NVIDIA boosts DLSS 5 performance by 2x while cutting VRAM use by 20%

NVIDIA is continuing to optimize DLSS 5, announcing substantial improvements to its 3D-Guided Neural Rendering model in the October 2026 update. According to the company, the latest version delivers twice the model performance of the September release while reducing VRAM usage by 20% at 4K resolution.

These changes address one of the biggest concerns surrounding DLSS 5 since its public debut. Unlike conventional DLSS upscaling and frame generation, the technology uses AI to enhance a game's lighting, materials, skin details, reflections, and shadows. However, its more demanding rendering approach initially came with a considerable performance cost, prompting NVIDIA to focus on making the technology more efficient.

The latest improvements reportedly cut DLSS 5's performance overhead in half compared with the September version. Combined with optimizations introduced earlier, NVIDIA claims the technology's neural rendering model is now 10 times faster than the version demonstrated in March, which required two GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards.

However, a twofold improvement in the model's performance does not mean games will run at twice the frame rate. DLSS 5 is only one part of a game's overall rendering workload, so the actual gains depend on how heavily a title relies on the technology. NVIDIA says NBA 2K27, which introduced DLSS 5 support following the technology's public debut, now runs 40% faster with the latest version enabled.

The updated model is scheduled to arrive in NBA 2K27 through an October 16 update. Independent testing will still be needed to determine how closely real-world results match NVIDIA's claims.

The October release will also become the default version of DLSS 5 for future compatible PC games, at least until another update arrives. Beyond NBA 2K27, NVIDIA has confirmed that the technology is coming to Hogwarts Legacy on November 5, with support also planned for Where Winds Meet, the action-adventure RPG from Everstone Studio.

If the reported improvements hold up in independent testing, DLSS 5 could become less demanding on high-end GPUs while leaving more video memory available for other game assets and rendering tasks.

As always, for the latest news on NVIDIA DLSS, AI-powered rendering technologies, GeForce RTX graphics cards, and developments across the gaming industry, be sure to follow our dedicated hardware coverage.