The DLSS 4.5 update in Star Citizen introduces the M preset, which significantly improves image quality but causes a notable performance drop, especially on older 2000 and 3000 series GPUs. While newer 5000 and 4000 series cards can handle the M preset with some frame rate trade-offs, users with older hardware are advised to stick with the K preset for a better balance between visuals and performance.
The video discusses the recent DLSS 4.5 update in Star Citizen, focusing on its visual improvements and performance impact across various Nvidia graphics card generations. The new M preset in DLSS 4.5 offers significantly better image quality compared to the previous K preset, fixing several visual issues and making it the best-looking option currently available in the game. However, this visual enhancement comes with a performance cost, which varies depending on the GPU generation being used.
For the latest 5000 series cards, such as the RTX 5080, the M preset provides improved visuals but results in a noticeable frame rate drop compared to the older presets. While native 4K performance hovers around 52-53 FPS, using the E preset (the older CNN model) boosts frame rates to the mid-80s. The K preset slightly reduces this to the high 70s, and the M preset lowers it further, making it heavier on the GPU. Players can mitigate this by lowering the DLSS quality setting to balanced or performance to regain some frames while still benefiting from better visuals.
On the mid-range 4000 series, tested at 1440p with an RTX 4060, the trend continues with the M preset causing a more significant frame rate drop compared to the E and K presets. The performance hit is around 10 FPS from the E preset and about 5-6 FPS from the K preset, prompting users to weigh the trade-off between image quality and frame rate. Again, adjusting DLSS quality settings can help balance performance and visuals.
The older 3000 and 2000 series cards face the most severe performance degradation with the M preset. These GPUs lack native support for the new DLSS 4.5 calculations, causing a heavier load and reduced frame rates. For instance, the RTX 3080 shows a drop from roughly 47 FPS on the E preset to about 34-35 FPS on the M preset at 4K. Similarly, the RTX 2060 at 1080p sees almost no frame rate improvement with the M preset compared to native rendering, defeating the purpose of upscaling.
The conclusion emphasizes that while the M preset delivers superior image quality, it is not suitable for all hardware, particularly older GPUs. The recommendation is for users with 2000 and 3000 series cards to stick with the K preset for a good balance of performance and visuals. Ideally, Star Citizen should offer users the option to choose between DLSS presets (E, K, M) to cater to different hardware capabilities, allowing Nvidia to continue evolving DLSS while maintaining compatibility and performance across GPU generations.