Key information
A modder identified as lonewolf0622 on GitHub has released a project titled HelixSR, which allows the use of NVIDIA DLSS Model E Neural Upscaler on Steam Deck and AMD GPU hardware. This development aims to assist users with older or lower-end graphics cards in achieving improved image quality.
The HelixSR mod functions by utilizing NVIDIA's image reconstruction model through Direct3D 12 shaders, effectively replacing the upscaling path found in FSR 3.1. It is important to note that this is not an official native implementation of DLSS 3.7 from NVIDIA, and the project operates independently without any endorsement from NVIDIA, AMD, or the OptiScaler team.
Community testing as of 12/10 shows mixed results. While some users report improved visual quality on older AMD hardware, others note decreased quality depending on specific game settings. Comparisons on Steam Deck suggest that while the mod can offer slightly better visuals than FSR 4.1 in certain moments, FSR 4.1 often maintains a lead in frame rate performance.
Performance outcomes remain highly variable, as results depend heavily on the specific AMD GPU model and individual in-game graphical configurations. Users are advised that the mod's effectiveness is not uniform across all hardware setups.
