Nvidia skipped the usual hardware drumroll at CES this year and instead aimed its fireworks at software. The company’s DLSS 4.5 update—delivered via a new GeForce driver and an NVIDIA app beta—promises a big jump in image quality and a roadmap for far more aggressive frame generation. For gamers, that could feel like a free performance upgrade. For GPU rivals, it’s a new front in the arms race.
What’s new in DLSS 4.5
At the center of the update is a second‑generation transformer model for DLSS Super Resolution. Trained on a larger dataset, the new model improves detail reconstruction—especially in the Performance and Ultra Performance modes that upscale from very low base resolutions. Early side‑by‑side clips (and a few bench tests) show foliage and hair often looking as sharp—or even sharper—than native 4K in certain scenes. That’s why some players are already saying DLSS 4.5 narrows the gap between Nvidia’s upscaling and AMD’s FSR Redstone.
Nvidia is also doubling down on frame generation. DLSS Multi‑Frame Generation (MFG) will gain a 6x mode in spring 2026, meaning five AI‑generated frames for every rendered frame. Paired with a Dynamic Multi‑Frame Generation option, the system can vary how many generated frames it uses depending on scene complexity, targeting smooth 240+ FPS experiences on high‑refresh displays.
Who gets what (and when)
- The 2nd‑generation transformer upscaler is available now through NVIDIA app beta 11.0.6 and the GeForce Game Ready 591.74 driver. You can apply it globally or per‑title via the app’s DLSS Override settings.
- The 6x MFG and Dynamic MFG features will arrive later in spring 2026 and are limited to GeForce RTX 50‑series cards. RTX 40 (Ada) and earlier GPUs don’t get Dynamic Multi‑Frame Generation, and older hardware can only do more modest frame‑gen work.
- Older GeForce cards (RTX 20/30) can run the new transformer model, but without FP8 acceleration they pay a noticeable performance tax—tests have shown double‑digit percent slowdowns on some 30‑series hardware when switching to the new model.
- Frame generation requires reasonable base frame rates to avoid artifacts and to keep input lag manageable. That’s always been the trade‑off with MFG: massive FPS boosts, but only in the right contexts.
Nvidia confirmed several important technical points in follow‑up Q&A: Dynamic Multi‑FrameGen is strictly an RTX 50‑series feature; the Dynamic mode doesn’t change DLSS upscaling presets (it only adjusts the frame‑generation multiplier); and Frame Generation works independently of Super Resolution—the input can be native or upscaled (including DLAA). Also, while the new 6x frame‑gen benefits from the improved temporal stability delivered by the 2nd‑gen transformer, it does not require that transformer model to function.
The practical side: controls and trade‑offs
The NVIDIA app exposes the new options in a handful of sensible places. Users can pick “Latest” DLSS models or choose custom presets, enable DLAA globally for games that lack an in‑game option, and toggle Frame Generation modes. For the 240+ FPS targeting workflows, the DLSS Override's Frame Generation Mode gives a Target FPS dropdown with a “Max refresh rate” option (reads your monitor) or “Custom” so you can set any goal.
Two caveats to keep in mind:Displays and driver extras
Alongside the DLSS refresh, Nvidia is shipping support for a long list of new G‑SYNC and G‑SYNC Compatible monitors and TVs—some of them astonishingly fast or dense, including models that flip between very high refresh and ultra‑sharp 5K modes. The company also introduced G‑SYNC Pulsar and Ambient Adaptive Technology in partnership with several manufacturers to better tune brightness and color for different lighting conditions. If you’re chasing peak clarity on a new panel, this driver makes a lot of new options work properly.
If display tech piques your interest, remember HDR and panel standards are evolving in parallel—Samsung is pushing HDR10+ Advanced, for example—which matters when choosing a monitor or TV for high‑fidelity gaming and movie playback. See the broader HDR landscape for context at Samsung Unveils HDR10+ Advanced to Rival Dolby Vision 2.
How the games are reacting
Nvidia says DLSS 4.5 models are already supported in hundreds of titles, and devs can opt in per game. That means you’ll start seeing the new transformer and MFG modes show up progressively rather than all at once. Games built around high frame rates—competitive shooters and some single‑player engines—stand to benefit the most from 6x MFG and Dynamic MFG.
One recent release that’s been singled out is Arc Raiders, which shipped with various RTX features; expect DLSS 4.5 options to follow the same path in titles that already support DLSS tooling. For a closer look at DLSS in a modern release, check Nvidia‑enabled titles like Arc Raiders where developers previously leaned on RTX features.
Community reaction and competitive pressure
Some reviewers and creators who’ve posted early comparisons praise the upscaler’s sharpness, especially in Performance mode where aggressive upscaling used to produce mushy results. That’s a win for Nvidia and a direct challenge to AMD’s FSR team, which now has to answer not just with better algorithms but with competitive visual fidelity across diverse scenes.
On the other hand, critics point out that Nvidia’s most flashy frame‑gen features are gated behind the latest silicon. With chip and memory supply tight—Nvidia put its AI roadmap and the Vera Rubin supercomputer front and center at CES—it’s clearer why the company didn’t launch a new GeForce family this year: software can stretch installed hardware farther, and AI datacenter demand is soaking up memory and supply capacity.
For players: what to do now
If you’re on a supported RTX 40/50 card or older RTX 20/30 and want to try the update, opt into the NVIDIA app beta and install the 591.74 driver. Flip the DLSS Override to “Latest” to experiment, then try custom settings if you want fine control. If you own an RTX 50‑series GPU and a 240Hz+ panel, watch for the spring MFG rollout—Dynamic MFG could smooth out high‑FPS runs without constant fiddling.
Expect to sacrifice some GPU time on older cards to get the improved transformer model, but also expect meaningful visual gains in many titles. And if your setup is monitor‑heavy (high refresh, HDR), the new G‑SYNC and driver additions are worth checking—especially if color and ambient adaptation matter to you.
Nvidia’s CES playbook this year was part signal, part strategy: while hardware announcements took a back seat, software engineering and AI‑driven features may reshape what people think of as a GPU upgrade. For gamers, that could mean new life for existing systems—so long as the titles you play adopt the new modes and your card can handle the trade‑offs.