DSR vs MSAA?

[SteveGrabowski0]

Which do you guys feel gives better image quality for the performance? For instance, I have a GTX 970 and a 1080p panel, and the GPU can run a lot of games at 1440p 60 fps. Do you guys feel it's better to use DSR (or AMD equivalent) or do you find cranking MSAA to work better for improving image quality? I honestly can't tell much of a difference between the two, but I'm also on a 23" monitor. Is there anything DSR excels at that isn't as well handled by MSAA, like grass or hair? And vice versa for MSAA over DSR? Are there some things I can focus on while testing, where I would notice a real difference in screenshots between having DSR turned up to allow 60 fps smooth gameplay vs turning up MSAA to hit the same fps target?

 

I haven't even bothered with TXAA, since the games I have played supporting that usually just skate a little above 60 fps on ultra settings at 1080p with FXAA on, so there isn't a lot of room to go higher than FXAA.

[Godlygamer23]

I find it better to use anti-aliasing because DSR can make things blurry or overly sharp.

[othertomperson]

DSR is almost the same thing as SSAA, which is automatically the best but most resource intensive.

[Rampiks]

i use both no really on bf4 i have dsr 1440p (dsr smoothness at 25-30%) and no msaa. but at the moment i just run 140% resulution scale with 4x msaa because i alt+tab alot

[Rampiks]

I find it better to use anti-aliasing because DSR can make things blurry or overly sharp.

go in nvidia controll panel (if nvidia user) and experiment with dsr smoothness

[Satlen]

you would be better off using msaa if the game supports it. only use dsr if a game has no anti aliasing.

[Ellis_D]

I love using 4K DSR with 8x MSAA on older games.  It's totally the bees knees.

 

As for TXAA, like FXAA, I've never seen it used in a game where it actually looks like it's doing anything.  Seems like total snake oil and as far as I'm concerned, there's no replacement for Super Sampling.

[ApolloEleven]

DSR makes things like text and HUD a bit blurry.

[IhazHedont]

go in nvidia controll panel (if nvidia user) and experiment with dsr smoothness

 

I agree with him, I tried out DSR on The witcher 3, and it was blurry as hell, even if I changed the smoothness setting in the control panel.

[That Norwegian Guy]

As for TXAA, like FXAA, I've never seen it used in a game where it actually looks like it's doing anything.  Seems like total snake oil and as far as I'm concerned, there's no replacement for Super Sampling.

 

The Secret World uses TXAA, and it's not snake oil in that example. However, it is a resource hog from hell and nobody should use it. (TSW was the first game ever with TXAA too)

 

As for the OP's question, all sorts of multisampling is terrible, the only forms of AA that have an acceptable frame rate hit are CSAA and FXAA, and when a game has neither I'd rather use nothing. Unfortunately, even though CSAA is hands down the best form of AA, it's in almost no games these days thanks to the anti-AMD cartel.

[rentaspoon]

I love using 4K DSR with 8x MSAA on older games. It's totally the bees knees.

This

[SteveGrabowski0]

DSR is almost the same thing as SSAA, which is automatically the best but most resource intensive.

 

Yeah, I fired up Metro Last Light Redux a couple of weeks ago, just turned on 4xAA from the start, and was disappointed to get lousy framerates. Then I looked back in the options again and noticed it used SSAA and not MSAA and it made sense. I don't know why I forgot that until your post reminded me it was the most punishing form of AA for a card to use.

[randy hutajulu]

Which do you guys feel gives better image quality for the performance? For instance, I have a GTX 970 and a 1080p panel, and the GPU can run a lot of games at 1440p 60 fps. Do you guys feel it's better to use DSR (or AMD equivalent) or do you find cranking MSAA to work better for improving image quality? I honestly can't tell much of a difference between the two, but I'm also on a 23" monitor. Is there anything DSR excels at that isn't as well handled by MSAA, like grass or hair? And vice versa for MSAA over DSR? Are there some things I can focus on while testing, where I would notice a real difference in screenshots between having DSR turned up to allow 60 fps smooth gameplay vs turning up MSAA to hit the same fps target?

I haven't even bothered with TXAA, since the games I have played supporting that usually just skate a little above 60 fps on ultra settings at 1080p with FXAA on, so there isn't a lot of room to go higher than FXAA.

MSAA MASTERRACE!

Just don't use DSR. Just.. Don't.

Unless u can use two times on both horizontal and vertical of your resolution such as 4K for 1920x1080 and still have a good FPS.

If u can't, so u better use aa that available in your games. That will be better.

[EvilWiffles]

On old games, it's the best option. Medal of Honor Airborne at 4k is downright amazing.

[sgtcool]

i get latency with using DSR

[Samfisher]

I find it better to use anti-aliasing because DSR can make things blurry or overly sharp.

 

 

That just means you never bothered to learn about DSR and DSR Smoothing.

[Godlygamer23]

That just means you never bothered to learn about DSR and DSR Smoothing.

To be fair, I think it's stupid that you have to mess with smoothing.