PS5 Pro PSSR 2 Upscaler Outperforms Original in Speed
▼ Summary
– Sony’s new PSSR 2 upscaler for the PS5 Pro provides better image quality than the original PSSR.
– The new PSSR 2 also processes images faster, being approximately 100 microseconds quicker than its predecessor.
– This performance improvement allowed Sony to create a universal “Enhance PSSR Image Quality” toggle for all supported games.
– Testing with Monster Hunter Wilds confirmed the upgrade, showing identical performance with improved visuals using PSSR 2.
– The technology’s success is seen as a positive foundation for future iterations in consoles like the PS6.
The upcoming PS5 Pro is set to deliver a significant technical leap, with its new PSSR 2 upscaling technology achieving a dual victory. Not only does it produce a superior image compared to the original PSSR, but it also processes that image more quickly. Every graphical operation on a console carries a computational cost, often measured in milliseconds, and upscaling is no exception. The time required to reconstruct and output a frame matters. Sony’s clear objective was to make this next-generation upscaler both better and faster, a goal that has been decisively met.
In a discussion with Digital Foundry, lead system architect Mark Cerny detailed the engineering challenge. The development team specifically targeted a speed increase to enable a highly user-friendly feature: a universal quality toggle. Cerny noted that for a system-wide “enhance all” option to be practical, the new version had to outperform the old one in processing time. The team succeeded, with PSSR 2 operating approximately 100 microseconds faster than its predecessor. This marginal but crucial gain in efficiency allowed for the implementation of the “Enhance PSSR Image Quality” option, which can be applied to all supported games. According to Cerny, activating this setting should make frame drops “oh-so-slightly rarer,” providing a smoother experience without sacrificing visual fidelity.
Independent analysis supports these claims. Digital Foundry’s examination of Monster Hunter Wilds running with PSSR 2 showed practically identical performance to the original PSSR, despite a measurable improvement in image clarity. This demonstrates that the improved visual quality comes with no performance penalty, a notable achievement in graphics processing. While the deepest technical intricacies are complex, the practical outcome is straightforward and impressive for gamers.
This advancement is more than just an incremental update, it represents a foundational step forward for Sony’s console technology. The lessons learned and architectures refined in the PS5 Pro’s PSSR 2 system will undoubtedly inform the design philosophy of future hardware, including the inevitable PS6. The ability to deliver higher quality visuals more efficiently is a core tenet of graphical progression, and Sony’s latest upscaler proves that principle is in full effect.
(Source: Push Square)
