DLSS 5 October Update: Faster Model, Hogwarts Legacy on Nov 5, and What RTX 40 Owners Get
Nvidia's Oct 13 DLSS 5 update: a 24% smaller model with half the overhead, Hogwarts Legacy on Nov 5, NBA 2K27 on Oct 16, and Frame Generation Preset C for RTX 40 — figures attributed to Nvidia.
TL;DR — On 13 Oct 2026, Nvidia said the DLSS 5 (3D-Guided Neural Rendering) model is getting a faster October version: per Nvidia, it is 24% smaller (roughly 118 million parameters), uses 20% less VRAM at 4K, and has half the GPU overhead of the September version. It debuts in NBA 2K27 on 16 Oct and comes to Hogwarts Legacy on 5 Nov (RTX 50, GeForce NOW, RTX Spark), and to RTX Remix modders on 23 Oct. RTX 40 does not get DLSS 5 itself in any of this. What RTX 40 owners do get is the new Frame Generation "Preset C" performance mode (beta).
What changed (according to Nvidia)
All figures below come from Nvidia's own post, "DLSS 5 Comes To Hogwarts Legacy & RTX Spark, Powered By 2X Faster Model" (Andrew Burnes, 13 Oct 2026). They are vendor claims; at the time of writing we have not seen independent benchmarks of the new model.
- Model size: the October update "shrinks the footprint by 24% to roughly 118 million parameters."
- VRAM: "reducing 4K VRAM usage by 20%."
- Overhead: "half the GPU overhead of the September version while maintaining comparable visual fidelity."
- Cumulative: Nvidia says the model is now "10X faster overall compared to when it was announced in March."
- Default for new games: the faster model "will ship by default with future DLSS 5 games."
The Verge (Tom Warren, 13 Oct) reports the same figures and describes the update as making DLSS 5 about twice as fast on RTX 50-series GPUs and the upcoming RTX Spark laptops.
Dates and games
| Date | What | Platforms (per Nvidia) |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct | New faster model in NBA 2K27 | GeForce RTX 50, RTX Spark laptops, GeForce NOW |
| 16 Oct | DLSS 5 reaches RTX Spark laptops | RTX Spark |
| 23 Oct | DLSS 5 plus the faster Frame Generation mode added to RTX Remix | Modders get the same controls developers have |
| 5 Nov | DLSS 5 added to Hogwarts Legacy | GeForce RTX 50, GeForce NOW, RTX Spark |
| Late Nov | DLSS 5 in Where Winds Meet | Nvidia gives no exact date |
NBA 2K27: "up to 1.4X" is Nvidia's own claim
Nvidia says the new model will boost NBA 2K27 frame rates "by up to 1.4X." Some outlets restate this as "up to 40% more fps." That is the same Nvidia figure, not an independent measurement, and Frames Games notes Nvidia did not say which card, resolution or settings it comes from. Treat it as a best case.
Hogwarts Legacy: no fps figure from Nvidia
Nvidia did not publish a frame-rate number for Hogwarts Legacy. Its post says the 5 Nov update adds DLSS Neural Rendering and upgrades the game's other DLSS technologies to their newest versions (the game already supports Multi Frame Generation and Ray Reconstruction), and that developer Avalanche Software used DLSS 5's SDK controls "to maintain the artistic intent and style of the game." The Verge says the new comparison shots look "seriously toned down" compared with the March demo, especially faces. That is the outlet's opinion of Nvidia's screenshots, so judge for yourself once the game is out.
Which GPUs get it
- DLSS 5 (3D-Guided Neural Rendering): Nvidia's October post lists GeForce RTX 50 Series, RTX Spark laptops and GeForce NOW. RTX 40 is not listed.
- RTX 40: the October post does not mention DLSS 5 on RTX 40. Frames Games recalls that in September Nvidia said it would look at RTX 40 once RTX 50 performance is tuned, with no date. We cover the current official position in our RTX 40 official-path guide.
- RTX Remix: Nvidia did not say which GPUs will run DLSS 5 in Remix. Frames Games guesses RTX 50 only; that is a guess, not an Nvidia statement.
For the game-by-game picture, see DLSS 5 supported games list. For power draw on RTX 50 cards, see DLSS 5 power usage on RTX 5090.
What RTX 40 owners can do now: Frame Generation "Preset C"
Nvidia released a beta of a faster Performance Mode for Frame Generation for GeForce RTX 40 Series and RTX 50 Series GPUs, and RTX Spark laptops. It is labeled "Preset C" in the Nvidia app.
How it works, per Nvidia: Frame Generation uses two AI models, one for motion between frames and a second for optical flow of elements such as UI and ray-traced effects. Preset C replaces the second model with a "faster and lighter algorithm," with "minor trade-offs in image quality." It applies to Frame Generation, Multi Frame Generation and Dynamic Multi Frame Generation. Nvidia's only figure: up to 35% faster on a GeForce RTX 5060. It gave no RTX 40 number.
Steps from Nvidia's post:
- Install the newest Nvidia app update.
- In Settings → About, tick "Opt in to access Beta or experimental features," then install the beta when it downloads.
- Open Graphics, pick a game that supports Frame Generation (or Global Settings for all games).
- Scroll to Driver Settings → DLSS Override - Model Presets → Custom.
- In the Frame Generation drop-down choose Preset C, then Apply. If it isn't listed, reboot.
Caveat: it is a beta, and it only helps in games that already support Frame Generation. Frames Games suggests switching back to the default preset if UI text or crosshairs smear; that is the outlet's advice, not Nvidia's. If you swap DLLs by hand, read our autopilot install/restore guide first.
Bottom line
- Nvidia says the October DLSS 5 model is smaller, lighter on VRAM and has half the overhead. Independent testing is still pending.
- NBA 2K27 gets it 16 Oct; Hogwarts Legacy 5 Nov; Remix modders 23 Oct.
- RTX 50 owners get DLSS 5. RTX 40 owners get Preset C, not DLSS 5.
Sources: Nvidia GeForce news (13 Oct 2026); The Verge (13 Oct 2026); Frames Games. Figures are Nvidia's unless stated.
← Back to all posts