When you run a game or app at a resolution or aspect ratio that does not match your display, the image has to be resized to fit the screen. That resize step is where stretching, black bars, blur, or cut-off edges usually come from.
This affects PC players who use non-native resolutions, play older fixed-aspect content, use ultrawide monitors, or play on a TV where overscan is involved.
This guide explains what GPU scaling is, why it matters, and how to set it using real driver UI options in NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, and Intel Graphics Command Center. It does not cover render upscalers like DLSS, FSR, or XeSS because those are a different feature category.
GPU Scaling Meaning
GPU scaling is when the GPU driver scales an image from the selected resolution up to the display’s native resolution timing. This is a display-output behavior, not a game-rendering feature.
The key idea is simple. If the image you are sending is not your screen’s native resolution, something has to scale it.
GPU Scaling Vs Display Scaling
Scaling can be done by the GPU or by the display. If you do not use GPU scaling, the monitor or TV often handles scaling instead.
Why this matters: GPU scaling is usually more consistent across different displays. Display scaling quality and behavior can vary by model.
GPU Scaling Vs Upscaling
GPU scaling is output sizing. It decides how a non-native image fits your screen.
Render upscalers are different. They change how the game renders internally and then reconstruct the image.
Tools like Lossless Scaling also exist, but that is outside this guide.
GPU Scaling Symptoms
Common signs you should care about GPU scaling:
The image is stretched when you use a non-native resolution.
You want black bars instead of stretch for older fixed-aspect content.
You want the image centered with borders instead of being scaled.
Pixel art looks soft when running below native resolution.
The desktop edges or taskbar are cut off on a TV.
GPU Scaling Decision Forks
Type: Diagnostic.
Check where the problem happens.
Follow the matching fork below.
If the issue happens on the Windows desktop and in games, go to Windows Display Resolution.
If the issue happens only when you switch to a non-native resolution, go to GPU Scaling Modes.
If pixel art looks blurry at lower resolutions, go to NVIDIA Integer Scaling, AMD Integer Scaling, or Intel Retro Scaling.
If the desktop edges are cut off on a TV, go to Intel Custom Scaling or NVIDIA Resize Controls.
What You Should Notice: You have a clear path based on the symptom, not random tweaking.
Windows Display Resolution
Type: Root Cause Fix.
Open Settings.
Select System.
Select Display.
If you have multiple displays, select the display you are troubleshooting.
In Display resolution, choose the option marked (Recommended).
Open Advanced display.
Next to Choose a refresh rate, select the refresh rate you want to use.
What You Should Notice: The desktop uses the recommended resolution and the refresh rate you selected.
Stop Here If Fixed: If the stretching or sizing issues are gone, stop and do not change driver scaling.
How To Undo It:
Return to Settings.
Go to System.
Go to Display.
Set Display resolution back to your previous value.
In Advanced display, set Choose a refresh rate back to your previous value.
GPU Scaling Modes
Type: Symptom Reduction.
Decide what you want the image to do at non-native resolutions.
Use the matching scaling mode name for your GPU vendor.
If you want correct proportions with possible black bars:
NVIDIA: Aspect ratio
AMD: Preserve aspect ratio
Intel: Maintain Aspect Ratio
If you want the image stretched to fill the screen:
NVIDIA: Full-screen
AMD: Full panel
Intel: Stretched
If you want no scaling and a centered image with borders:
NVIDIA: No scaling
AMD: Center
Intel: Centered
What You Should Notice: Non-native resolutions either keep correct shape, fill the display, or stay centered with borders, depending on the mode you picked.
Stop Here If Fixed: If the image looks correct for your use case, stop.
How To Undo It:
Go back to the same scaling menu you changed.
Re-select the scaling mode you were using before.
NVIDIA GPU Scaling
Type: Symptom Reduction.
Open NVIDIA Control Panel.
Select Display.
Select Adjust desktop size and position.
Under Select a scaling mode, choose Aspect ratio, Full-screen, or No scaling.
Under Perform scaling on, select GPU.
Optional: Enable Override the scaling mode set by games and programs.
Select Apply.
What You Should Notice: Full-screen applications often follow the scaling mode you set. The override option can prevent games from changing your scaling mode.
Stop Here If Fixed: If non-native resolutions now display the way you want, stop.
How To Undo It:
Return to Adjust desktop size and position.
Set Select a scaling mode back to your previous option.
Set Perform scaling on back to your previous option.
Disable Override the scaling mode set by games and programs if you enabled it.
Select Apply.
AMD GPU Scaling
Type: Symptom Reduction.
Open AMD Software.
Enter Display into the search box.
Select Display Settings.
Set GPU Scaling to Enabled.
Set Scaling Mode to Preserve aspect ratio, Full panel, or Center.
What You Should Notice: The display can flicker or go blank briefly while the scaling mode changes.
Stop Here If Fixed: If older fixed-aspect content now fits how you want, stop.
How To Undo It:
Open AMD Software.
Search Display.
In Display Settings, set GPU Scaling back to your previous state.
Set Scaling Mode back to your previous selection.
Intel GPU Scaling
Type: Symptom Reduction.
Open Intel Graphics Command Center.
Select Display in the left menu.
Select the monitor you want to change.
In the General tab, locate the Scale setting.
In the Scale dropdown, choose Centered, Stretched, Maintain Aspect Ratio, Maintain Display Scaling, or Custom.
What You Should Notice: The output either stays centered with borders, stretches to fill, preserves aspect ratio, uses the default scaling behavior, or enables custom sizing.
Stop Here If Fixed: If the image sizing looks correct at non-native resolutions, stop.
How To Undo It:
Return to the Scale dropdown.
Select Maintain Display Scaling or the setting you used before.
Intel Scale Options Missing
Type: Diagnostic.
Open Intel Graphics Command Center.
Select Display.
Select a screen resolution that is different than the recommended resolution.
Open the Scale dropdown.
Check if Centered, Stretched, and Maintain Aspect Ratio are now available.
What You Should Notice: More scaling options can appear after you select a non-recommended resolution.
Stop Here If Fixed: If you can now select the scaling option you want, stop.
How To Undo It:
Set the resolution back to the recommended resolution.
Set Scale back to your previous selection.
NVIDIA Integer Scaling
Type: Symptom Reduction.
Open NVIDIA Control Panel.
Select Display.
Select Adjust desktop size and position.
Under Perform scaling on, select GPU.
Under Select a scaling mode, select Integer scaling.
Select Apply.
What You Should Notice: Low-resolution content often looks sharper and more pixel-accurate. Some resolutions can show borders if they do not scale cleanly to your display.
Stop Here If Fixed: If your low-resolution content looks the way you want, stop.
How To Undo It:
Return to Select a scaling mode.
Switch back to Aspect ratio, Full-screen, or No scaling.
Select Apply.
AMD Integer Scaling
Type: Symptom Reduction.
Open AMD Software.
Enter Integer into the search box.
Select Integer Scaling - Display Settings.
Set Integer Scaling to Enabled.
If required, set GPU Scaling to Enabled.
What You Should Notice: Pixel art and low-resolution games can look crisper. If the aspect ratio does not match, the image can be centered instead of stretched.
Stop Here If Fixed: If pixel art and low-resolution games look good enough for you, stop.
How To Undo It:
Return to Integer Scaling - Display Settings.
Set Integer Scaling back to your previous state.
If you enabled GPU Scaling only for Integer Scaling, set GPU Scaling back to your previous state.
Intel Retro Scaling
Type: Symptom Reduction.
Open Intel Graphics Command Center.
In Home, select Global Settings.
In the Retro Scaling dropdown, select Fixed Width or Scaled Width.
What You Should Notice: Pixel-art style content often looks sharper. Fixed Width can leave unused screen space in some aspect ratio combinations.
Stop Here If Fixed: If the image quality is what you want, stop.
How To Undo It:
Return to Global Settings.
Set Retro Scaling back to the selection you were using before.
Intel Custom Scaling
Type: Symptom Reduction.
Open Intel Graphics Command Center.
Select Display.
Select the external display showing the overscan issue.
In the General tab, locate the Scale setting.
Set Scale to Custom.
Adjust the sliders until the desktop fits correctly.
What You Should Notice: The taskbar and desktop edges are fully visible again.
Stop Here If Fixed: If the desktop is no longer cut off, stop.
How To Undo It:
Return to the Scale dropdown.
Select Maintain Display Scaling or your previous selection.
NVIDIA Resize Controls
Type: Symptom Reduction.
Open NVIDIA Control Panel.
Select Display.
Select Adjust desktop size and position.
Open the Resize section if it is available for your display type.
Use the resize controls to fit the visible screen area.
Select Apply.
What You Should Notice: The desktop fits the visible area without cutting off edges.
Stop Here If Fixed: If the entire desktop is visible, stop.
How To Undo It:
Return to the Resize section.
Restore the previous resize configuration.
Select Apply.
GPU Scaling FAQ
What Is GPU Scaling In Games
GPU scaling affects how a non-native resolution is fit to your display. It does not change your display’s native resolution.
Is GPU Scaling The Same As DLSS Or FSR
No. GPU scaling is output sizing. DLSS and FSR are render upscalers.
Should I Use Aspect Ratio Or Full-Screen In NVIDIA Control Panel
Use Aspect ratio to avoid distortion. Use Full-screen only if you want stretch.
What Does AMD Preserve Aspect Ratio Do
It scales the image without changing its proportions. Black bars can appear if the aspect ratio does not match the display.
Why Does Intel Only Show Maintain Display Scaling
Some Intel setups hide extra scale options when you are using the recommended resolution.
Does Integer Scaling Make Games Look Sharper
It often can for pixel-art and older low-resolution content because it scales in whole-number steps instead of using blurrier interpolation.
Can GPU Scaling Fix TV Overscan
Sometimes. Intel Custom scaling and NVIDIA Resize controls can help when the TV’s own settings do not solve it.
Does GPU Scaling Increase FPS
Usually not by itself. Lowering your resolution can improve performance because the game renders fewer pixels, not because scaling exists.
Should I Use GPU Scaling Or Monitor Scaling
If you want consistent behavior and driver control, GPU scaling is often the better pick. If your display has a scaler you like, display scaling can also work.
