DLSS 4 vs. FSR 4: The AI frame war intensifies

With AI-generated frames becoming the latest battleground in the GPU war, Nvidia and AMD continue to push the limits of performance and visual fidelity. While Nvidia maintains its dominant market position, AMD is making strategic moves with its latest RX 9070 and 9070 XT GPUs. The question is: how do these new contenders measure up against Nvidia’s RTX 5000 series?

Nvidia’s AI Bet: DLSS 4 and Path Tracing

Nvidia has leaned heavily into AI-powered enhancements, particularly with DLSS 4. The company is also advancing path tracing, an evolution of ray tracing that uses predictive analytics to insert virtual frames between actual ones. However, real-world testing of the RTX 5090 and 5080 reveals that these AI-generated frames often lack consistency and detail, leading to a less-than-ideal gaming experience. Moreover, when DLSS 4 is pushed to its limits, the increase in frame rates doesn’t necessarily translate to smoother gameplay due to inconsistencies in visual fidelity.

Another point of contention is that when DLSS is turned off, the performance differences between Nvidia’s latest Blackwell-based RTX 50 series and the older Ada Lovelace-based RTX 40 series are minimal. This raises concerns about Nvidia’s claim that the RTX 5070 Ti delivers “better or same-level performance as the RTX 4090.”

AMD Strikes Back with FSR 4 and Budget-Friendly Pricing

AMD’s response comes in the form of FidelityFX™ Super Resolution (FSR) 4.0, which has evolved from a simple upscaling technology into an AI-enhanced performance booster. The newly launched RX 9070 and 9070 XT aim to compete not against Nvidia’s flagship RTX 5090 or 5080 but against the more affordable RTX 5070 Ti. With prices set at $549 and $599, these cards are positioned as compelling upgrades for gamers with older GPUs like the RX 6800 XT, RTX 3080, or RTX 3090.

Smart Strategy or a Tactical Compromise?

AMD’s approach is practical—it allows them to focus on refining their RDNA 4 architecture while setting the stage for future RDNA 5 innovations. This strategy could also have significant implications for next-generation gaming consoles, where efficiency, affordability, and high visual fidelity are key selling points. By improving power efficiency and cost-effectiveness, AMD is likely to attract console giants like Sony and Microsoft, should the latter choose to stay in the console race.

However, Nvidia’s continued monopoly at the high-end remains a challenge. The company has historically dictated industry trends, from setting photorealism as a benchmark to making ray tracing an industry standard. If Nvidia once again succeeds in establishing AI-generated frames as the next must-have technology, it could shift the gaming and animation industries in ways that may not always favor consumer choice.

The Verdict

While Nvidia continues to set the high-end standard, AMD’s aggressive pricing and efficiency improvements offer a strong alternative. Whether AI-generated frames become the defining technology of this generation remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—the battle between DLSS 4 and FSR 4 is just getting started.