The video recommends using DLSS 4.5 preset L for most gaming scenarios due to its superior visual quality, including better sharpness, reduced grain, and fewer artifacts compared to preset M, despite a slight performance cost. While ultra performance mode with preset L offers significant FPS gains, it comes with noticeable image quality compromises, making it less ideal for high-quality 4K gaming.
The video explores the two main DLSS 4.5 models, preset M and preset L, focusing on which configuration gamers should use. Nvidia recommends preset M for performance mode and preset L for ultra performance mode, but the creator investigates community claims that preset L may be better overall. The video compares these presets across various games and modes, including quality, balanced, performance, and ultra performance, while also contrasting them with older DLSS 4 preset K and AMD’s FSR4 upscaler. The sponsor for the video is the Gigabyte Orus Radeon RX 9070 XT Elite, praised for its cooling, performance, and aesthetics.
In regular upscaling modes like quality, balanced, and performance, preset L tends to offer a better visual experience than preset M. While preset M often produces an oversharp and crunchy image, preset L tones down this sharpness to a more natural level, preserving detail without introducing excessive artifacts. Both presets show similar levels of detail stability and ghosting reduction, but preset L excels in reducing grain and pixelation, especially in foliage and grass. However, both presets share some pattern artifact issues in certain games, and fine detail reconstruction can vary slightly between them.
The ultra performance mode, which uses a 3x upscaling factor from 720p to 4K, is where preset L truly shines. Compared to DLSS 4 preset K and FSR4, DLSS 4.5 preset L delivers significantly better image quality, with sharper, more stable visuals and fewer artifacts. This makes the ultra performance mode more usable than before, although it still exhibits noticeable quality compromises like graininess and motion artifacts. While this mode is somewhat viable on 4K displays, it is less impressive and not recommended for 1440p gaming due to increased instability and blur.
Performance-wise, preset L generally incurs a small overhead compared to preset M, ranging from about 3% to 6% slower depending on the game and GPU. On newer GPUs like the RTX 3090, the difference is less pronounced, but DLSS 4.5 as a whole is about 10% slower than DLSS 4. Despite this, the visual improvements with preset L often justify the slight performance cost. Ultra performance mode offers significant FPS gains over performance and quality modes but at a noticeable cost to image fidelity, making it a trade-off rather than a clear-cut choice.
In conclusion, the creator recommends DLSS 4.5 preset L as the preferred option for most gamers due to its balanced improvements in sharpness, grain reduction, and artifact handling. While preset M has some strengths, preset L generally provides a more natural and stable image across various games and modes. The ultra performance mode with preset L is a technical achievement but remains a compromise in quality and is not the go-to choice for high-quality 4K gaming. Overall, the video offers a thorough comparison, helping gamers make informed decisions about which DLSS 4.5 preset to use for their gaming experience.