Latest news with #upscaling
Digital Trends
27-07-2025
- Digital Trends
You can now unlock AMD's FSR 4 upscaling on even more games
AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4) upscaling is no longer limited to a short list of supported game titles. Thanks to a recent update to OptiScaler, Radeon RX 9000 series GPU users can now enable FSR 4 in virtually any game that uses DirectX 11 or 12. OptiScaler is an open-source utility that allows you to swap a game's existing upscaler with a more advanced version. For instance, if a game supports an older upscaling method like FSR 2, OptiScaler can intercept that and substitute it with FSR 4 instead. This gives players access to the latest upscaling technology, even in games that haven't officially been updated to support it. Recommended Videos Simply put, PC gamers can now bring FSR 4, AMD's latest and most advanced image upscaling technology, to previously unsupported games. These include ones that originally shipped with FSR 2, DLSS 2, or Intel XeSS, with no input required from game developers. While this isn't an official method endorsed by AMD, OptiScaler only modifies local game installation files. Hence, there's little risk involved as long as you stick to single-player titles and back up your game folders. Requirements and limitations Before we explain how to enable FSR 4 using OptiScaler, there are certain requirements you need to meet: GPU compatibility : FSR 4 is exclusively supported on AMD's Radeon RX 9000 series (RDNA 4) GPUs, including the RX 9060 and RX 9070 series. These cards feature dedicated AI acceleration hardware required to run FSR 4. Older generations of AMD GPUs currently do not support FSR 4. : FSR 4 is exclusively supported on AMD's Radeon RX 9000 series (RDNA 4) GPUs, including the RX 9060 and RX 9070 series. These cards feature dedicated AI acceleration hardware required to run FSR 4. Older generations of AMD GPUs currently do not support FSR 4. Game engine support : The game must run on DirectX 11 or DirectX 12. OptiScaler does not fully support Vulkan or other graphics APIs at this time. : The game must run on DirectX 11 or DirectX 12. OptiScaler does not fully support Vulkan or other graphics APIs at this time. Game type : OptiScaler may not work with multiplayer or online games that use strict anti-cheat protections like Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) or BattlEye. This is because the injected files could trigger security flags and potentially lead to the suspension of your game account. : OptiScaler may not work with multiplayer or online games that use strict anti-cheat protections like Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) or BattlEye. This is because the injected files could trigger security flags and potentially lead to the suspension of your game account. Per-game setup: OptiScaler needs to be configured manually for each game as there is no universal toggle. How to enable FSR 4 in your games Force enabling FSR 4 via OptiScaler requires a few manual steps for each game. All you need to do is copy special FSR 4 library files into a game's installation folder and configure OptiScaler to use it as the upscaler. While that may sound easy, it can be a little tricky so here's a step-by-step guide: Download the latest release of OptiScaler from its official GitHub page. No special installation is required, simply extract all the files into a folder. Make sure you are updated to the latest AMD Radeon graphics drivers. Head over to your game's main install directory and find the folder that includes the game's executable or .EXE file. Copy all the OptiScaler files that you previously extracted into this location and accept any prompts for replacing existing files. Once the OptiScaler files are copied into your game's directory (which includes the game executable), double click on the file named OptiScaler Setup or alternatively Windows Setup. A Windows Security prompt should appear, which you can bypass by clicking on Run Anyway. A command prompt-based setup for OptiScaler should fire up immediately where you need to select a filename for the new OptiScaler DLL file, followed by which GPU you are using since the tool works with Nvidia, AMD and Intel GPUs. There will also be an option to choose DLSS-based inputs, which is not necessary if the game already supports FSR 3 or above. Once all the selection is done, OptiScaler will be installed for your game. To set up OptiScaler, launch your game and bring up the OptiScaler in-game overlay by pressing the Insert key on your keyboard. Within OptiScaler you will have the option to select the upscaler you wish to use. To enable FSR 4, first select FSR 3x from the drop down menu and hit the Change Upscaler button. You should now have FSR 4 enabled with a dedicated settings tab within the tool. Unfortunately there is no universal installer meaning that one has to perform these steps for each game individually. In practice, copy the essential files into the new game's folder and configure OptiScaler the same way. Each title gets its own OptiScaler setup. In case you are not able to run FSR 4, head over to the OptiScaler GitHub Wiki page for more information. Once you've followed the steps and replaced the necessary files, the game will render using FSR 4, which should deliver improved image quality and higher frame rates compared to older upscaling versions. However, don't expect performance on par with NVIDIA's DLSS, which still holds a clear advantage in both visual fidelity and AI-driven upscaling. While OptiScaler's approach is somewhat of a workaround, it effectively extends FSR 4's availability from a limited number of officially supported titles to potentially hundreds of DirectX 11 and 12 games. That said, performance and visual improvements may vary from game to game depending on engine compatibility, asset quality, and how the original upscaling implementation was handled, so your mileage may vary.
Digital Trends
01-06-2025
- Business
- Digital Trends
You Asked: ULED vs QLED explained, plus AI videos with sound are here
On today's episode of You Asked: Is the TCL QM6K too bright? How should you balance upscaling between your Apple TV 4K and 4K TV? And what you need to know about Google Veo 3 and its AI video creation. Apple TV 4K vs Panasonic Smart TV Upscaling @_Jiggle asks: If I were to get a Panasonic Z95A with incredible upscaling, but I don't like the operating system, Fire TV, so instead get the Apple TV 4K, is the upscaling any good or should I stick with the TV's Smart OS Fire TV? Does the upscaling change in any way if I get an Apple TV over Panasonic's incredible upscaling? There are layers to this one, but I'll try to answer the question in parts and keep it simple. As always, I encourage viewers to weigh in on these questions too—especially if these are issues that you've faced and can help with. So, Jiggle, the first thing to know is the Apple TV 4K is going to upscale the content to whatever you have set in the format section of the settings. If you have it set to 4K, it's going to take whatever you're watching, upscale it to 4K, and then send that to your Panasonic TV. The good news is, yes, the Apple TV 4K upscaling is pretty good. And if you're that bothered by Fire TV, it's a solid option. I haven't tested how good the Apple TV upscaling is versus using the apps built into the TV, but if it's well-produced content—which most current movies and shows on the big streaming services are—you probably won't be able to tell the difference. That said, if you go that route, be sure to go into your Apple TV 4K settings and select Match Content Range and Frame Rate. This ensures that the Apple device won't upscale SDR content into HDR and give you a weird, fake HDR-looking image. It keeps things natural to how the content was created. It's not recommended, but if you wanted your TV to do more of the upscaling to 4K, you could set the output on your Apple TV 4K to match the content. So, for example, set the output to 1080p if you're watching 1080p content and then let the TV take it up to 4K. But that feels like too much work for minimal benefit. And there's a chance you may be doing more harm than good by limiting the Apple TV's upscaling. ULED vs QLED: What's the Difference? @phalisatumblin1249 asks: What is the difference between ULED and QLED? Great question—and one that, though we've probably answered before, deserves an explanation every now and then. At its most simple definition, the difference between ULED and QLED is… kind of marketing. QLED—Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode—is a type of LED panel that uses quantum dots to enhance color and contrast. And here's where marketing and a bit of confusing tech comes in. If you let Hisense define ULED (since it's their proprietary technology), it's described as a panel equipped with Ultra Local Dimming, Ultra Wide Color Gamut, Ultra 4K Resolution, and Ultra Smooth Rate. Given it's '20 picture patents working together to optimize backlight, motion and color data for the best viewing experience,' yes, it's a step up from your average LED-backlit TV. Where things get confusing is that there's not really a clear, super-distinguishable difference like there is between other TV types. There's not a specific piece of hardware—like a unique panel type or backlight—that definitively qualifies a TV as being ULED. It's just Hisense's branding to set themselves apart. If you're in the market for a TV and see QLED and ULED come up, dig into multiple reviews from trusted sources to ensure you're getting accurate information about the technology used. TCL QM6K vs Sony X90L Nikhil Subash asks: Recently, I was interested in the TCL C6K/QM6K series based on your recommendations. However, during a visit to a local store (here in Dubai), the model wasn't yet available. Instead, the salesperson strongly recommended the Sony Bravia X90L, praising its color accuracy and picture quality. While I've owned a Bravia before (which unfortunately developed issues after 3 years, with costly repairs), I'm hesitant due to the high price. The salesperson also raised concerns about TCL and Hisense, particularly regarding high brightness and potential eye strain for children. As a parent of a 3-year-old who enjoys watching YouTube, this gave me pause. Which model would be the better choice for 2025 considering durability, eye comfort, and value? Are there any upcoming releases in the next two months worth waiting for? Thanks, Nikhil. To address the eye comfort issue—first, I am not a doctor. That is clear. However, I have a degree in journalism and spent more than 10 years reporting. I know how to do research with credible sources, which tell me that it's more the amount of time spent in front of the TV than the TV picture itself that can cause eye strain. Though none of us who spend long amounts of time in front of screens for work follow this advice, it's recommended to take 15-minute breaks every two hours. Take your eyes off the screen. Focus on something else in the distance. So do with that what you will in terms of eye comfort for you and your three-year-old. I'll also note that in the tests we did on this channel—results you can see in each of these TVs' reviews—the Sony X90L's peak brightness is around the same and often higher than the TCL QM6K. I wouldn't recommend maxing out the brightness on either if eye comfort is a concern. In SDR, peak brightness in a 10 percent window was just shy of 600 nits on the Sony and around 650 nits on the TCL. In HDR, the Sony hits 1600 nits in smaller windows and 800 nits with full-screen white. The TCL returned 750 nits in a 25 percent window, which would be even lower in full-screen white. So I wouldn't worry about the TCL being too bright. Finally, in terms of color, the X90L was very accurate out of the box—as you'd expect from a Sony TV. But to quote the reviewer, the TCL was one of the most color-accurate TVs tested at its price point, which, by the way, retails for $200 less than the Sony—at least here in the U.S. Bottom line: if the TCL QM6K has your eye, you won't be disappointed, especially considering the performance for the price. Google Veo 3: AI Video with Sound and Speech Moving on from TVs, let's cross the pond to managing editor John McCann to answer your AI-related questions around Google Veo 3. Google announced the latest version of its AI video generator during its I/O keynote in the middle of May. And with Veo 3, we get a major upgrade. It's moving out of the silent age of film and into the audio era. Now it's not only able to generate eerily convincing video, it will also add sound effects, background audio, and even speech to those videos. Yes, your AI-generated moving pictures can now talk—and in a variety of accents. Has it nailed the British one? Not quite, in the view of this particular Brit. There's still a bit more work for Google to do. However, what it is able to do is already impressive, and we've shared some of these examples on our social feeds, which has really got you talking. David wants to know how to access Veo 3, while Tuhin asks if there's a cost involved. Well, David, it's no surprise you want to try it. Veo 3 is a very interesting engine with a lot of possibilities. However, getting to use it is a little trickier. First of all, you have to be in the U.S. Veo 3 isn't available in other countries at the moment. And you'll also need a subscription to Google's AI Ultra Plan. How much is that? $250 per month. That is a lot of money, and means not many of us will be rushing to try it out right away. Eddie asks: Is this attached to Google Gemini? Yes, it is. If you're able to spring for $250 a month, you'll be able to access Veo 3 via the Gemini app. You'll also be able to experience Flow 4, a filmmaking service from Google that uses both Veo 3 and image generation. You'll even be able to pull from your own image and video sources to create a film-style video, with additional controls like camera angles and editing tools.
