Diving into the Realm of Nvidia Multi-Frame GEN on the RTX 5090
Gamers have always strived to boost their FPS counter, pouring effort and cash into the quest. Nvidia isn't the sole manufacturer pushing this concept, but they're the first to propose the intriguing notion: what if a significant portion of your frames weren't rendered but instead generated via AI?
During a private gathering with journalists, Nvidia highlighted the prowess of their new, spacious, and pricey RTX 50-series cards. Topping the lineup is the $2,000 RTX 5090, boasting a sizable 32GB of VRAM. Armed with 21,760 CUDA cores and the latest Blackwell shader cores, it's undeniably a formidable card. However, the VRAM's primary purpose is AI processing. Beyond its graphical prowess, Nvidia focused on its 5th-gen Tensor cores and impressive 3,352 TOPS of generative AI processing capability.
The RTX 5090 caters to the needs of AI developers and gamers alike. But the question on everyone's mind: what does AI processing mean for gamers? It has significance, particularly for acquiring those elusive extra frames. Nvidia showcased its multi-frame gen capabilities, but the star of the show is the advancement of its upscaler tech, DLSS 4. Nvidia asserts that a game like Star Wars: Outlaws will only manage 50 FPS at 4K with max settings on a 5090, with no upscaling. With DLSS 4's assistance, they promise over 250 FPS with minimal latency -- a lofty claim, to be sure.
Unveiling the Mysteries of Multi-Frame Gen
Multi-frame gen is essentially a model that predicts forthcoming frames in a sequence and then replaces the current frame with a fresh, AI-generated one, based on the rendered in-game frame. The DLSS 3.5 multi-frame gen is supported by certain titles to generate frames on a 1-to-1 basis. Previous versions of single-frame gen provided a welcome boost in framerates, but the updated model should yield even greater results.
Nvidia claims its new frame generation model is 40% faster and uses less VRAM. Moreover, it can forecast and insert frames based on a single rendered scene without affecting latency, enhancing the gameplay experience.
In-person demos leave a lasting impression, especially when witnessing a 5090-equipped machine running Cyberpunk 2077 at 90 FPS, catapulting to close to 170 FPS in select scenarios with multi-frame gen. An RTX 4090 system hitting 130 FPS in Alan Wake 2 with ray reconstruction might not be outmatched by a 5090 running at an astonishing 300 FPS in the same scene with multi-frame gen.
Nevertheless, the primary concern remains wrapping our minds around viewing “fake frames,” as some critics contend. A sudden flickering in a light source during a demo raised concerns, but the visual differences between games with and without AI-generated frames were hard to discern.
Which Games Reap the Benefits of Multi-Frame Gen?
Nvidia anticipates support for 75 games and applications at launch, including future titles like Doom: The Dark Ages and Dune: Awakening. Among the initial titles are a few lesser-known games, such as the climbing game Jusant and Deep Rock Galactic. While these games are not taxing on the GPU significantly, incorporating multi-frame gen could exceed the monitor's refresh rate, rendering it ineffective.
The high-end RTX 40-series cards, notably the 4090, remain the pinnacle of what most desktop users can invest in. AMD and Intel challenge them in the lower to mid-range sectors, but Nvidia monopolizes the “best” category. To utilize the 5090, a substantial 575W of power is required, necessitating a heavy-duty, certified PSU.
In conclusion, multi-frame gen represents a remarkable breakthrough in gaming performance, utilizing AI to generate frames to alleviate GPU stress. As Nvidia's DLSS 4 rolls out, expect to see a significant surge in frame rates across select games, ensuring an exceptional visual experience for gamers who are willing to invest.
The use of multi-frame gen and DLSS 4 with AI processing could significantly improve the gaming experience for future titles, providing gamers with over 250 FPS in games like Star Wars: Outlaws at 4K with minimum latency. Nvidia is expecting support for 75 games and applications at launch, including upcoming titles like Doom: The Dark Ages and Dune: Awakening.
