PS5 Pro's PSSR Upscaler Tested Against FSR 3.1 and Nvidia DLSS 3.7 in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

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Chad

Staff member

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Oct 19, 2024

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.

The introduction of PSSR shows that Sony is serious about competing in the upscaling space, offering PS5 Pro users a compelling alternative to established PC technologies. As these technologies continue to evolve, gamers across all platforms stand to benefit from improved visual fidelity and performance.