Balancing FPS and Visuals With Ambient Occlusion

Have you ever noticed how certain games appear more realistic, with soft shadows that feel natural?

This is due to Ambient Occlusion, a characteristic that adds depth to photos. While it enhances the appearance, it may reduce your FPS if set too high.

Finding the right mix between smooth gameplay and visually appealing graphics can be tough. Too much information can slow down your gameplay, while too little will make it appear flat.

Tools like NVIDIA Profile Inspector help you tweak Ambient Occlusion and other parameters to ensure clear graphics and consistent performance.

In this article, we explore how to balance FPS and visuals with Ambient Occlusion to make your games look great and run smoothly.

What is Ambient Occlusion?

Ambient Occlusion (AO) is a feature in games that makes lighting appear more realistic.

It casts mild shadows in places where light cannot easily reach, such as corners, beneath furniture, or between objects. This makes the scene look more lifelike and less flat.

There are several types of AO, such as SSAO, HBAO, and VXAO. Each offers a unique level of detail, which can impact the game's smoothness.

Which Type of Ambient Occlusion is Best?

The optimal type of Ambient Occlusion depends on your system and the desired appearance and functionality of your game.

  • SSAO is the most preferred choice. It's light on performance and works well for most games; however, shadows sometimes appear flat and lack detail.
  • HBAO+ creates sharper, more realistic shadows. It's a nice balance if you want larger photos without giving up too many frames.
  • VXAO utilizes 3D data to generate lighting and shadows that appear natural, but it requires a powerful graphics card to function correctly.
  • RTAO provides the most realistic lighting and shadows, but it is performance-intensive unless you utilize tools like DLSS or FSR to increase FPS.
If you're unsure about which option to choose, consider SSAO for older PCs, HBAO+ for mid-range ones, and VXAO or RTAO for high-end setups that require top-quality visuals.

How to Balance FPS with Ambient Occlusion?

Balancing FPS with Ambient Occlusion means keeping your game smooth while maintaining a visually appealing appearance. Here's how you can do it:

  1. Begin With the Default Settings: First, activate the game's preset ambient occlusion. It frequently provides an excellent blend of beauty and quickness.
  2. Experiment With Different Sorts: If your game supports SSAO, HBAO, or HDAO, test them all to see which one works best for you.
  3. Reduce the Resolution Considerably: If your FPS drops, try lowering the resolution slightly to restore some performance.
  4. Choose Medium Quality: Medium settings are often visually pleasing while not dramatically slowing down the game.
  5. Disable It During Quick Games: Disabling ambient occlusion in shooters or competitive games may help maintain smooth gameplay.
  6. Check FPS After Changes: Monitor your FPS when adjusting settings to determine what settings run best.
  7. Keep Drivers Updated: New driver updates can enhance the performance of Ambient Occlusion.
With a few minor adjustments, you can enhance the appearance of your game without compromising its smooth performance.

Closing Words

Finding the right balance between FPS and visuals with Ambient Occlusion helps your games run smoothly and look good at the same time.

When the settings are optimized for your machine, gaming feels smoother, visuals appear more realistic, and the whole experience is more pleasurable.

About the Author:

I'm River Jensen, a tech enthusiast working on NVIDIA Profile Inspector, a project dedicated to enhancing digital experiences through advanced GPU settings and performance optimization.

I'm passionate about combining creativity and technical knowledge to create graphics profiles that improve performance, improve visuals, and maximize the capabilities of NVIDIA technology.

Reference: (n.d.). Quick FPS Guide - Turn Off Ambient Occlusion. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/DarkTide/comments/yyeph2/quick_fps_guide_turn_off_ambient_occlusion/

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