ICARUS: DLSS vs. FSR Comparison

[maxus24]

ICARUS recently released with support for NVIDIA's Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) and AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR). In this mini-review, we take a look at and compare the image quality and performance offered by these technologies in this game.

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[r9]

DLSS is just wow. Looks better than native and almost doubles the performance that's just awesome.
For someone like me who has older gpu 1070 FSR is such a great option.
Games looks so much better when upscaling vs just dropping the resolution.

 

[z1n0x]

Nvidia sponsored game with horrible FSR implementation. Shocker!

 

[GerKNG]

Nvidia sponsored game with horrible FSR implementation. Shocker!

every FSR implementation is horrible

 

[lightofhonor]

Nvidia sponsored game with horrible FSR implementation. Shocker!

To be fair it's one of the few (if only) FSR games with a user changable sharpening setting. The issue is the default value is too low/bugged.

 

[EatingDirt]

This is the first game to support adjustable sharpening for FSR.

Not technically true. I know the game is niche, but Assetto Corsa Competizione released a patch last week that enabled both DLSS & FSR, and the FSR implementation has a sharpening setting. Not only that, but it also comes with a custom scale setting, in which you can pick the resolution scale from 1-100%(100% doing essentially nothing).

 

[watzupken]

every FSR implementation is horrible

By now, I don't have to look at the review to conclude that DLSS offers better image quality. So technically speaking, there is no point to test the 2 technologies any further until we see AMD pushing a new FSR in the future.
As to your comment on "horrible" FSR implementation, I beg to differ and I don't see this comment as being constructive. The tech at least to a layman like me is basically to apply post processing on the image. So FSR is highly dependent on the original image quality, and try to do some touchups on it. It seems like a simple way to give gamers with older/ weaker GPUs a chance to game with better image quality than at a lower native resolution. And don't forget, Nvidia delivered a muddy DLSS 1.0 for more than a year, and it took them some time before offering a superior DLSS 2.0. So FSR being a "crude" and early stage technology may take time to improve, or at least until FSR 2.0 arrives with some "smarts" to upscale images.

 

[Zubasa]

Nvidia sponsored game with horrible FSR implementation. Shocker!

More often then not it comes down to the horribly implemented TAA that is forced on in many modern games.

 

[mechtech]

"Speaking of performance, this game is quite demanding on GPU power and video memory capacity. Even powerful GPUs such as the GeForce RTX 3080 can struggle to run this game at reasonably stable framerates at maximum graphics settings and native resolution. As such, having the ability to increase performance is a welcome option even with such a GPU on tap. "

With no gpus for the forseeable future, I don't think it matters how much DLSS or FSR helps, if you have an RX480 or gtx 1060

 

[Legacy-ZA]

I have to say, DLSS 2.0 was nice, but 2.3 is amazing, I can't believe my eyes, I am so happy I upgraded. What DLSS fixes for me is the long-distance fences, towers, wires etc, they look right and crisp, better than the native picture, it always annoyed me, glad DLSS fixes this issue.

 

[Taraquin]

Even dlss perf in 1080p looks sharper than native. I'm impressed! As for performance it seems we have a game even worse than Cyberpunk level of requirements. 3080 1080p ultra does 108fps in CP vs 96fps in Icarus, lets hope drivers, patches etc improves perf soon.

 

[Dristun]

every FSR implementation is horrible

works great in Vanguard. As another poster above said - way better than adjusting render scale down.

 

[Punkenjoy]

FSR is great for what it is, simple to implement, easy to use upscaling solutions that work on vast amount of hardware. But it's not DLSS. If AMD come up with a DLSS like, it may have the name FSR 2.0, but it won't be related at all as the two technology are totally different.

But i still think that now that FSR is being implemented in both Unity and Unreal Engine, there is no reason for a game to only have a simple bilinear resolution scaler.

 

[Prima.Vera]

Actually the DLSS uses too much sharpening, it's not even realistic anymore. Not sure why so many people like that crap. Maybe instead of 70%, something like 35% would be much better for DLSS.
Ans with a slider of 100%, FSRR looks much better imo.

 

[wolf]

FSR Pro's

• Easier to implement relative to DLSS
• Runs on pretty much anything
• Better than simply lowering render resolution in most cases

FSR Con's

• Hit to image quality at all resolutions and settings
• Exacerbates any shortcomings of the input image

DLSS Pro's

• Superior image quality to FSR
• Some parts of the image can show superior quality to Native output resolution
• One of the best, if not the best AA solutions available

DLSS Con's

• Requires RTX series GPU
• More effort to implement relative to FSR

Thoughts

• Either integration should always come with a user controllable sharpness slider in the game menu's
• The default sharpness value should still be thoroughly tested and set by the developer
• Each head to head shows largely the same story

 

[Taraquin]

FSR Pro's

• Easier to implement relative to DLSS
• Runs on pretty much anything
• Better than simply lowering render resolution in most cases

FSR Con's

• Hit to image quality at all resolutions and settings
• Exacerbates any shortcomings of the input image

DLSS Pro's

• Superior image quality to FSR
• Some parts of the image can show superior quality to Native output resolution
• One of the best, if not the best AA solutions available

DLSS Con's

• Requires RTX series GPU
• More effort to implement relative to FSR

Thoughts

• Either integration should always come with a user controllable sharpness slider in the game menu's
• The default sharpness value should still be thoroughly tested and set by the developer
• Each head to head shows largely the same story

A major flaw with FSR, NIS etc is the blurryness you get in motion. Still images only tell half the story, but dlss is superior in movement. In games with luttle motion like RTS etc FSR can be quite good, but the more fast pace it gets, the worse FSR look. In Iccarus the difference while moving is big between FSR and DLSS.

 

[ratirt]

FSR implementation in this one is poor. DLSS is better here for sure. Way sharper no matter how you look at it.

 

[Space Lynx]

@maxus24 @W1zzard Will we get a Horizon Zero Dawn comparison? I'd like to see that, FPS increases and image quality comparisons as per usual.

Horizon Zero Dawn now offers frame-rate boosting Nvidia DLSS and AMD FSR

The game will benefit from the most advanced upscaling technologies around.

www.pcgamer.com

 

[ThatOncleSam]

Some of those "Tests" here could be better when using 2 Systems or both GPU's. AMD and Nvidia.

Your Test is well made i could not do it better so Thumbs up!