Lossless Scaling: The $7 Secret to Next-Gen Gaming Performance
The world of PC gaming has been abuzz with excitement surrounding the latest graphics cards from Nvidia and AMD. Their promises of enhanced performance, stunning visuals, and improved ray tracing capabilities have captivated enthusiasts. Yet, the most significant advancements in recent years have emerged in the realms of AI upscaling and frame generation. These technologies, exemplified by Nvidia’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR, have revolutionized the gaming experience by delivering sharper visuals and smoother gameplay.
However, a significant barrier exists: both Nvidia and AMD have restricted their cutting-edge technologies to their high-end, expensive graphics cards. If you lack the financial resources or simply can’t get your hands on these coveted cards, you’re effectively locked out of experiencing the benefits of enhanced resolutions and boosted frame rates. Or are you?
Fortunately, there’s a glimmer of hope for those without the latest and greatest hardware. A simple $7 application available on Steam, known as Lossless Scaling, can bridge the gap and provide a surprisingly effective alternative to DLSS and FSR. After using it for some time, I can confidently say that it’s a valuable addition to any PC gamer’s toolkit.
Lossless Scaling is a standalone program designed to bring upscaling and frame generation capabilities to virtually any graphics card in almost any PC game. Unlike DLSS and FSR, it doesn’t demand the latest Nvidia or AMD hardware. It has been under development for several years. Its original function was increasing the resolution of older pixel graphics games using integer scaling. Since then, its abilities have grown, and it now enhances the appearance and performance of games. It works in a similar fashion to what DLSS and FSR do for Nvidia and AMD card owners, respectively.
Lossless Scaling comes equipped with a variety of built-in upscalers, leveraging different algorithms like FSR, LS1, Integer, and more. These options prove particularly useful in games lacking native support for more advanced FSR or DLSS versions, serving as valuable fallback options.
The true game changer, however, lies in its Frame Generation support. The latest LSFG algorithm enables users to boost frame rates by 2x, 3x, 4x, or any desired multiplier. While I personally find 2x to be optimal, those seeking even more frames are free to experiment.
It’s important to acknowledge that Lossless Scaling shares certain drawbacks with AMD and Nvidia’s frame generation techniques. Latency is slightly increased when Frame Generation is active, and some of the generated frames aren’t "real." Therefore, using Frame Generation in competitive multiplayer games is generally not recommended. However, in single-player experiences, it can truly transform the gameplay.
As a space enthusiast, I spend a lot of time playing Kerbal Space Program. However, even with a powerful 7950X3D CPU and RX 7900 XTX GPU, the game’s performance can suffer with over 100 mods installed. While the dynamic clouds are worth the performance hit, Lossless Scaling has proven to be a lifesaver. My Space Center sees an increase from around 90 FPS to a consistent 140 FPS. Large spaceships with hundreds of parts jump from the low 50s to the high 90s. The game feels noticeably more responsive, especially when rotating the camera.
Lossless Scaling has also been incredibly useful when playing console ports with frame rate limitations. In Need For Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered, the frame rate is capped at 60 FPS. While this is better than the 30 FPS seen in many other console racing ports, Lossless Scaling allows me to enable 2x Frame Generation and enjoy a silky-smooth 120 FPS experience. While it’s not quite as good as native frame rates and some input lag remains, the generated frames significantly improve the visual experience.
Like any technology, Lossless Scaling isn’t without its quirks. Frame Generation can sometimes produce odd visual artifacts when Kerbal Space Program is initially loading, especially when the initial frame rate is low. The VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) might resemble a Dalí painting for a brief moment before returning to normal. The abundance of scaling options can also feel overwhelming at times, and the need to switch between the game and the application for adjustments can be inconvenient.
However, the time invested in learning how to use Lossless Scaling properly pays off handsomely. It can genuinely enhance your PC gaming experience.
The first step is to purchase it on Steam. Paying for something on Steam that isn’t a game may seem odd, but trust me, it’s a worthwhile investment. The application frequently goes on sale for as little as $3.50.
After installing and running Lossless Scaling, launch the game you wish to enhance. Ensure that the game is set to "borderless window" or "fullscreen borderless" mode, as Lossless Scaling currently doesn’t support Fullscreen Exclusive. Configure the graphics settings to your liking, including any in-game upscaling options, and ensure that your FPS cap is at least as high as your monitor’s refresh rate.
Use the Alt + Tab keyboard shortcut to switch to the Lossless Scaling window, then create a new profile using the left-hand menu if you want. If you only want one profile, then change the "Default" profile.
Lossless Scaling offers a multitude of settings, but the most important ones are "Scaling" and "Frame Generation," as well as "Rendering" in some instances.
If the game lacks its own upscaling feature and you want to use Lossless Scaling for this, use the drop-down menu to select your preferred algorithm. There’s a great Steam thread that explains what each scaling mode does.
For Frame Generation, select the Type as LSFG 3.0, which is the most advanced option currently available. Set the Mode to Fixed if you prefer Lossless Scaling to maintain a consistent number of AI-generated frames, effectively doubling your native frame rate. Alternatively, choose Adaptive mode to allow the algorithm to dynamically adjust the number of generated frames to meet your target frame rate, even if the native FPS falls below a 2x or 3x multiplier.
In the Rendering section, you may want to enable V-Sync, as well as HDR and G-Sync support, if applicable. Enable Draw FPS to display a simple FPS tracker at the top left of the screen, showing both native and output frame rates when Frame Generation is active. If you encounter issues with multiple displays and GPUs, experiment with the other Rendering options to resolve them.
Once you’ve configured the settings to your satisfaction, click the Scale button in the upper right corner of the window, then use Alt + Tab to return to your game. After a brief delay, Frame Generation and Scaling should activate, resulting in a noticeable increase in your frame rate.
Lossless Scaling is an amazing tool. It has unlocked frame rates that I never thought possible in older games. I can play old Need for Speed console games running at 120 FPS and I can play Kerbal Space Program when launching gargantuan ships at slideshow speeds.
However, Lossless Scaling is not a perfect solution. Just like Nvidia’s and AMD’s frame generation technologies, you’ll encounter more visual artifacts as the gap between native and target frame rates widens. More AI-generated frames translate to increased smearing and choppiness, so it’s best to use conservative settings. Experiment to find what you’re most comfortable with.
I’ve found my own sweet spot with this tool, and it has significantly enhanced some of my favorite games. And it’s only getting better with each update and new feature. For example, Adaptive Frame Generation is a brand new technique that’s not even offered by AMD or Nvidia yet. For those of us without the latest graphics cards, Lossless Scaling is a fantastic alternative to Nvidia’s and AMD’s exclusive technologies.
