NVIDIA’s new Image Scaling Solutions – DLSS 2.3, and Image Comparison & Analysis Tool (ICAT) Introduced with 496.76 driver

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NVIDIA Image Scaling, now open-source and cross platform, aims above FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR); DLSS 2.3, and Image Comparison & Analysis Tool (ICAT) Introduced with 496.76 driver

Introduced with Game Ready Driver (GRD) 496.76 supporting 10 new games with DLSS, NVIDIA has released new updates to their suite of scaling tech. These updates include the DLSS version 2.3 that is now supported in more than 15 games (updating Cyberpunk 2077, Doom Eternal, and others) and an upgrade to the NVIDIA Image Scaling algorithm whose SDK works with all games and for all video cards. In addition, they released a new tool called ICAT (Image Comparison & Analysis Tool) that provides a relatively easy way to conduct and compare image quality analysis.

DLSS 2.3

NVIDIA DLSS now offers their highest image quality and performance for more than 130 games and applications while improving with the recently released DLSS 2.3 SDK. It makes even better use of AI Deep Learning for motion vectors to improve object detail in motion, particle reconstruction, ghosting, and temporal stability to improve detail and lessen shimmering.

There are a number of games that have already released that natively support DLSS 2.3 including:

  • Baldur’s Gate 3
  • Bright Memory: Infinite
  • Cyberpunk 2077 (adding DLSS 2.3 support on November 16th)
  • Crysis 2 Remastered
  • Crysis 3 Remastered
  • Deathloop
  • DOOM Eternal
  • Farming Simulator 22 (launching November 22 with DLSS 2.3 support)
  • Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition
  • Jurassic World Evolution 2
  • Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
  • Rise of the Tomb Raider
  • Shadow of the Tomb Raider
  • Sword & Fairy 7
Source: NVIDIA

In addition, Rodrigo has already tested Red Dead Redemption 2 and found massive IQ improvements by manually replacing the DLL with version 2.3.4.0 using either GitHub or another trusted repository to download the latest version. DLSS is an AI-based temporal super resolution technology that is unique for boosting frame rates while maintaining IQ comparable to native resolution and sometimes even better.

Spatial Upscaling For All Games

For over two years, NVIDIA has been offering NVIDIA Image Scaling, a driver-based spatial upscaler in the Control Panel. It enables sharpening and upscaling for all games, without the need for game developer integration (like its competitor, FSR). Today’s 496.76 driver introduces updates to the scaling and sharpening algorithm and also makes it accessible through GeForce Experience (GFE).

Source: NVIDIA

The new image scaling algorithm uses a 6-tap filter with 4 directional scaling and adaptive sharpening filters to boost performance. It sharpens and scales in a single pass, so is very efficient for boosting framerates while not impacting IQ too much. It’s accessible with the latest driver from GFE in addition to using the control panel as before, and it now includes a per-game sharpening setting useable from the GFE in-game overlay.

It has also been released as open source and works on all video cards across all platforms. The SDK is publicly available today on GitHub for all developers to use and integrate into their games.

DLSS Arrives for 10 New Games in November (including ACC!!)

In November ten new games will be getting DLSS, including:

  • Assetto Corsa Competizione will be adding a DLSS very soon, boosting performance by up to 2x.
  • AWAY: The Survival adds DLSS on November 17. DLSS boosts performance by up to 2x.
  • Battlefield 2042 is out now with DLSS, ray tracing, and NVIDIA Reflex. DLSS boosts performance by up to 2x.
  • Bright Memory: Infinite is out now with DLSS, ray tracing, and NVIDIA Reflex. DLSS boosts performance by up to 2.5x.
  • Elder Scrolls Online is out now with DLSS and DLAA. DLSS boosts performance by up to 50%.
  • Farming Simulator 22 launches on November 22 with DLSS and DLAA. DLSS boosts performance by up to 2x.
  • Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition is out now with DLSS, and sees a performance boost of up to 85%.
  • Hot Wheels Unleashed is out now with DLSS, and sees a performance boost of up to 50%.
  • Jurassic World Evolution 2 is out now with DLSS, and sees a performance boost of up to 60%.
  • Myth of Empires launches on November 18 with ray tracing and DLSS. DLSS boosts performance by up to 1.5x.

NVIDIA’s Image Comparison & Analysis Tool (ICAT)

NVIDIA also released ICAT to make it faster and easier to perform A/B image quality comparisons of game screenshots and videos. This is a new feature that reviewers will especially appreciate. Although it requires a capture card currently for video, it will eventually be usable with Shadowplay.

NVIDIA ICAT is free to download from GeForce.com and allows anyone to compare up to 4 screenshots or videos with choices of sliders, side-by-sides, and pixel peeping zoom-ins. It allows comparisons to be spatially and temporally aligned to allow for examination of IQ differences.

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Happy Gaming!

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