Nvidia’s graphics playing cards will not be low-cost, however they do include a number of enjoyable options that may turn out to be useful. An apparent software program and {hardware} profit is DLSS 4.5, however many individuals missed the memo on a hidden characteristic that may make previous movies look a complete lot higher.
Reliant on Nvidia’s Tensor cores, this characteristic is offered in lots of graphics playing cards from the final decade. Here is how one can upscale practically all movies simply, the way it works, and what the caveats are.
What Nvidia’s hidden video setting truly does
It isn’t magic, but it surely helps a complete lot typically
Alright, alright, I am going to cease with the suspense: I am speaking about Nvidia’s RTX Video Tremendous Decision. It does precisely what it says on the label, however with a bit extra nuance than a easy upscale.
Nvidia makes use of an AI mannequin to sharpen edges, restore patterns and options, and clear up the blocky compression artifacts that make previous uploads and low-bitrate movies look smeared or muddy. And let’s face it, they are surely: a few of these previous 360p YouTube movies are virtually unwatchable.
Quiz
8 Questions · Check Your Data
GPUs: Previous to current and past
Trivia problem
From early framebuffers to AI-powered rendering — how properly do you actually know the GPU?
Historical past{Hardware}AI & GPUsPioneersKnow-how
Start
Which firm launched the GeForce 256 in 1999, advertising and marketing it because the world’s first GPU?
AAMDBIntelCNVIDIAD3dfx
That is proper! NVIDIA coined the time period ‘GPU’ (Graphics Processing Unit) with the discharge of the GeForce 256 in 1999. It was notable for offloading rework and lighting calculations from the CPU, marking a serious shift in how graphics have been processed.
Not fairly — it was NVIDIA that launched the GeForce 256 and trademarked the time period ‘GPU’ in 1999. This card was a landmark launch as a result of it moved rework and lighting calculations off the CPU and onto devoted graphics {hardware} for the primary time.
Proceed
Which firm produced the Voodoo graphics card, one of the crucial iconic early 3D accelerators of the Nineties?
AS3 GraphicsBMatroxCATID3dfx Interactive
Right! 3dfx Interactive’s Voodoo playing cards dominated 3D gaming within the mid-to-late Nineties. The unique Voodoo launched in 1996 was so well-liked that ‘Voodoo’ turned synonymous with PC gaming efficiency for a number of years, earlier than 3dfx was in the end acquired by NVIDIA in 2000.
The right reply is 3dfx Interactive. Their Voodoo line of 3D accelerator playing cards have been the go-to alternative for PC avid gamers within the mid-to-late Nineties. 3dfx was ultimately acquired by NVIDIA in 2000, ending one of the crucial beloved names in early GPU historical past.
Proceed
What does VRAM stand for, and what’s its major function in a GPU?
AVariable Random Entry Reminiscence, used to regulate clock speeds dynamicallyBVideo Random Entry Reminiscence, used to retailer picture and texture knowledge for renderingCDigital RAM, used to increase system reminiscence when wantedDVoltage Regulated Accessible Reminiscence, used to stabilize energy supply
Precisely proper! VRAM stands for Video Random Entry Reminiscence, and it serves because the GPU’s devoted pool of reminiscence for storing textures, body buffers, and different rendering knowledge. Extra VRAM typically permits greater resolutions and extra detailed textures with out efficiency penalties.
The right reply is B. VRAM stands for Video Random Entry Reminiscence, and it is the GPU’s personal devoted reminiscence used to carry textures, body buffers, and rendering knowledge. Having extra VRAM is particularly vital for gaming at excessive resolutions or with demanding texture packs.
Proceed
What’s ray tracing within the context of contemporary GPU rendering?
AA way of upscaling lower-resolution photos utilizing AI algorithmsBA method that traces the trail of sunshine rays to simulate life like reflections, shadows, and lightingCA course of that reduces aliasing on the sides of rendered polygonsDA compression technique used to cut back the dimensions of textures saved in VRAM
Spot on! Ray tracing simulates how mild bodily behaves by tracing the trail of particular person rays as they bounce round a scene. This produces extremely life like reflections, shadows, and world illumination, although it is computationally costly — which is why devoted RT cores on trendy GPUs are such a giant deal.
Not fairly — ray tracing is a rendering approach that simulates the bodily conduct of sunshine by tracing rays via a scene. It creates strikingly life like reflections, shadows, and ambient lighting. Trendy GPUs from NVIDIA and AMD embody devoted {hardware} cores particularly designed to speed up ray tracing calculations.
Proceed
What’s NVIDIA’s DLSS expertise, and what AI approach does it primarily depend on?
ADeep Studying Tremendous Sampling — it makes use of AI to upscale lower-resolution frames to the next decisionBDynamic Lighting Shader System — it makes use of machine studying to enhance shadow renderingCDirect Load Streaming Service — it makes use of AI to preload sport property quickerDDevoted Latency Suppression Software program — it reduces enter lag utilizing neural networks
Right! DLSS stands for Deep Studying Tremendous Sampling. It renders frames at a decrease inner decision after which makes use of a educated AI mannequin working on Tensor Cores to intelligently upscale the picture, producing near-native high quality visuals with considerably higher body charges.
The best reply is A. DLSS stands for Deep Studying Tremendous Sampling. NVIDIA’s expertise renders video games at a decrease decision and makes use of AI — particularly educated neural networks working on devoted Tensor Cores — to upscale the picture. The result’s higher efficiency and not using a dramatic loss in visible high quality.
Proceed
In what decade did GPUs start to be extensively used for general-purpose computing duties past graphics, a apply often known as GPGPU?
ANineteen EightiesBNinetiesC2000sD2010s
That is proper! GPGPU (Normal-Objective computing on Graphics Processing Items) turned a critical discipline within the 2000s. NVIDIA’s launch of the CUDA platform in 2006 was a watershed second, permitting builders to harness GPU parallelism for scientific computing, simulations, and ultimately AI workloads.
The right reply is the 2000s. Whereas GPUs existed earlier than then purely for graphics, the idea of utilizing them for common computing — often known as GPGPU — gained actual traction within the mid-2000s. NVIDIA’s CUDA platform, launched in 2006, was instrumental in opening up GPUs for duties like scientific analysis, physics simulations, and AI coaching.
Proceed
What interface do trendy discrete GPUs primarily use to hook up with a motherboard?
AAGP (Accelerated Graphics Port)BPCIe (Peripheral Element Interconnect Specific)CISA (Business Normal Structure)DUSB4
Right! PCIe (Peripheral Element Interconnect Specific) has been the usual interface for discrete GPUs for the reason that mid-2000s, changing AGP. Trendy high-end GPUs usually use PCIe x16 slots, with PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 providing substantial bandwidth enhancements over earlier generations.
The reply is PCIe (Peripheral Element Interconnect Specific). AGP was the predecessor that was widespread via the early 2000s, however PCIe took over round 2004 and has been the dominant customary ever since. As we speak’s GPUs use PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 slots, which offer huge bandwidth to maintain up with ever-growing GPU efficiency calls for.
Proceed
Which of the next finest describes AMD’s reply to NVIDIA’s DLSS upscaling expertise?
AFreeSync — an adaptive sync expertise that eliminates display tearingBFSR (FidelityFX Tremendous Decision) — an upscaling approach that works throughout a wider vary of {hardware}CSAM (Good Entry Reminiscence) — a characteristic that offers the CPU full entry to GPU VRAMDRSR (Radeon Tremendous Decision) — a driver-level sharpening filter utilized after rendering
Nicely completed! AMD’s FSR, or FidelityFX Tremendous Decision, is their upscaling expertise designed to compete with NVIDIA’s DLSS. A key differentiator is that FSR is open-source and hardware-agnostic, which means it really works on GPUs from AMD, NVIDIA, and even Intel — making it way more accessible than DLSS, which requires NVIDIA Tensor Cores.
The right reply is FSR (FidelityFX Tremendous Decision). AMD developed FSR as their aggressive response to NVIDIA’s DLSS. One among its largest benefits is that it is open-source and never restricted to AMD {hardware} — in contrast to DLSS, FSR can run on GPUs from NVIDIA and Intel too, making it a extra universally accessible upscaling resolution.
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However merely blowing up a tough low-res video to suit the next decision display could make the issues stand out much more, and whereas that undoubtedly does occur with RTX Video at occasions, the tech can be smarter than that. Nvidia constructed artifact discount into the characteristic, making an attempt to attenuate all the eccentricities that occur if you attempt to power a 360p video from 2009 to look first rate in 2026. Total, the characteristic works to enhance enter video from 360p to 1440p.
It additionally works in actual time, upgrading every video because it occurs. RTX Video leans on Nvidia’s Tensor cores to boost playback as you watch.
I am shocked that extra individuals do not find out about this characteristic. It might be as a result of it’s miles from good, however primarily based by myself testing, it is price testing.
There are just a few necessities to satisfy
Not everybody will get to profit from RTX Video
Credit score: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek
First issues first, that is an RTX-only characteristic. When you have an RTX 20, RTX 30, RTX 40, or RTX 50 GPU, you are good to go. In case you’re on an Nvidia GTX card, you may have to attempt your luck with Lossless Scaling as an alternative, or purchase a brand new GPU. (It is about time—these good previous GTXs are rising out of date.) RTX Video is offered on each desktops and laptops.
You may additionally want 64-bit Home windows 10 or Home windows 11, so Linux customers are out of luck for this one.
RTX Video works within the newest variations of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and VLC, and it might additionally work in different present Chromium-based browsers, though Nvidia has solely explicitly verified Chrome and Edge. One annoying caveat is that in the event you use Edge, it’s a must to disable Microsoft’s personal Improve movies characteristic first, otherwise you will not be utilizing Nvidia’s processing in any respect.
Lastly, the video itself must verify some containers, too. As I discussed above, RTX Video is offered in movies between 360p and 1440p, but it surely’ll solely kick in if the video truly wants it. It will not assist in the event you’re already watching one thing at native decision or decrease. Some content material might not work with RTX Video although it looks like it ought to, and primarily based on my testing, there’s little rhyme or purpose to it. It simply does not work typically. (I’ve by no means seen it work in YouTube Shorts.)
Graphics RAM Measurement
12GB
Enhance Clock Pace
2600MHz
If you wish to take full benefit of DLSS 5 and different options like RTX Video, you might have to improve your GPU. The RTX 5070 is a cheap approach to benefit from the full advantages of Nvidia’s RTX 50-series.
How you can set it up and check out it for your self
Numerous guides get it incorrect in 2026
Credit score: Monica J. White / How-To Geek
Numerous guides will inform you to allow RTX Video via the Nvidia Management Panel, which was extremely unintuitive. Thankfully, Nvidia’s up to date the trail, making it a lot easier.
All you want is the Nvidia app. Obtain it, set up it, after which head to System > Video. Toggle on Video Tremendous Decision.
It will present as inactive in the event you’re not at present tabbed right into a video that is taking part in an eligible video, so I like to recommend testing whether or not it really works earlier than you exit out of the app.
Between manually tweaking the standard and leaving it on Auto, it is just about as much as you. In case you’re doing different GPU-intensive issues on the similar time, akin to gaming, leaving it on Auto is smart.
When this setting will not save your movies
I performed round with it rather a lot, and it is not flawless
RTX Video is nice, particularly contemplating it is some small, under-the-radar type of characteristic that Nvidia does not go tremendous far out of its approach to promote. But it surely’s not a magic eraser for all the pieces that appears incorrect in low-res movies. Oftentimes, it will upscale elements of the picture and never others, making a bizarre mishmash of sharp visuals and blurry disappointment. It’s what it’s.
It does not harm to attempt
For all its faults, RTX Video is genuinely good if you need to watch an previous video, present, or anime, and need to give it just a little little bit of an upscale. It is a native various to Lossless Scaling, which will help too, but it surely prices cash to purchase.
My recommendation: check out RTX Video first and see the outcomes with your personal eyes. You may like them, otherwise you may think about them negligible. Attempt it on a pattern of at the very least 10 totally different movies on totally different platforms and forged your judgment.
Then, in the event you’re not comfortable, check out Lossless Scaling. It has quite a lot of makes use of past body technology and may actually assist in conditions akin to these.
