OPINION : When it come to new graphics cards , we ’re all obsessed with performance and how high they can push the skeletal system rate for our favourite games .
That ’s understandable , as that ’s been the chief collection of upgrade to a new graphics card for as long as they ’ve existed . But with performance gains starting to slow between generation , it ’s becoming progressively less beguiling to upgrade .
However , I ’d make the argumentation that raw performance upgrades are no longer the independent motivator to upgrade . For Nvidia ’s latest RTX 4000 cards for lesson , it ’s the improvements made toray tracingandDLSSthat are the most exciting advancement .
The late announcement ofDLSS 3.5is testament to this . Nvidia ’s AI - powered technology has become a dear feature for pushing up the frame pace of supported biz to even loftier heights than theGPU ’s hardware is able of . That ’s a signally useful feature article in its own rightfield , but DLSS 3.5 introduces yet another exciting feature called Ray Reconstruction .
Ray Reconstruction employ artificial intelligence to heighten the optic appearance of ray of light - trace lighting force , chasten any technical mistakes to result in a more life - like appearance .
As you may see from the below image provide by Nvidia , Ray Reconstruction has been able-bodied to enhance the clearness of a pool ’s reflection of a digital billboard in Cyberpunk 2077 .
AtGamescom 2023 , Nvidia invited me to a visual demonstration of the fresh DLSS 3.5 technology , and it was even more telling to see on a moving image . Whereas standard ray tracing may see smudge to the reflection as you move your reference around – due to the intensive veridical - time computational workload of these naturalistic light beams – activating the new DLSS 3.5 technology assure the reflections look remarkably clear at all times .
The television of Portal below also demonstrates that DLSS 3.5 can repair proficient errors of ray tracing lighting essence . Look to the leftfield of the Companion Cube , and you will see an odd shimmering effect , which should n’t be occurring since the scant source remains stable . Activate DLSS 3.5 , and this is immediately discipline , resulting in more naturalistic lighting effects .
The enhanced lighting effects made a far dandy impingement on the visual quality of a game than say a higher frame rate would . It was a material middle undoer to me – while we ’re all dire for new console table and graphics to push frame rates to fresh height , it ’s clean-cut that the likes of ray tracing are far more influential to the visual fidelity – at least to the average gamer who does n’t ask eSports - gradation carrying out .
Do n’t get me wrong , the insubstantial performance increase of the RTX 4000 cards compared to the preceding RTX 3000 serial is fabulously underwhelming , and there ’s no concealment that . But the debut of DLSS 3.5 on the face of it does a neat job of making up for that .
The braggy issue powerful now ? DLSS 3.5 will only be hold by a handful of games when it set in motion later this yr , including Alan Wake 2 , Cyberpunk 2077 , cyber-terrorist 2077 : Phantom Liberty and Portal with RTX . The degree of game reenforcement is going to ask to ameliorate considerably in the next year if DLSS 3.5 is to become a worthwhile retainer for the leverage of an RTX 4000 Series card .
But after learn the tech demonstration at Gamescom , I have renewed excitement for the future of Nvidia graphics cards . It ’s also a moral to play systems outside of Nvidia ’s ecosystem , especially for companies such as PlayStation , Xbox and Nintendo . Raw functioning is still doubtless important , but I ’d love to see a outstanding emphasis on AI - powered features such as re tracing for the next generation of systems as it ’s more open of leave that generational wow ingredient .
