Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
I know it sound too effective to be truthful , but there ’s a $ 7 app that will repeat your performance in any biz , with any graphics add-in . There are some caveats , as you in all likelihood suspect , but the app works shockingly well moot what it does — and I have n’t stopped using it since downloading it on Steam .
The app in interrogative is calledLossless Scaling . It does two affair . When the app released in 2018 , it allowed you to upscale games ( or any other contentedness ) using a more sophisticated algorithm than what your monitor uses . More recently , Lossless Scaling has added frame contemporaries , and just a couple of week ago , that framing coevals was overhauled .
Lossless Scaling is n’t sodding , and there ’s by all odds a learning bender for acquire the most out of the utility . But it ’s without a doubt one of the most powerful utilities instal on my PC , and it ’s something I ’m traumatize I ’ve gone so long without .
A special utility
There are various material body of upscaling and frame contemporaries uncommitted , but Lossless Scaling is special because it does n’t care about what biz you ’re flirt or what hardware you have establish . It works at a display grade , where tools likeNvidia ’s DLSS 3andAMD ’s FSR 3work at a game horizontal surface , andAMD ’s Fluid Motion Frames ( AFMF)works at a driver storey . Lossless Scaling trade some quality with where it sits in the display chain , but it make up for that shortcoming with support .
you’re able to apply it in any game , and that includes on-line games . There are various manner to shoot upscaling or bod generation intogames through mod , but you normally ca n’t employ them in online games . They ’ll ease off the anti - cheat package , which could result in a ban . Lossless Scaling does n’t pot with any game files , so it ’s totally good to use in an online plot . I even take it out for a spin inDestiny 2for a bit , and it work flawlessly .
It also make with any GPU . Support for human body contemporaries is sporadic , regardless of if you utilize an Nvidia or AMD GPU . Some games employ FSR 3 , others use DLSS 3 , but most games have neither . Lossless Scaling fill in the gap . In addition , it works with GPUs that do n’t fend for these engineering like Intel ’s Arc cards and older AMD and Nvidia graphics . Most telling , you may race it on handhelds like theROG AllyandLenovo Legion Goas well .
I ’m mainly focus on the frame of reference genesis here , as that ’s the most telling aspect of Lossless Scaling . Upscaling is present , however , and it wreak . The app includes nine different upscaling types , includingNvidia Image Sharpening ( NIS)and AMD ’s FidelityFX Super Resolution 1 , which you could put on to any game . It work particularly well with older games that do n’t support this technical school , as well as emulators . That said , both Nvidia and AMD pop the question this same functionality through their own drivers , so you do n’t take Lossless Scaling for upscaling alone .
The upscaling is also relevant outdoors of game . Filters like Anime4 K allow you to upscale older invigorate content to a higher resolution and force out more caliber . In play around with Lossless Scaling , that ’s mainly where I plant myself using the upscaling portion .
For biz , however , it ’s all about frame generation . Lossless Scaling process shockingly well considering what it ’s capable of doing , but you need to use it properly to get the best results .
Configuration required
Lossless Scaling includes two framing generation algorithms . There ’s LSFG 1.1 and LSFG 2.0 , and they ’re algorithmic rule made for this app specifically that were created with machine encyclopaedism . Frame multiplication was introduced to this app at the source of the year , but LSFG 2.0 , which was tote up this month , is a monolithic lift in quality .
The way the app figure out is mere . Either you launch it through Steam , or configure it to launch at startup . Then you lead off act a secret plan . From there , you could engage the frame coevals either by hitting a hotkey or by pressing theScalebutton in the window . The latter pick will trigger a countdown , during which you need to change over back to your game .
Your results off the at-bat will be bad . I debate junk this whole clause after boot upRemnant 2with frame generation turned on . Not only was my skeleton pace lower with frame generation turned on , but I also encountered a mess of falter that made the plot super unpleasant to diddle . to get the most out of Lossless Scaling , you demand to be able to crest your frame rate in a biz at a logical pip .
I have the best results by far when I capped my frame rate to 60 frames per second ( fps ) . accept I could hit that frame pace consistently in a game , Lossless Scaling would give me a near - flawless 120 fps with minimum hiccups . I trip upon the bod pace cap when testingElden Ring , which is normally capped to 60 fps . Lossless Scaling worked perfectly in that game , leading me to set a cap in other titles . The only banknote here is to set your cap on a per - game ground . A global systema skeletale rate cap , such as the one you may pursue in theNvidia Control Panel , will circumscribe Lossless Scaling .
you may go lower , with 30 fps being the inviolable story , but the quality devolve quickly when you go below a base frame rate of 60 Federal Protective Service . It does n’t require to be precisely 60 Federal Protective Service as long as you ’re close , though . With Lossless Scaling , I went from around 50 Federal Protective Service inElden Ringon the MSI Claw all the way up to 90 fpg to 100 fps .
alfresco of setting a inning rate cap , you ’ll also want to run in borderless full - screen way . The app gets out of sorts when running in full screen , specially if you ’re using upscaling and physical body generation together . In summation , I usually care engaging Lossless Scaling with a raging key . flip from the app back to a biz can make some issues depending on what plot you ’re playing .
Perhaps most important out of all of the options in the app is the Performance mode , however . With LSFG 2.0 , there ’s a toggle for the Performance mode . The framing generation algorithm has quite a bit of overhead , much more than FSR 3 or DLSS 3 . The Performance modality trade in some quality for better performance , which is in particular utile for weak GPUs . If you do n’t employ it , there are conformation that will result inlowerperformance with frame generation on than with it off .
Not perfect, but good enough
Lossless Scaling shape very well , but it ’s certainly not a full substitute for DLSS 3 or FSR 3 . During firm movement , particularly in first - somebody plot , there are artifact . you could see that in action inCyberpunk 2077above . Around the tree , there ’s a wad of ghosting as I quickly move back and forward . gratefully , these are n’t too unhinge in motion , and they ’re certainly easy to forgive in games that do n’t plump for DLSS 3 or FSR 3 .
In addition , the app can be erratic . I ’ve already observe the issues with full - screen modes in game , but there are sure game where you may ask to fall by the wayside and reopen the game before the build propagation will stick . For the most part , however , I did n’t have too many number enabling Lossless Scaling in borderless modality with a frame rate cap enable .
Finally , you call for to have some point of static carrying into action feed into Lossless Scaling for the best result . InDragon ’s Dogma 2,for example , I was vibrate between a tranquil experience and a choppy one depending on where I was at in the game . Ideally , you ’ll want to tally 60 fps consistently with minimum drops if you want to get the most out of Lossless Scaling .
move from a stable 60 fps to a stable 120 fps is no dewy-eyed feat , though . Lossless Scaling is a routine of magic for your personal computer , and even on a high - destruction rig , I ’ve been using it save power and get more consistent carrying out out of game . I particularly care it on handhelds such as the ROG Ally , where you may get much bland performance out of the machine .
There are some publication with artifacts from time to time , and the messing around with the app is n’t always a suave experience . I ’m willing to make those compromise consider how powerful Lossless Scaling is , though . The fact that it works with any game and any GPU is a huge plus , even if you ’re just filling in the gap between FSR 3 and DLSS 3 . I would recommend wave the dice and seeing how you like the app — I could think of much worse fashion to spend $ 7 .
