Gamers are always chasing smoother, faster gameplay, and higher frame rates are key to that experience. Enter frame generation, a breakthrough technology that uses AI to boost performance by assembling extra frames between real ones.
In this article, we’ll explain what frame generation is, how it works, its real-world benefits, the GPUs and games that support it, and whether it’s worth using in your setup.
What is Frame Generation?
At its core, it is a technique that boosts gaming performance by creating additional frames using artificial intelligence. Unlike traditional rendering, where every frame is drawn from scratch by the GPU, frame generation inserts extra frames between the ones already rendered, effectively increasing your frame rate without extra load on the graphics hardware.
Traditional Rendering vs. AI-Generated Frames
In traditional rendering, the GPU processes every frame individually. This means more power is required for a higher frame rate (FPS). With frame generation, AI steps in to “guess” what the next frame would look like based on motion data, significantly speeding up the process.
Think of it like this: If a game is a flipbook animation, traditional rendering draws every page. Frame generation, on the other hand, fills in the missing pages to make the motion even smoother.
How Does Frame Generation Work?
It relies on advanced AI models and motion data to create new frames in real time, significantly improving perceived performance without overloading the GPU.
Role of AI and Optical Flow in Frame Creation
The process begins with AI analyzing motion vectors, which track the movement of objects between two consecutive real frames. Using a technique called optical flow, the AI predicts what the in-between frame should look like. This means the GPU doesn’t have to fully render that frame from scratch.
The result? More frames on screen, smoother animation, and less strain on your system.
DLSS 3 and Frame Generation: A Case Study
NVIDIA introduced DLSS 3, marking the first real-time implementation of AI-driven frame generation. The technology combines two conventional frames, motion vectors, and a convolutional neural network to synthesize an additional frame, effectively doubling the frame rate in supported games.
Performance uplift: NVIDIA reported up to four times higher frame rates in CPU-limited scenarios, enabling titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Microsoft Flight Simulator to run twice as fast as native rendering.
- How it works: Each new frame is inserted between traditionally rendered ones. DLSS 3 operates as a post-process on RTX 40-series GPUs, leveraging Tensor Cores, Optical Flow Accelerators, and NVIDIA Reflex for low-latency synchronization.
- Visual fidelity: By combining DLSS super-resolution and AI-generated frames, “seven-eighths of the displayed pixels” are reconstructed via neural networks, minimizing artifacts while especially boosting visuals.
Benefits of Frame Generation in Gaming
Frame generation isn’t just a technical flex; it offers real, noticeable improvements for gamers across a wide range of setups.
Significant FPS Boost: The most obvious benefit is a major increase in frame rate. With technologies like DLSS 3, gamers often experience a significant performance boost, jumping from 60 FPS to 100+ FPS, especially in demanding titles. This results in a significantly smoother and more immersive gaming experience.
Smoother Gameplay and Reduced Perceived Latency: Even though frame generation doesn’t reduce actual input latency, it can make gameplay feel more fluid. The added frames create a more seamless visual flow, especially noticeable in open-world or cinematic games.
Gamification and engaging visuals can also boost focus in learning environments. Explore these Creative 15x Games to Keep Your Students Motivated for more inspiration on how immersive experiences drive better outcomes.
Extended GPU Lifecycle: By offloading some of the rendering work to AI, frame generation can prolong the usefulness of your current hardware. Even if your GPU can’t push ultra settings natively, frame generation helps you achieve high performance without needing a full upgrade.
Perfect for CPU-Bound Games: In games where the CPU becomes a bottleneck, traditional FPS increases may not be possible. Frame generation bypasses this limitation, making it ideal for strategy titles or expansive RPGs that require high CPU load. Beyond gaming, AI is also transforming creative industries — platforms like Renderforest make it easy to generate professional videos and animations with minimal effort.
Visual Quality vs Performance Trade-offs
While it delivers impressive performance gains, there are certain limitations, particularly in terms of visual accuracy and responsiveness.
Are There Artifacts or Visual Glitches?
Since AI is predicting motion between frames, there is a risk of visual artifacts, such as ghosting or blurry object edges, particularly during rapid camera movement or under dynamic lighting conditions. However, these are becoming less noticeable as the technology improves with each update.
Latency: Real or Perceived?
Frame generation can sometimes introduce perceived latency, particularly in competitive games where split-second reactions are crucial. Although your screen may show 120 FPS, only half of those are natively rendered, meaning your actual input response could feel slightly delayed.
That said, for most casual or single-player gaming experiences, this trade-off is barely noticeable and often worth the performance boost.
Which GPUs and Games Support Frame Generation?
It is currently supported by specific hardware and select game titles, but the list is growing fast.
GPUs That Support Frame Generation
Currently, NVIDIA’s RTX 40 series GPUs are the main hardware supporting DLSS 3 Frame Generation. This includes:
- RTX 4070
- RTX 4070 Ti
- RTX 4080
- RTX 4090
These GPUs come equipped with 4th-gen Tensor Cores and Optical Flow Accelerators, enabling real-time AI frame creation.
On the other hand, AMD’s FSR 3 also promises features similar to frame generation. While still rolling out across titles, it’s expected to support a wider range of GPUs, including older AMD and even some NVIDIA cards, once fully released.
Popular Games That Support Frame Generation
Some of the most graphically demanding games have already integrated frame generation:
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Portal RTX
- Alan Wake 2
- Forza Horizon 5
These titles show huge FPS gains when frame generation is enabled. For example, Cyberpunk 2077 can increase its frame rate from 60 FPS to over 120 FPS on Ultra settings with DLSS 3.
Benchmark data from NVIDIA confirms these gains, especially at 1440p and 4K resolutions, where native rendering becomes more demanding.
Is Frame Generation Worth It?
Whether or not frame generation is a must-have depends on your gaming setup and priorities.
Best for High Refresh Rate Monitors: If you’re gaming on a 144Hz or 240Hz monitor, frame generation can help you fully utilize your screen’s refresh rate, delivering ultra-smooth visuals even in graphically intense titles.
Not Ideal for Competitive Play: In competitive games like Valorant or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, raw input responsiveness is crucial for success. Since frame generation creates interpolated frames that don’t reflect real-time inputs, it’s not recommended for esports-focused players where every millisecond counts.
Perfect for Immersive Single-Player Games: For open-world adventures, cinematic action games, and story-driven RPGs, frame generation shines. It provides a buttery-smooth experience that enhances immersion without requiring a top-tier native frame rate.
Toggle On or Off: The good news? Frame generation is fully optional. Most games that support it allow you to turn it on or off at any time, so you can choose the balance between performance and responsiveness that suits your play style.
Final Thoughts
Frame generation is a game-changing feature that boosts FPS using AI, delivering smoother visuals without overloading your graphics processing unit (GPU). While not ideal for competitive play, it’s a fantastic upgrade for immersive single-player experiences on supported graphics processing units (GPUs).
