Nvidia launches DLSS 4.5. Ray tracing finally looks right

Nvidia is again trying to convince PC enthusiasts that the future of computer graphics is not only larger GPUs, but above all smarter artificial intelligence. The latest proof of this is DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction, the next iteration of the technology which - according to the manufacturer - will finally solve the problems with image denoising and stability in games using ray tracing and path tracing. The premiere will be in August, and the update will be available for all GeForce RTX cards, from the 20 to 50 series.

A new transformer model instead of classic noise removers

The heart of DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction is the second generation of the transformer model, which replaces the previous hand-tuned denoisers. Nvidia claims that the new model offers 35 percent more computing power and processes 20 percent more parameters, which translates into more precise reconstruction of missing information in ray-traced scenes.

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In practice, this means sharper details, less flickering and more stable lighting - especially in dynamic scenes where existing algorithms often got lost. Nvidia boasts that the new model recognizes movement better, analyzes spatial data and uses a larger set of training data.

In DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction, Nvidia combines two previously separate features - Super Resolution and Ray Reconstruction - into one AI model. This allows the algorithm to analyze temporal and spatial data simultaneously, instead of treating them as two separate tasks.

Effect? Theoretically, greater image consistency and fewer artifacts resulting from the "fight" of two different systems over what the final frame should look like.

Examples from games: fewer ghosts, more details

Nvidia shows specific scenes where the new model should shine. In Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, problems with "ghosting" snow and particles disappear. In Pragmata, the responsiveness of laser lighting has been improved and artifacts when turned off have been reduced. In Alan Wake 2, the TV CRT noise will be clearer and more stable. It's details like these - small but noticeable - that determine whether ray tracing looks like the technology of the future or like an experiment that doesn't quite work yet.

On the day of release, DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction will work in 27 games, including the biggest hits of recent years: Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake 2, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Doom: The Dark Ages, Star Wars Outlaws, Hogwarts Legacy, F1 25, Resident Evil Requiem, Pragmata, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

Just for dessert: DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction will not only be available in games. Nvidia has confirmed that the feature will also appear in Blender 5.3, as a new denoising option in the Cycles engine. This is to allow artists to see near-final render quality in real time, without killing the viewport's performance.