DLDSR (Deep Learning Dynamic Super Resolution) is an NVIDIA feature that renders your game at a higher-than-native resolution and uses AI to downscale it back to your monitor, producing a noticeably sharper, cleaner image. It’s ideal for older or less demanding games where you have GPU headroom to spare. Here’s how to set it up and pick the right factor.
How DLDSR differs from plain DSR
Traditional DSR needed a big multiplier (like 4x) to look good. DLDSR uses a neural network so a smaller 2.25x factor delivers image quality close to the old 4x, at a fraction of the performance cost. That makes super-resolution practical in far more games.
Enable it in the driver
- Open the NVIDIA Control Panel.
- Go to Manage 3D Settings > Global Settings.
- Find DSR – Factors and check the DL scaling options (1.78x and 2.25x).
- Optionally set DSR – Smoothness around 20-40%.
- Apply, then select the new higher resolution inside your game.
| DLDSR factor | From 1080p renders at | Image gain | Performance cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.78x | ~1440p | Good | Moderate |
| 2.25x | ~1620p | Excellent | Higher |
Pick the right game and factor
DLDSR shines in titles where your GPU already runs well above your refresh rate: older shooters, indie games, and strategy titles. Choose 2.25x for the best clarity when you have plenty of headroom, or 1.78x for a lighter boost. In demanding modern games you’re better off with native resolution plus DLSS instead.
Combine with DLSS for a sweet spot
A popular trick is DLDSR plus DLSS: render at a high DLDSR resolution but use DLSS Quality to reconstruct, netting an image sharper than native at a manageable frame rate. Experiment per game; the combination can look superb.
Set smoothness correctly
The Smoothness slider controls the downscaling filter. Too low looks over-sharpened and aliased; too high looks soft. Around 20-40% is a good starting range for DLDSR. Adjust to taste based on whether the image looks crunchy or blurry.
Getting the most from spare GPU headroom
DLDSR is essentially a way to spend leftover performance on image quality. In an older or lightweight game where your card already runs far above your refresh rate, rendering at a higher internal resolution and downscaling with AI produces edges and fine textures noticeably crisper than native, taming the aliasing and shimmer that plain resolution can’t. It’s the opposite trade from upscaling: instead of buying frames with a little quality, you buy quality with spare frames.
Combine it wisely with other tools. Pairing DLDSR with DLSS lets you render at a high effective resolution while reconstructing efficiently, often yielding a sharper picture than native at a very playable frame rate. Keep the Smoothness slider in the 20-40% range so the image is clean without looking over-sharpened, and always confirm your game is actually running at the new higher resolution you selected. Reserve DLDSR for titles with real headroom; in demanding modern games your frames are better spent staying above your refresh rate.
FAQ
Does DLDSR work on any NVIDIA GPU?
It requires an RTX card with Tensor cores. On supported GPUs it’s available in the driver’s DSR Factors list as the DL scaling options. Older GTX cards can use standard DSR but not the AI-accelerated DLDSR.
Is DLDSR better than just running DLSS?
They serve different goals. DLSS raises frame rate in demanding games; DLDSR raises image quality in games where you have spare performance. In light titles DLDSR gives the crisper picture; in heavy ones DLSS keeps you playable. Combining them can be the best of both.
Bottom line
Enable the DL scaling factors in the NVIDIA Control Panel, set smoothness around 20-40%, and select the higher resolution in games where your GPU has headroom. Use 2.25x for maximum clarity, and try pairing it with DLSS for a sharp yet smooth result that beats native rendering.
