The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →RTX Video Super Resolution (RTX VSR) is an NVIDIA feature that uses AI-assisted processing to upscale video and reduce visible compression artifacts during playback. It can make supported lower-resolution video look cleaner on a compatible GeForce RTX system, but it does not recover or verify detail that was missing from the original.
What RTX Video Super Resolution does
When supported video plays, VSR analyzes its frames and predicts how a higher-resolution version might look. NVIDIA describes combining that prediction with conventional upscaling to sharpen the displayed image and suppress compression artifacts. The result is an enhanced rendering, not a restoration of the source file or a guarantee that newly visible detail is authentic.
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VSR is most relevant when video is below the display’s resolution or visibly affected by compression. NVIDIA’s October 2023 VSR 1.5 update also described enhancement at native resolution, but the available controls and behavior can vary by software version.
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What you need to use it
- Compatible GPU: NVIDIA describes VSR availability across GeForce RTX GPUs. Its original 2023 launch named RTX 30- and 40-series cards; NVIDIA later added RTX 20-series support. Those are dated milestones, not a guarantee for every current driver, app, and configuration.
- Supported playback path: NVIDIA has announced support for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and VLC. Browser and player versions, codecs, and playback pipelines can affect whether enhancement activates; support for a named application does not guarantee it works on every site or with every video.
- Current NVIDIA software: Update the graphics driver and check the available NVIDIA video controls. The feature and its labels can change between Control Panel, driver, and NVIDIA app releases.
At launch in 2023, NVIDIA specified Chrome 110.0.5481.105 or later and Edge 110.0.1587.56 or later. Firefox support was announced in 2024 with Firefox stable version 126. These are historical minimum-version announcements, not a current complete compatibility list.
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How to turn on RTX Video Super Resolution
Use the route available in your installed NVIDIA software; menu names may differ by version.
NVIDIA app
- Open the NVIDIA app and go to System > Video.
- Open the RTX Video controls and enable RTX Video Super Resolution.
- Choose Auto or a manual quality setting if those options are shown. Higher quality can use more GPU resources.
NVIDIA Control Panel
- Open NVIDIA Control Panel and select Adjust video image settings or the corresponding video-image settings page available in your version.
- Find the RTX video enhancement or super-resolution control, enable it, and apply the change.
On some Optimus notebooks, Chrome or Edge may need to be assigned to the high-performance GPU in Windows Graphics Settings. Otherwise, a browser can run on an integrated GPU even when the notebook also has an RTX GPU.
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What to check if VSR does not activate
- Confirm the system has a GeForce RTX GPU and current NVIDIA software, then check that the VSR control is enabled in the NVIDIA app or Control Panel.
- Check whether the browser or player is using the RTX GPU. On an Optimus notebook, review the Windows Graphics Settings assignment for Chrome or Edge.
- Try a playback path NVIDIA has named as supported, such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or VLC. An individual service, codec, browser configuration, or player build may still use an unsupported pipeline.
- If the control is absent or behavior differs, consult the current NVIDIA documentation for your driver and app version rather than relying on launch-era requirements.
RTX VSR versus RTX Video HDR
| Feature | What it changes | Key distinction |
|---|---|---|
| RTX Video Super Resolution | Upscales video and reduces visible compression artifacts; NVIDIA also described native-resolution enhancement in its 2023 VSR 1.5 update. | Targets spatial detail and image clarity. NVIDIA says VSR can also upscale HDR video that is below the display resolution. |
| RTX Video HDR | Analyzes SDR video and maps its presentation toward HDR. | Targets dynamic range, not upscaling. NVIDIA’s Firefox announcement specifies an RTX or professional RTX GPU, an HDR10-compatible display, and enabled Windows HDR features for HDR playback. |
They address different goals: VSR changes scaling and artifact treatment, while Video HDR changes dynamic-range presentation. A need for HDR display support applies to the HDR feature, not to VSR itself.
Should you get an RTX GPU for VSR?
An RTX GPU is the relevant hardware category, but VSR alone is not a sound basis for recommending a graphics-card upgrade. First check whether your existing computer already has a compatible GeForce RTX GPU and whether your usual playback path is supported. NVIDIA’s documentation establishes feature behavior and controls, but does not provide a controlled comparison showing that VSR outperforms every browser, player, or third-party scaler.
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