What does ray tracing and DLSS do?
Ray tracing and DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) are two revolutionary technologies in the world of computer graphics, with ray tracing being a technique that enhances the realism and visual quality of 3D rendering by simulating the behavior of light and accurately calculating its interaction with objects, while DLSS uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) to generate additional pixels for intensive ray-traced scenes, replacing hand-tuned denoisers with an NVIDIA supercomputer-trained AI network that generates higher-quality pixels in between sampled rays. By combining these technologies, gamers and developers can achieve higher-quality visuals, faster frame rates, and a more immersive gaming experience.
Introduction to Ray Tracing and DLSS
How Ray Tracing Works
Ray tracing is a technique that significantly enhances the realism and visual quality of 3D rendering by simulating the behavior of light and accurately calculating its interaction with objects, creating lifelike reflections, shadows, and global illumination effects. This technique is computationally expensive and requires powerful GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) to run smoothly.
How DLSS Works
DLSS, on the other hand, uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) to generate additional pixels for intensive ray-traced scenes, replacing hand-tuned denoisers with an NVIDIA supercomputer-trained AI network that generates higher-quality pixels in between sampled rays. This technology allows gamers to render at lower resolutions, such as 1080p or 1440p, and use DLSS to fill in the missing information, resulting in higher frame rates without a noticeable loss in image quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is Ray Tracing and DLSS Important?
Ray tracing and DLSS are important technologies that can significantly enhance the visual quality and performance of games and other graphics-intensive applications, making them essential for gamers and developers who want to achieve higher-quality visuals and faster frame rates.
Q2: Can You Use Ray Tracing and DLSS?
NVIDIA DLSS is available for both DirectX 11 and DirectX 12, and can be used with or without ray tracing, offering three presets: High, Medium, and Low, which cater to different performance and quality needs.
Q3: Does DLSS Improve FPS?
DLSS can significantly improve FPS (Frames Per Second) by allowing gamers to render at lower resolutions and use DLSS to fill in the missing information, resulting in higher frame rates without a noticeable loss in image quality.
Q4: Is it Better to Enable DLSS?
Enabling DLSS can be beneficial for gamers who want to achieve higher frame rates and better performance, especially in games that support ray tracing, as it can help reduce the performance impact of this demanding technology.
Q5: What is the Downside of Using DLSS?
The downside of using DLSS is that it can produce a smooth but rather blurry image with a weird “artsy” look, kind of like the artifacts you’d see in AI upscaled images, although this issue has been improved in later versions of the technology.
Q6: Is DLSS Better than Ray Tracing?
DLSS and ray tracing are complementary technologies that work together to achieve higher-quality visuals and faster frame rates, with DLSS helping to reduce the performance impact of ray tracing and improve overall image quality.
Q7: Does Ray Tracing Lower FPS?
Ray tracing can lower FPS due to its computationally expensive nature, which requires powerful GPUs to run smoothly, although the performance impact can be mitigated by using DLSS and other optimization techniques.
Q8: Does DLSS Increase FPS at 1440p?
DLSS can increase FPS at 1440p by allowing gamers to render at lower resolutions and use DLSS to fill in the missing information, resulting in higher frame rates without a noticeable loss in image quality.
Q9: Is DLSS Good for 1440p?
DLSS can be beneficial for 1440p gaming, especially in games that support ray tracing, as it can help reduce the performance impact of this demanding technology and improve overall image quality.
Q10: Is Ray Tracing the Same as DLSS?
Ray tracing and DLSS are different technologies that work together to achieve higher-quality visuals and faster frame rates, with ray tracing simulating the behavior of light and DLSS using AI to generate additional pixels for intensive ray-traced scenes.
Q11: Does DLSS Affect Aim?
DLSS can affect aim in games, especially at lower resolutions, although the impact can be mitigated by using DLSS in combination with other technologies, such as NVIDIA Reflex, which can help reduce input lag.
Q12: Is Ray Tracing Worth it in 2023?
Ray tracing is still a valuable technology in 2023, especially for gamers who want to achieve higher-quality visuals and more immersive gaming experiences, although its adoption has been limited by its high computational requirements and the need for powerful GPUs.
Q13: How Many People Actually Use Ray Tracing?
A significant percentage of gamers use ray tracing, with 83% of GeForce RTX 40 Series desktop gamers with RTX-capable games enabling ray tracing, and 79% turning on DLSS, showcasing the widespread adoption of these revolutionary technologies.
Q14: Do Games Look Better Without DLSS?
Games can look better without DLSS, especially at higher resolutions, although DLSS can help improve FPS and reduce the performance impact of ray tracing, making it a valuable technology for gamers who want to achieve higher-quality visuals and faster frame rates.
Q15: Does Ray Tracing Improve Graphics?
Ray tracing can significantly improve graphics by simulating the behavior of light and accurately calculating its interaction with objects, creating lifelike reflections, shadows, and global illumination effects that enhance the overall visual quality of games and other graphics-intensive applications.