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NVIDIA ICAT is a free-to-download application for comparing game screenshots and video captures. It lets you inspect up to four inputs side by side or compare two with an adjustable overlay, then align, pan, zoom and review video at different playback speeds. It is useful for examining visual differences between upscaling modes—but it does not measure frame rate or latency.
What NVIDIA ICAT does
ICAT stands for Image Comparison & Analysis Tool. NVIDIA says it developed the application for its testers and engineers before making it publicly available. Its purpose is to help users compare the image quality of supplied media without loading professional editing software. NVIDIA’s ICAT product page links to the download and lists version 0.6.17 release notes. The page does not specify an operating system, minimum GPU, system requirements or installation steps, so check the linked download and release notes for current compatibility information.
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Supported media
NVIDIA lists JPEG, PNG and WEBP still images, plus MP4 and WEBM video. The product page documents these formats; it does not establish support for other formats.
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- Load the screenshots or video captures you want to inspect. Use representative material from the same game scene where possible.
- Choose Split Screen to view up to four inputs together or compare synchronized video playback. Use this when you want to inspect multiple versions at once.
- Choose Single Screen to overlay up to two inputs. Move the slider to reveal one stream or the other, making it easier to inspect differences in the same area.
- Align and, for video, trim the media as needed. NVIDIA also documents loop creation and adjustable playback speed.
- Pan and zoom into areas of interest, such as fine textures, edges or moving detail. Both comparison modes support panning and zooming.
These steps use functions and input limits listed on NVIDIA’s product page; specific interface labels or installation details may vary by version.
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How to make an upscaling comparison fairer
Do not assume presets with the same name produce equivalent image quality. NVIDIA makes this point in its November 2021 guide to its scaling solutions, which recommends identifying comparable image-quality modes before comparing performance. NVIDIA calls this an “ISO-Quality” comparison.
For example, NVIDIA says that depending on the game and resolution, DLSS Performance may be better compared with an upscaler’s Ultra Quality mode. That is a suggested comparison approach, not a universal equivalence: judge the actual outputs rather than matching preset names.
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- Keep the game, scene and output resolution consistent as far as practical.
- Record the exact mode and render and output resolutions for each capture; do not infer equivalence from labels alone.
- Inspect both fine detail in still frames and stability during motion. A single screenshot cannot show every temporal difference.
- Once you have found modes with comparable visual quality, measure their performance separately.
What ICAT cannot tell you
ICAT is a visual comparison tool, not an objective image-quality score or an automatic benchmark. Looking at two captures does not itself measure frame rate, smoothness or latency. NVIDIA distinguishes these jobs in its FrameView 1.7 User Guide: FrameView measures smoothness and responsiveness, while ICAT is used to compare image quality. Use an appropriate performance measurement method after establishing a visual-quality comparison.
Who ICAT is useful for
PC gamers can use ICAT to inspect screenshots or captured gameplay, while reviewers and technology writers can use its synchronized or overlaid views to make visual differences easier to examine. It is most useful when you already have comparable captures and want to inspect them; NVIDIA’s product description does not identify extra hardware as a requirement.
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