While consoles are struggling to even render games at 1080p, PCs more modern, more powerful (and yes, more expensive) GPUs are capable of rendering and playing today’s games at significantly higher resolutions, at significantly higher frame rates. With cards like Nvidia’s new 900 series, gamers can crank up their resolutions to 4K and beyond, and still run games at playable frame rates.
If gamers don’t have 4K monitors, those with the new Maxwell cards have been able to use DSR, Nvidia’s implementation of supersampling. What it does, essentially, is render compatible games at exceedingly high resolutions, and then scale them down to fit your display. Depending on the game, it could give you better visual fidelity than post-processed anti-aliasing at a lower processing cost. In the end, it’ll help make your games look even better. And now, Nvidia’s opened it up to its older cards. With the latest set of drivers, cards based on their Fermi & Kepler GeForce GTX Desktop GPUs are now also able to use the feature. If you’re running a 400-series, 500-series, 600-series, or 700-series video card, you can now render your games at 4K, and downscale them to your 1080p screen, making everything look crisper and cleaner.
Yes it’s just supersampling with a new marketing term, and of course, if you’re an enthusiast, you’ve been doing this anyway – though manually. Now it’s all automated, and enabled right in GeForce Experience, and it takes the strain off the monitor.
“Alongside our record-breaking, critically-acclaimed GeForce GTX 980 and 970 graphics cards, we introduced a new software feature that enables gamers to enjoy 4K-quality graphics on any HD screen. Called Dynamic Super Resolution (DSR), the tech is built into GeForce Experience’s game setting recommendations, allowing players to dramatically increase image quality with a single click. How it works is simple: compatible games are rendered at a higher, more detailed resolution, and the image is intelligently shrunk back down to the resolution of your monitor using a custom-made filter, giving you up to 4K-quality graphics on your screen.”
Take a look.
You can grab the new drivers here.
Last Updated: October 23, 2014
Ottokie
October 23, 2014 at 10:35
This is great news, since the new World of Warcraft expansion has thrown away the MSAA features (that we loved) for CSAA and TXAA. Now everything is a bit “blocky” especially on a 27″ screen.
Jedi Consular Kromas
October 23, 2014 at 10:37
I would have thought “World server is down” would be the current biggest issue. 😛
Ottokie
October 23, 2014 at 10:38
My account is still inactive, since im well acquainted to WOW major patches after the first month XD
Jedi Consular Kromas
October 23, 2014 at 10:42
Just came back and I am scrambling to get my leveling heirlooms from Garrosh for all 11 characters I own. Also Legendary cloak (I feel might either make it in time or not depending on the gods of RNG)
Ottokie
October 23, 2014 at 10:45
That legendary cloak is gonna be good till about lvl 98, but still any boost is a good boost. Got cloak on my main only out of the 13 lvl 90’s so many hours of my life went into 😛
Jedi Consular Kromas
October 23, 2014 at 12:02
The cloak I just want to compliment my Sulfuras.
Jedi Consular Kromas
October 23, 2014 at 10:36
Release Physx to open source then you will grab my attention you highly overpriced badly designed driver making company.
Yours Truly
A happy Red supporter
Admiral Chief 0
October 23, 2014 at 10:38
XD
AceZero911
October 23, 2014 at 11:21
Doesn’t sound so happy 😛
Jedi Consular Kromas
October 23, 2014 at 12:01
Very happy with Team Red. Slightly unhappy at the Apple-like stance of Team Green.
Yes I just compared an Nvidia Card with an Iphone.
😛
AceZero911
October 23, 2014 at 12:06
Would that make Team Red Samsung? 😀
More seriously though, I’ll support whoever has the best performance/features/price. Of course if AMD had bought Ageia this conversation would be reversed.
Jedi Consular Kromas
October 23, 2014 at 12:27
I agree but with all the hassles I had with my last 3 Geforce Cards I think I’ll stick with Radeon for a while still.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 23, 2014 at 10:38
I tried this last night in Alien Isolation and can confirm that the downscaled DSR does a far better job than anti-aliasing and with far less of a performance impact.
Except on 4k. I can run almost all resolutions with little to no drop in frames. But the moment I do a 4K image I lag like crazy. Guess my 560Ti’s were not meant to be able to render 4k even in SLI.
Still, it works beautifully
Ottokie
October 23, 2014 at 10:41
I know what you mean, that 560Ti is a little champ
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 23, 2014 at 10:42
Yeah still super happy with my 560Ti setup. Love it
Kikmi
October 23, 2014 at 12:01
+1
Admiral Chief 0
October 23, 2014 at 10:38
Hardware means NOTHING if the software for said hardware is done crap
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 23, 2014 at 10:40
Again, I’ve never had issues. I know some people do but it all comes down to personal experience and PC makeup.
I’m happy with nVidia and their drivers. Pitty there are others who struggle.
Then again I’ve always had crashes with ATI drivers. So I could say the same as you about team red
Admiral Chief 0
October 23, 2014 at 10:43
If you load ATI drivers, then you are going to have a bad time. Rather load the new AMD drivers
😛
XD
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 23, 2014 at 10:43
lol. You know exactly what I mean.
Captain JJ in the shadow
October 23, 2014 at 10:49
I agree. I never had problems until I got my previous card. Something just wasn’t lekker there. Had endless problems trying to update drivers. Then it would tell me to roll back to an older driver, then I roll back and it keeps telling me I have to update my driver.
But, a lot of people have no problems. Like you. So I won’t say it’s bad software, it’s maybe just a bit more sensitive.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 23, 2014 at 10:51
My previous system I had those issues with my AMD card. The card performed well but the control center would often crash or the drivers would fail to load on startup or some other random thing.
It’s all about ones setup combination I guess.
Captain JJ in the shadow
October 23, 2014 at 10:55
I think so too. I also ran into some problems with dual screens on my Nvidia, but I have a zillion programmes on my pc, so I have quite a few problems that other people don’t. My last card crashed each time I played certain games too, so far everything works perfectly since I switched.
*touches crappy plastic desk, pretending it’s real wood.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 23, 2014 at 11:07
It’s weird how that happens hey. I have never had issues but others do. I’ve always had issues with AMD and others have had nothing but great experiences. Guess the universe decides who should be green and who should be red
AceZero911
October 23, 2014 at 11:25
I had random issues with my 8800GT’s, I had blue screen issues using VLC,MPC etc with my HD5870. But now my 670’s don’t give me any problems 🙂
Jedi Consular Kromas
October 23, 2014 at 10:40
That’s the money shot right there.
You must be wearing the Red Mantle as well. 🙂
Admiral Chief 0
October 23, 2014 at 10:42
Indeed fine sir, indeed
Captain JJ in the shadow
October 23, 2014 at 10:48
The only reason I switched from Nvidia to AMD is because of the software.
Rags
October 23, 2014 at 10:49
What software?
Captain JJ in the shadow
October 23, 2014 at 10:50
Nvidia drivers and GeForce Experience.
Rags
October 23, 2014 at 10:51
I kinda like GeForce Experience now. 🙁 It was a bit crap with connection issues for a while though. But the last few months its been brilliant.
Captain JJ in the shadow
October 23, 2014 at 10:57
I like the idea, but on my pc it always seemed like it couldn’t make up its mind and I often had problems where it timed out after attempting to download a driver.
Jedi Consular Kromas
October 23, 2014 at 10:50
RAPTR!!! 😛
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 23, 2014 at 10:52
You called?
Admiral Chief 0
October 23, 2014 at 11:00
No not that one, the EFFECTIVE one!
😛
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 23, 2014 at 11:06
Oh… Ok 🙁
Admiral Chief 0
October 23, 2014 at 11:00
LOL I have like 13k points there, saving up for a GPU.
ONLY 107000 left to go!
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 23, 2014 at 10:41
Except if you’re playing Evil Within hey Geoff? 😉
Rags
October 23, 2014 at 10:44
Tried it last night. Star Citizen runs at a grand 8fps at 4k. But it really makes a difference since there is no AA implemented yet. 😀
But works with older games too, tried it with Tony Hawk and it looks sweet.
Also works for your desktop. So now those 1080P 27″ monitors can have 1440p+ like resolution, which is good(screw you Asus South Africa).
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 23, 2014 at 10:46
I found that it’s great for games but causes a bit of a blur for desktop usage
Rags
October 23, 2014 at 10:48
Yes, I tested my 24″ at 4k, and was too blurry. Planning to try 1440P with smoothness set at 0% when I get home.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 23, 2014 at 10:49
Smoothness 0% then causes text to become over-sharp and so doesn’t appear smooth. I’m sure playing around a bit one should be able to find a good balance
Rags
October 23, 2014 at 10:49
And its probably what Occulus did with its latest reveal when people commented that the resolution feels a lot higher, without revealing what they did.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
October 23, 2014 at 10:51
TEAM GREEN.
Admiral Chief 0
October 23, 2014 at 11:02
RED FTW!
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 23, 2014 at 11:05
GO GEOFF!!!!
You are in my cool books again. Team Green!
Admiral Chief 0
October 23, 2014 at 11:16
Fickle team green. Will forget transgressions to show “allegiance”
😛
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 23, 2014 at 11:22
At least we know what allegiance means
Captain JJ in the shadow
October 23, 2014 at 11:23
allegations of defiance?
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 23, 2014 at 11:35
huehuehue
Skoobaz
October 23, 2014 at 16:24
Now now children…
theseasonswither
October 23, 2014 at 10:52
Looks like my next GPU will be green based…
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
October 23, 2014 at 10:55
When it comes to features, Nvidia blows AMD out of the water – and with the 970, they’re fighting on price to performance too. AMd has to step it up.
Viking Of Divinity
October 23, 2014 at 10:57
the 970 will be my first choice card on the new rig….
Captain JJ in the shadow
October 23, 2014 at 11:03
I’ve had Nvidia all my life. Never really found use for the features, but I do agree with you on that. They have some fancy stuff that AMD doesn’t.
But I’ve been converted to team RED, though we’re not exclusive yet (it hasn’t been long enough).
Jedi Consular Kromas
October 23, 2014 at 11:59
The only truly useful feature is Hardware based PhysX and they have been holding that ransom for years. With EA deciding to make a stand they are gonna lose big time.
Let us see how pretty DA is gonna be on both sides then have a nice long FFD.
Quite happy with my R series.
Skoobaz
October 23, 2014 at 16:25
Ooh, opening slavo for tomorrow then eh?
Kikmi
October 23, 2014 at 12:01
TEAM GREEN FUCKING WOOT WOOT
Skoobaz
October 23, 2014 at 16:25
Woot!