LIGHT
REIMAGINED.
Turn on the effects that make worlds feel real — reflections, shadows, global illumination, AI reconstruction and frame generation. Build around the visuals, then give the GPU the headroom to keep them alive.
SEE THE LIGHT.
FEEL THE FRAME.
Ray tracing changes how light, reflections and shadows appear. DLSS and FSR use neural rendering to recover high-quality detail and boost performance. Together they let you push the image without treating frame rate like an afterthought.
WHAT DO THESE
TERMS MEAN?
A plain-language guide to the rendering technologies that shape modern game visuals — with direct links to official technology pages for deeper reading. Diagrams are original HOENGAGER illustrations.
Ray Tracing & Path Tracing
Traditional rendering (rasterization) draws only what the camera can see from a single viewpoint. Ray tracing simulates how light travels through a scene by casting rays from the camera and calculating how they interact with surfaces — producing accurate reflections, refractions and soft shadows.
Path tracing takes this further: instead of casting a few rays per pixel, it sends dozens to thousands of rays that bounce repeatedly through the scene, simulating global illumination, diffuse inter-reflections and caustics — the way light actually behaves in the real world.
- Ray tracing: accurate reflections, shadows and refractions at real-time speed
- Path tracing: full global illumination with multi-bounce light simulation
- Path tracing is far more computationally intensive — modern GPUs rely on AI upscaling and denoising to make it playable
DLSS & FSR
DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) is an AI-based upscaling technology. The game renders at a lower internal resolution, and an AI model reconstructs a high-resolution image using motion data and feedback from previous frames. DLSS 4.5 uses a second-generation Transformer model for improved stability, anti-aliasing and visual clarity.
FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) is a competing upscaling technology. FSR 4.1 introduces machine-learning-based upscaling for the first time, reconstructing high-resolution output from a lower internal resolution. Unlike DLSS, which requires specific GPU hardware, FSR is designed to work across a broader range of GPUs.
- Both render at lower resolution, then reconstruct to a higher output resolution
- DLSS relies on dedicated Tensor Core AI hardware
- FSR aims for broader hardware compatibility across GPU brands
- Both can significantly increase frame rate while maintaining visual quality
Frame Generation & Reconstruction
Frame Generation uses AI to create additional frames between natively rendered frames, increasing perceived smoothness. It works alongside low-latency technologies to keep input responsiveness intact.
Ray Reconstruction replaces traditional denoising algorithms with an AI model that generates higher-quality pixels between sampled rays — improving image quality specifically in intensive ray-traced and path-traced scenes. Both NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR offer their own implementations of these technologies.
- Frame Generation: AI-created frames for higher perceived fluidity
- Ray Reconstruction: AI denoising for cleaner ray-traced scenes
- Low-latency technologies compensate for the input lag frame generation introduces
- Feature availability varies by GPU generation, game title and software version
RAY
TRACING
Bring reflections, shadows and illumination closer to the way light behaves in the real world.
DLSS
SUPER RES
Reconstruct sharper high-resolution images from a lower internal render using AI-driven neural rendering.
RAY
RECONSTRUCTION
Use a neural model to improve image quality in intensive ray-traced and path-traced scenes.
FRAME
GENERATION
Generate additional frames with AI to increase perceived fluidity while keeping responsiveness in the stack.
WORLDS BUILT
FOR LIGHT.
These are the kinds of games where lighting, reflections, shadows and AI-assisted rendering become part of the experience — not just a checkbox. Performance data based on our own testing with RTX 5070 Ti-class hardware.
THE DARK AGES
WUKONG
WAKE 2
THE GREAT CIRCLE
LEGACY
OUTLAWS
REQUIEM
MORE LIGHT NEEDS
MORE GPU.
For this category, build around GeForce RTX 50 Series graphics cards first, then pair the CPU and cooling platform that keeps the whole system balanced.
Ryzen 5 9600X + RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
A practical entry into the RTX ecosystem for 1440p gaming with ray-traced effects and DLSS-assisted performance.
Ryzen 7 7800X3D + RTX 5070
A strong high-end balance for demanding AAA games, high settings and ray-traced visuals at high-refresh 1440p.
Ryzen 7 + RTX 5070 Ti 16GB
More GPU headroom for heavier ray tracing, higher image quality and 4K-oriented gaming with modern DLSS features.
RAY TRACE.RECONSTRUCT.GENERATE.
Ray tracing sets the lighting model. DLSS or FSR Super Resolution reconstructs the image. Ray Reconstruction improves ray-traced detail. Frame Generation creates additional frames. The result is a visual stack designed to make demanding scenes feel both richer and smoother.
TURN ON
RTX.
Shop HOENGAGER systems built around GeForce RTX graphics, high-speed memory, serious cooling and the performance headroom needed for modern ray-traced gaming.
SHOP HOENGAGER GAMING PCS ↗