS 4.5 preset L typically results in a 3-5% performance hit compared to preset M. On higher-end GPUs like the RTX 3090, the performance difference is smaller, with preset L offering similar or slightly worse performance, but with better visual quality, making it worthwhile in many situations.

Is DLSS 4.5 preset L recommended for users on older GPUs?

DLSS 4.5 preset L can be more taxing on older GPUs, as the higher computational demands of DLSS 4.5 can result in a noticeable performance drop. In these cases, users might want to stick with DLSS 4 or choose a lower DLSS preset for better performance.

What is the impact of DLSS 4.5 preset L on games like Horizon Zero Dawn and Cyberpunk 2077?

In games like Horizon Zero Dawn and Cyberpunk 2077, DLSS 4.5 preset L offers a noticeable visual improvement, especially in texture clarity and fine details. While the performance drop is moderate, the enhanced visual fidelity, such as better foliage and reduced grain, is often worth the trade-off, particularly for players focused on image quality.