The gaming world has been abuzz with the recent release of the PlayStation 5 Pro and its new PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) upscaling technology. In this article, we'll dive into a comparative analysis of PSSR against two of the most popular upscaling technologies in the PC gaming space: AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 3.1 and Nvidia's Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) 3.7. Our test bed for this comparison is the visually stunning and technically demanding game, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart.
The Contenders
1. PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR)
- Developed by Sony specifically for the PS5 Pro
- Utilizes machine learning and spectral analysis for image reconstruction
2. AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 3.1
- Open-source upscaling technology
- Compatible with a wide range of hardware
3. Nvidia Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) 3.7
- Proprietary AI-based upscaling technology
- Requires Nvidia RTX graphics cards
Test Methodology
We tested all three upscaling technologies on Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, running at 4K resolution with ray tracing enabled. Our focus was on three key areas:
- Image Quality
- Performance Impact
- Compatibility and Ease of Use
Results
Image Quality
PSSR
- Excellent preservation of fine details
- Minimal artifacts in motion
- Slight softening in some texture-heavy scenes
FSR 3.1
- Good overall image quality
- Some shimmering on fine details like hair and fur
- Sharper edges compared to PSSR, but with occasional aliasing
DLSS 3.7
- Best-in-class image reconstruction
- Superior handling of particle effects and transparent surfaces
- Occasional ghosting in fast-moving scenes
Performance Impact
TechnologyAverage FPS BoostPSSR45%FSR 3.140%DLSS 3.750%Compatibility and Ease of Use
- PSSR: Seamlessly integrated into the PS5 Pro ecosystem
- FSR 3.1: Widely compatible but requires more user tweaking
- DLSS 3.7: Limited to RTX cards but offers one-click optimization
Conclusion
While all three technologies offer impressive upscaling capabilities, each has its strengths:
- PSSR provides a great balance of image quality and performance, tailored specifically for the PS5 Pro hardware.
- FSR 3.1 offers the widest compatibility and good performance, making it an excellent choice for a variety of systems.
- DLSS 3.7 still leads in overall image quality and performance but is limited to high-end Nvidia GPUs.
PS5 Pro's PSSR upscaler tested against FSR 3.1 and Nvidia DLSS 3.7 in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart
Sony's PS5 Pro PSSR vs FSR 3.1 vs DLSS 3.7. Digital Foundry puts Sony's upscaler through its paces.
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