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A Quick Look at 720p to 4K DLSS Ultra Performance Mode Reconstruction (Patreon)

Published:
2021-08-05 12:50:12
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Hi everyone, Rich here. For my current project, I found myself wondering how DLSS Ultra Performance mode actually looks when upscaling from 720p to 2160p - the rumoured design target for DLSS in the next-gen Switch. So check out this comparison, which stacks up the same Cyberpunk content up against the performance mode on Xbox Series X (rendering between 1080p and 1296p, at a wobbly 60fps). 

There are two ways to look at this. Does it look like a native 4K image? No. There are clear upscaling artefacts. But arguably, that will not be the point for the next-gen Switch - the objective there will be to presumably make mobile 720p gaming look decent on a modern 4K display. I'd say that judged by that criteria, it works - and bearing in mind that DLSS is an ongoing project, the progress seen thus far is encouraging. And yeah, per the video, I really am keen on securing an RTX 3050 laptop...

Downloads: https://digitalfoundry.net/2021-08-03-cyberpunk-2077-4k-dlss-ultra-performance-vs-xbox-series-x-performance

Files

Previews only

Cyberpunk 2077: 4K DLSS Ultra Performance vs Xbox Series X Performance

Some bonus material for DF Supporter Program backers - how does Cyberpunk 2077 in DLSS Ultra Performance Mode, upscaling from 720p to 2160p compare to the Series X performance mode, running in a 1080p-1296p window, upscaled to 2160p?

Comments

Ben Fisher

Absolutely love DLSS. Could Nintendo train specific games and datasets to achieve better outcomes? I'd imagine a Mario game would scale well due to defined contrast etc?

Thomas Würgler

I've also been playing around with a Ryzen 2400G on Linux where pretty much every Windows game can be run with FSR through Proton GE. Just to get a feel for what Steam Deck might be like. It's a much slower APU but able to draw more current, and the results have been interesting. I'm getting far better performance than I'd expect from a machine like that.

Anonymous

Could developers possibly stack FSR support onto their engines on a possible Switch with DLSS? Just a thought that could push performance even further to possibly see more 60fps titles on that platform.

digitalfoundry
>>65172464

FSR is a relatively simple resolution upscaler, more in common with the resolution scalers already found in many PC games. It would make DLSS look worse as it gives the reconstruction algorithm less data to work with.

MittenFacedLass

This is wildly impressive, IMO. Sure. There are a few moments where aliasing is more noticable, but considering the drastically lower internal res, vs Series X, the results are almost shocking. In some ways, the 720p DLSS version looks even subjectively better, like for instance the fact that DLSS seems to make the falling rain much clearer and more visible, which for me at least, looks better. Or in some cases, more material detail is clearly discernible over the higher res Xbox version. I also think that at least for the average regular user, most wouldn't even notice the difference if you played them back to back. That says an incredible amount for the efficacy of the technique. Clinically, there are differences and weaknesses, but in the real world, subjectively, most people likely won't even pick up on it. I imagine too, that a Super Nintendo Switch could likely have custom tuning of DLSS since the specific exact usage case would be known, and that even better results could then be gained/optimized for. The future of rendering and pushing what is possible in real time (especially on power limited hardware like mobile devices) definitely seems to be AI-aided reconstruction.

MittenFacedLass

Also, just for kicks, a version of this comparison keeping the DLSS version but comparing it against actual native 720p with no other differences, would be quite interesting/illuminating. Would help illustrate the gains, rather than just how comparatively (very) impressive it is to other higher end hardware.

digitalfoundry
>>65167618

It's an interesting idea but the more recent DLSS isn't trained to specific games or styles, it is more generic in nature. The good news is that the Mario aesthetic doesn't really have any of the elements that DLSS ultra performance might struggle with - like sub-pixel detail, specular aliasing. It could be tested with Super Mario 64 Recompile which just had DLSS added?

Mr Fujisawa

I'm shocked how good the ultra performance looks tbh. I'm looking at this on my 65" tv sat on my couch, and apart from a few artefacts, it kinda passes as almost native. incredible.

Thomas Joynt

Wow, that 720P upscaling looks pretty amazing! A few interesting visual glitches here and there, but they seem oddly appropriate: a glitch in the matrix perhaps? ;) Love the music you chose as well! Starting at 7:04 is The Rebel Path by P.T. Adamczyk from the Cyberpunk 2077 Original Score, if anyone is curious.

Filip Zanichelli

That RTX 3050, might well be above the “switch pro/switch 2” hardware specs. But it is certainly interesting to see for laptop users. Like myself, that postponed any upgrades on PC due to higher prices.