Why Dynamic Resolution Scaling is Less Common on PC?

The discussion begins with a question from Circular Chinese Meal about why AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA implemented fixed-ratio upscaling instead of using a DRS system similar to consoles. The idea is to set an FPS target and let the upscaler adjust the resolution, maintaining image quality whenever performance allows. On consoles, developers typically target specific frame rates, such as 30, 60, or 120 fps. 

DRS works because developers set a target frame rate and adjust the internal resolution based on the GPU's available resources. When the GPU has less work to do, the game can increase its pixel count. When the workload increases, the resolution decreases to maintain performance. This approach makes sense on consoles because the hardware configuration is known, and developers can optimize games.

Why Consoles Use Dynamic Resolution Scaling

On PC, we do not have the same predictable performance targets. Most PC gamers aren't necessarily committed to a specific frame rate beyond their monitor's limits. For example, a player using a 165hz or 240hz display might not expect every game to reach that refresh rate. In many cases, the hardware cannot maintain those frame rates anyway.

While playing Galactic Racer on a 240hz monitor using a mainstream PC, performance generally stayed between 60fps and 80fps. This shows why targeting the monitor's maximum refresh rate through DRS isn't always practical. VRR technology has also become common in the monitor market. With VRR, the display can adjust its refresh rate to match the game's changing frame rate within its supported range.

This gives PC gamers more flexibility, as they can play at different frame rates without necessarily needing the game to maintain a fixed target. However, if we want a game to maintain a particular frame rate, developers must tune the system for different hardware configurations. That becomes difficult when every PC has different performance capabilities and display settings.

Instead of relying entirely on changes to the internal rendering resolution, the system can adjust frame generation to target the monitor's refresh rate. We had been skeptical of this approach until we recently tested Gears of War: E-Day. The game uses a dynamic system that works alongside DLSS and dynamic resolution scaling.

Dynamic multi-frame generation offers another way to approach the problem.

During testing, we configured the game to target his monitor's refresh rate. We also had to force VSync, but the game still maintained around 160 fps with frame generation enabled. The experience showed that dynamic frame generation could work in a PC game. For PC gaming, this could help players get the most out of different hardware configurations.

Every player has a different combination of resolution, refresh rate, and GPU performance so that a dynamic system could deliver a more consistent experience. If we are comfortable using frame generation, dynamically adjusting the generated frame rate could be a practical way to match the monitor's refresh rate. At the same time, VRR helps smooth out performance changes.