NVIDIA Video Super Resolution (VSR) debuted in early 2023, utilizing the AI tensor cores within GeForce RTX graphics cards to upscale and refine video quality. Think of it as upgrading from VHS to Blu-ray—especially beneficial for older content displayed on modern high-resolution screens or when internet bandwidth is limited. VSR, similar to NVIDIA’s DLSS and DLAA, leverages machine learning for image enhancement. This guide explains how to activate and utilize VSR.
To use VSR, you’ll need an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30-series or 40-series graphics card, either Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge for online videos, VLC media player for local files, and the latest NVIDIA Game Ready or Studio drivers.
Currently, RTX 20-series GPUs are not supported despite their DLSS capabilities and seemingly suitable hardware. Future support for these cards remains a possibility.
Nvidia VSR upscaling a video from low resolution to high resolution.
Activating NVIDIA VSR
Enabling VSR is straightforward. First, access the NVIDIA Control Panel by right-clicking on your desktop and selecting it from the context menu. Within the panel’s left sidebar, navigate to “Video” under “Customize video settings.” Locate the “Super resolution” checkbox under “RTX video enhancement” and check it.
Activating RTX Video Super Resolution in the NVIDIA Control Panel
Configuring VSR Quality
The “Quality” dropdown menu allows you to choose the desired upscaling level. Higher levels yield better visual fidelity but demand more GPU resources. After selecting your preferred setting, click “Apply” and close the Control Panel. Our in-depth VSR testing reveals the performance impact of each quality level.
Using VSR
Launch your browser (Chrome, Edge) or VLC media player and begin playing a video with a resolution between 360p and 1440p. VSR automatically engages when the video is played in full-screen mode. This allows you to conserve bandwidth or enhance the quality of YouTube videos for a crisper viewing experience on your high-resolution monitor.
Nvidia VSR using machine learning and AI resources on the GPU
VSR Capabilities
NVIDIA VSR utilizes machine learning and dedicated AI resources on your GPU to upscale content in real-time, with a current maximum output resolution of 4K.
In conclusion, NVIDIA VSR offers a compelling way to improve video quality for older content or when bandwidth is a concern. Its ease of activation and configuration make it a valuable tool for enhancing your viewing experience.
