Nvidia has just released new graphics research that it claims can unlock 2-3x performance in certain situations, seemingly without relying on AI. The new research paper uses techniques such as “reciprocal neighbor selection” and “duplication maps,” showing good old-fashioned algorithms are at the heart of this breakthrough. As to what those graphical situations are, well, this Nvidia research is all to do with path tracing, which is the ultra-demanding next step up in PC rendering from ray tracing, and which is only realistically playable on the very best graphics cards currently available. Games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle include both ray tracing and path tracing modes, and the latter tends to be far more demanding, tanking frame rates in exchange for stunningly realistic visuals.

 With ray tracing finally gaining a foothold in PC games, Nvidia has set its sights on path tracing performance with its latest research.  PCGamesN