When NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) first arrived, its purpose was clear: increase performance by rendering games at a lower internal resolution and reconstructing the final image using AI. Over time, DLSS evolved from a simple upscaling technique into a complex image reconstruction system tightly integrated with RTX hardware. With the release of DLSS 4.5, NVIDIA has pushed that evolution even further, but the results are more nuanced than before.
Unlike earlier versions, DLSS 4.5 does not always deliver the dramatic performance gains users expect—especially in Performance mode. Instead, it prioritizes image stability and visual fidelity, sometimes at the cost of raw FPS. This shift marks a noticeable change in NVIDIA’s approach to upscaling.
Image Quality: The Strongest Improvement
DLSS 4.5 introduces a second-generation transformer-based Super Resolution model, designed to improve temporal stability and preserve fine detail across frames. According to NVIDIA’s own documentation on DLSS technology, the newer model processes motion vectors and historical frame data more effectively, reducing common artifacts seen in earlier DLSS implementations.
In real-world gameplay, these changes translate into a visibly cleaner image. Performance mode, which previously showed obvious softness, now approaches native resolution in many scenes. Fast camera movement no longer breaks fine detail as easily, and thin objects such as wires or foliage remain more stable.
Key visual improvements include:
- Reduced shimmering and flickering in foliage and distant geometry
- Improved motion clarity during rapid camera movement
- Less ghosting compared to older DLSS versions
- Sharper reconstruction without aggressive oversharpening
These improvements align with NVIDIA’s stated goal of narrowing the visual gap between native resolution and AI upscaling, even at lower internal render resolutions.
Performance Mode: Better Looking, Not Always Faster
While image quality has improved significantly, performance gains are less consistent. Historically, enabling DLSS Performance mode resulted in a substantial FPS increase. With DLSS 4.5, that relationship is no longer guaranteed.
Independent testing and community benchmarks have shown that DLSS 4.5 can be more demanding on GPU resources due to its more complex AI model. As reported by Tom’s Hardware, some RTX 20- and 30-series GPUs experience lower performance in DLSS 4.5 compared to DLSS 4.0, particularly in Performance mode.
This happens because the improved reconstruction model requires more tensor computation per frame. On newer GPUs, such as RTX 40-series cards, hardware optimizations help offset this cost. On older hardware, however, the overhead can reduce or negate expected FPS gains.
Why DLSS 4.5 Behaves Differently
DLSS 4.5’s behavior is best understood by looking at what DLSS does—and what it cannot do. DLSS reduces the cost of rendering pixels, but it does not reduce the workload of many other rendering systems.
For example, DLSS does not significantly lower the cost of:
- Ray tracing and path tracing calculations
- Volumetric lighting and atmospheric effects
- Shadow map generation
- Heavy post-processing pipelines
As explained in multiple GPU performance analyses by TechPowerUp, when these systems dominate frame time, lowering resolution provides diminishing performance returns. In such cases, DLSS improves visual clarity more than raw speed.
CPU bottlenecks further limit DLSS effectiveness. At 1080p and sometimes 1440p, many modern games are CPU-bound, leaving little room for DLSS to increase frame rates regardless of image quality improvements.
A Focus on Stability and Frame Consistency
Rather than chasing peak FPS numbers, DLSS 4.5 appears tuned to improve frame pacing and consistency. While average frame rates may remain similar, 1% lows often improve slightly, resulting in smoother gameplay overall.
This design philosophy aligns with NVIDIA’s broader push toward responsiveness and perceived smoothness, seen in technologies like NVIDIA Reflex. The result is an experience that may benchmark lower on paper but feel better during extended play sessions.
Performance Mode Has Changed Its Role
One of the most important takeaways from DLSS 4.5 is that Performance mode no longer serves purely as a frame rate booster. Instead, it has evolved into a high-quality reconstruction mode that balances visual clarity with moderate performance gains.
In practice, DLSS Performance mode now offers:
- Near-native image quality in many scenes
- Fewer visual artifacts and temporal issues
- Smaller and more situational FPS improvements
This change may disappoint users who relied on DLSS as a simple way to unlock large performance gains. However, for players who value image stability and clarity, the trade-off may be worthwhile.
Final Verdict
DLSS 4.5 represents a clear shift in NVIDIA’s priorities. The technology now emphasizes visual fidelity and reconstruction accuracy, even in Performance mode. While this results in cleaner, more stable images, it also means that performance gains are less dramatic than in earlier versions.
For high-resolution, ray-traced workloads on newer GPUs, DLSS 4.5 remains a powerful tool. On older hardware or CPU-limited systems, its benefits are more situational. Ultimately, DLSS 4.5 reframes the conversation—not around how much faster games can run, but how close AI upscaling can come to native-quality visuals.