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For the best image quality, use DLAA at your display’s native resolution if your GPU already delivers a frame rate you’re happy with. If you need more performance, start with DLSS Super Resolution: Quality; try Balanced or Performance only if Quality cannot meet your target. Check the result in motion, because the best choice depends on the game, GPU, output resolution, and its DLSS implementation.
Which DLSS mode should you use?
DLSS is a collection of distinct features, not one universal image-quality setting. Choose the control that addresses your actual constraint:
| Feature | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| DLAA | Applies AI anti-aliasing at native output resolution. | When image quality is the priority and native-resolution performance is already adequate. |
| Super Resolution | Reconstructs a higher-resolution frame from a lower-resolution render. NVIDIA’s driver guide describes it as: “Reconstructs higher-resolution frames from a lower-resolution render.” | When GPU performance is the constraint. Begin with Quality, then test Balanced or Performance if needed. |
| Frame Generation or Multi Frame Generation | Creates additional displayed frames; it is separate from the Super Resolution mode you select. | As an optional frame-generation control, where supported. NVIDIA associates Frame Generation with Reflex for responsiveness. |
| Ray Reconstruction | Replaces traditional denoising in supported ray-traced scenes. | For supported ray-tracing workflows, not as a general upscaling switch. |
| Reflex | Synchronizes CPU and GPU work to reduce system latency. | When responsiveness matters, especially in competitive play, if the game offers it. |
For more detail on these separate features, see NVIDIA’s DLSS overview, developer overview, and driver guide.
How to tune DLSS for your game
- Check feature support. Confirm the specific game supports the DLSS feature you want. Available controls vary by title and implementation; an RTX label alone does not guarantee every DLSS feature is available.
- Set your output resolution and graphics settings. If image quality is the priority and performance is already adequate, compare DLAA with the game’s native anti-aliasing.
- Start Super Resolution at Quality if you need more frame rate. Test Balanced or Performance only if Quality does not meet your target.
- Inspect demanding details while moving. Look at foliage, thin geometry, fine detail, and lighting. Watch for instability, ghosting, or lost detail rather than judging a still image alone.
- Treat other DLSS features as separate options. Frame Generation and Ray Reconstruction solve different problems from Super Resolution. Enable Reflex if it is available and suits your responsiveness needs. NVIDIA warns against using native DLSS Frame Generation and Smooth Motion together because the combination can reduce performance and cause visual artifacts; see its driver guide.
DLAA or DLSS Quality: which looks better?
DLAA is the quality-first option when you can afford native-resolution rendering: it applies anti-aliasing without the lower-resolution input used by Super Resolution. DLSS Quality is the sensible first upscaling choice when you need additional performance. Which looks preferable in a particular game depends on its implementation and the scene, so compare moving detail at your normal output resolution rather than assuming one mode wins everywhere.
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Does DLSS Performance look worse?
Performance mode uses Super Resolution to reconstruct the chosen output from a lower-resolution render, so it can provide more performance than Quality but may sacrifice image detail or stability. Whether that trade-off is worthwhile depends on your frame-rate target and how distracting any artifacts are in the game you play. Use Performance only when the higher-resolution input of Quality or Balanced does not meet your needs.
Historical NVIDIA developer guidance described default input-resolution targets for Quality, Balanced, Performance, and Ultra Performance, while noting that developers could adjust them. Those ratios are implementation guidance, not guaranteed values in every current game; do not assume older ratios apply universally to DLSS 4.5. See the NVIDIA developer blog.
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How GPU generation and NVIDIA App overrides affect the choice
DLSS settings and libraries depend on the game and its update level. NVIDIA’s developer overview lists Multi Frame Generation for GeForce RTX 50 Series and RTX PRO Blackwell GPUs. Check support for the particular feature you want instead of assuming all RTX cards expose the same controls.
The NVIDIA App can apply DLSS overrides globally or per game. In its FAQ updated January 14, 2026, NVIDIA says the Recommended setting selects Model M for Performance, Model L for Ultra Performance, and Model K for other modes. NVIDIA also says Models M and L can impose a larger performance impact on RTX 20 and 30 Series GPUs, which lack native FP8 support. Although M and L are supported on other modes, NVIDIA expects their best quality/performance benefit in Performance and Ultra Performance. If their compute cost hurts performance on an RTX 20 or 30 card, Model K may be preferable. Preset names and behavior can change; consult NVIDIA’s DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution FAQ for the current mapping.
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Judge performance and responsiveness separately
Compare DLSS modes across five things: input render detail, GPU performance, image stability in motion, responsiveness, and feature support on your game and GPU. A higher displayed frame rate from Frame Generation is not equivalent to the same native rendered-frame rate for responsiveness. Consider the game’s behavior and use Reflex when available; decide based on how the controls feel as well as the displayed number.
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