Nvidia updates DLSS 5 AI model

Nvidia has released an updated version of its DLSS 5 AI model on October 13, announcing it on its GeForce blog. This new version is twice as fast as the September release and uses 20 percent less video memory when running in 4K resolution, while maintaining the same image quality.

New rendering technique adds AI step

The updated DLSS 5, called 3D-Guided Neural Rendering, adds an AI step to the rendering process that adjusts lighting and materials in images created by game engines. This step requires substantial computation, and Nvidia warns that enabling this feature could reduce performance by 50 to 60 percent.

Performance impact seen in testing

Earlier tests with NBA 2K27 showed a significant drop in frames per second when upscaling was disabled, prompting some developers to use a second graphics card to handle the extra workload. On an RTX 5090, DLSS 5 caused the power connector to reach 91.7 degrees Celsius during gameplay in Cyberpunk 2077.

Optimized AI model reduces resources

Nvidia claims the new DLSS 5 model has been optimized, reducing its AI parameters by 24 percent to around 118 million. This optimization lowers computation and video memory usage. Since its introduction in March, the model has become ten times faster, according to Nvidia's testing on a system with two RTX 5090 cards.

Performance gains vary by game

Nvidia states that the "twice as fast" claim refers to the AI's computation time, while the actual gain in frames per second in NBA 2K27 is up to 1.4 times higher than the September model. However, the company has not yet provided detailed comparisons by graphics card or screen resolution.

New DLSS 5 features in upcoming games

The new DLSS 5 model will be available in NBA 2K27 starting October 16 and will work on RTX 50, GeForce NOW, and laptops with the Arm RTX Spark chip. It will also be enabled by default in future compatible games. Nvidia plans to release DLSS 5 in RTX Remix on October 23, Hogwarts Legacy on November 5, and Where Winds Meet by the end of November.

RTX 40 cards not yet supported

RTX 40 cards do not currently have access to DLSS 5, though Nvidia says it will be available once the model is better optimized. The company prioritized RTX 50 for this update, with no specific date given for RTX 40 cards.

New Performance mode for RTX 40 cards

RTX 40 cards now have access to a new Performance mode called "Preset C," which uses a lighter algorithm to generate images. This mode offers up to a 35 percent performance gain on an RTX 5060 but comes with a slight loss in image quality. It works on RTX 40, RTX 50, and RTX Spark cards.

AMD working on its own neural rendering

According to leaker Kepler_L2, AMD is reportedly developing its own neural rendering technology for its next generation of graphics cards. However, AMD has not officially confirmed this. Users can try Preset C by installing the latest version of the NVIDIA app and adjusting settings in the Graphics section.