Nvidia's new DLSS 5 technology, which utilizes generative AI for graphics alteration, has been shown to significantly impact game frame rates in early testing. Experts at Digital Foundry described the performance toll as "super, super heavy," confirming suspicions that arose ahead of its debut implementation in NBA 2K7.

Testing revealed a frame-rate reduction of approximately 40-60 percent when DLSS 5 was enabled. For instance, a GeForce RTX 5090 card running NBA 2K7 at native 4K resolution with Ultra settings dropped from 128.4 frames per second to 62.7 FPS. Similarly, an RTX 5060 experienced a drop from 72.8 FPS to 42.3 FPS when set to 1080p Ultra settings.

Digital Foundry founder Richard Leadbetter noted the considerable frame-time cost associated with DLSS 5, which ranged from 8.2ms to 13.7ms depending on the graphics card and resolution. He described an eight-millisecond processing time at 4K on a 5090 as "mega expensive."

Despite the performance concerns, Digital Foundry's John Linneman expressed surprise at the subtle visual implementation in NBA 2K7. While DLSS 5 was initially met with criticism in March for its potential to drastically alter game visuals through "neural rendering," its application in NBA 2K7 primarily affects crowd lighting and jersey detail, adding a subtle drop-shadow depth without altering character textures.

Linneman found the implementation convincing, stating it did not exhibit the wholesale, drastic visual changes seen in earlier demonstrations. However, he also commented that it appears to be a "really expensive way to add nice lighting detail into the image," even if the effect itself is less extreme than initially feared.

Initial tests have also included glimpses of DLSS 5 modded into games like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Monster Hunter Rise, and Starfield. The consensus suggests that this is an early iteration of a technology that may improve over time, aligning with Nvidia's stated commitment to ongoing performance enhancements. The primary concern remains how the technology will evolve. Unlike previous DLSS versions, which focused on improving performance by reducing native resolution and upscaling, DLSS 5 marks a shift towards altering visuals, potentially signaling a new direction for the technology. DLSS 5 is currently exclusive to 50-series GeForce cards and officially supported only in NBA 2K7.