NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 comes out on top in ComputerBase blind test across six games

If you ever wondered whether and how upscaling has reshaped the image quality in games, a new community blind test may have just provided all the answers. According to results published by ComputerBase, NVIDIA’s DLSS 4.5 came out as the clear favorite over AMD’s FSR Upscaling AI and even native resolution with TAA across six major games.

At a time when native rendering was once seen as the gold standard, readers were reportedly asked to pick the best-looking option without knowing which tech was active. The comparison covered Anno 117, ARC Raiders, Cyberpunk 2077, Horizon Forbidden West, Satisfactory, and The Last of Us Part II.

Interestingly, out of 6,747 total votes, DLSS 4.5 topped with 48.2% readers selecting it for “best image quality.” Meanwhile, native rendering followed in the second position at 24%. Whereas FSR Upscaling AI grabbed 15% of the total votes. Moreover, at least 12.8% of participants admitted that they couldn’t see a meaningful difference at all. Here’s a comparison chart shared by folks at ComputerBase.

In several titles, DLSS 4.5 pulled far ahead. It captured more than 56% of the vote in Horizon Forbidden West and Satisfactory. Even in Cyberpunk 2077, where the margin was slimmest, DLSS narrowly edged native at 34.4% versus 32.4%.

That being said, ComputerBase made it clear that the poll only tracked first-choice preferences. It doesn’t show which option came second or third in readers’ minds. So, concluding that FSR is outright worse than native would go beyond what the data actually says.

Back in earlier DLSS and FSR cycles, discussions often revolved around softness and shimmering. Now, it appears many enthusiasts believe DLSS 4.5 not only keeps pace with native UHD but may even deliver better stability in motion.

All that said, it’s worth noting that this was a community vote, not controlled lab tests. That also means display type, compression, and personal sensitivity to artifacts likely influenced all the results. With DLSS 4.5 topping all six games in this survey, the spotlight may now turn to AMD’s next move.

via: Videocardz