Best DLSS, FSR & XeSS Settings for Popular Games in 2026

July 21, 2026    Tech-Reviews   

New to upscaling technologies?

Read our complete comparison of DLSS vs FSR vs XeSS to understand which technology works best for your GPU before applying these settings.

Read Comparison →

1

Quick Reference: Recommended Settings by GPU

Jump to your GPU brand and apply these settings instantly

Choosing the right upscaling mode depends on your target resolution and framerate. Here is a quick breakdown of when to use each quality preset across all three technologies.

Pro Tip

Always start with "Quality" mode first. Modern upscaling is so good that Quality mode often looks identical to native resolution while giving you 30-40% more FPS. Only drop to Balanced or Performance if you need higher framerates for competitive gaming.

2

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

The ultimate ray tracing stress test — settings optimized for path tracing

Cyberpunk 2077 with Path Tracing Overdrive is one of the most demanding gaming experiences in 2026. Without upscaling, even flagship GPUs struggle to maintain 30 FPS at 1440p. Here are the optimal settings for each upscaling technology.

Ray Tracing: Overdrive

Cyberpunk 2077 — Path Tracing Mode

Path tracing is beautiful but brutal. These settings keep it playable without turning Night City into a slideshow.

NVIDIA DLSS 4

Recommended Mode

Auto + Frame Gen

Let DLSS pick the best preset. Frame Generation ON is essential for path tracing.

FPS Boost

+85%

AMD FSR 3.1

Recommended Mode

Balanced + AFMF 2

Use AFMF 2 (Fluid Motion Frames) alongside FSR for maximum FPS on AMD cards.

FPS Boost

+80%

Intel XeSS 2

Recommended Mode

Quality + XeSS-FG

XeSS Frame Generation works great here. Quality mode preserves Night City's neon details.

FPS Boost

+65%

Important Note

Path Tracing in Cyberpunk 2077 requires Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling to be enabled in Windows 11. Without it, frame generation can cause stuttering and increased input lag. Check our Windows 11 optimization guide to enable it.

3

Black Myth: Wukong

Unreal Engine 5 masterpiece with Nanite and Lumen

Black Myth: Wukong pushes Unreal Engine 5 to its limits with Lumen global illumination and Nanite virtualized geometry. The game is visually breathtaking but extremely demanding, making upscaling technologies essential for smooth gameplay.

Unreal Engine 5

Black Myth: Wukong — UE5 Settings

Lumen global illumination and Nanite geometry make this visually stunning but demanding. Upscaling is basically required.

NVIDIA DLSS 4

Recommended Mode

Quality + Ray Reconstruction

Ray Reconstruction ON fixes Lumen ghosting issues. Quality mode keeps foliage crisp.

FPS Boost

+70%

AMD FSR 3.1

Recommended Mode

Quality + Frame Gen

FSR 3.1 Frame Gen is excellent here. Avoid Ultra Performance — hair and fur look smeared.

FPS Boost

+75%

Intel XeSS 2

Recommended Mode

Balanced

XeSS handles UE5's complex geometry well. Balanced is the sweet spot for Arc B580 and B770.

FPS Boost

+60%

4

Alan Wake 2

Northlight Engine with path tracing and mesh shaders

Alan Wake 2 is widely regarded as one of the best-looking games ever created. Its path tracing implementation is transformative for lighting and atmosphere, but it is virtually unplayable without upscaling technologies on anything below an RTX 5080.

Path Tracing

Alan Wake 2 — High Fidelity Mode

One of the best-looking games ever made. Path tracing is transformative but unplayable without upscaling.

NVIDIA DLSS 4

Recommended Mode

Quality + Frame Gen + RR

Ray Reconstruction is a must for path tracing. Quality mode preserves the incredible lighting.

FPS Boost

+90%

AMD FSR 3.1

Recommended Mode

Balanced + AFMF 2

FSR handles the dark scenes well. Balanced avoids artifacts in fog and volumetric lighting.

FPS Boost

+85%

Intel XeSS 2

Recommended Mode

Quality + XeSS-FG

XeSS 2 Frame Gen works surprisingly well here. Quality keeps the flashlight beam realistic.

FPS Boost

+70%

5

Competitive Games: Maximum FPS

When every frame matters — esports settings for competitive advantage

For competitive gaming, the rules change completely. Visual fidelity takes a backseat to raw framerate and input latency. Here is how to configure each upscaling technology for maximum competitive performance.

DLSS

NVIDIA DLSS 4

For RTX 40/50 Series

• Performance mode for 240+ FPS
• Reflex Low Latency: ON + Boost
• Frame Gen: OFF for competitive
• Best for: Valorant, CS2, Apex

FSR

AMD FSR 3.1

For All GPUs

• Performance mode for max FPS
• AFMF 2: OFF for competitive
• Radeon Anti-Lag 2: ON
• Best for: Warzone, Rocket League

XeSS

Intel XeSS 2

For Intel Arc & All GPUs

• Performance mode for 144+ FPS
• XeSS-FG: OFF for competitive
• Low Latency Mode: ON
• Best for: R6 Siege, Destiny 2

Competitive Gaming Tip

Never use Frame Generation in competitive games. It adds 10-20ms of input lag which can mean the difference between winning and losing a gunfight. Use native upscaling with Reflex or Anti-Lag instead.

6

Common Issues & Quick Fixes

Solve the most frequent upscaling problems in under 2 minutes

Even with the best settings, you might encounter issues. Here are the most common problems and how to fix them quickly.

!

Ghosting / Smearing with Frame Generation

Update to the latest GPU driver. For DLSS, enable "Frame Generation" in NVIDIA App and disable in-game FG to avoid conflicts. For FSR, make sure AFMF 2 is enabled in AMD Software, not just in-game.

!

Shimmering / Flickering on Foliage

This is common with FSR Performance mode. Switch to Balanced or Quality. For DLSS, enable "Ray Reconstruction" if available. Update to FSR 3.1 or DLSS 4 — both fix most shimmering issues.

!

XeSS Not Showing in Game Settings

XeSS requires DirectX 12. Make sure the game is running in DX12 mode (check launch options). Some games only show XeSS on Intel Arc GPUs — use the DP4a fallback mode by editing the game's config file.

!

Lower FPS After Enabling Upscaling

Sounds counterintuitive, but happens if your CPU is the bottleneck. Upscaling reduces GPU load, but if your CPU cannot keep up, you will not see gains. Check CPU usage — if it is at 90% or higher, lower shadow quality or particle effects instead.

Still Deciding Which GPU to Buy?

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Last updated: July 20, 2026 | Tested on RTX 5070, RX 9070 XT, Arc B580 | Read the full DLSS vs FSR vs XeSS comparison →