The primary sport with official DLSS 5 assist, NBA 2K27, got here out just lately, and modders rapidly took the DLSS 5 DLL file from the sport and made it obtainable to avid gamers all over the world who personal a more recent NVIDIA GPU, permitting them to make use of DLSS 5 in a bunch of PC video games with instruments similar to OptiScaler and DLSS 5 Swapper. Whereas solely the RTX 50 sequence is formally supported, at the least for now, the 2 aforementioned utilities will let you use DLSS 5 on older NVIDIA graphics playing cards as effectively.
Whereas a superb chunk of NVIDIA GPUs can run DLSS 5 at playable body charges, both formally or with mods, I’ve created an inventory of essentially the most inexpensive NVIDIA playing cards which are broadly obtainable new and that you would be able to run DLSS 5 on. Naturally, most are RTX 50 fashions, however I’ve additionally included just a few RTX 40 playing cards as effectively.
RTX 5050
The most cost effective official path to DLSS 5, but it surely solely simply manages 1080p
You will get an RTX 5050 new for about $300, however I like to recommend choosing a unique card as a result of the 5050 is not that nice, even for 1080p gaming. In case you already personal one, that is a unique story, and it is best to undoubtedly check DLSS 5 in video games you personal simply to see the know-how for your self, although it has a drastic body charge hit.
Now, whereas NBA 2K27 can run at playable body charges at 1080p on an RTX 5050, reaching nearly 60 FPS, you will should accept 30ish frames per second or much less in lots of different fashionable video games. You may even have a tough time utilizing multi-frame era together with DLSS 5 because of the card’s restricted 8GB reminiscence buffer. However hey, the RTX 5050 can run DLSS 5, and at playable body charges in some video games, so why not attempt it out for those who already personal the cardboard?
RTX 5060
The minimal for a playable 1080p expertise
The RTX 5060 is the primary respectable selection for a 1080p expertise. PC avid gamers have managed to get nearly 60 frames per second operating DLSS 5 at 1080p in a lot of titles, which needs to be greater than playable for many individuals. Some extra demanding video games will run slower, although, at about 40 FPS or decrease.
Whereas this card’s far more costly than the RTX 5050, with essentially the most inexpensive configs beginning simply north of $450 as of this writing, you are getting a lot increased efficiency that is sufficient to play many video games with the modded DLSS 5 DLL.
The one caveat, once more, is that the cardboard solely has 8GB of RAM, which will not be sufficient for multi-frame era operating on prime of DLSS 5 in video games that use plenty of video reminiscence. That mentioned, it is best to have the ability to run each body gen and DLSS 5 in a variety of video games that are not reminiscence hogs.
- Reminiscence Clock Velocity
-
2602MHz
- Graphics RAM Dimension
-
8GB
A no-nonsense choice for 1080p gaming, the RTX 5060 pairs 8GB of GDDR7 with NVIDIA’s Blackwell structure, whereas Gigabyte’s triple-fan cooling setup retains temperatures and noise in examine by means of lengthy gaming classes.
RTX 5060 Ti 8GB
A bit quicker than the RTX 5060 and a serviceable choice for 1080p
Now, whereas the 8GB model of the RTX 5060 Ti wasn’t a fantastic selection again when GPU costs had been sane, it now is sensible to get one because you’re getting a 15% efficiency bump in comparison with the RTX 5060 for about the identical worth bump. In the case of enjoying video games with DLSS 5, the efficiency increase needs to be sufficient for 60 FPS at 1080p in quite a lot of video games, and about 40 FPS in additional demanding titles.
Additionally, you will have the ability to use body era in lots of fashionable titles, however multi-frame gen might be a no-go in video games that devour VRAM. In case you ask me, at present costs the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB is a better option than the RTX 5060 for those who can stretch your price range by about $50.
RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
The naked minimal for the 1440p decision
Because of its 16GB of VRAM, the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB is the primary choice on this listing able to operating video games at 1440p with DLSS 5 enabled at playable body charges. That mentioned, the expertise will not be good. You’ll be able to anticipate about 40 FPS in most video games the place you possibly can mod in DLSS 5, with 60 FPS and better body charges solely being obtainable with body era.
The RTX 5060 Ti 16GB has a significant draw back, although. It prices solely about $60–$70 lower than the RTX 5070, whereas the latter is about 30% quicker. Positive, you are solely getting 12GB of reminiscence with the RTX 5070, however even 12GB needs to be sufficient for DLSS 5 and multi-frame gen at 1440p, with the RTX 5070 being lower than 15% dearer than the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB. In case you’re getting a brand new card, the RTX 5070 is a significantly better selection between the 2.
- Reminiscence Clock Velocity
-
2632MHz
- Graphics RAM Dimension
-
8GB, 16GB
Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti (this time made by Asus) is available in two variants: 8GB and 16GB. The 16GB is rather a lot pricier, however with rising VRAM constraints, it stays the higher choose.
RTX 5070
The primary respectable selection for 1440p DLSS 5 gaming
The RTX 5070 is the primary card I would really suggest for 1440p DLSS 5 gaming. It is obtained sufficient oomph to run video games at playable body charges with out the assistance of body era, and its 12GB of reminiscence will maintain down the fort at 1440p in most video games, even with ray tracing enabled.
Whereas its worth is very inflated in comparison with the MSRP, that is the case for each NVIDIA card on the market, so regardless of it being overpriced, it is nonetheless a stable selection if DLSS 5 assist is a should. If not, it is best to contemplate getting the AMD RX 9070 XT, which packs 16GB of reminiscence, is about 25% quicker, and is definitely cheaper than NVIDIA’s card.
I have been utilizing an RX 9070 XT for a few yr and a half now and may say that FSR 4 is sort of pretty much as good as DLSS upscaling and that the cardboard is a wonderful selection for 1440p and 1440p ultrawide gaming.
- Graphics RAM Dimension
-
12GB
- Enhance Clock Velocity
-
2600MHz
Nvidia’s RTX 5070 graphics card is among the extra balanced choices within the RTX 50-series lineup. It provides you 12GB of VRAM, which is far more future-proof than the 8GB VRAM lower-tier playing cards provide, whereas additionally providing extra cores and better bandwidth than the RTX 5060 Ti.
RTX 4060 and RTX 4060 Ti
These RTX 40 playing cards aren’t formally supported but, however you possibly can run DLSS 5 on them with mods
Now, DLSS 5 is not formally supported on older NVIDIA playing cards, however you can also make it work with OptiScaler and DLSS 5 Swapper. In the case of older NVIDIA playing cards you possibly can nonetheless purchase new, the RTX 4060 and RTX 4060 Ti are the most cost effective on the market that may run video games with DLSS 5 at something resembling playable body charges.
The RTX 4060 Ti is in a significantly better scenario because it’s about as quick because the RTX 5060, that means you’ll get a playable DLSS 5 expertise at 1080p in a variety of contemporary video games. On the flip aspect, the RTX 4060 is only a tad quicker than the RTX 5050, that means you should not anticipate far more than 30 FPS with DLSS 5 enabled at 1080p, with extra demanding video games operating even slower than that.
Nonetheless, that is excessive sufficient to examine simply how DLSS 5 seems to be in motion, so for those who personal an RTX 4060 and are concerned about trying out NVIDIA’s newest tech, be at liberty to check it. However if you wish to get a brand new GPU for DLSS 5, neither the RTX 4060 nor the RTX 4060 Ti is price it, except you are able to peruse the used market.
You’ll be able to run DLSS 5 on any RTX 20 card or newer, however most will not ship playable body charges
Because of instruments similar to OptiScaler, RenoDX, and DLSS 5 Swapper, and the patched DLSS 5 DLL information, you possibly can really run DLSS 5 on each NVIDIA GPU beginning with the RTX 20 sequence. Positive, the efficiency might be fairly poor on most of the older playing cards; in reality, DLSS 5 will barely run on a superb chunk of them. However hey, at the least you possibly can expertise neural rendering firsthand and see what the fuss all is about.
