Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
To enable NVIDIA DLSS, update the game and your GeForce driver, open the game’s graphics or video settings, turn on NVIDIA DLSS or DLSS Super Resolution, and select a mode. As a starting point, NVIDIA recommends Quality at 1920×1080 or 2560×1440, Performance at 3840×2160, and Ultra Performance at 7680×4320. These are starting recommendations, not guaranteed best settings: compare image quality and frame rate in the game you play.
Enable DLSS in a game
DLSS is generally enabled from the game’s own settings, not from a universal Windows switch. NVIDIA’s general guidance is to install a current GeForce Game Ready Driver, update the game, open its options menu, and enable DLSS. Ray tracing is optional; it is not a requirement for DLSS. NVIDIA’s DLSS and RTX games guidance gives the general setup advice.
- Update the game. Use the game’s launcher or its normal update process. Menu labels and available DLSS options can change with game updates.
- Install a current GeForce driver. NVIDIA says to install the latest GeForce Game Ready Driver through NVIDIA App or NVIDIA’s website. A driver update alone cannot add DLSS to a game that does not support it.
- Open the game’s settings. Look in Graphics, Video, Display, or a similarly named options section. The exact menu location and wording depend on the game.
- Enable the relevant DLSS option. Look for NVIDIA DLSS or DLSS Super Resolution. If the game presents a separate feature list, choose the feature you intend to use rather than assuming every DLSS feature is enabled by one switch.
- Choose a mode and test it in play. Begin with the mode suggested for your output resolution in the table below, then compare how the game looks and runs in a representative scene.
If the setting is present but unavailable or its choices differ from those described here, check the game’s own notes. The implementation, menu wording, and supported modes can vary by title and update.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
A practical setup sequence
It helps to separate turning DLSS on from deciding which mode to use. First, locate the feature and confirm it is enabled. Then choose a mode, play for a short stretch, and decide whether the result suits you. That makes it easier to tell whether a change came from enabling the feature or from switching between modes.
#1 Best Overall
- AI Performance: 767 AI TOPS
- OC mode: 2632 MHz (OC mode)/ 2602 MHz (Default mode)
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4
- Axial-tech fan design features a smaller fan hub that facilitates longer blades and a barrier ring that increases downward air pressure
- A 2.5-slot design maximizes compatibility and cooling efficiency for superior performance in small chassis
Before comparing modes, note the resolution the game is outputting to your display. The mode recommendations below are tied to output resolution, not simply to the size of the monitor or to a label such as “high” graphics. If you change display resolution during testing, re-evaluate the mode rather than assuming the same choice remains best.
Do not treat ray tracing as a prerequisite in this sequence. NVIDIA mentions enabling ray tracing alongside DLSS in general setup guidance, but DLSS can be enabled independently when the game supports it. Likewise, selecting a DLSS mode does not mean every other DLSS feature, such as Frame Generation, is automatically available or enabled.
Which DLSS mode should you choose?
For DLSS Super Resolution, the named modes trade input resolution for performance headroom. NVIDIA lists Quality at 67% of output resolution, Performance at 50%, and Ultra Performance at 33%. In practical terms, the lower the input-resolution percentage, the less source detail is available to the reconstruction process. That can create more room for performance, but it can also change the image. NVIDIA’s figures describe the modes; they are not measured frame-rate gains.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems| Mode | NVIDIA’s input-resolution figure | Published resolution starting point | How to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | 67% of output resolution | 1920×1080 and 2560×1440 | Start here when you want to preserve more input detail and your frame rate is already adequate. |
| Balanced | Not stated in the cited NVIDIA guidance | No specific output resolution recommendation stated | Try it if Quality does not provide the performance you want, or if it gives a better balance in your game. |
| Performance | 50% of output resolution | 3840×2160 | Start here at 4K if you want more performance headroom than Quality provides. |
| Ultra Performance | 33% of output resolution | 7680×4320 | NVIDIA’s starting recommendation is 8K; compare carefully because this mode uses the lowest listed input-resolution percentage. |
The resolution recommendations and percentages above come from NVIDIA’s current GeForce DLSS guidance and override guidance, accessed in 2026: resolution recommendations and Super Resolution mode figures. They are vendor guidance, not independent comparisons or guarantees of a particular frame rate.
Make the choice by comparing the game, not just the label
Start with the more image-quality-oriented mode if the game already runs at a frame rate that suits you. If you want additional performance, move toward a mode that uses a lower input resolution and check whether the visual tradeoff is acceptable. Balanced is an intermediate named option where a game supports it, but its availability and result are game-dependent.
For a useful comparison, keep the game’s output resolution and other settings unchanged while switching modes. Inspect a repeatable scene during actual play, including fine detail and movement, and note both the image and the frame rate. A result in one game does not establish what another game or scene will do: outcomes vary with the title, GPU, output resolution, and scene. If a stronger-upscaling mode does not produce a result you like, move back toward Quality or use the game’s native-resolution option if available.
How to choose a starting mode
At 1080p or 1440p, try Quality first, following NVIDIA’s starting recommendations. If the game already meets your frame-rate needs, there may be no reason to move to a more aggressive mode. If you want additional headroom, compare Balanced if offered, then consider Performance if the visual result remains acceptable to you.
At 4K, NVIDIA recommends starting with Performance. That is a recommendation to test, not a command: Quality may still be preferable if the frame rate is adequate and you favor its image, while Balanced may suit a title or setup where it offers the most acceptable compromise. At 8K, Ultra Performance is NVIDIA’s published starting point. It has the lowest listed input-resolution percentage of these modes, so inspect the image rather than choosing it solely because the display resolution is high.
These recommendations do not say how many frames per second a mode will add. The percentages define the modes’ input-resolution figures, not a benchmark result. A game’s performance response depends on the title, the GPU, output resolution, and the scene being rendered. Use the recommendation to narrow your first test, then judge the result on your system.
If the game offers only some of the listed choices, use what it provides. The same name does not guarantee identical results across different games, and an option absent from a game’s menu is not necessarily available through another setting. Check the title’s own notes and NVIDIA’s current feature information if its options differ.
What “DLSS preset” can mean
Players typically use “preset” to mean the game-facing choices such as Quality, Balanced, Performance, and Ultra Performance. Those are the choices to consider when adjusting the game.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #2
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4
- Powered by GeForce RTX 5060
- Integrated with 8GB GDDR7 128bit memory interface
- PCIe 5.0
- WINDFORCE cooling system
In developer documentation, “preset” can also refer to model or SDK integration choices, including lettered presets A–F. NVIDIA’s developer article describes those implementation choices and reports Preset D as its then-default for Performance, Balanced, and Quality, and Preset F for Ultra Performance and DLAA. These are developer-facing, version-sensitive details; they are not additional player settings to select in the usual in-game menu. See NVIDIA’s developer explanation of DLSS presets for that context.
If you are adjusting a game’s graphics menu, you generally do not need to choose among presets A–F. Those letters concern how a developer integrates DLSS, while the named modes in the game are the relevant player-facing choices. Avoid changing developer or SDK settings based on a guide to the game-facing Quality, Balanced, or Performance options; they refer to different decisions.
Why DLSS may be missing
A missing menu option does not by itself mean the driver is broken. DLSS depends on both the game’s implementation and hardware support for the particular DLSS feature. NVIDIA’s feature information distinguishes support by feature and GPU generation: Super Resolution is supported more broadly than newer Frame Generation features. Do not assume that every RTX card supports every DLSS feature.
- The game may not support the feature. Check the title against NVIDIA’s list of games and applications featuring RTX technologies and the game’s own support notes.
- Your GPU may not support that specific feature. Check the intended feature and GPU generation against NVIDIA’s DLSS technology information. Support for one DLSS feature does not establish support for all others.
- The game or driver may need updating. Update both, restart the game, and check its graphics settings again.
- You may be looking for a different feature name. Look specifically for DLSS or DLSS Super Resolution in the graphics options; menu organization and labels vary across games.
- An NVIDIA App override may not apply automatically. Overrides are limited to supported cases and do not replace the relevant in-game setting. Check that the corresponding feature is enabled in the game.
Use the game’s notes and NVIDIA’s feature information together: a feature’s presence in NVIDIA’s general DLSS material does not mean it is available in every game, on every GPU, or under every in-game configuration.
Check compatibility in the right order
When the option is missing, first verify that the exact game supports the DLSS feature you want. A title may support one DLSS feature but not another, and a general mention of DLSS does not guarantee every feature appears in that game’s menu. Look at both the game’s notes and NVIDIA’s current game information.
Next, check the GPU against the feature rather than relying only on the RTX name. NVIDIA’s DLSS technology information distinguishes support by generation and feature. Super Resolution has broader support than newer Frame Generation features, so a card that supports one capability is not proof that it supports all DLSS options. The relevant compatibility question is the combination of the specific feature, the GPU generation, and the game’s implementation.
Then update the title and current GeForce driver, restart the game, and inspect the Graphics, Video, or Display menu again. If the setting is present but its available modes differ from another game’s menu, that can reflect the individual game implementation or its update level. Do not infer a universal mode list from one title.
Using NVIDIA App DLSS overrides
NVIDIA App offers global or per-game DLSS override controls for compatible titles. These controls can augment or update supported options, but they are not a universal way to turn DLSS on in unsupported games. NVIDIA’s override guidance also makes clear that the relevant feature needs to be enabled in-game; for example, the DLAA or Ultra Performance override applies when Super Resolution is on in the game.
For the override controls, consult NVIDIA’s DLSS override guidance and its announcement of global DLSS overrides. Because overrides only affect supported cases, first establish that the game has the relevant in-game DLSS feature and that it is enabled. If the setting has no visible effect, return to the game’s own options and confirm the feature and mode there.
Think of an override as an additional control for a supported game, not as a replacement for the game’s own switch. Start by enabling the appropriate in-game feature. Then use the NVIDIA App controls only if the title and feature are supported by the override. NVIDIA describes global and per-game override controls, so use the per-game context when you want the setting to apply to a particular title rather than assuming one override will affect every game in the same way.
For the example NVIDIA gives, the DLAA or Ultra Performance override applies when Super Resolution is already on in the game. This illustrates why an override can appear to do nothing if its underlying in-game feature is disabled. If you cannot confirm compatibility, or the game does not expose the relevant feature, return to the normal in-game settings and consult NVIDIA’s current override guidance instead of treating the App control as a universal fallback.
Rank #3
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4
- Powered by GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
- Integrated with 16GB GDDR7 256bit memory interface
- PCIe 5.0
- WINDFORCE cooling system
Hardware, cost, and what to check before buying
If you already have a compatible GPU and a game that supports the specific DLSS feature, enabling it is a settings choice; this guide does not require buying a utility or accessory. If your hardware does not support the feature you want, a GeForce RTX graphics card is the relevant product category to investigate. Compatibility varies by GPU generation and feature, so confirm the exact card and game combination before making a purchase.
There is no single GPU recommendation or meaningful price estimate without knowing your budget, display resolution, games, and performance target. Nor does the general RTX label establish support for every DLSS capability. Check NVIDIA’s current feature information for the generation and feature you intend to use, and verify that your game implements it. Do not buy based only on the assumption that every RTX card offers every DLSS feature.
A quick decision checklist
- Does the game offer NVIDIA DLSS or DLSS Super Resolution? If not, confirm support for the title and the exact feature before troubleshooting the driver.
- Is the game updated, and is a current GeForce Game Ready Driver installed?
- Are you selecting a player-facing mode, rather than a developer model preset?
- Have you started with the resolution recommendation and compared the result in actual play?
- If you use NVIDIA App overrides, is the corresponding DLSS feature enabled in the game and is the title compatible with that override?
When buying hardware to gain access to a particular DLSS feature, verify that the exact GPU generation supports that feature and that your intended game implements it. Compatibility varies by feature; a general RTX label is not enough to establish support for every DLSS capability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I enable NVIDIA DLSS in a game?
Update the game and install a current GeForce Game Ready Driver, then open the game’s Graphics, Video, or Display options. Enable NVIDIA DLSS or DLSS Super Resolution if the game offers it, choose a mode, and compare the result in actual play. Ray tracing is optional, not a requirement.
Which DLSS quality preset should I use?
Use NVIDIA’s recommendations as starting points: Quality at 1920×1080 or 2560×1440, Performance at 3840×2160, and Ultra Performance at 7680×4320. Balanced is an intermediate option where supported. Compare image quality and frame rate in your game; no mode guarantees a particular performance gain.
Recommended Free Tools
Why is DLSS missing from my settings?
The game may not implement the particular DLSS feature, or your GPU may not support that feature. Update the game and driver, check the game’s notes and NVIDIA’s current feature information, and look for wording such as DLSS Super Resolution. Support for one DLSS feature does not mean every feature is supported.
Do I need ray tracing to use DLSS?
No. Ray tracing is not a prerequisite for DLSS. Enable DLSS from the game’s graphics settings when the game and GPU support the feature you want.
Can I turn on DLSS only from NVIDIA App?
Not in every case. NVIDIA App provides global or per-game overrides for compatible titles, but the relevant DLSS feature must also be enabled in the game. For example, NVIDIA says its DLAA or Ultra Performance override applies when Super Resolution is on in-game.
Do all GeForce RTX cards support every DLSS feature?
No. NVIDIA distinguishes compatibility by DLSS feature and GPU generation. Super Resolution is supported more broadly than newer Frame Generation features, so check the exact feature and GPU generation rather than relying only on the RTX name.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The Bottom Line
Enable DLSS in the game’s own graphics settings after updating the game and GeForce driver. Start with NVIDIA’s resolution-based mode recommendations, then compare image quality and frame rate in your title. If DLSS is missing, verify support for both the exact game feature and your GPU; NVIDIA App overrides apply only to compatible cases and do not replace the in-game setting.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
