Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti Unveils Its Secret Weapon: Meet DLSS 4

Nvidia’s DLSS technology, which generates frames using deep learning, has assisted the best PC games It has performed excellently over many years. The most recent version, DLSS 4, is possibly the finest so far, due to methods such as Multi Frame Generation, which can enhance gaming performance by up to eightfold, claims Nvidia.

DLSS 4 enhances both performance and image quality, as well as reducing input lag.

Although DLSS 4 can enhance game performance and visual quality, it isn’t something PC gamers such as myself would depend on when equipped with a top-tier GPU like the Nvidia RTX 5090. When investing around $2,000 in a graphics card, we expect robust frame-generation capabilities.

Nevertheless, on a less extravagant graphics card, DLSS 4 is not just advantageous but entirely warranted.

You can read our Review of Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti For all the details on Nvidia’s cost-effective graphics card. Here though, my emphasis will be on DLSS 4 and why it’s a crucial feature for less expensive Nvidia GPUs such as the RTX 5060 Ti.

What is DLSS?

Before proceeding further, it’s worthwhile to explain what DLSS, or Deep Learning Super Sampling, entails and how it operates.

Supersampling is an AI-enhanced method that enhances the clarity of images within games by eliminating rough edges, all while improving frame rates through rendering titles at a high resolution followed by scaling them down to match your screen dimensions. Properly executed supersampling can increase a game’s frames per second without significantly compromising picture quality relative to displaying content natively on your display.

Since its debut in early 2019, Nvidia DLSS has improved significantly. Games such as Cyberpunk 2077 Using DLSS in Quality or Balanced modes performs exceptionally well both visually and performance-wise. You not only get increased frame rates, but also maintain crisp image clarity even when using 4K displays.

Rivals such as AMD and Intel each offer their own forms of AI-powered supersampling through technologies called FSR and XeSS, correspondingly. Although these methods have seen advancements over time, they still fall short when compared to Nvidia’s DLSS, which remains at the top in this category.

DLSS 4 on the RTX 5060 Ti

Nvidia aims to cater to 1440p gaming with the RTX 5060 Ti. This decision aligns well with the preference of most gamers who find this resolution strikes an ideal balance between crisp picture quality and fluid frame rates. Consequently, DLSS 4 on the RTX 5060 Ti lives up to expectations in this aspect.

The aforementioned multi-frame generation uses AI to construct three additional frames alongside the one rendered frame. As you can see from our testing, the card is overperforming here.

Getting 100 frames per second at 4K ray-tracing ultra settings on Cyberpunk 2077 is absolutely mind-blowing. Remember, this is a $430 card!

One reason for this capability is that DLSS 4 has shifted away from the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) approach used in DLSS 3, where images were processed dynamically. Instead, DLSS 4 employs a Transformer Model that operates differently, akin to ChatGPT does.

This leads to a significant reduction in image ghosting on quick-moving subjects, enhancing general visual quality. Without having exceptionally keen vision or employing special tools, you wouldn't detect issues such as artifacts near a person's hair, say.

Potential downsides

DLSS 4 for Nvidia GPUs such as the RTX 5060 Ti can provide increased frame rates and enhanced visual smoothness. Nonetheless, there are certain drawbacks you should be aware of.

As mentioned in our RTX 5060 Ti review, DLSS does not provide an advantage in multiplayer games. Actually, it might even have a negative impact.

For instance, when DLSS 4 is activated, Call of Duty: Black Ops VI experienced a 27.2ms reaction time at a 1440p display setting, making it far from ideal for games demanding instantaneous reflexes. Reducing the resolution to 1080p decreases the lag to 11.3ms; however, this remains above the preferred threshold of under 10ms desired in competitive gaming scenarios.

We conducted these tests at peak graphics settings, hence reducing them along with the screen resolution could enhance both the frame rate and latency. For optimal outcomes, adjustments will be necessary as fiddling with settings is common practice for most PC gamers.

Outlook for Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti

The Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti is the graphics card for which DLSS 4 truly shines. Despite not matching the high-performance levels of pricier models, DLSS 4 allows this GPU to achieve speeds unattainable by competing cards within its cost bracket.

If you frequently engage in multiplayer gaming on your PC, I would recommend opting for a more powerful graphics card such as the RTX 5070 or one even higher. On the other hand, if your priority is silky-smooth performance solely for single-player titles, the RTX 5060 Ti won’t disappoint you.