DLSS vs FSR vs XeSS: Which Upscaler Is Best in 2026?

Upscaling technology has become the most important advancement in PC gaming performance over the past three years. Instead of rendering every pixel natively — which demands enormous GPU power at high resolutions — upscalers render at a lower internal resolution and use algorithms (or AI) to reconstruct a near-native quality image. The result is dramatically higher FPS with minimal visual compromise.

In 2026, three upscaling technologies dominate: NVIDIA DLSS 4, AMD FSR 3, and Intel XeSS 2. Each has distinct strengths, weaknesses, and hardware requirements. This guide breaks down exactly how they compare so you can choose the right one for your setup.

What Each Upscaler Does

NVIDIA DLSS 4 (Deep Learning Super Sampling)

DLSS uses dedicated AI hardware (Tensor Cores) found exclusively on NVIDIA RTX GPUs to upscale images. The AI model is trained on thousands of high-resolution images and learns to reconstruct detail that traditional upscaling cannot. DLSS 4, released alongside the RTX 50 series, introduced Multi Frame Generation — the ability to generate up to 3 additional frames between each rendered frame, effectively quadrupling perceived frame rates.

• Hardware requirement: NVIDIA RTX 20 series or newer (RTX 2060, 3060, 4060, 5060, etc.). DLSS 3 Frame Generation requires RTX 40 series or newer. DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation requires RTX 50 series.
• Image quality: Best in class. DLSS Quality mode at 1440p is often indistinguishable from native resolution. The AI model produces sharper details and fewer artifacts than competing solutions.
• FPS gain (upscaling only): 40-80% depending on the quality mode (Quality/Balanced/Performance/Ultra Performance).
• Frame Generation: DLSS 3 adds 1 generated frame (2x perceived FPS) on RTX 40/50 series. DLSS 4 Multi Frame Gen adds up to 3 generated frames (up to 4x perceived FPS) on RTX 50 series.
• Weakness: Locked to NVIDIA RTX hardware. AMD and Intel users cannot use it at all.

AMD FSR 3 (FidelityFX Super Resolution)

FSR is AMD’s open-source upscaling solution. Unlike DLSS, FSR does not require dedicated AI hardware — it runs on any GPU from any vendor. FSR uses a spatial and temporal upscaling algorithm that analyzes motion vectors and color data to reconstruct higher-resolution frames. FSR 3 added Fluid Motion Frames, AMD’s frame generation technology.

• Hardware requirement: Any GPU. FSR works on NVIDIA GTX/RTX, AMD RX, Intel Arc, and even integrated graphics. FSR 3 Frame Generation also works on any GPU (though best results are on RX 6000 series and newer).
• Image quality: Good, but slightly below DLSS at equivalent settings. FSR Quality is close to DLSS Quality on static scenes but shows more ghosting artifacts during fast motion. FSR Balanced and Performance modes show a more noticeable gap.
• FPS gain (upscaling only): 30-70% depending on quality mode. Slightly lower gains than DLSS because DLSS offloads work to dedicated hardware.
• Frame Generation: FSR 3 Fluid Motion Frames works on any GPU and adds 1 generated frame (roughly 2x perceived FPS). Quality is slightly below DLSS 3 Frame Gen, with occasional visual artifacts in fast-panning scenes.
• Strength: Universal compatibility. The fact that FSR works on a GTX 1060 is transformative for the low-end PC market.
• Weakness: Lower image quality than DLSS, especially at Performance and Ultra Performance modes where ghosting and blurring become noticeable.

Intel XeSS 2 (Xe Super Sampling)

XeSS is Intel’s entry into the upscaling space, initially released alongside Intel Arc GPUs. XeSS has two modes: an AI-accelerated mode that uses Intel’s XMX (Matrix Extension) cores on Arc GPUs for DLSS-like quality, and a DP4a fallback mode that runs on any GPU with slightly reduced quality.

• Hardware requirement: Any GPU for DP4a mode. Intel Arc GPUs for optimal AI-accelerated mode. Also runs on NVIDIA RTX and AMD RX GPUs, though without AI acceleration.
• Image quality: On Intel Arc GPUs, XeSS 2 Quality mode is very close to DLSS in sharpness and artifact control. On non-Arc GPUs (DP4a mode), quality sits between DLSS and FSR — better than FSR in most scenarios but slightly below DLSS.
• FPS gain: 30-60% depending on quality mode and GPU. Gains are comparable to FSR on non-Arc hardware.
• Frame Generation: XeSS 2 introduced frame generation for Intel Arc GPUs. Not available on non-Intel hardware.
• Strength: Best upscaling option for Intel Arc GPU owners. Competitive quality on non-Intel hardware.
• Weakness: Smallest game library of the three. Fewer games support XeSS compared to DLSS and FSR.

Quality Comparison by Mode

Each upscaler offers multiple quality modes that trade image quality for FPS. Here is how they compare at each tier:

Quality Mode (Best Image, Lowest FPS Gain)

Renders at approximately 67% of native resolution and upscales to full resolution.

• DLSS Quality: Nearly indistinguishable from native. The gold standard. Fine details like hair strands, thin wires, and distant foliage are preserved accurately.
• FSR Quality: Very close to native. Slight softness on fine details compared to DLSS. Most players would not notice the difference without a side-by-side comparison.
• XeSS Quality (Arc): Matches DLSS quality closely on Intel Arc hardware. On non-Arc GPUs, comparable to FSR Quality.

Balanced Mode (Middle Ground)

Renders at approximately 58% of native resolution.

• DLSS Balanced: Still excellent. The first mode where you might notice slight softening if you zoom into screenshots, but invisible during gameplay.
• FSR Balanced: Good but noticeable softness on distant objects. Text readability decreases slightly. Motion artifacts (ghosting) become more visible during fast camera movement.
• XeSS Balanced: Similar to FSR Balanced on non-Arc GPUs. Slightly sharper on Arc hardware.

Performance Mode (High FPS, Noticeable Quality Loss)

Renders at approximately 50% of native resolution.

• DLSS Performance: Noticeable softening but the AI reconstruction preserves structural detail well. Acceptable at 4K where the high pixel density hides artifacts. At 1080p, the blur becomes obvious.
• FSR Performance: Visible blur and ghosting. Fine details are lost. Only recommended at 1440p or higher where the base pixel count provides more data for reconstruction.
• XeSS Performance: Comparable to FSR Performance on non-Arc hardware. Arc GPUs maintain an edge in detail preservation.

Ultra Performance Mode (Maximum FPS, Significant Quality Loss)

Renders at approximately 33% of native resolution.

• DLSS Ultra Performance: Designed exclusively for 4K displays. Image quality is noticeably degraded but playable. Not recommended at 1440p or lower.
• FSR Ultra Performance: Significant blur and artifacts. Only viable at 4K for non-competitive games where visual fidelity is secondary to frame rate.
• XeSS Ultra Performance: Similar to FSR at this tier. All three upscalers struggle at this aggressive rendering scale.

Frame Generation Compared

Frame generation is the most impactful feature for perceived smoothness. It creates entirely new frames between rendered frames, effectively doubling (or more) your visual frame rate. However, generated frames add latency because they are interpolated, not rendered from new input data.

Important note on latency: Frame generation increases visual smoothness but does NOT reduce input latency. Your actual input-to-screen response time is still based on the base rendered frame rate. If the game renders at 60 FPS and frame gen displays 120 FPS, your inputs are still processed at 60 Hz. For competitive gaming, disable frame generation and focus on maximizing base rendered FPS. For cinematic single-player games, frame generation is transformative. For more on optimizing input response, see our guide to reducing input lag in PC gaming.

Game Support in 2026

Not every game supports every upscaler. Here is the current landscape:

• DLSS — Supported in 500+ games as of early 2026. The largest library of the three. Major titles almost always include DLSS support.
• FSR — Supported in 400+ games. Rapidly growing thanks to open-source nature and AMD’s push to make integration easy. Many games that support DLSS also support FSR.
• XeSS — Supported in 150+ games. The smallest library but growing as Intel provides integration tools to developers. Most major AAA titles released in 2025-2026 support all three.

Notable games and their upscaler support as of February 2026:

• Fortnite: DLSS, FSR, XeSS (see our Fortnite Chapter 7 settings guide)
• Marvel Rivals: DLSS, FSR, XeSS (see our Marvel Rivals low-end settings guide)
• Valorant: None (Valorant does not support upscaling technologies, as it runs on an older engine optimized for high FPS without them)
• Elden Ring: DLSS, FSR (XeSS not officially supported)
• CS2: DLSS, FSR, XeSS

Which Upscaler Should You Use?

The answer depends entirely on your GPU:

NVIDIA RTX 40/50 Series

Use DLSS. You have access to the best image quality AND frame generation. DLSS is strictly superior to FSR and XeSS on RTX hardware because it leverages dedicated AI cores that FSR and XeSS cannot access. Use DLSS Quality for the best balance. Enable Frame Generation in cinematic single-player games; disable it for competitive shooters.

NVIDIA RTX 20/30 Series

Use DLSS for upscaling (Quality or Balanced mode). Frame Generation is not available on RTX 20/30 series, but the AI upscaling alone provides better quality than FSR or XeSS. If a game does not support DLSS, fall back to FSR.

NVIDIA GTX Series (Non-RTX)

Use FSR. DLSS is not available on GTX cards. FSR provides the best quality and widest game support for non-RTX NVIDIA hardware. FSR Quality mode is recommended. XeSS works too but offers no advantage over FSR on GTX hardware.

AMD Radeon RX 6000/7000/9000 Series

Use FSR. It is optimized for AMD hardware and provides FSR 3 Frame Generation on all RX 6000 series and newer cards. Quality is excellent on AMD GPUs. If a game only supports DLSS and XeSS but not FSR (rare), use XeSS in DP4a mode.

Intel Arc GPUs

Use XeSS. Intel Arc GPUs have dedicated XMX cores that XeSS leverages for AI-accelerated upscaling, similar to how DLSS uses Tensor Cores. On Arc hardware, XeSS Quality matches DLSS Quality in most games. XeSS 2 Frame Generation is also available for Arc users.

Integrated Graphics / Very Low-End GPUs

Use FSR Performance or Ultra Performance. When every frame counts, FSR’s aggressive upscaling modes can make the difference between unplayable and playable. Image quality will be compromised, but 40 FPS at reduced quality beats 15 FPS at native resolution.

The Future of Upscaling

Upscaling technology is advancing rapidly. NVIDIA’s DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation points toward a future where GPUs render a fraction of the actual displayed frames, with AI filling in the rest. AMD is working on FSR 4, rumored to include machine learning capabilities that would narrow the quality gap with DLSS. Intel continues to refine XeSS and expand game support.

For gamers, the takeaway is simple: always enable upscaling. The FPS gains are too significant to leave on the table, and at Quality mode, the visual compromise is negligible. Native rendering at 4K is a luxury that only the most powerful GPUs can afford — and even those GPUs benefit from upscaling when paired with frame generation.

More PC gaming and performance guides:

• Fortnite Chapter 7 Best Settings and FPS Guide
• Marvel Rivals Best Settings for Low-End PC
• Best Fortnite Settings for Low-End PC (2026)
• Best Valorant Settings for Max FPS (2026)
• Best CS2 Settings for Competitive (2026)
• Best Elden Ring Settings (RTX 3060, 60 FPS)
• How to Reduce Input Lag in PC Gaming