Frames Win Games: A Deep Dive into Nvidia’s DLSS 3 Frame Generation
Framing a loss The downfall of frames in gaming | ENBLE
Frames don’t win games | ENBLE
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Frames win games. It’s a slogan that Nvidia has been using in its marketing campaign targeted at esports players ever since the introduction of Nvidia Reflex. Catchy, right? But let’s add a bit of context to this tagline in this new era of generated frames. Nvidia’s DLSS 3 feature, available on RTX 40-series graphics cards, has revolutionized performance in games. However, there’s a trade-off: an increase in latency. This has never been a big deal in non-competitive games like Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, but now DLSS 3 has made its way into the competitive shooter scene with Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3. While DLSS 3 is a fantastic tool for improving performance, competitive players need to be aware of the trade-off they are making by generating frames. This becomes even more important as DLSS 3 starts appearing in other competitive titles.
How do frames win games?
Nvidia
First, let’s understand why frames win games. Your frame rate represents the latency between each frame. At 60 frames per second (fps), there’s a latency of 16.6ms between each frame. Double that to 120 fps, and the latency reduces to 8.3ms. With a higher frame rate, you receive information faster, allowing for quicker reactions in competitive settings.
This notion was reinforced during Nvidia’s system latency challenge in the Kovaak’s aim trainer, where the importance of latency became crystal clear. Additionally, a test conducted by Linus Tech Tips showed that professional esports players consistently hit their shots more often at higher frame rates. While higher frame rates won’t magically transform you into a better player, they ensure that a great player performs at their best.
But the real advantage of more frames lies in overall lower latency. Your PC’s total system latency, which includes the time it takes for an action to be performed and the result to appear on-screen, can significantly impact your gaming experience. Nvidia’s Reflex feature focuses on reducing PC latency by optimizing components within your system. This optimization might not directly improve frame rates but helps improve overall PC latency, ensuring that you experience the lowest possible delay.
Nvidia
However, DLSS 3 Frame Generation creates a dilemma in achieving low latency. Although it provides extra frames, it introduces additional latency which hampers competitive gameplay.
When frames don’t win games
Jacob Roach / ENBLE
To demonstrate the impact of DLSS Frame Generation, I conducted tests in multiplayer mode in Modern Warfare 3 using two different GPUs. While DLSS Frame Generation does provide a significant performance boost of 21% and 18% with the RTX 4090 and the RTX 4060 Ti respectively, the increase in frame rate doesn’t translate to reduced latency. In fact, turning on Frame Generation doubles the average PC latency despite the higher frame rate. With Reflex turned on but Frame Generation off, the latency gap becomes even more pronounced. It’s clear that in a competitive setting, enabling Frame Generation is not a wise choice. Although the extra frames make the game look smoother, they don’t contribute to winning, as the aim is to achieve the lowest possible latency.
What’s going on?
To understand why Frame Generation increases latency in Modern Warfare 3, we need to dive into how it works and the overhead it introduces. Frame Generation inserts a generated frame between each rendered frame using data from the two rendered frames. This process adds latency as the artificial frame needs to be displayed before you can see the second rendered frame. Essentially, you’re seeing the second rendered frame later than you normally would, which creates extra delay. Even with DLSS Frame Generation doubling your frame rate, the latency remains the same. However, this overhead is usually negligible in most games that support DLSS 3. Nvidia’s ability to deliver significant improvements in smoothness while maintaining responsive gameplay is commendable. But, for competitive games like Modern Warfare 3, DLSS 3 Frame Generation should be turned off to ensure optimal performance.
It’s worth noting that we have yet to witness the application of DLSS 3 in fast-paced competitive settings. However, upcoming titles like The Finals, which features ray tracing and DLSS 3, are expected to have a competitive edge. While DLSS 3 offers an appealing option for casual gamers, those aiming to climb the ranks in competitive games should keep DLSS 3 turned off.
In conclusion, frames do win games, but DLSS 3 Frame Generation in Modern Warfare 3 presents certain challenges for competitive players. Nvidia’s commitment to optimizing latency with tools like Reflex is commendable, but the trade-off of higher frame rates with DLSS 3 Frame Generation leads to increased latency. It’s essential for gamers to make an informed decision, taking into consideration their desired gaming experience. So, next time you’re stepping into a competitive match, remember to choose wisely and may the frames be in your favor!
What are your thoughts on DLSS 3 Frame Generation? Have you experienced any latency issues in competitive gaming? Let us know in the comments below!
Original content source: DigitalTrends
