(Credit: Nvidia)
Nvidia has been all in on AI technology in recent years, solidifying that stance during this year’s CES with nothing but AI-enhanced applications and software tools. However, one announcement could significantly impact the GeForce graphics card you own right now. Considering Nvidia is a leading GPU maker, we naturally hoped it would also come to the show with a graphics card for us to gawk at, as the company typically has during CES for years now. Instead, Nvidia announced the latest version of its AI-driven Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) image enhancement technology, DLSS version 4.5.
This latest version will roll out as an update for all RTX 40- and 50-series GPUs across desktop and mobile implementations, with six-times frame generation being its marquee feature. Other highlights include even sharper image enhancements via an upgrade to Nvidia's Transformer AI model and new tools to boost the accuracy of results generated by its AI hardware. Here's everything we know so far about DLSS 4.5 and Nvidia's other new GPU AI capabilities.
DLSS 4.5 Multiplies Your Frames 6-Fold
Nvidia’s new DLSS 4.5 technology is an evolutionary step up from last year's DLSS 4 technology, which also focused on multi-frame generation and image upscaling using AI hardware. With DLSS 4, Nvidia introduced a new Transformer AI model that produced better image quality than the outgoing Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model, but it was slightly slower. DLSS 4.5 addresses that drawback with a second-generation Transformer model that aims to provide even better image quality through maintaining more detail and rendering finer edges.
(Credit: Nvidia)The company promises that the image quality enhancements via DLSS's "Performance" mode are comparable to native rendering, and its "Ultra Performance" mode is now fully viable for 4K resolution. We'll have to judge them in deeper testing, of course, but those are quite the claims. Nvidia has also teased enhanced anti-aliasing and reduced ghosting, two key complaints PC gamers still levy against DLSS with fair reason.
(Credit: Nvidia)DLSS 4.5 also enables even faster frame rates, although it’s unclear whether this is due to the Transformer model upgrade or other changes made alongside that in the new DLSS 4.5 specification. You can set the frame rate multiplier for frame generation to x6 with DLSS 4.5 (five new frames per original rendered), which naturally unlocks faster frame rates than DLSS 4 could produce with its x4 multi-frame generation (three new frames per).
(Credit: Nvidia)Nvidia stated that DLSS 4.5 will be supported on all of its RTX GPUs to date, but the new transformer model will only be available on RTX 50-series graphics cards. Taking advantage of DLSS 4.5 while maintaining the best possible image quality should also be somewhat easier. Nvidia teased a tool within DLSS 4.5 that will dynamically adjust the frame rate multiplier, preserving image quality whenever possible and turning up frame generation when needed to maintain your desired frame rate.
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Nvidia RTX Remix Logic, NVFP8, and NVFP4
Something else the gaming modding community should enjoy is Nvidia’s new RTX Remix Logic technology, which is set for release in January. Like Nvidia’s RTX Remix software, RTX Remix Logic is aimed at improving games by adding new graphics effects and incorporating AI features.
This software can also be helpful for game developers. Sega’s upcoming Total War: Pharaoh game will use Nvidia Ace to add an AI advisor to the game that can help you by providing information on the game and its mechanics.
(Credit: Nvidia)To help drive AI performance, Nvidia also announced the new NVFP8 and NVFP4 precision formats. Precision formats deal with the accuracy of AI results and have a direct impact on performance, memory, and data storage requirements. Nvidia’s NVFP8 and NVFP4 are Nvidia optimized variants of the more common FP8 and FP4 precision formats that provide up to 60% data savings.
(Credit: Nvidia)Nvidia’s new DLSS 4.5 second-gen Transformer model likely utilizes the NVFP8 precision format. Nvidia listed it as utilizing FP8 during its DLSS 4.5 reveal, but it seems likely the company would opt for its own optimized standard.
If you are using an Nvidia GPU for AI workloads, you should be able to use the new NVFP4 and NVFP8 precision formats immediately. You’ll need to wait longer before you can use DLSS 4.5, however, as it won't be ready until spring.