DLSS 4.5 vs FSR Redstone: Real-World Performance & Image Quality Showdown

Gamers want two things: stunning visuals and high frame rates. Traditionally, that meant spending on high-end GPUs. Today, AI-powered upscaling technologies like NVIDIA’s DLSS 4.5 and AMD’s FSR Redstone promise to deliver both — but which truly gives the smoothest, most faithful gaming experience?

We tested these technologies across multiple demanding titles to cut through the hype. The results highlight image quality strengths, performance weaknesses, and critical frame pacing flaws, helping you decide which upscaler is right for your GPU and games.

Understanding the AI Upscaling Revolution

Both DLSS and FSR work by rendering a game at a lower resolution and then using an AI model to reconstruct a higher-resolution image (like 1080p → 4K). The quality of reconstruction determines how “native” the game looks while saving GPU power.

DLSS 4.5 (NVIDIA)

Features a 2nd-generation transformer model
Optimized for RTX 40/50 GPUs, minimal impact
Older RTX 20/30 GPUs face 10–35% FPS drops due to lack of FP8 Tensor Core support

Source: Ancient Gameplays

FSR Redstone (AMD)

Marks AMD’s full AI upscaling entry
Reduces ghosting and artifacting vs FSR 3.1
Can introduce frame pacing inconsistencies, making high FPS feel choppy
Currently optimized for RDNA 4 (RX 9000 series)

Game-by-Game Performance Comparison

Game / Test Focus	DLSS 4.5 Key Findings	FSR Redstone Key Findings	Verdict
Cyberpunk 2077	Stable image, minimal pixel crawling; FPS drop 14–24% on RTX 3080 Ti	ML Frame Gen reduces ghosting but severe frame pacing issues	DLSS wins on stability; FSR stutter ruins smoothness
Black Myth: Wukong	Crisp image, may require tuning down sharpening	Frame pacing issues less severe but still present	DLSS 4.5 preferable; FSR Redstone’s occasional ping-ponging is distracting
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33	Stunning 1080p→4K upscaling; sharp foliage & detail	Community reports image slightly washed-out compared to DLSS	DLSS 4.5 dominates clarity
Industria 2 / God of War Ragnarok	Smooth frame times; baseline comparison	Severe frame pacing; inconsistent frame delivery	FSR Redstone fails in smoothness
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2	Not primary test; baseline	ML Frame Gen reduces ghosting & artifacts	Positive step for AMD, but pacing remains an issue

Sources: TechSpot, Tom's Hardware, NoobFeed

The FSR Redstone Problem: Frame Pacing Matters More Than FPS

Even if your FPS counter shows 120+, FSR Redstone’s inconsistent frame delivery can create noticeable stutter. Frames aren’t evenly spaced, so the brain perceives choppiness — especially on high-refresh monitors.

“Despite high FPS numbers, Redstone’s ML Frame Generation often delivers frames in uneven bursts, creating subtle stutter that can affect fast-paced gameplay.” (TechSpot)

DLSS 4.5 avoids this issue, maintaining smooth frame pacing even at high FPS, giving the feel that matches the on-screen numbers.

DLSS 4.5 Caveats: Performance on Older Hardware

DLSS 4.5’s advanced AI requires modern Tensor Core optimizations:

RTX 40/50 Series: ~2–3% performance hit, minimal trade-off
RTX 20/30 Series: 10–35% FPS loss due to FP8 → FP16 conversion

Community benchmarks show older cards like the RTX 3080 Ti can lose 14–24% FPS compared to DLSS 4.0 in Cyberpunk 2077. (Tom's Hardware)

Tip for older GPUs: Stick with DLSS 4.0 or test per-game if DLSS 4.5’s visual boost is worth the frame penalty.

Who Should Use Which Upscaler

Hardware	Recommended Upscaler	Notes
RTX 40/50 Series	DLSS 4.5	Best visual fidelity & smooth performance
RTX 20/30 Series	DLSS 4.0 or 4.5	Visual boost vs. FPS trade-off; test per title
RDNA 4 (RX 9000)	FSR Redstone	Use for slower, story-driven titles; avoid competitive shooters
Older RDNA GPUs	Stick with FSR 3 / 3.1	Redstone not officially supported

Key Takeaways

DLSS 4.5 delivers superior frame pacing and stability, especially on NVIDIA 40/50 GPUs.
FSR Redstone improves image quality but suffers from frame pacing inconsistencies that reduce perceived smoothness.
Older hardware requires careful testing to balance FPS vs visual fidelity.
AI upscaling is evolving; knowing hardware limits and testing per-game is essential

Final Verdict

DLSS 4.5 is the most reliable AI upscaler today, offering unmatched stability and image quality on modern hardware. FSR Redstone marks AMD’s first strong ML upscaling attempt, but its frame pacing flaws make it less suitable for fast-paced competitive games.

For now, DLSS 4.5 holds the crown — but as AMD refines Redstone and RDNA hardware evolves, the battle will continue. Gamers should test per-game and per-hardware to find the optimal balance between visual fidelity and smooth gameplay.