Frame generation used to be locked to specific GPUs and games that shipped official support. Lossless Scaling changed that by offering a driver-agnostic app that inserts generated frames and upscales almost any windowed game, including old titles and emulators that will never get native support. It is not magic and it comes with trade-offs, but used well it can turn a choppy 40 FPS into a much smoother visual experience.
What It Actually Does
The tool captures the game window and applies two independent features. Its frame generation multiplies displayed frames by interpolating new ones between real frames, so a 60 FPS source can appear as 120 on screen. Its scaling features upscale a lower internal resolution to your monitor’s native resolution using several algorithms. You can use either feature alone or both together.
| Source FPS | Multiplier | Displayed FPS | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 2x | 60 | Smoother, some latency |
| 40 | 2x | 80 | Good sweet spot |
| 60 | 2x | 120 | Very smooth |
| 60 | 3x-4x | 180-240 | Best on high-refresh panels |
Set It Up Correctly
Run your game in borderless windowed mode, not exclusive fullscreen, so the app can capture the window. Set a stable base frame rate first; frame generation feels best when the source is steady, so cap the game to a rate your hardware can hold consistently, such as 40 or 60. Then pick your multiplier and press the app’s hotkey to toggle scaling on while the game is focused.
Mind the Base Frame Rate
Interpolation quality depends on the source. Generating frames from a solid 60 looks clean; generating from a stuttery 25 amplifies artifacts around fast motion and UI text. Aim for at least 40-50 real frames before turning generation on, and use a frame cap to keep that base steady rather than letting it swing wildly.
Understand the Latency Trade-off
Generated frames do not reduce input latency; they can slightly increase it because the app holds a real frame to interpolate. For slower single-player, strategy, and simulation games this is unnoticeable and well worth the smoothness. For twitch shooters where every millisecond counts, native frames are better, so reserve frame generation for games where visual fluidity matters more than raw responsiveness.
Reduce Artifacts
Enable G-Sync or FreeSync and, if the app offers it, a mode that syncs generation to your display. Lower the multiplier if you see ghosting on the HUD, and keep your monitor’s refresh rate comfortably above the displayed frame rate so generated frames are not fighting the panel.
Where It Shines
The biggest wins are older games with no upscaling support, emulators, GPU-limited titles on a high-refresh monitor, and handhelds where you want smoother visuals at a modest power cost. Because it is game-agnostic, it fills the gap for the thousands of titles that will never receive vendor frame generation.
Match It to Your Monitor and GPU
Frame generation only pays off if your display can show the extra frames. Multiplying a 60 FPS source to 120 is wasted on a 60Hz panel, so set your multiplier with your refresh rate in mind: 2x suits a 120-144Hz monitor from a 60 FPS base, while 3x-4x targets 240Hz displays. Enabling variable refresh alongside it keeps the generated and real frames in sync and reduces tearing.
The app also leans on your GPU to do the interpolation, so on a card already near 100% usage the overhead can eat into your base frame rate, partly defeating the purpose. Leave a little GPU headroom by lowering an in-game setting or two if you notice the base rate sagging once generation is on. Because it captures the window, a second monitor running video or a browser can also steal capture performance, so keep heavy background windows closed while you play for the cleanest result.
FAQ
Does Lossless Scaling work with exclusive fullscreen?
No, it needs to capture the game window, so run games in borderless windowed or windowed mode. Most games look identical in borderless and it also improves alt-tab behavior, so this is rarely a downside.
Will frame generation help if my FPS is very low?
Not really. Generating from a base below about 30-40 FPS produces visible artifacts and still feels laggy because latency tracks the real frames, not the generated ones. Lower your in-game settings to reach a stable base first, then apply generation on top.
Bottom Line
Lock a steady base frame rate of 40 or higher, run the game in borderless windowed, enable variable refresh, then apply a 2x multiplier and adjust from there. Treat it as a smoothness tool for slower and older games rather than a fix for competitive latency, and it becomes one of the most versatile utilities in a PC gamer’s kit.
