What RTX VSR is, and what it isn't
Nvidia describes VSR as a video upscaling technology that uses AI and RTX Tensor Cores to remove blocky compression artifacts and raise video resolution. Nvidia's launch blog explains the method. A deep learning network looks at the low-resolution frame and predicts a residual image at the target resolution. That residual is layered over a conventionally upscaled image to correct artifacts and sharpen edges.
It is not DLSS. Nvidia says the two are different technologies with different training and data inputs, and that VSR does not use DLSS. VSR infers a higher-resolution frame from the lower-resolution frame alone, and it only works on video. DLSS relies on game-engine data such as motion vectors and depth buffers.
That also means VSR can't recover detail that was never captured. The BGR report that prompted this piece makes the same point. It says VSR can mistake noise for real image content and can invent textures. It adds that fast motion gets little improvement. Those are the reporter's observations, not Nvidia's claims. SlashGear's guide also says the highest quality setting can add detail the AI can't be confident of. It says this is worst when video is below 720p.
Will it work on your PC?
- GPU: Nvidia's FAQ says RTX Video supports all RTX GPUs on consumer notebooks and desktops. The October 2023 VSR 1.5 update added support for Turing-based GPUs, meaning RTX 20-series and professional cards.
- OS: 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11.
- Apps: Once it's turned on, the effects apply to video played in VLC and in the latest Chrome, Edge and Firefox. Apps can also build it in through the RTX Video SDK. DaVinci Resolve and Wondershare Filmora are examples. Nvidia has verified Edge and Chrome. It has not verified other Chromium-based browsers.
- Input range: Videos from 360p to 1440p. Nvidia cautions that YouTube Shorts and some DRM-protected content don't work.
- It only acts when upscaling is needed: Nvidia says VSR is enabled only if the video requires upscaling. Video shown at native resolution or smaller doesn't qualify. A 480p home video on a 1440p or 4K monitor is a good candidate. A 4K clip on a 4K screen is not.
BGR says VSR applies to "any video that passes through the GPU." Nvidia's own documentation is narrower. The video has to play in a supported browser or player, and it has to be getting enlarged.
How to turn it on
Nvidia Control Panel
- Open the Nvidia Control Panel.
- Under Video, choose Adjust video image settings.
- Under RTX video enhancement, tick Super resolution.
- Pick a quality level. Nvidia's Control Panel help describes levels from 1 (lowest enhancement) to 4 (highest).
- Click Apply.
Nvidia App
RTX Video is available in both the Control Panel and the Nvidia App. Nvidia's FAQ recommends the app because it has more options. In the app, go to System > Video. You can turn VSR on there and see in real time whether it is active. You can set the quality level by hand, but Nvidia recommends Auto.
Which quality level should you use?
BGR suggests starting at level 4 and working down. Nvidia's guidance points the other way. It recommends Auto, which picks a level based on your system and the source. If you fix the level above what your system can handle, Nvidia warns, lower-end machines may stutter. Quality scales with GPU resources, and the improvement varies by content.
A practical approach:
- Start with Auto.
- If you want to tune it, replay the same clip at different levels. Use the lowest level that looks good and plays smoothly.
- Newer versions help here. Nvidia's FAQ says the newer VSR model can cut GPU use by as much as 30% at the highest quality setting. That update also added a GPU Utilization option for Auto mode.
Confirming it's working
SlashGear says you can tick "show status indicator on video." A box labeled "RTX VSR" then appears in the top-right corner of full-screen video. Nvidia's January 2025 update also added optional on-screen indicators for VSR and Video HDR.
Troubleshooting
- Edge shows no effect. Edge has its own feature that gets in the way. Nvidia says you must disable Microsoft's default version first. Go to Settings > System and performance > System. Turn Enhance videos off. Turn it back on if you want Microsoft's enhancement again.
- Nothing happens at all. Check that the video really needs upscaling. Also check that it's playing. Nvidia notes the video has to be playing and displayed on the desktop. If two videos are playing, the one most recently in focus gets the enhancement.
- Still nothing. SlashGear advises making sure graphics acceleration is enabled in your browser settings.
- Games are running. Nvidia says VSR is inactive when a game uses Nvidia Image Scaling, DSR or DLDSR. It also uses Tensor Cores, so you may see a slight drop in performance if a game or creative app is running at the same time.
- Local files. Nvidia says VLC support needs a VLC version built with RTX support, which the FAQ links to. Don't assume your current install has it.
Laptops
On RTX laptops with Optimus, there is an extra step. Open Windows Graphics settings, add Chrome or Edge under custom options for apps, then set it to High Performance. Nvidia explains that the browser needs access to the RTX GPU. The cost is battery life. Nvidia says the GPU becomes active whenever the browser is launched, even if RTX Video isn't enhancing anything. Its workaround is to set your less-used browser to High Performance and play video there. Also, browsers automatically fall back to the lower-power native upscaler when the laptop is on battery.
The AMD angle
BGR also covers AMD's route. It says FidelityFX Super Resolution can upscale video. It describes that as a non-AI approach, and says it takes more setup. It tells readers to enable FSR upscaling in Adrenalin's gaming settings. It also tells them to turn on automatic video enhancement in Windows video playback settings. I haven't verified those AMD steps against AMD's documentation. Treat them as BGR's account, and check them against your driver version.
Bottom line
For RTX owners, VSR is a free setting that is worth a few minutes of testing on low-resolution video. Old digitized footage is a reasonable test case. Use a supported browser or VLC, leave the quality on Auto, and confirm the status indicator appears. Keep your expectations realistic. It works on playback only, so it doesn't change the file itself. It can also smooth away real detail or add detail that isn't there. If a clip looks waxy or oddly textured, lower the setting or turn VSR off for that video.