In an October 13, 2026, announcement, NVIDIA says its updated DLSS 5 3D-Guided Neural Rendering model processes twice as fast as the September version, uses 20% less VRAM at 4K, and has a 24% smaller footprint of about 118 million parameters. The 2× figure describes model processing; NVIDIA gives a separate, game-specific frame-rate claim for NBA 2K27.
What the speed and memory figures measure
NVIDIA describes the October model as 10× faster overall than the announcement-era version from March 2026—a cumulative comparison. The company attributes the gains to pipeline optimizations and neural-model refinements. It also says GPU overhead is half that of the September version at comparable visual fidelity.
DLSS 5’s 3D-Guided Neural Rendering uses a game’s rendered frame and scene data to enhance lighting and materials, according to NVIDIA. The company distinguishes that process from conventional upscaling and frame generation.
The 20% VRAM reduction applies at 4K. NVIDIA also reports that the model footprint is 24% smaller, at about 118 million parameters.
NVIDIA’s NBA 2K27 comparison
NVIDIA’s side-by-side demonstration shows the previous model at about 231–241 FPS and the updated model at about 294–312 FPS. On-screen labels list a GeForce RTX 5080, 4K, MFG 6X and SR Performance. Separately, NVIDIA claims frame rates of up to 1.4× in NBA 2K27.
Preset C changes Frame Generation, not DLSS 5
NVIDIA describes Frame Generation as using two AI models. One uses game data such as motion vectors and depth to understand object movement; the other calculates optical flow for elements such as the user interface or ray-traced effects. Preset C replaces that second model with a faster, lighter algorithm.
NVIDIA lists Preset C for GeForce RTX 40 Series, GeForce RTX 50 Series and RTX Spark laptops. On GeForce RTX 5060, the company says the mode can be up to 35% faster, with minor image-quality trade-offs. Those compatibility details apply to Preset C; NVIDIA’s named DLSS 5 deployments include GeForce RTX 50 Series, RTX Spark and GeForce NOW.
The distinction also separates NVIDIA’s announced rollout from unofficial experiments on older RTX cards, covered in NeoTeo’s earlier report on DLSS 5 mods. In the r/nvidia discussion, u/Imperialegacy reported artifacts and UI ghosting with Preset C, while u/glizzygobbler247 argued that image quality mattered more than speed; other commenters asked for DLSS 5 support on RTX 40 Series cards. Read the discussion.
NVIDIA’s announced rollout schedule
NVIDIA’s October 13 announcement schedules these deployments:
- The updated model’s NBA 2K27 debut on GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs, RTX Spark laptops and GeForce NOW: October 16, 2026.
- DLSS 5 support in RTX Remix: October 23, 2026.
- DLSS 5 support in Hogwarts Legacy: November 5, 2026.
- DLSS 5 support in Where Winds Meet: late November 2026.
