- The DLSS 5 tech demo required two GeForce RTX 5090 GPUs to run smoothly.
- One GPU ran the game while the other was exclusively there to make the upscaler work.
- Nvidia has confirmed that when the technology launches in Fall 2026, it will only utilise one GPU, due to better optimization.
The gaming world has been anything but positive towards Nvidia’s upcoming DLSS 5 technology. Gamers have criticised the AI-powered upscaler for giving video games a generative AI tint, while many others claim that DLSS 5 destroys the artistic integrity of a title.
Nvidia has claimed that the tool will be under the jurisdiction of game developers and is not just a filter. However, all of these conversations will be pointless if the technology isn’t better optimized at launch, as its current variation requires a hefty amount of GPU strength to even work.
Why it matters: Considering how most PC gamers don’t have a system with better specs than a base PS5, the DLSS 5 may not be as big a revolution if it requires two GPUs to run.

According to Digital Foundry, Nvidia actually needed two GeForce RTX 5090s to make its DLSS 5 tech demo work. One of the GPUs was used to play the game, while the other worked specifically to run the AI-powered upscaler.
The analysts further explained that DLSS 5 only requires two RTX 5090s to work right now, as it’s still far away from its fully optimised iteration. Nvidia is developing the technology to run on a single GPU, and is still working on reducing its VRAM footprint while improving performance before it starts shipping in fall 2026.
Even Bethesda has come out to confirm that this is a very early version of DLSS 5, and studios will be working with Nvidia to further optimise the upscaler and refine the lighting to maintain the artistic intent of the game.

The conversations around the AI-powered Nvidia tech will continue to rage on. But, at least it’s confirmed that DLSS 5 will only require a single GPU while being totally optional for players.
Do you like Nvidia’s take on photorealism in the DLSS 5 technology, or do you think it’s too inspired by AI-generated content? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.


