DLSS 5 is lastly right here. Nicely, its been formally launched in a single recreation, anyway, after modders got their hands on it final week and made the precise launch considerably redundant. Nonetheless, I have been testing Nvidia’s new AI image-enhancing tech in NBA 2K27, the newest hoop-shooting recreation within the long-running sequence, and I’ve dangerous information: even on a high-end RTX 5080 rig, it is severely punishing in relation to efficiency.
Which is not an enormous shock, on condition that Nvidia itself estimated a 50-60% DLSS 5 performance hit within the briefings final week. Nonetheless, my early testing exhibits it could tank your body charge significantly more durable than that, even on a PC that prices effectively over $3,000 in 2026.
I threw a pre-release model of NBA 2K27 at considered one of our benchmarking rigs, an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, RTX 5080-equipped, 32 GB DDR5 behemoth. And whereas this explicit PC could make mincemeat of the sport’s comparatively light-weight {hardware} wants general, turning on DLSS 5 can drop the common body charge by as much as 73% in sure eventualities.
It is able to trying very fairly on this explicit recreation, that is for positive. However my jaw has dropped a number of instances throughout my testing, and never at all times for the explanations Nvidia might have hoped for. To the benchmarks, then.
DLSS 5: 1440p NBA 2K27 benchmarks
Given the RTX 5080 is Nvidia’s second-fastest client graphics card, I had no qualms about turning up the settings to Extremely, together with enabling ray tracing. I recorded my outcomes throughout precise gameplay inside NBA 2K27’s fast match mode, ensuring to play for lengthy sufficient that cutaway photographs to the participant’s celebrations and the gang triggered a number of instances.
It is price mentioning, nevertheless, that given the shortage of repeatability inside this mode, these outcomes are doubtlessly extra consultant of the DLSS 5 common body charge hit, quite than recreation efficiency general.
DLSS 5 | RTX 5080 | 1440p gaming benchmarks
Outcomes recorded throughout gameplay in NBA 2K27 at Extremely settings, ray tracing enabled, utilizing an RTX 5080.
NBA 2K27 (Extremely preset)
| Product | Worth |
|---|---|
| Native | 230 Avg FPS, 93 1% Low FPS |
| Native + DLSS 5 | 93 Avg FPS, 37 1% Low FPS |
| High quality upscaling + 2x FG | 363 Avg FPS, 153 1% Low FPS |
| High quality upscaling + 2x FG + DLSS 5 | 168 Avg FPS, 75 1% Low FPS |
And my goodness, what a efficiency hit it’s. The distinction between the Native 1440p common body charge and the common charge with DLSS enabled is an entire 137 frames. A 93 fps common nonetheless ends in very easy gameplay general, however the drop to simply 37 fps by way of 1% lows could be very troubling.
That is an RTX 5080 working at 1440p, in any case. A 4K-capable graphics card that may at present price you $1,550 because of the continuing reminiscence/element pricing disaster. And that determine relies on the cheapest we can find—I’ve seen them listed for $2,000+ up to now month or two.
It is typically very fairly at these settings, although… in order that’s one thing
After all, Nvidia will let you know that upscaling and body technology are right here to save lots of the day in relation to easy efficiency, and that proves to be the case. Nonetheless, watching a 363 fps common end result plummet to 168 fps on the push of a DLSS 5 button is fairly jaw dropping.
Nvidia has confirmed that DLSS 5 efficiency enhancements are coming in future, and by the seems to be of it, it is in determined want of some. It is typically very fairly at these settings, although, as I am going to go into beneath. So… that is one thing, I suppose?
DLSS 5: 4K NBA 2K27 benchmarks
There are not any awards for guessing that, at 4K, the impact is much more pronounced. At Native decision with no upscaling or body gen help, the RTX 5080 spits out an admirable 183 fps common (nonetheless at Extremely with ray tracing enabled, no much less), which duly plummets to 49 fps as quickly as DLSS 5 is enabled.
That represents a staggering 73% lower in common frames, and an immediately crunchy expertise. Positive, 49 fps is completely playable, however with the information that NBA 2K27 could be able to so many extra frames with the AI-enhanced pretties turned off, I am undecided I might grin and bear it.
DLSS 5 | RTX 5080 | 4K gaming benchmarks
Outcomes recorded throughout gameplay in NBA 2K27 at Extremely settings, ray tracing enabled, utilizing an RTX 5080.
NBA 2K27 (Extremely preset)
| Product | Worth |
|---|---|
| Native | 183 Avg FPS, 91 1% Low FPS |
| Native + DLSS 5 | 49 Avg FPS, 31 1% Low FPS |
| High quality upscaling + 2x FG | 255 Avg FPS, 118 1% Low FPS |
| High quality upscaling + 2x FG + DLSS 5 | 92 Avg FPS, 53 1% Low FPS |
What I’d do, nevertheless, is flip upscaling and body technology on to compensate. And right here, the information is barely higher. A 92 fps common is extra prefer it, with common previous DLSS set to High quality, and 2x body gen enabled. I really feel higher already.
That was till I realised that, with DLSS 5 turned off, I might be getting a 255 fps common on the similar settings. That is a 163 fps drop with DLSS 5 enabled, for these counting. Which is quite a lot of frames to return tumbling out the underside of your very costly graphics card.
Given all of Nvidia’s benchmarks are with a decrease decision DLSS setting and the total 6x Multi Body Era bean, on the one hand I anticipated DLSS 5 to really want MFGto obtain easy body charges in any respect, or require Extremely Efficiency-level upscaling. So, the truth that I can obtain very playable body charges with simply 2x body gen and upscaling set to High quality remains to be fairly spectacular. However on the opposite, NBA 2K27 runs so effectively with out DLSS 5 enhancement, the considered slashing my body charge by such an enormous quantity for some prettier, AI-assisted graphics stops me in my tracks. Talking of which…
DLSS5: Picture high quality comparability
There’s one factor I’ll say for DLSS 5: it seems to be fairly nice on this recreation. I spent an excellent hour or two zipping round within the photograph mode, marvelling on the visages of my ill-fated basketball workforce.
The photograph mode, nevertheless, is the place you may see many of the advantages of Nvidia’s new toy. By way of precise gameplay, you may spend most of your time in NBA 2K27 in a zoomed out perspective, cursing loudly on the truth you’ll be able to’t time a well-placed three-pointer for toffee.
Positive, there are cuts to participant celebrations, gradual movement replays, and half-time workforce talks. However it’s when issues are paused that you will see many of the DLSS 5 distinction—in order that’s precisely what I’ve achieved for the comparisons beneath.
NBA 2K27
A comparability of two screenshots in NBA 2K27 photograph mode, one with DLSS 5 on, and one with DLSS 5 off.
My early concern about DLSS 5 was that it appeared to supply overblown, AI beauty filter-like imagery, which I personally discover very ugly. Nonetheless, as I identified in my DLSS 5 sneak peak, the implementation on this explicit recreation is commonly rather more tasteful.
The participant above seems to be extra lifelike with DLSS 5 turned on. The highlights on the nostril and brow are shinier with out trying utterly blown out, which, mixed with the extra lifelike shadowing on the facial options general, creates a really nice picture.
His beard seems to be somewhat extra lifelike, as does his hair. And I might pay particular consideration to his jersey, which has additional wrinkles within the material within the DLSS 5-ified picture that give it a extra 3D-like impact. Since you’ll be taking note of your workforce’s ironing mishaps in your new basketball recreation, clearly.
NBA 2K27
A comparability of two screenshots in NBA 2K27, one with DLSS 5 turned on, and one with DLSS 5 turned off.
Switching over to 2 gamers collectively, I feel this explicit comparability exhibits off DLSS 5 at its finest. Each of their faces look muted and poorly shaded within the non-DLSS 5 model, however swing the slider over and so they all of a sudden come to life.
As your graphics card screams bloody homicide, maybe. However as a lot of a cynic as I’m relating to the thought of AI “enhancement” of any type, I am unable to deny that DLSS 5 in shut up is able to producing some lifelike human beings.
As soon as recreation builders have tweaked it for themselves, after all, and people settings sliders have been reined in from a few of the horrors we noticed in the earlier demo footage.
It’s miles from flawless, although. Whereas some character fashions look noticeably extra lifelike, others get some heavy-handed AI therapy that is not fairly so seamless.
Above: NBA 2K27’s photograph mode, with DLSS 5 turned off to begin, after which on and off once more in sequence.
Take the footage above, as an example. Whereas I’d say there are some particular shading enhancements as soon as DLSS 5 is turned on, there’s additionally a sort of overblown, over-contrasted impact to a few of the facial options on this explicit instance that appears barely off to my eyes.
NBA 2K27
Two screenshots displaying the gang in NBA 2K27, with DLSS 5 turned on and off.
And at last, here is a comparability between the crowds. You are going to have to fullscreen and zoom in on this one, but it surely’s pretty consultant of how you may see the match attendees once you’re truly taking part in the sport. Except for the odd digicam lower, they’re principally there for background ambiance.
And sure, the oldsters within the low cost seats get a miniature dose of DLSS 5 picture enhancement, too. The impact right here could be very refined, but it surely’s in all probability most noticeable on the courtside commentator’s face. Which can go previous in a flash as you truly play, however hey—try that ever-so-slightly extra chiselled jawline.
So, is DLSS 5 truly price turning on on this recreation? Nicely, I am unable to assist however be impressed by the imagery (for probably the most half), and this comparatively light-touch implementation provides quite a lot of character to particular person members of your workforce. They’re additionally noticeably sweatier, too, if that is your type of factor.
However you are going to need loads of body charge headroom earlier than you even consider touching the DLSS Neural Rendering checkbox, and meaning working a really highly effective rig—or cranking up the DLSS upscaling and body technology to compensate. NBA 2K27 is a really fast-paced recreation, and the expertise suffers fairly badly when issues get crunchy. You will need easy frames for this one, consider me—and if meaning turning off DLSS 5, I say go for it.
Nonetheless, I can completely see why Nvidia picked this recreation for DLSS 5’s first official outing. NBA 2K27 feels effectively optimised with the AI frippery turned off, and it isn’t the type of factor that will in any other case be bothering most trendy rigs.
When it tanks the body charge this closely, I am unable to assist however really feel that it is a know-how designed for the subsequent technology of graphics playing cards
But when my testing is any indication, DLSS 5 can look actually good, however nonetheless be an enormous drain on efficiency even in a correctly optimised recreation. And I actually query who amongst us shall be ready to make the body charge commerce off, even in a comparatively light-weight recreation like this.
The true check shall be in one thing correctly demanding, and it is there the place I feel the wheels will come off. Higher picture and lighting high quality is all very effectively, however for this type of efficiency price? I dread to assume what it will do to the already-addled body charge of one thing like Borderlands 4, for instance.
DLSS 5 is able to trying a lot better than I anticipated, which is one thing of a reduction. However when it tanks the body charge this closely, I am unable to assist however really feel that it is a know-how designed for the subsequent technology of graphics playing cards, and never the variations we’re working in the present day. Even the $1,500+ ones—and the way many people have the spare money proper now for an additional a type of?
Greatest graphics card 2026
Hi, I’m Rishab. I’m a passionate pc gamer and an avid video game content writer. I have been involved with video games for over 2 decades now, and even today, after playing an astronomical number of games over the years, I’m still eager for more. In my free time, you will find me enjoying a hot cup of coffee and playing my favorite relaxing fishing game, Dave the Diver.
