Frame generation can make Cyberpunk 2077 look smoother, but a higher displayed FPS does not mean the game is sampling your input just as often. It inserts generated images between traditionally rendered frames, so smoothness, control response, and image quality need to be judged separately. The best setting depends on your graphics card, base frame rate, upscaler, display, and tolerance for artifacts or sluggish camera movement.
What frame generation changes—and what it does not
Ordinary rendering produces each frame from the game’s current simulation state: the player’s input, character and object positions, lighting, and camera view. Frame generation uses information from traditionally rendered frames to create additional images for display between them. Those generated images can make motion appear more continuous, particularly when the display refreshes faster than the game can render new frames.
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The distinction matters because generated images are not new samples of your controller or mouse input. A counter showing a higher output frame rate therefore does not, by itself, tell you how quickly the game responds. Think of two separate measures: base rendered FPS, which reflects how often the game creates a new frame from the simulation, and displayed FPS, which may include generated frames. The second can improve apparent motion while the first—and the cadence of new input information—remains lower.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesLatency is also not one simple number. System-latency measurements can include the time from input through rendering and display, while the subjective feel depends on the scene, frame pacing, display, and measurement method. A generated frame may look smooth while camera movement still feels less immediate. That is why neither an FPS counter nor a single latency result can settle how a setup will feel to every player.
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Which frame-generation options does the PC game support?
AMD FSR 3 Frame Generation
CD PROJEKT RED added AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 3 with Frame Generation to the PC version in Patch 2.13, dated September 12, 2024. The patch also added Intel XeSS 1.3, but XeSS support should not be mistaken for the FSR frame-generation feature. CD PROJEKT RED’s support guidance says FSR Frame Generation requires FSR 3 upscaling to be enabled; it is not a separate frame-generation switch that can be paired with any upscaler.
DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation
Patch 2.21 added DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation for GeForce RTX 50 Series graphics cards. CD PROJEKT RED lists 2x, 3x, and 4x modes; NVIDIA describes the technology as generating up to three AI frames for each traditionally rendered frame. These multipliers indicate how many displayed frames can be produced relative to a rendered frame, not a matching increase in fresh input samples.
Patch 2.21 also introduced NVIDIA’s Transformer model for DLSS Super Resolution, Ray Reconstruction, and DLAA on GeForce RTX cards. The reconstruction model and the frame-generation multiplier are separate choices: changing the model used to reconstruct an image is not the same as changing how many generated frames are inserted. CD PROJEKT RED says the Transformer model improves stability, lighting, and detail in motion. That is the developer’s description, not a guarantee that every scene or artifact will improve for every system.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Compatibility is therefore part of the decision. FSR 3 Frame Generation and DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation are not interchangeable labels for a universal setting: the former is tied to FSR 3 upscaling, while the latter requires an RTX 50 Series card. Available settings can also depend on the game patch and graphics hardware.
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Does frame generation add input lag in Cyberpunk 2077?
It can affect measured system latency and perceived response, but the available results do not establish one universal penalty. In DLSS 3, NVIDIA includes Reflex, which is intended to manage the render queue and reduce system latency. Reflex is relevant to the response pipeline, but it does not turn a generated image into a freshly rendered frame based on new input.
What the March 2026 RTX 5090 test found
In a March 31, 2026 hands-on test, PC Gamer used a Ryzen 9 9950X3D, GeForce RTX 5090, and 240 Hz OLED display. In Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K with RT Overdrive and DLSS Performance, the run without frame generation was described as around 60 FPS and somewhat janky. With in-game 4x Multi Frame Generation, motion looked smoother, in part because frame generation also enabled Reflex, but measured system latency rose and camera swings felt somewhat sluggish. During the test’s dynamic 5x mode, the reported system-latency figure reached around 50 ms.
Those observations belong to that hardware, scene, settings, display, and measurement method. In particular, around 50 ms is not a general latency figure for 5x generation, all RTX 50 Series systems, or Cyberpunk 2077. Treat the result as evidence that smoothness and response can diverge, not as a prediction for your own setup.
Why older latency results are not a direct comparison
An older PC Games Hardware test used an RTX 4080 and NVIDIA LDAT to measure end-to-end latency in a specified scene and configuration. It reported approximately 47 ms without Reflex and approximately 33 ms with Reflex, and said its lowest latency occurred with Reflex enabled and frame generation off. The test illustrates that Reflex and frame generation are distinct variables, but its figures should remain tied to that test rather than be compared as if they came from the 2026 RTX 5090 setup. PC Games Hardware’s test details.
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NVIDIA’s older DLSS 3 figures are another kind of evidence: vendor-reported results, not a controlled, current comparison of latency. NVIDIA reported 138 FPS at 4K on an RTX 4090, 102 FPS at 4K on an RTX 4080, and 136 FPS at 1440p on an RTX 4070 Ti. Those numbers reflect NVIDIA’s chosen test settings and do not establish what a player will experience on different hardware, in another scene, or with another generation mode.
How DLSS and FSR frame generation compare for image quality
Frame generation is only one influence on the image. The upscaler and quality mode, reconstruction method, ray reconstruction, scene motion, and frame-generation multiplier all matter. Look for stability and detail during movement, not just a still screenshot or the post-generation FPS counter. Fine detail, interface elements, and fast camera changes are useful places to notice whether an image looks unstable or less convincing to you.
A 4K RT Overdrive comparison
Hardwareluxx compared DLSS 3 Quality plus Frame Generation with FSR 3 Quality plus Frame Generation at 3840×2160 with RT Overdrive on a Ryzen 5 7600X3D and RTX 4090. Its reported FPS figures were:
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| Configuration | Reported FPS values |
|---|---|
| DLSS 3 Quality + Frame Generation | 82.7 and 66.4 FPS |
| FSR 3 Quality + Frame Generation | 82.1 and 68.4 FPS |
| Native rendering | 24.3 and 17.6 FPS |
Hardwareluxx found the tested DLSS and FSR configurations close in FPS. It considered FSR’s sharpness and detail competitive in the images shown, but judged the overall DLSS image more convincing in this test because Ray Reconstruction restored detail. The reported pairs are kept as the publication gave them; they should not be read as universal averages, minimums, or results for other scenes unless the test identifies them that way.
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- Responsive!!: Fast response time of 1ms enhances the experience. No matter the fast-moving action or any dramatic transitions will be all rendered smoothly without the annoying effects of smearing or ghosting. With up to 120Hz refresh rate speeds up the frames per second to deliver smooth 2D motion scenes.
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This is a useful example of why FPS alone cannot decide image quality. The comparison used an RTX 4090, a specific CPU, 4K output, and RT Overdrive. It does not establish that DLSS always looks better, that FSR always performs similarly, or that one frame-generation method wins on other GPUs, patches, settings, or scenes. NVIDIA has also said a DLSS 3 update improved UI stability and image quality during fast movement; that vendor statement describes targeted improvements, not elimination of all interface or motion artifacts.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What base FPS and display should you have before enabling it?
For its FSR 3 Frame Generation setup, CD PROJEKT RED recommends a baseline of at least 60 FPS before enabling the feature. Its support page says lower frame rates may make artifacts more prominent and cause frame-pacing issues. The same guidance strongly advises a 120 Hz-or-higher monitor, and lists Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling and updated GPU drivers as setup requirements.
The support page’s driver-version information should not be treated as current driver advice: the page is labeled as updated two years ago. Use the current driver guidance from the relevant graphics hardware vendor rather than relying on old version numbers. A high-refresh-rate display may make generated motion useful, but it does not increase the game’s base rendered FPS or inherently lower latency.
The 60 FPS and 120 Hz recommendations are specifically CD PROJEKT RED’s setup guidance for FSR 3 Frame Generation. They are practical starting points, not proof that every system below those thresholds will fail or that every system above them will feel responsive. Your frame pacing and control response still need to be judged in the game.
How to decide whether to keep frame generation on
- Check your base rendered rate first. Turn frame generation off temporarily and observe the game in the scene you actually play. Record or note this rate separately from any later generated output. For the FSR 3 setup, compare it with CD PROJEKT RED’s 60 FPS baseline recommendation.
- Confirm the relevant prerequisites. For FSR Frame Generation, enable FSR 3 upscaling and check that Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling is enabled and the GPU driver is up to date. For DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation, confirm that the system uses a GeForce RTX 50 Series card and that the game exposes the feature.
- Choose a sensible initial mode. Start with a lower generation multiplier rather than assuming the highest available setting will feel best. Make one change at a time so you can tell whether a difference comes from frame generation, the upscaler, reconstruction, or another graphics setting.
- Test moving scenes, not only a static view. Sweep the camera, move through a detailed area, and watch both the world and interface elements. Note whether motion looks smoother and whether fine detail, UI stability, or camera response becomes less satisfactory.
- Judge control response as well as displayed FPS. If camera movement feels delayed or the base rate is low, reduce the rendering burden and compare again; if response remains unsatisfactory, disable frame generation. These are tuning steps, not guaranteed fixes, because the source of a poor experience can depend on the whole system and scene.
- Keep only settings that improve your actual experience. A higher output number is not sufficient reason to accept worse control feel or image artifacts. Recheck after changing resolution, quality mode, reconstruction model, or multiplier because those changes alter the conditions you are evaluating.
Which trade-off matters most for your setup?
- For smoother-looking motion: frame generation may help when the base rendered rate is already high enough for stable pacing, especially on a high-refresh display. The effect is visual smoothness, not a proportional increase in input sampling.
- For responsive aiming or camera control: prioritize base rendered FPS and how the game feels. Reflex may help manage latency in supported DLSS configurations, but it does not erase the distinction between rendered and generated frames.
- For image quality: compare the upscaler, reconstruction settings, and motion artifacts as well as the frame-generation mode. The Hardwareluxx comparison favored the DLSS image in its specific RT Overdrive test, not as a universal rule.
- For setup simplicity: use the feature supported by the hardware and upscaling path you already have, then test it in your own scene. FSR 3 Frame Generation requires FSR 3 upscaling; DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation requires RTX 50 Series hardware.
What the evidence can—and cannot—settle
The available evidence spans official feature and setup descriptions, NVIDIA’s vendor-reported DLSS figures, a 2024 DLSS-versus-FSR image and FPS comparison, and a March 2026 hands-on Multi Frame Generation test. It does not provide one current, controlled comparison across GPU families and generation modes using the same scenes and latency equipment. As a result, there is no well-supported universal latency penalty, image-quality winner, or optimal multiplier to prescribe.
The reliable way to apply the findings is to separate the questions. Check whether your hardware supports the mode, meet the applicable setup guidance, and compare base FPS, control feel, and moving-image quality under the same in-game conditions. Keep frame generation when its smoother presentation is worth the trade-off for you; turn it off when the response or artifacts are not.
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