Simon is a Computer Science BSc graduate who has been writing about technology since 2014, and using Windows machines since 3.1. After working for an indie game studio and acting as the family's go-to technician for all computer issues, he found his passion for writing and decided to use his skill set to write about all things tech.
Since beginning his writing career, he has written for many different publications such as WorldStart, Listverse, and MakeTechEasier. However, after finding his home at MakeUseOf in February 2019, he would eventually move on to its sister site, XDA, to bring the latest and greatest in Windows, Linux, and DIY electronics.
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Summary
- HelixSR mod runs Nvidia DLSS 3.7 on Steam Deck/AMD handhelds, replacing FSR.
- Early tests show DLSS 3.7 gives higher FPS and shorter upscaler time than FSR.
- The installer is simple to use; more widespread benchmarks are needed before declaring a winner.
Modding your Steam Deck is always a great way to squeeze every drop out of your hardware, and it's something we're not unfamiliar with. But what if you could get Nvidia's upscaling model running on it and have it run better than AMD's offering, FSR? Well, one mod seemingly has achieved just that, and while it's way too soon to declare it the ultimate winner, things are already looking promising.
HelixSR swaps out FSR for DLSS on AMD handhelds, and it may actually run better
Here's hoping we see more benchmarks
As spotted by Tech4Gamers, a new Steam Deck and AMD handheld mod called HelixSR has appeared on GitHub. The mod swaps out the handheld's AMD-based FSR tech for Nvidia's DLSS 3.7, and despite not being native to the hardware, early test have shown that it's actually performing better than AMD's own tech.
You can check out some early tests on NJ Tech's YouTube video embedded above, which shows a noticeable FPS increase and a shorter upscaler time using DLSS 3.7 over FSR 4.1.1. In fact, the FPS is closer to FSR 3.1.5's performance, but with the enhanced visuals that come with DLSS 3.7.
Installation seems very simple; just download the mod, run it, let it build, and then hit Enter whenever the tool lists a game you'd like to install DLSS 3.7 on. The installer will then tell you which upscaler to pick in-game. Set up your game as the setup guide instructs you to do, and you're set to go. Just remember that this is a mod, and it's still very experimental, so be ready for crashes, bugs, and everything in between.
YouTube comments report improvements with using DLSS 3.7, and one ResetEra post shows off some promising stats, but we'll really need this mod to propagate around and see some more stats before we can declare a clear winner. Still, it's very interesting to see a mod for Nvidia's tech show some improvement over AMD's own tech on home turf.