What is Integer Scaling and what does it look like?

Integer Scaling is a fairly recent addition to AMD, Nvidia and Intel graphics drivers. In this video we have examples of what it looks like in Retro PC Games compared to other scaling methods. How does it work and are there limitations?

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[spitalulbad]

That resolution table is gold. Put it on your webstie, just like hard to find drivers and stuff. Thanks phil.

[bmwolgas]

CRT monitors FTW. A real shame this technology never advanced to become smaller and lighter.

[ndaniel]

Another great educational video by Phil on how to experience the retro gaming as close as possible to original CRT feel!

[dreammfyre]

Hey! Didn’t we just have this conversion in the comments lol. Awesome video.

800x600 also scales nicely into 1920x1200 BTW, aka the 16:10 version of 1080p. Not really that popular these days tho, but there are still plenty of models available for cheap.

[ZinhoMegaman]

The best scaling method, I recently tested Integer Scaling with a 4K display and 1080p is simply amazing! 720p is amazing too, as it is 3x scaled to 4K in integer, TVs and Monitors should have this scale option for everything, Xbox 360 and PS3 would look better on a 4K display than every other option available in the market.

[blairlohnes]

I need more retro content. ;) Great video Phil! Thanks for all the work you've done to keep old games and hardware alive.

[matthewplehn]

Thank you Phil for another interesting look at all those driver options that i have no idea what they do! Loving these type of vids your putting out....information is gold😃

[modernandretrogaming]

Thanks for checking that option, I haven't tried that Integer Scaling yet.

[appwraith]

I've learned something today! Thanks for the video!

[hhectorlector]

another great video from Phil's Computer Lab.. thanks!

[ATomRileyA]

Thanks for this explained this really well.

[airmicrobe]

Thank you. Video is more important than Table iself. Because I use hd 4350 in one rig, I changed to the recommended resolution using normal AMD 13.4 catalyst and old TV support 1024 768. That made every letters on windows 7 looks sharp enough to see clearly

[htzzYT]

Integer scaling can be very good for users with lower end gpus who also have 4k monitors for modern games. especially in current gpu market it can be very relatable, as long as your gpu supports integer scaling playing on 4k monitors at 1080p resolution can be totally fine experience, its just that from nvidia side you need to have at least turing based gpu to have integer scaling (not sure about gtx 16xx series)

[alexandreconfiant-latour]

Thank you ! I usually use my monitor scaling.
I will definitely look into that. Sadly since it is built into the drivers, this does not solve the issue for games running on retro systems.
But still very useful.
Are there any hardware upscalers that gives that kind of results for retro systems ? (because Diablo is a pixel mess on a 24" 1920*1200 screen)

Also, what really killed me (besides the razor sharp pixels) are the 25°C you have at 10PM in December in Australia... (1:54) (but skiing in July must be priceless too)

[wayneholzer]

Now to make Commander Keen look as always cool but original in 2021 Thanks to PhilsComputerLab :)

[bardofhighrenown]

I've used integer scaling for 2D and spite games before like Diablo for example, but I have never thought to use it in 3D titles, I can't believe how much clearer things were in Serious Sam. Personally I don't mind jaggies, I'd much rather have a sharp, clear image with them than a soft image without them.

[andersondrezende]

Displays should also support this, not just drivers. It's good that modern drivers have this feature, but I can't use them on my retro machine.

Now imagine a 3840 × 2400 monitor that supports integer scaling. It could fit perfectly 320 × 240, 400 × 300, 720 × 400, 640 × 480, 800 × 600 and 1600 × 1200.

Maybe one day...

[VenomStryker]

I prefer the integer scaling. Preserve aspect ratio scaling looks blurry to me.

[Sam-K]

Okay, this is extremely interesting! And I've one question: what if I use integer scaling with AMD's Virtual Super Resolution? Like, if I've a 1080p monitor and I enable 1440p virtual super resolution and then run the game in 720p and enable integer scaling; would it look alright as 720p x 2 = 1440p?

[DrearierSpider]

For Fallout 1 & 2 specifically, how does integer scaling compare to using Hi-Res Patch (which is actually an unofficial mod, not a patch).