> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/yakushabb/mirror-ryujinx/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Graphics Enhancements

> Explore resolution scaling, anti-aliasing, and visual improvements beyond native Switch hardware

Ryujinx offers several graphics enhancements that go beyond the Nintendo Switch's native capabilities, allowing you to play games at higher resolutions and with improved visual quality.

## Available Enhancements

Ryujinx provides six major graphics enhancement categories:

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Resolution Scaling" icon="expand" iconType="duotone">
    Render games at higher resolutions for sharper visuals
  </Card>

  <Card title="Anti-Aliasing" icon="border-none" iconType="duotone">
    Smooth jagged edges with FXAA and SMAA
  </Card>

  <Card title="Scaling Filters" icon="filter" iconType="duotone">
    Intelligent upscaling with FSR and other filters
  </Card>

  <Card title="Anisotropic Filtering" icon="image" iconType="duotone">
    Sharper textures at oblique angles
  </Card>

  <Card title="Aspect Ratio" icon="rectangle-wide" iconType="duotone">
    Custom aspect ratios beyond 16:9
  </Card>

  <Card title="Disk Shader Cache" icon="floppy-disk" iconType="duotone">
    Eliminate shader compilation stuttering
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Info>
  All enhancements can be toggled individually in the GUI, allowing you to find the perfect balance between visual quality and performance.
</Info>

## Resolution Scaling

One of the most impactful visual improvements:

### How It Works

```csharp theme={null}
// From GraphicsConfig.cs
public static float ResScale { get; set; } = 1f;
```

Resolution scaling renders the game at a higher internal resolution than the Switch's native 1280x720 (handheld) or 1920x1080 (docked).

### Scale Options

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Native (1x)">
    ### Native Resolution (1x)

    **Switch Native:**

    * Handheld: 1280x720 (720p)
    * Docked: 1920x1080 (1080p)

    <Note>
      Native resolution provides the most accurate representation of how games look on real Switch hardware.
    </Note>

    **Performance:** Fastest
    **Visual Quality:** Original
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="2x">
    ### 2x Resolution

    **Render Resolution:**

    * From 720p: 2560x1440 (1440p/2K)
    * From 1080p: 3840x2160 (4K)

    **Performance Impact:** Moderate
    **Visual Improvement:** Significant

    <Info>
      2x scaling is a great balance between visual quality and performance, working well on mid-range GPUs.
    </Info>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="3x-4x">
    ### 3x-4x Resolution

    **Render Resolution:**

    * 3x from 720p: 3840x2160 (4K)
    * 4x from 720p: 5120x2880 (5K)
    * 4x from 1080p: 7680x4320 (8K)

    **Performance Impact:** Heavy
    **Visual Improvement:** Extreme

    <Warning>
      High resolution scaling requires powerful GPUs. May cause performance issues on lower-end hardware.
    </Warning>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Custom">
    ### Custom Scaling

    Set any scaling factor:

    * 1.5x, 2.5x, or any decimal value
    * Fractional scaling for fine-tuning
    * Match your display resolution

    **Use Case:** When standard multipliers don't match your monitor or performance needs
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Resolution Scaling Benefits

* **Sharper Image**: Reduced pixelation and blurriness
* **Better Details**: Small textures and UI elements appear clearer
* **Reduced Aliasing**: Fewer jagged edges even without AA
* **Modern Displays**: Better match for 1440p/4K monitors

## Anti-Aliasing (AA)

Smooths jagged edges on geometry:

### Anti-Aliasing Options

```csharp theme={null}
// From AntiAliasing.cs
public enum AntiAliasing
{
    None,
    Fxaa,
    SmaaLow,
    SmaaMedium,
    SmaaHigh,
    SmaaUltra,
}
```

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="None">
    ### No Anti-Aliasing

    * No edge smoothing
    * Sharpest image
    * Visible jagged edges
    * Best performance

    **When to use:** Maximum performance, or when using high resolution scaling (which reduces aliasing naturally)
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="FXAA">
    ### FXAA (Fast Approximate Anti-Aliasing)

    **Characteristics:**

    * Very fast post-process AA
    * Minimal performance impact
    * Can blur the image slightly
    * Works on all geometry

    **Performance Impact:** \~1-3%

    <Info>
      FXAA is a good choice for lower-end GPUs that need anti-aliasing without major performance loss.
    </Info>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="SMAA">
    ### SMAA (Subpixel Morphological Anti-Aliasing)

    **Quality Levels:**

    * **Low**: Basic edge detection and smoothing
    * **Medium**: Improved edge quality
    * **High**: Better subpixel handling
    * **Ultra**: Maximum quality edge smoothing

    **Characteristics:**

    * Better quality than FXAA
    * Less image blur
    * More accurate edge detection
    * Higher performance cost

    **Performance Impact:** \~3-8% (varies by quality level)

    <Note>
      SMAA Medium or High offers the best balance of quality and performance for most users.
    </Note>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Anti-Aliasing Comparison

| Method          | Performance | Quality   | Blur    | Recommended For             |
| --------------- | ----------- | --------- | ------- | --------------------------- |
| **None**        | Best        | Worst     | None    | High-res scaling, weak GPUs |
| **FXAA**        | Excellent   | Good      | Some    | Budget GPUs, 1080p          |
| **SMAA Low**    | Very Good   | Better    | Minimal | Mid-range GPUs              |
| **SMAA Medium** | Good        | Great     | Minimal | Most users                  |
| **SMAA High**   | Fair        | Excellent | None    | Strong GPUs                 |
| **SMAA Ultra**  | Poor        | Best      | None    | High-end GPUs               |

## Scaling Filters

Intelligent upscaling when rendering above native resolution:

### Filter Options

```csharp theme={null}
// From ScalingFilter.cs
public enum ScalingFilter
{
    Bilinear,
    Nearest,
    Fsr,
    Area,
}
```

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Bilinear">
    ### Bilinear Filtering

    **Standard smooth scaling:**

    * Interpolates between pixels
    * Smooth gradients
    * Slight blur on sharp edges
    * Very fast

    **Best for:** General use, games with smooth art styles
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Nearest Neighbor">
    ### Nearest Neighbor

    **Sharp pixel-perfect scaling:**

    * No interpolation
    * Preserves hard edges
    * Can look pixelated
    * Fastest method

    **Best for:** Pixel art games, retro-style titles, UI elements

    <Note>
      Nearest neighbor maintains the "retro" look of pixel art games when scaling.
    </Note>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="FSR">
    ### FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution)

    **AMD's intelligent upscaling:**

    * Edge-aware scaling algorithm
    * Sharpens details during upscale
    * Better quality than bilinear
    * Moderate performance cost

    ```csharp theme={null}
    // FSR implementation in:
    // src/Ryujinx.Graphics.Vulkan/Effects/FsrScalingFilter.cs
    // src/Ryujinx.Graphics.OpenGL/Effects/FsrScalingFilter.cs
    ```

    **Characteristics:**

    * Preserves fine details
    * Reduces blur compared to bilinear
    * Works on any GPU (not AMD-exclusive)
    * Excellent for upscaling from lower resolutions

    <Info>
      FSR is recommended when using resolution scaling, as it provides sharper results than bilinear filtering.
    </Info>

    **Performance Impact:** \~5-10%
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Area">
    ### Area Scaling

    **Area-based filtering:**

    * Weighted average of pixel regions
    * Good for downscaling
    * Balanced quality
    * Fast performance

    **Best for:** Downscaling scenarios, general purpose
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Anisotropic Filtering (AF)

Improves texture quality at oblique angles:

### Configuration

```csharp theme={null}
// From GraphicsConfig.cs
public static float MaxAnisotropy { get; set; } = -1; // -1 = game default
```

### Anisotropy Levels

| Level                 | Description                  | Performance |
| --------------------- | ---------------------------- | ----------- |
| **Game Default (-1)** | Uses game's original setting | None        |
| **2x**                | Minimal improvement          | \~1%        |
| **4x**                | Noticeable improvement       | \~2%        |
| **8x**                | Significant improvement      | \~3%        |
| **16x**               | Maximum quality              | \~4%        |

<Info>
  **Anisotropic Filtering** is highly recommended. It dramatically improves texture clarity with minimal performance cost.
</Info>

### What AF Does

* **Sharper Textures**: Floor and ground textures look much clearer
* **Distance Quality**: Far-away surfaces maintain detail
* **Angle Correction**: Textures at steep angles don't blur
* **Minimal Cost**: Very little performance impact even at 16x

<Note>
  Set AF to 16x for best quality. The performance impact is negligible on any modern GPU.
</Note>

## Aspect Ratio Adjustment

Change the display aspect ratio:

### Aspect Ratio Options

* **16:9** (Native Switch): Standard widescreen
* **21:9** (Ultrawide): For ultrawide monitors
* **32:9** (Super Ultrawide): Extreme ultrawide
* **4:3**: Classic 4:3 ratio
* **Custom**: Any ratio you specify

<Warning>
  **Aspect Ratio Warning**: Changing aspect ratio can cause UI elements to appear stretched or positioned incorrectly. Not all games handle non-16:9 ratios gracefully.
</Warning>

### Ultrawide Benefits

* **Wider FOV**: See more of the game world
* **Immersive**: Better peripheral vision
* **Modern Displays**: Matches 21:9/32:9 monitors

### Potential Issues

* UI may stretch incorrectly
* Cutscenes may have black bars
* Gameplay advantages in competitive games
* Some games crop instead of extending FOV

## Disk Shader Cache

The most important "enhancement" for gameplay experience:

<Card title="Learn More About Shader Caching" icon="floppy-disk" href="/features/gpu-emulation#disk-shader-cache">
  Detailed information in the GPU Emulation section
</Card>

### Benefits

* **Eliminates Stuttering**: No shader compilation during gameplay
* **Instant Loading**: Pre-compiled shaders load immediately
* **Smooth Experience**: Consistent frame rates after first run

## Performance Considerations

Understanding the performance impact of each enhancement:

### GPU Load Comparison

| Enhancement       | Performance Impact | Visual Impact | Recommended    |
| ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------- | -------------- |
| **Resolution 2x** | High               | Very High     | Yes (mid+ GPU) |
| **Resolution 4x** | Extreme            | Extreme       | Only high-end  |
| **FXAA**          | Very Low           | Medium        | Budget GPUs    |
| **SMAA Medium**   | Low                | High          | Most users     |
| **FSR Filter**    | Low-Medium         | High          | Yes            |
| **16x AF**        | Very Low           | High          | Always         |
| **Aspect Ratio**  | None               | Varies        | Personal pref  |

<Info>
  Start with **2x resolution**, **SMAA Medium**, **FSR**, and **16x AF** for a great visual upgrade with reasonable performance requirements.
</Info>

## Recommended Settings

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Budget GPU">
    ### Budget GPU Settings

    **GPU Examples:** GTX 1050, RX 560, Integrated Graphics

    **Recommended:**

    * Resolution: **1x (Native)**
    * Anti-Aliasing: **FXAA** or **None**
    * Scaling Filter: **Bilinear**
    * Anisotropic Filtering: **8x-16x**
    * Aspect Ratio: **16:9**

    <Note>
      Focus on stable performance at native resolution. Enable shader cache for best experience.
    </Note>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Mid-Range GPU">
    ### Mid-Range GPU Settings

    **GPU Examples:** GTX 1660, RTX 3060, RX 5600 XT

    **Recommended:**

    * Resolution: **2x**
    * Anti-Aliasing: **SMAA Medium** or **High**
    * Scaling Filter: **FSR**
    * Anisotropic Filtering: **16x**
    * Aspect Ratio: **16:9** or **21:9**

    <Info>
      Sweet spot for visual quality. Most games will run smoothly with these settings.
    </Info>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="High-End GPU">
    ### High-End GPU Settings

    **GPU Examples:** RTX 4070+, RX 7800 XT+

    **Recommended:**

    * Resolution: **3x-4x**
    * Anti-Aliasing: **SMAA High** or **Ultra**
    * Scaling Filter: **FSR**
    * Anisotropic Filtering: **16x**
    * Aspect Ratio: **Your preference**

    <Info>
      Maximum quality settings. Enjoy games better than physically possible on real Switch hardware.
    </Info>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Combining Enhancements

How enhancements work together:

### Synergistic Effects

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Resolution + FSR" icon="star">
    FSR sharpens high-resolution output for crystal-clear visuals
  </Card>

  <Card title="Resolution + Less AA" icon="gauge">
    Higher resolution needs less anti-aliasing (better performance)
  </Card>

  <Card title="AF + Resolution" icon="image">
    Both improve texture clarity from different angles
  </Card>

  <Card title="SMAA + FSR" icon="sparkles">
    Smooth edges with sharp details
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Conflicting Effects

* **High AA + High Resolution**: Diminishing returns, high cost
* **Multiple Upscale Filters**: Only use one scaling filter
* **Extreme Settings + Weak GPU**: Will cause frame drops

## Technical Implementation

Key source locations:

* **Graphics Config**: `src/Ryujinx.Graphics.Gpu/GraphicsConfig.cs`
* **Enhancement Enums**: `src/Ryujinx.Common/Configuration/`
* **FSR Shaders**: `src/Ryujinx.Graphics.*/Effects/FsrScalingFilter.cs`
* **Scaling Filters**: `src/Ryujinx.Graphics.*/Effects/`

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Performance drops with enhancements enabled">
    * Lower resolution scaling (try 1.5x or 2x instead of 4x)
    * Use FXAA instead of SMAA
    * Switch to Bilinear instead of FSR
    * Reduce anisotropic filtering to 8x
    * Check GPU usage and temperatures
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Blurry image despite high resolution">
    * Enable FSR scaling filter
    * Disable anti-aliasing (it may blur)
    * Check display output resolution matches
    * Verify resolution scale is actually applied
    * Some games apply internal resolution caps
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="UI stretched or broken with aspect ratio change">
    * Reset to 16:9 aspect ratio
    * This is a game limitation, not fixable
    * Some games support ultrawide, others don't
    * Check community patches for ultrawide support
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Artifacts or graphical glitches">
    * Disable resolution scaling temporarily
    * Try different anti-aliasing modes
    * Switch graphics backend (Vulkan ↔ OpenGL)
    * Update GPU drivers
    * May be game-specific rendering issue
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<Note>
  Graphics enhancements are optional quality-of-life features. If you encounter issues, you can always reset to native settings.
</Note>