DLSS 5 Just Got a Lot Faster, but Is It Worth Using?

[Scorpus]

Nvidia's new DLSS 5 model nearly doubles neural rendering speed across the RTX 50 series. We put it to the test to see if the performance gains outweigh the heavy FPS penalty and lingering visual issues.

Read the full article here.

DLSS 5 Just Got a Lot Faster, but Is It Worth Using?

 

[James321]

Might try it with the next update if they can improve performance and quality by another 2X.

 

[OortCloud]

Summary: yes it's a bit quicker, but no it's still completely unusable as it murders frame rates. The technology was developed for a series of GPUs that invidious just won't release anymore because they are getting so much money selling all their production to AI slop factories.

 

[Nintenboy01]

I might still avoid since it really seems to put a strain on the tensor cores, almost like a power virus. I think there was a report it caused such a spike on a 5090 that it melted the power connector

 

[cldmstrsn]

Is ai slop ever worth using?

 

[Eldrach]

I might still avoid since it really seems to put a strain on the tensor cores, almost like a power virus. I think there was a report it caused such a spike on a 5090 that it melted the power connector

Good point - wise to set powerlimit to 90% on 5090 before firing this up

 

[Stingy McDuck]

The problem with DLSS5 is that you either set it up to go full AI slop or better don't use it at all. The middle ground is barely noticeable (just a couple of shadows that you could probably get with reshade GTAO) and not worth the performance hit.

 

[NumberNine]

I'm not concerned with how fast it is. I'm concerned with how fake it is. Running a generative filter atop native rendering is like wiping yourself with a work of art.

 

[Stoly]

People forget that just a few months ago you needed 2x 5090 just to show off the damn thing, making it run on a single card was impressive. This just adds icing on the cake.

Remember it took quite a while for DLSS to become what it is today (the upscaling part).

Hopefully things will improve in the future. One thing is for sure, people are starting to change their minds and actually beginning to like the "AI SLOP" effect.

 

[FaTaL]

No one uses or will use DLSS5 because no one can afford a fcking 5000 series GPU.

 

[Y2JB47]

Putting aside the anti ai crusade for one moment and you have to say, it looks incredible.

 

[dustinjohnson224]

Getting DLSS 5 to run on a single RTX 5090 is impressive progress, especially considering it initially required two, and like DLSS upscaling, it will likely improve over time. The bigger problem is affordability, since RTX 5000-series GPUs are too expensive for many gamers to experience the technology firsthand.

 

[poohbear]

I've been using DLSS 5 Autopilot w/ Cyberpunk 2077 and there's no going back. Game looks full on photorealistic on my 5070ti with Pathtracing on. From the neon lights, to the buildings/cars, to the facial textures... it's just gorgeous! Yes I had to tweak some of the DLSS 5 settings for skin tone accuracy and lighting, but its the pinnacle of graphics now. I get decent FPS in the 30-34fps range (without FG), but since it's a single player game its fine. Patch 2.5 introduced many optimizations and now its averaging 40-45fps. W/ FG x3 its in the 120s and feels super smooth. It's incredible what AI has done to graphics in 2026.

 

[TheBizNiz]

I've messed about with the early incarnations of it. It meant having to have frame gen enabled multiple times to get the frame rate up to anywhere near acceptable. But that meant the lag felt like I was trying to use a 3 series card at 4k, I have a 5070 ti. Not worth it for me, I prefer the simplicity of high frame gaming with no latency.

 

[newpowerrobot]

The thumbnail for the article looks like an image from the game mirrors edge?