All gamers are expecting for the best gaming experience possible. With the continuous advancements of technology these days, dealing with blurred image outputs and bad image resolutions have become common problems. However, with the help of GPU scaling, you may solve all of these in no time. It works alongside your graphics card to help you improve your graphics experience. Before we go to the pros and cons of GPU scaling, let’s talk about what it is and how it can help you. If you are looking for more information on GPU scaling be sure to visit PCGameHaven.com.
What is GPU Scaling?
When we say GPU scaling, it’s a technical feature that enables you to make adjustments on the aspect ratio of a game based on your monitor’s resolution in order to achieve high-quality image output. A GPU, for instance, is a computer processor that works specifically for creating on-screen images, which makes playing videos and games more fun and exciting.
What are the Pros and Cons of GPU Scaling?
Imagine that you’re playing your favorite video game, but you notice that the picture has been in the wrong aspect ratio and it has been stretched, thereby not giving you a quality gaming experience. This is where GPU scaling becomes important. However, like other technical methods, enabling GPU scaling has lots of advantages and disadvantages.
Pros:
GPU scaling enables the resolution of the monitor to display the video output using several scaling options. These options include stretching the resolution to fit the screen, preservation of the aspect ratio, and putting black bars in a horizontal or vertical position. Here’s how these options make GPU scaling beneficial to online gamers:
- Preserve Aspect Ratio – This scaling mode enables you to keep game’s aspect ratio while playing it in full screen mode, even when you scale the graphics up. Apart from maintaining the aspect ratio, it also works to fill in the excess background with black bars.
- Center – Using centered trimmings is helpful when the image is smaller than the resolution of your screen. By choosing this scaling mode, you can center the image on the screen and fill in black bars around it.
- Full Panel – With this type of scaling mode, the image will be stretched to fit the entire screen. However, by mounting the image to full panel size, it usually results in a poor image and bad graphics output since the scaling is done from a different aspect ratio. Although the stretching may not be advisable if you pay attention to image quality, it remains an option for you, which makes it an advantage.
Overall, GPU Scaling is beneficial for retro games or those old games without the right aspect ratio.
Cons:
One of the disadvantages of GPU scaling is the presence of a slight input lag. For instance, utilizing GPU scaling needs more processing time compared to an “as is” image display. Although the extra time it takes seems to be unnoticeable when playing videos, the situation is different when you’re playing games. Here, the delay can be easily noticed, which creates a condition called an input lag. It’s basically the delay you may experience between the resulting on-screen action and clicking the button that interrupts your ability to act or play quickly within the game. When this happens, you must decide whether the effects of input lag as a result of GPU scaling is worth more than not scaling the image.
Moreover, it may also not be suitable when it comes to benchmarking the lower-than-native resolution performance in games. Under this circumstance, display scaling may be preferred over GPU scaling.
As mentioned, GPU scaling is ideal for older games. However, if you’re playing new games, there’s no point of using it because it’ll only create an input lag, which affects your overall gaming performance.
How To Enable GPU Scaling
Enabling GPU scaling within the Radeon Settings requires certain conditions to be fulfilled; otherwise, you can’t use the option. Check these requirements out in order that GPU scaling will be available:
- There must be a digital connection that can be used for the process. This may include HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), DVI (Digital Visual Interface), and the mini DisplayPort/DisplayPort. Without one of these digital connections, GPU scaling will not be enabled.
- You must install the newest supported graphics driver for your graphics product.
- You must set the display of your screen to its native resolution and refresh rate, and adjust the display brightness.
Once all of these conditions are met, it’s time to learn the steps on how to enable the GPU scaling option. Look at these procedures to get started:
- Go to the Radeon Settings menu by doing a right-click on your desktop. Then, find the AMD Radeon Setting and click.
- After opening the settings, click on the Display.
- Look for the GPU Scaling option and enable it. Once activated, your screen will go black for a short period of time.
- After enabling the GPU scaling, click your desired scaling mode option and that’s it.
Conclusion
By having higher resolution, it only means that your computer graphics are becoming more realistic and vivid than you’ve ever imagined. So, if you’re a gamer who’s looking to experience fine-tuned graphics and image displays in online gaming, keep all of this information in mind, particularly the pros and cons of GPU Scaling.
