DSR vs MSAA?
DSR vs MSAA?
What do you think provides superior image quality for performance? For example, with a GTX 970 and a 1080p display, the GPU handles many games at 1440p 60 fps well. Do you prefer using DSR (or AMD equivalent) or do you find that increasing MSAA improves results more? I’m not sure if there’s a noticeable difference, but I’m also using a 23-inch monitor. Are there aspects of DSR that shine better than MSAA, such as rendering grass or hair? And the opposite for MSAA versus DSR? Are there specific areas to focus on during testing where you’d see a clear improvement in screenshots—like maintaining 60 fps smooth gameplay by enabling DSR versus achieving the same fps with higher MSAA settings? I haven’t explored TXAA yet, since games that use it usually only reach just above 60 fps at ultra settings on 1080p with FXAA active.
DSR and SSAA are very similar concepts, with DSR being essentially the optimal choice despite requiring more resources.
For better performance, consider using MSAA if the game supports it. Use DSR only when there is no anti-aliasing in the game.
I enjoy playing with 4K DSR and 8x MSAA on older titles—it really makes a difference. Regarding TXAA, it's similar to FXAA, but I haven't noticed it working well in any game that actually benefits from it. It feels like unnecessary hype, and for me, Super Sampling remains the best option.
I concur with his opinion. I tested DSR on The Witcher 3, but it appeared very blurry, even after adjusting the smoothness option in the settings menu.
The Secret World relies heavily on TXAA, but it’s not just hype—it’s a heavy resource consumer and shouldn’t be used. (TSW was the first title to support TXAA) Regarding the OP’s concern, most multisampling methods are poor; only CSAA and FXAA reliably maintain acceptable frame rates, and when neither is available, I’d prefer to skip it entirely. Sadly, even CSAA remains rare today because of the anti-AMD cartel.