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A new round of Windows Insider builds has dropped.
Are you the type of person who swears like a sailor or someone who prefers to maintain a professional level of discourse at all times? Windows will have you covered, regardless.
Microsoft is releasing new Insider builds as of Friday in multiple channels. The key feature, as it appears in Windows 11’s Beta Insider build (26120.3941) is an updated profanity filter for voice typing.
You can turn on voice typing using theWIN+Hshortcut and begin dictating. It recognizes your voice about as well as a smartphone but without the need for an AI-powered NPU.
Dictation, however, can be formal such as using my voice to type an article like this or more casual like orally recapping a meeting. In certain cases, you might be tempted to drop in a swear word here and there. With the new update, you can simply opt to either “bleep” out the cussing via asterisks or else leave the profanity in in its entirety. Either way, it’s up to you.
Today marks the day thatMicrosoft releases features like Recall, Click-to-Do, and othersinto the wild. To build upon that, Windows is releasing an additional feature: launching Click to Do with a Bluetooth pen. Click to Do essentially allows you to right-click and open up a menu of the most frequently used features attached to a file or app. The pen option is a bone that seems to be tossed to tablet users, as you’ll still have to select which function you want to access. The idea seems to be that if you’re already inking, you can click your pen and then tap your preferred task quickly without breaking the flow.
Microsoft is also adding a small feature that can wall off your Photos from Windows’ Search function, if you’re on a work or school account and don’t want Windows to “see” your personal photos.
If you’ve every asked ‘what is a graphics card?’, we’ve got you covered
If you’ve ever wondered, “what is a graphics card?”, you’re not alone. As a highly specialized computer component, it’s not something that most people need to think about.
But, if you’re shopping for thebest gaming PC— or even just a decentbudget gaming PC— you are bound to come across it, since it is one of the most important components for gaming in your PC, more so than even your processor or storage drive.
You can think of the graphics card as an artist who brings your favorite movies, games, and even the visual elements of websites to life. It takes the digital information from the computer’s memory and transforms it into vibrant and realistic pictures that you see on your screen.
Whether it’s the realistic explosions in a game, the breathtaking landscapes in a movie, or the smooth scrolling of a webpage, the graphics card is behind it all, and getting thebest graphics cardyou can afford will make all the difference in the quality of your games, movies, and more.
There are few components more important than the graphics card in the modern PC, and we’re here to break down the what, the how, and the why of this essential piece of computer hardware.
Specifically, a graphics card is a collection of components that work together to render visuals on a display, such as agaming monitoror some of thebest VR headsetsaround.
As such, graphics cards are crucial for tasks that require a significant amount of graphical processing power, such as gaming, video editing, 3D modeling, and scientific simulations. They are designed to offload the graphical processing workload from the computer’s central processing unit (CPU) and perform calculations specifically tailored for graphics-related tasks.
They are composed primarily of two core parts: a GPU, and a VRAM pool. The GPU is the specialized processor whose only task is crunching the complex numbers involved in rendering realistic graphics in real-time; things like shadows on a wall, or the glow of a spaceship engine.
In order to do this, it stores the data it needs in a pool of Video random-access memory (VRAM), which is separate from your mainRAM memory, which is used by the computer as a whole.
Finally, the graphics card is slotted into the motherboard of your PC through a PCIe connector, which allows the CPU and graphics card to coordinate their respective activities to generate the image you see on a screen.
The graphics card has one essential job in your computer: to provide a more efficient way to render complex visuals that would otherwise bog down a CPU.
In order to do this, it has its own dedicated memory to hold visual information like texture files, as well as specialized hardware like shader cores, that produce an image, pixel-by-pixel, dozens and possible hundreds of times a second.
It does this by producing a frame, based on information provided by the CPU, which tells the GPU inside the graphics card what to draw. The graphics card will then leverage its hardware to do so as quickly as possible to produce a visual frame that it will then send through its video output port to a display. The more frames a graphics card can produce a second, the more fluid the visuals will look on the display.
A graphics card works by carrying out the specialized workloads required for generating rendered images for display. This includes videos, 3D graphics, and even your operating system’s desktop, all of which gets processed inside the graphics card and then sent to your computer’s display.
The way it actually does this is it starts with data processing. Whenever you interact with your PC, software generates data that needs to be displayed visually, like a spreadsheet update or a character moving in a video game. This data can include instructions for drawing shapes, colors, textures, and other graphical elements, which the CPU collects and sends to the graphics card for processing.
After the graphics card receives this data, it begins processing it. The first major step is geometry processing, where the geometric shapes, their positions, and other attributes sent by the CPU are processed in a virtual 3D space. There, the GPU inside the graphics card crunches the data sent to it to determine positions, shapes, and orientations of these objects. The way artificial light sources interact with these objects is also processed here.
After geometry processing, the graphics card heads to its rendering phase. Using advanced rendering techniques like shading, texturing, and lighting, the GPU calculates how each pixel on the screen should look based on calculated geometry.
Then, the GPU moves on to texturing the objects in the scene, where it applies surface details like colors, patterns, and preproduced textures to them. Preproduced texture files are stored in the graphics card’s VRAM, and the GPU uses these files to quickly add the necessary detail to an object to add realism and depth.
Once rendering and texturing calculations are complete, the GPU moves on to a process known as rasterization. This process involves converting a 3D scene into a 2D image by determining which pixels should be displayed on the screen and their corresponding color value. It accounts for depth, perspective, and object positioning to ensure that foreground objects appear correctly and obscure background objects. The end result is a 2D frame that can be output to a display.
The final step sends the generated frame to the connected display. The graphics card produces a video signal with the color and intensity values for each pixel and sends it over a video cable to a connected display. The display then uses this information to illuminate its pixels accordingly, resulting in the final visual representation on the screen.
Do I really need a graphics card?
Do I really need a graphics card?
Depending on your what you plan to use your computer for, you may or may not need a dedicated graphics card.
If you primarily use your computer for everyday tasks like web browsing, email, word processing, and streaming videos, you probably don’t need a dedicated graphics card, since most processors now come with some integrated graphics capabilities. These are generally more than enough for handling basic graphical tasks like running a web page or even playing a movie.
If you’re a PC gamer or you ever plan on playing PC games at some point, a graphics card is highly recommended, if not outright required. Modern games require a lot of processing power to render realistic and immersive visuals in real-time, and relying on an integrated graphics solution is going to render a game at a frame rate (that is, the number of frames a graphics card sends to your display every second) that is too low to be playable.
If you’re into creative work like video editing, 3D modeling, animation, or any other form of visual content creation, a graphics card is an essential tool. These tasks involve manipulating and rendering complex visual elements, which can be extremely taxing on the CPU alone. A graphics card can accelerate these processes, resulting in faster rendering times and smoother workflow.
Finally, if you plan to use multiple monitors simultaneously, a graphics card with multiple video outputs is pretty much required. Few integrated graphics solutions support multiple displays, and might offer limited functionality if they do. A dedicated graphics card can handle multiple monitors efficiently, allowing you to expand your workspace and increase productivity. If this is all you need a graphics card for, you’re in luck, since even thebest cheap graphics cardis more than capable of handling this situation.
Which graphics card is right for my needs?
Which graphics card is right for my needs?
The right graphics card for your needs depends on several factors, including your specific requirements, budget, and the intended use of your computer. Here are some guidelines to help you make an informed decision:
Assess any requirements:Consider the tasks you’ll be performing and the level of graphical performance you need. For gaming, research the recommended system requirements for the games you want to play. Content creators should check the recommended hardware for the software they use, specifically its GPU recommendations.
Determine your budget:Graphics cards vary widely in terms of price, so it’s important to establish a budget. Higher-end graphics cards tend to offer more power and advanced features but come with a higher price tag. Determine how much you’re willing to spend to find a balance between performance and affordability.
Research different models:Once you have an idea of your requirements and budget, research different graphics card models from reputable manufacturers. We review graphics cards regularly, and our best 1080p graphics card and best 1440p graphics card pages are a good place to start for more mainstream offerings.
Plan for the long term:If you’re worried that your graphics card might become obsolete too soon, consider shopping for a model that provides more performance and a larger pool of VRAM than your immediate needs.
Check system compatibility:Make sure that your computer system is able to support a specific graphics card, especially your power supply unit (PSU). All graphics cards have a power requirement, measured in watts, and manufacturers will tell you what the recommended PSU wattage is for a given card. You also need to make sure that there is space in both your motherboard’s expansion (PCIe) slots as well as inside the physical case itself.
Consider reputable brands:Pay attention to reputable brands known for producing reliable graphics cards, such as MSI, Asus, Gigabyte, and Zotac, among others. AMD, Nvidia, and Intel also make their own graphics cards, in addition to partnering with other manufacturers to produce branded graphics cards.
If you’re still unsure or overwhelmed, consider seeking advice from knowledgeable individuals, such as computer enthusiasts, experts, or forums dedicated to hardware discussions. They can provide insights based on their experiences and help you make an informed decision.
Remember, the “right” graphics card for you ultimately depends on your specific needs and budget.
When building a PC, certain components like the CPU, GPU, and RAM have a greater impact on the overall performance. The CPU, for example, dictates how fast your computer can process tasks, run applications, and handle multitasking. Intel may have lost its crown to AMD in recent years, but it still enjoys a greater market share, seeing as how Intel processors accounted for 62 percent of CPU tests, according to Statista.
Like most computer parts, processors often follow confusing naming schemes, something that can seem daunting to first-time PC builders. Following a quick search on Amazon or other retailers, you will notice several numbers and letters on Intel processors. This is what helps the company maintain different tiers of CPUs, which in turn makes it easier for the end consumer to pick the right one. Some of the best Intel CPUs for gaming include the high-octane Core i7-14700K and the budget-oriented Core i3-13100F. But what do the “K” and “F” letters denote? Intel even has a few processors in its lineup that use the combined “KF” suffix.
In short, these letters indicate which features are included or excluded in a chip. The “K” and “KF” suffixes particularly talk about the overclocking capabilities and the availability of integrated graphics. Though a CPU without integrated graphics can be picked up for less money, you will need to account for the money spent on a dedicated GPU — not to mention the increased power draw of the system.
An Intel processor with the “K” suffix in its name means that the chip is unlocked and can be overclocked by the end user. An “F” suffix simply means that the processor doesn’t have integrated graphics — in which case, you will require a dedicated GPU for displaying video output. The combination of these two kinds of chips gives us the “KF” suffix, which denotes that a processor is capable of overclocking but doesn’t come with integrated graphics.
To verify if you can overclock your Intel CPU, you will need to look not just for the “K” or “KF” branding on the chip, but also for a compatible motherboard. Even then, overclocking is only recommended for those who possess enough knowledge about how to correctly overclock a CPU and have the right kind of cooling to avoid overheating.
An Intel CPU with the “F” or “KF” suffix may seem worse in comparison to chips that have on-board graphics, but can be ideal for users who know they will be using a discrete graphics card in their build anyway. This also helps with savings on the CPU front, allowing for a beefier Nvidia or AMD graphics card. The downside with a “KF” or “F” chip is that if your GPU fails or is temporarily removed, you will not be able to boot with video output. This makes for a bad troubleshooting experience.
Google is offering repairs or payment for Pixel 7a users affected by a serious battery issue
Some Pixel 7a users have reported battery swelling severe enough to warp the phone chassis
Eligibility depends on region and warranty status
Googlehas stepped up to remedy a major battery swelling issue with somePixel 7asmartphones, meaning affected users can now claim a free repair or partial refund.
Recent reports have highlighted the battery expansion issue, which Google describes as including “visible swelling of the device”, the “phone cover bulging or separating from the device”, or the battery “draining significantly faster than usual”.
As we previously covered, swollen batteries present a danger to health and home, as they can be an unpredictable fire risk if left unattended – be sure to check out our guide onhow to dispose of an inflated phone batteryfor more information.
As9to5Googlereports, Google is offering walk-in repairs at centres in the following countries:
US
UK
India
Germany
Japan
Singapore
Additionally, Google is providing a mail-in repair service in the US and India only.
Google is also offering partial refunds to affected Pixel 7a users, depending on territory and warranty coverage: none of the following options are available in the US or India.
In other territories, those still covered by their Pixel 7a’s warranty can claim $456 from Google – that’s cash, not store credit.
And users in said territories who are out of their Pixel 7a’s warranty period can claim either $300 towards another Pixel phone, or $200 in cash.
It’s worth noting that if your Pixel 7a handset exhibits other forms of damage, such as exposure to sharp objects, liquid damage, or damage caused by excessive force, Google may refuse to issue a battery replacement.
The officialExtended Repair Programpage also notes that Google may charge an additional fee if the phone exhibits out-of-warranty damage like a cracked screen – which we’d guess is because screens typically need to be removed to access the internal components of a smartphone.
The kind of repair program that Google is running isn’t unheard of – some may even call it expected with an issue as serious as battery inflation – but it’s still good to see Google doing the right thing here.
Head to Google’s official registration page to get your repair or refund claim started, and be sure to let us know how you get on in the comments below.
If you’ve been debating buying an Xbox, you might want to think about upgrading your TV instead. Specific smart LG TVs justreceived the Xbox App, allowing gamers to stream games straight from the Internet without the need for a console. If you sign up forXbox Game Pass, you can access hundreds of games in itscloud gaming catalog— and if through theBuy and Stream service, you can purchase certain games and play them, even if they aren’t part of the Game Pass lineup.
There’s a catch, though: you need to have a compatible LG TV for this to work.Xbox writes, “Available on LG TVs with webOS 24 or newer versions. This includes select 2022 and 2023 models which have been updated to software version 23.20.01 or higher, including 2022 OLED TVs, and 2023 OLED, QNED, Nanocell, and UHD TVs.” The press release also states that LG smart monitors with webOS24 or later are also compatible.
Not only do you not need an Xbox console, but you don’t need an Xbox controller, either. As long as you have a compatible Bluetooth controller, you can game to your heart’s content — and yes, PlayStation Dualsense controllers work, too.
Xbox Cloud Gaming has progressed forward in leaps and bounds from where it once was, and now you can play even fast-paced titles with minimal input lag. While it’s probably still not a great idea to try playing a competitive fighting game over a cloud network, racing games like Forza Horizon 5 both play and look great. You can also experience new titles like Avowed, Atomfall, and even Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
All you have to do is go to the LG Gaming Portal and download the Xbox app. Once you’ve done that, create an account (or log in) and you’ll be ready to play. Fair warning: it can be addictive, so make sure you’ve got time set aside to dedicate to a gaming binge.
I’m here to show you how to reset a graphics driver on your PC
If you’re having persistent crashes, black screens, frame rate drops, or other issues, learning how to reset a graphics driver should be your first step. Even thebest graphics cardscan sometimes run into driver issues, and resetting a graphics driver can often do the trick with minimal effort or troubleshooting.
I’ve been building PCs for years, and I’ve reset my fair share of GPU drivers, so I’m here to help you out with a full step-by-step guide for the reset graphics driver process to help you get your PC back into tip-top shape, regardless of whether you’re resetting a laptop GPU driver, a desktop graphics card driver, or the driver for your integrated graphics.
TOOLS & REQUIREMENTS
PC or laptop
An internet connection
Quick steps for how to reset graphics driver
If resetting a discrete graphics card driver,Download the latest driverfrom AMD, Nvidia, or Intel’s websites, depending on your graphics card, before doing anything else.
Uninstallyour current driver
Open the Device Manager
Find yourgraphics driver under Display adapters.
Right-click the display adapter driver
ChooseUninstall Device
Restart your PC
For integrated graphics
Windows willautomatically updateyour graphics driver when you start your PC.
For discrete graphics
Once Windows loads,run the downloaded driver installerand follow the instructions provided.
Once you’re in the Device Manager, scan the list of components until you findDisplay adapters. Click on the arrow next to it to reveal your graphics devices.
The first option will usually be eitherAMD Radeon GraphicsorIntel HD Graphics. If you’re resetting your intergrated graphics driver,right-click on this option.
If you have discrete graphics and you want to reset this driver, there should be a second driver underneath the first for your discrete graphics driver, and this is the oneyou shouldright-click.
Once the context menu opens up,select ‘Uninstall Device’and confirm the uninstall operation when necessary.
Your display may flicker during this process, but will eventually finish.
5. Restart your PC
Restart your computerfor the changes to take full effect.
6. Reinstall graphics driver
If resetting your integrated graphics driver, Windows willautomatically update the driveronce Windows restarts.
If resetting your discrete graphics driver,run the graphics driver installer package you downloaded, orrun the appropriate app from AMD, Intel, or Nvidia for your GPU.
Follow the promptsfrom your tool of choice andreinstall the driver. Your screen will flicker and go black at times.
Restart your PCto finish the process.
Final thoughts
Resetting your graphics driver is a common solution to a whole bunch of graphics card issues, so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with this process.
Generally, you don’t need to reset your graphics driver if your system is running smoothly. But if you do ever run into issues, this is one of the first things you should do to resolve the problem, making knowing how to reset graphics drivers very useful knowledge for gamers and casual users alike.
Google has admitted that another Pixel A series smartphone has a battery problem. This time, it is the Pixel 7a that is affected. For now, Google has committed to offering one free battery replacement or between $200 and $456 in compensation, depending on eligibility.
Google now admits that the Pixel 7a can suffer from battery issues too. (Image source: Google)
Google has just released thePixel 9aglobally, which further narrows the gap between the company’s Pixel A series and its flagship smartphones. While Pixel A and Pixel smartphones share many components, Google the former have increasingly struggled with battery-related issues in recent months.
For example, Google published an update for thePixel 4aat the start of the year that effectivelyhalved the smartphone’s battery life. Fast forward to March and Google confirmed that the Pixel 9a’s battery would start degradingafter 200 cycles. Worse still, the device would slowly decrease its voltage between 201 and 1,000 cycles.
Now, Google has quietly announced an ‘extended repair programme’ for thePixel 7a, which debuted less than two years ago. In a support post, the company admits that batteries in certain Pixel 7a handsets have degraded to the point that they have started inflating. Typically, this fault would present itself when the battery forces the Pixel 7a’s back panel to bulge or detatch completely. However, there is a chance that the only sympton is drasticaly shorter battery life.
Currently, Google has only committed to one free battery replacement. Even then, the company will refuse a battery replacement if your Pixel 7a has liquid damage, display cracks or ‘exposure to sharp objects’. If you live outside India or the United States, you may be eligible for various ‘appeasement options’ worth up to $456 converted to your local currency. Please see Google’ssupportandregistration pagesfor more information.
Replacing the Pixel 7a’s battery is not an easy task. (Image source: iFixit)
Samsung is taking a page from Apple Wallet, adding layaway and tap-to-send options to its Wallet app.
What you need to know
Samsung Wallet is testing out two exciting features: ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ and ‘Tap to Transfer,’ with a potential U.S. launch on the horizon.
The ‘Instant Installment’ feature lets you split payments for purchases, while ‘Tap to Transfer’ works like Apple’s Tap to Cash but with more flexibility for other digital wallets.
The BNPL feature, powered by Splitit, will let you use Visa or Mastercard without a credit check, though activation may require approval and could have extra fees.
A fresh beta build has given us a sneak peek atSamsung Wallet’s “buy now, pay later”and tap-to-send options, and although these are not official yet, all signs point to these features rolling out soon.
When the Galaxy S25 series made its debut in January, Samsung also snuck in some software updates that flew under the radar. Two standout features were “Instant Installment” for breaking up payments and a peer-to-peer money transfer option that Samsung calls “Tap to Transfer.”
Samsung’s Tap to Transfer works a lot like Apple’s Tap to Cash—just bump phones to send money. However, while Apple keeps things locked in its ecosystem, Samsung is presumably playing nice with other digital wallets. That means you might not need aGalaxy phoneto receive cash, giving it a flexibility Apple doesn’t offer.
Now, leaked screenshots ofSamsung Wallet, shared by@theordysm on X, show a “Buy Now, Pay Later” feature in the works, powered by Splitit (via9to5Google). It looks like it’ll work with Visa and Mastercard, with no credit check needed. That said, activation still needs approval, and there might be some extra fees in the mix.
Both features are still in the testing phase, going through internal checks and limited beta runs. Word on the street is Samsung might launch them first in the U.S. once they’re ready for primetime.
From the screenshots, it looks like the Installment Payments feature will let users split their purchases into weekly payments. This option should be available for pretty much any transaction made through Samsung Wallet.
Samsung’s installment payments aren’t about offering credit or loans. Think of it as turning your regular purchases into a pay-over-time plan, whether you’re checking out online or in a physical store.
The funds transfer feature lets users send money either through a digital network or by tapping an NFC-compatible device or payment card. The recipient’s bank account, linked to their debit card, gets the funds straight away.
While we don’t know exactly how fast the transfers will be, the ability to send money just by tapping a debit card is definitely a game changer.
If you’ve been a PC gamer for the past five years, then you’ve no doubt heard the term Frame Generation. It’s at the forefront of marketing for bothAMD’s andNvidia’sbest graphics cardsand has slowly become a more important defining factor of performance, eclipsing that of even native figures as games have become more demanding.
But what is Frame Generation? More importantly, how does it work? That’s what batterymap.co.nz is here to answer. Making things a little more confusing is the fact that the two companies have different names and versions for their respective technologies. We’re going to cut through all the jargon and get you up to speed.
Before we go any further, however, it’s important to note that you’ll need a fairly modern graphics card to use Frame Generation, regardless of the company making it. For AMD, that means a minimum of an RX 5000 GPU (though later software is exclusive to the latest GPUs), and only Nvidia’s RTX 40 series and RTX 50 series from 2022 and 2025 can access the technology.
In computing terms, frames are images generated by your graphics card which are sequenced for a framerate. This will mean a minimum of 30 frames (but ideally 60 or above) to make games playable. Frame Generation adds an AI-generated frame alongside a natively rendered one, and Nvidia’s Multi Frame Generation can add up to three alongside the natively rendered frame.
(Image credit: AMD)
What is AMD Frame Generation?
Frame Generation is a tool for your graphics card that generates additional frames when gaming. This allows for much higher framerates compared to the native performance of the GPUs, and has essentially become a requirement in recent years for acheiving high framerates in higher resolutions in demanding software.
With that said, the technology works differently on AMD and Nvidia hardware. While AMD originally launched its Frame Generation technology with AMD Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF), which is currently in its second iteration, the tech has some limitations. While open source and driver-based to run through software, it provided a way for older (or slower) graphics cards to get a framerate boost but was superseded by AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR). Though FSR 3 (available to RX 5000 series cards and up) and FSR 4 (RX 9000 only) can do a lot more.
FSR 3 was launched in September 2023 with more advanced algorithmically-based upscaling and Frame Generation technology only for supported games, rather than being driver-based and open-source. With FSR 3’s upscaling and Frame Generation enabled, you could see a massive uplift in performance compared to native rendering, especially in higher resolutions, sometimes as much as 3x.
In contrast, the recently released FSR 4 is AI-powered and exclusive to the RX 9000 series with its Frame Generation technology. That means only the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT can make use of the quality improvements and upgradable API, which allow for superior image quality and smoothness when compared to the previous version. It uses the same FSR 3.1 API and now features “anti-lag” features to remove input latency, which is a common concern with interlaced frames.
(Image credit: Nvidia)
What is DLSS Frame Generation?
Things are more straightforward with Nvidia’s Frame Generation technology, which has seen a similar evolution since it was first introduced. It begins with Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) which is an AI-powered upscaler utilizing the Tensor Cores on RTX graphics cards. By using hand-tuned algorithms, the native rendering is halfed by resolution and then upscaled with AI to achieve higher framerates compared to what could be done natively.
DLSS 3 launched in October 2022 with the release of Nvidia’s RTX 40 series graphics cards and the exclusive feature of Frame Generation, something that previous RTX cards could not do. This is due to the requirement of fourth-generation Tensor Cores which were fast enough to generate frames.Described by the companyas the “performance multiplier”, Nvidia’s Frame Generation uses a combination of software and hardware for up to 4x the native performance and twice the responsiveness.
On the software side, there’s AI Super Resolution, AI Frame Generation, and Nvidia Reflex to upscale the picture, generate additional frames with AI, and then reduce input latency. This is done on the hardware front with 1.4 PetaFLOPs available in the fourth-generation Tensor Cores, 305 TOPs of the Optical Flow Accelerator and Nvidia’s supercomputer, which is always running and improving DLSS algorithms.
That brings us to DLSS 4, released on January 30, 2025, exclusively for the RTX 50 series (such as theRTX 5090,RTX 5080, andRTX 5070 Ti), and evolved the technology with Multi Frame Generation (MFG). While the previous version generated a frame for every natively rendered one, MFG can generate three, allowing for 4x the native framerates.Nvidia claimsthat the latest AI model is 40% faster while using 30% less VRAM.
Now that we’ve outlined how Frame Generation works with AMD’s and Nvidia’s respective takes on the tech, we can look at the differences in performance and the supported games.AMD’s FSR 4 currently supports nearly 40 gamesand counting, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, FragPunk, Civilization 7, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. In contrast, there are around 76 games that support FSR 3, with some exclusive to FSR 3.1.
In contrast, there are currently over 150 games that support Nvidia’s DLSS 3 and counting, with 75 games confirmed to support DLSS 4 soon. This includes support for games such as Alan Wake 2, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Silent Hill 2, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Marvel Rivals.
What you’ll notice is that Frame Generation is not available for everything you could ever want to play on PC, whether it’s handled by AMD or Nvidia hardware. While the open-source driver-based AMD AFMF can fill in the gaps by unsupported games, it will not deliver the same level of performance boost by comparison. Given the two most recent versions, it makes the most sense to compare FSR 4 vs DLSS 4 for the best possible performance.
While Nvidia DLSS 3’s Frame Generation and DLSS 4’s Multi Frame Generation have left a strong impression as the leading options, the gap is certainly closing as AMD’s FSR 4 looks to hold its own. This is likely due to being exclusive to the RX 9000 series instead of being more open as with AFMF, FSR 2, and FSR 3 from before. We can see this is evident inDigital Foundry’s benchmarkingespecially.
AMD’s RX 9000 lineup is roughly equivalent to midrange RTX 50 series hardware, so the comparisons in upscaling performance with the RX 9070 XT and RTX 5070 Ti are about as even as things can get. While the general frame rates are a little lower in FSR 4 compared to FSR 3, it’s generally said that the image quality is higher as a result, but you’ll have the option of both on a recent AMD GPU.
We can see this with Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart in 4K. The RX 9070 XT delivers average framerates of 109, where the RTX 5070 Ti averages 106. However, with FSR 4 Performance mode, that drops down to 101, whereas the RX 5070 Ti shoots up to 128. Things are comparable in terms of image and smoothness, but Nvidia pulls ahead slightly, albeit not quite as dramatically as you may be expecting.
While it’s still early days for the latest versions of the Frame Generation tech, looking back to FSR 3.1 vs DLSS 3.7 can give a wider indication of how it performs for the previous-generation RX 7000 and RTX 40 series cards. Remember, both FSR 3 and DLSS 3 also work on the latest GPU generations, just not the other way around. We can see the quality and performance differences fromUltrawide Tech’s benchmarkingfrom late last year.
We can see what FSR 3’s Frame Generation and DLSS 3’s Frame Generation can do on the previous-generation graphics cards, AMD’s 7900 XT and Nvidia’s RTX 4070 Ti. Natively, neither card can achieve 60fps in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor in 1440p on the Epic preset, but upscaling (FSR and DLSS) gets boosted to 76fps and 60fps, respectively. Frame Generation, however, greatly improves things to 147fps and 98fps apiece. This also makes 4K60 not only possible but also goes beyond these figures, as the former gets close to 120fps and the latter excels to nearly 80fps.
Demanding games, such as Cyberpunk 2077, are a tall order for native hardware in higher resolutions than 1080p. The RX 7900 XT and 4070 Ti can barely achieve 30fps in 1440p with the game at Ultra preset with ray tracing enabled. Through Frame Generation, the figures climb to 94fps and 85fps each, with both cards able to achieve 4K60 (and above).
While we’ve been consistently impressed with what AMD and Nvidia can do with Frame Generation (particularly with the recent versions), the tech is not always going to be a win-win solution. Latency is a big concern of Frame Generation even with AMD using an “anti-lag” feature with FSR 4 and Nvidia Reflex coming in clutch for DLSS 3 and DLSS 4. As such, with AI generated frames interpolated between rendered ones, it’s not going to be the ideal way to play certain games that require immediate inputs. You wouldn’t want to have lags and delays in competitive games like CS2, Marvel Rivals, and Rainbow Six: Siege, even though the tech is no doubt impressive.
That’s the trade-off with Frame Generation as a concept. However minor, you’re going to notice a slight delay with the potential for fuzziness, visual artifacts, and motion blur compared to native rendering. It was a big problem when this technology was new, however, it’s been improved year-on-year with each new version from AMD and Nvidia to a point where it’s much less of a problem than it once was. While the tech has been seen as black magic by some, it does have its limitations when it comes to image quality and smoothness.
Overall, Frame Generation is an excellent way to improve framerates on AMD and Nvidia graphics cards if you can look beyond the minor caveats. FSR 4’s quality mode and DLSS 4’s Multi Frame Generation offer sweeping improvements on the previous versions that make them as close to native-looking as possible with framerates you just won’t achieve conventionally.
The pushback on Frame Generation relates to the debate around “fake frames”. It’s been a point of discussion for over three years now, with some PC gamers decrying the tech as the death of native performance. It’s the distinction between natively rendered and AI-generated frames, after all. We’re seeing more and more titles rely on this technology to hit playable framerates, which, consequently, has seen the optimization of some PC games suffer as a result. Some have seen Frame Generation as a crutch, which it can be if a title runs poorly by default, but that’s too sweeping of a blanket statement to make for emerging technology.
We have to accept that games are becoming more advanced, requiring more VRAM and more data to install and run. That’s to say nothing of ray tracing, which is incredibly demanding on the hardware even in 2025; some games are even being released now with ray tracing on by default, meaning you have to use AI upscaling and Frame Generation if you want playable figures. That’s the current landscape for PC gaming, and it’s unlikely to change any time soon.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller’s tech specs have been revealed
According to Nintendo, its charging time will be significantly reduced
The new gamepad is also ever so slightly slimmer and lighter
There’s some great news if you’re looking to buy a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller to go along with the new console in June.
Spotted byNintendo Life, Nintendo’s officialtechnical specificationsfor the Switch 2 Pro Controller have been revealed on its website.
While there are some slight differences in size and weight compared to the original version, the big change here is in battery charge time. On the revised Pro Controller, it’s now just 3.5 hours, down from the 6 hours of thatfirst model.
Better still, theNintendo Switch 2’s Pro Controller appears to feature the same mammoth battery life (around 40 hours) as the original. Factor in that significantly shortened charge time, and you have a controller that should be ready to go for wireless use more frequently.
Here’s a breakdown of the key specs between the Switch 2 Pro Controller and its predecessor:
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
Dimensions
4.1 x 5.8 x 2.4in / 105 x 148 x 60.2mm
4.2 x 6.0 x 2.4in / 106 x 152 x 60mm
Weight
0.52lbs / 235g
0.54lbs / 246g
Battery life
Approx. 40 hours
Approx. 40 hours
Charge time
3.5 hours
6 hours
Connectivity
Bluetooth (wireless), USB-C (wired)
Bluetooth (wireless), USB-C (wired)
Vibration
HD Rumble 2
HD Rumble
Nintendo does warn that to achieve that charge time of 3 and a half hours, you’ll want to use an appropriate charging method. These include the Nintendo Switch 2’s AC adapter or the included USB-C charging cable. Any third-party variants could negatively impact overall charging time.
We can also see that the Switch 2 Pro Controller has been ever so slightly refined in terms of size and weight, coming in just a bit slimmer and lighter than the first model. It’s a tiny difference, though, and one that won’t really manifest unless you have each side by side.
