In brief
- NVIDIA says the October release of DLSS 5 will double model performance compared with the previous version.
- The company says the new model has been reduced to 118 million parameters and uses 20% less VRAM at 4K.
- The update is scheduled to arrive in NBA 2K27 on 16 October.
- The announced Preset C mode for Frame Generation will support RTX 50 and RTX 40 series graphics cards.
NVIDIA announced the October update for DLSS 5 on 13 October. According to reports from Tom’s Hardware and TechPowerUp, the new version aims to double the performance of the DLSS 5 model compared with its predecessor while reducing VRAM use by 20% at 4K resolution. The update is scheduled to be added to NBA 2K27 in a game update on 16 October.
What does the update change in the model?
NVIDIA says the October release reduces the model’s size by about a quarter, bringing it down to 118 million parameters. The company also says VRAM use at 4K will drop by 20%, and that the additional GPU load at a similar level of visual quality will be halved compared with the September release. The improvements are attributed to changes in the pipeline and updates to the neural network model.
These are figures reported by NVIDIA; the sources do not include independent test results. A model running twice as fast does not mean a game’s overall frame rate will also double. DLSS 5 is one part of a game’s overall rendering workload, and the actual gains may depend on how each game uses the technology.
Game support and a Frame Generation update
NBA 2K27 will be the first title to receive the update. According to Tom’s Hardware, DLSS 5 support is also scheduled to arrive in Hogwarts Legacy next month. The same source says the technology is supported on RTX 50 series graphics cards, as well as GeForce NOW and the new RTX Spark product family.
NVIDIA also announced a faster Performance Mode and a “Preset C” option for Frame Generation. The mode is reported to be coming to RTX 50 and RTX 40 series graphics cards, as well as RTX Spark laptops. According to the company, Preset C replaces the previous approach—which calculated optical flow for elements such as interface components and ray-tracing effects—with a faster, lighter algorithm. NVIDIA says the speed increase could reach 35% on the RTX 5060.
Impact on architectural visualization workflows
The announcement is focused on gaming. The sources do not mention DLSS 5 support for architectural design software, render engines, or real-time visualization tools. As a result, there is not enough information to apply the stated speed and memory gains directly to architectural render times.
For visualization teams using RTX hardware, the update is worth watching as a sign of progress in neural-network-based image processing and GPU memory management. However, any benefit to current workflows depends on whether the software in use supports the technology. Before making an upgrade decision, check application compatibility, supported hardware, and licensing terms separately.
Tests will clarify the results
According to NVIDIA, the October release aims to reduce DLSS 5’s memory use and GPU load. How closely real-world gaming performance will match the announced figures will become clear only after the update is released and tested. Comparisons using the same hardware and similar image-quality settings will be important for assessing the difference between the model’s speed increase and the game’s overall frame rate.
Sources
2 sourcesSource texts are not republished; short quotes are marked, everything else is our own summary and commentary.
For architecture and visualization studios in Turkey, the announcement has limited immediate relevance: the reported gains relate to gaming-focused DLSS 5, and support in architectural software has not been confirmed. Rather than investing in graphics cards based only on the announced figures, it would be wiser to wait for compatibility information for the applications in use and test results under real workloads.
The reduction in VRAM use is worth tracking as a claim from NVIDIA, but it is not enough on its own to inform cost and hardware decisions. Until supported software, licensing terms, and independent tests are clear, it will be difficult for studios to measure the expected benefits. Results published after 16 October could provide a more concrete basis for evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
When is the DLSS 5 October update coming?
The update is scheduled to arrive in NBA 2K27 on 16 October. This date refers to when it will become available in the game.
How much does the DLSS 5 update reduce VRAM use at 4K?
NVIDIA says VRAM use at 4K will drop by 20%. The sources do not include independent test results confirming this claim.
Will DLSS 5 be available in architectural visualization software?
The sources do not mention support for architectural software or render engines. Its availability in current workflows has therefore not been confirmed.
