Nvidia’s premium offering vs local gaming, xCloud and Stadia.
Is cloud gaming finally a viable alternative to the local experience?
Meanwhile, Nvidia makes big claims about GeForce Now actually outperforming Xbox Series X in terms of input lag.
Video compression, streaming hitches and some degree of lag are present.
Inevitably, the quality of the experience will depend on the internet connection you have.
The GPU isn’t actually an RTX 3080, but it is based on the same GA102 silicon.
Does the cloud-based RTX 3080 run as fast as the desktop version?
At 4K, the gap closes somewhat.
Image and Graphics prefs Comparisons
What about the situation with image quality comparisons for GeForce Now?
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However, selected titles do seem to support 120Hz.
Outriders give us an interesting comparison point between all three streaming services.
Firstly, there’s the resolution and features side.
In this case, GeForce Now 3080 capably handles 4K resolution at 60fps with DLSS quality mode enabled.
Beyond resolution and compression, running at max options also means a richer image.
Both Stadia and xCloud run Outriders at a mixture of medium and high prefs by comparison.
So, the results seen here account for complete end-to-end latency, including the display lag on our monitor.
This is a crucial component of the testing as some of Nvidia’s claims here have been extraordinary.
I’m amazed to say that Nvidia’s results are very much repeatable in my testing.
Xbox is far off a native PC result, which comes in at just 49ms.
With GeForce Now, the entire game can be played at 120Hz.
Before we move on to our next test, there’s another interesting data point.
The results are the lowest we’ve seen on any streaming service.
It’s an admirable result, but do they translate to other games?
But as for xCloud?
It’s evident right away once you boot a game.
Typically, we should see 50-80ms results for a 60Hz title on console - 107ms is definitely 30fps territory.
Stacked up against the major competition, the streaming side of the equation also sees Nvidia pull ahead.
The input lag results are also best in class.
Even at 60Hz, cloud lag in the region of the mid-30s is astonishingly good.
On a more global level, integration with existing gaming platforms is important.
GeForce Now taps into existing systems (Steam, Epic, Ubisoft Connect), allowing for similar features.
However, at its best, GeForce Now delivers a really good experience.
Seeing it in action and appreciating what it’s doing behind the scenes, it’s a technological marvel.
