NVIDIA RELEASE · APP PROCEDURE UPDATED SEPTEMBER 19, 2026

DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction Release Date: Available Now on All RTX GPUs

DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction was released August 25, 2026 and is available now for all GeForce RTX GPUs in supported games. NVIDIA App 11.0.9 includes support. Game Ready Driver 580.88 WHQL or newer is required. NVIDIA publishes no exact release time.

QUICK ANSWER

Already have a GeForce RTX? Try the update before replacing your card.

NVIDIA confirmed the release on August 25. Install a recent driver and update the app; Early Access was the launch route. The model can be applied to 30 games through the App; developer-native updates remain a separate path.

Three features, three things to look for

Super Resolution

Lower-resolution renderImage at display resolution

Try it to reduce rendering work. Compare fine detail and stability in motion.

Ray Reconstruction

Noisy ray-traced lightingReconstructed, denoised effects

Compare reflections and dark areas. The game must support the feature.

Frame Generation

Already-rendered framesGenerated intermediate frames

Check responsiveness too: the displayed FPS counter alone does not describe how the game controls.

Simplified roles, not engine execution order. RR can also reconstruct the output resolution. NVIDIA Developer

What is actually new in DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction?

Ray Reconstruction replaces traditional hand-tuned ray-tracing denoisers with an AI network. Because a practical game cannot trace unlimited rays for every pixel, the raw image contains noise and incomplete lighting information. The model reconstructs a stable final image from that data.

The new model uses a second-generation transformer. NVIDIA says it has 35% more compute capability and processes 20% more parameters while maintaining performance similar to the previous Ray Reconstruction model.

Stronger denoising

The model targets cleaner ray-traced information.

Deeper spatial awareness

It uses scene data more intelligently.

Expanded training

NVIDIA says the training dataset is larger.

Temporal control

Developers get finer control over temporal accumulation.

The expected benefit is image quality: cleaner particle motion, more responsive lighting, temporal stability and clearer fine detail. It should not be turned into a promise of an automatic FPS increase.

From the Early Access launch to NVIDIA App 11.0.9

MilestoneWhat is establishedSource
August 25, 2026Launch through App Early Access, requiring driver 580.88 WHQL or newer.NVIDIA · Gamescom
11.0.9 notes, checked September 19Ray Reconstruction 4.5 appears in the release notes. They do not give a precise publication date for 11.0.9.NVIDIA App
Game updatesCheck availability by title: a native game update and an App override are different delivery paths.Game-by-game tracker

How to enable DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction

  1. Install GeForce Game Ready Driver 580.88 WHQL or newer.
  2. Update the NVIDIA App. Its 11.0.9 release notes include Ray Reconstruction 4.5.
  3. Restart the app if prompted after updating.
  4. Open Graphics and select a supported game, or use Global Settings for every supported game in the library.
  5. Under Driver Settings, choose DLSS Override - Model Presets > Recommended.
  6. Click Apply. Also install any game-specific update when the developer uses a native integration.

No third-party DLL is part of this official procedure. “Preset F” is an NVIDIA-published App selection, not a DLL or model build number.

30 games through the App, without confusing overrides and native updates

At the time of verification, NVIDIA says the new model can be applied to 30 games through the NVIDIA App. The dedicated tracker owns the complete list, title-level status and the distinction between an override and a developer’s official game update.

Modern Warfare 4 is not in this current 30-game list. Its broader DLSS 4.5 support is therefore not enough to establish that Ray Reconstruction 4.5 is officially live in the game.

Open the 30-game status tracker →

Ray Reconstruction, Super Resolution and Frame Generation

Ray Reconstruction replaces denoisers and reconstructs ray-traced information. Super Resolution primarily rebuilds display resolution from a lower internal render. Frame Generation adds displayed frames. These are three distinct jobs.

Read the full technical comparison →

Do you need a new GPU for DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction?

KEEP YOUR RTX IF…
  • your games already reach the frame rate you want;
  • your VRAM is sufficient;
  • ray tracing is usable at your preferred settings;
  • you mainly want the newly available reconstruction model.
CONSIDER UPGRADING IF…
  • the GPU is already too slow for the ray-tracing mode you want;
  • VRAM limits your settings;
  • your display target is much faster than the GPU can feed;
  • you want RTX 50-specific features.

NVIDIA says the new model supports all GeForce RTX GPUs. An RTX 20, 30 or 40 Series card is not automatically obsolete because of this release.

Choose the next step by what you are trying to fix

RTX 5070 Ti, 5080 or 5090 for a ray-tracing-focused upgrade?

RTX 5070 Ti — a sensible starting point for strong 1440p ray tracing while keeping total system cost under control.

RTX 5080 — the more logical high-end gaming step for demanding 4K and heavier ray tracing when 16 GB fits the workload.

RTX 5090 — a specialist flagship for buyers who can use its much higher performance or 32 GB of VRAM. It is not required for Ray Reconstruction 4.5.

Before buying, verify length, thickness, power connector, PSU capacity, cable clearance, warranty and the exact model.

How to verify the result in your game

  1. Confirm driver 580.88 or newer and the NVIDIA override are active.
  2. Verify that the game supports Ray Reconstruction.
  3. Make a note of your current settings and image quality.
  4. Retest the same moving scene after activation.
  5. Look for ghosting, particle stability, reflections, fine detail and lighting response.
  6. Compare base performance as well as image quality.

NVIDIA’s announcement focuses on reconstruction quality and states similar performance to the previous model; it does not promise a universal FPS increase.

Where to look for the difference

Use a saved scene with reflections, particles or fine detail, then repeat the same camera movement before and after. Keep resolution, upscaling and ray-tracing settings unchanged. A still screenshot cannot fully show trails behind moving objects or how long a reflection takes to settle.

Hands-on coverage from Tom’s Guidedescribes visual improvements on the RTX 50 hardware tested, without validating every older GPU. PC Gameralso shows motion comparisons and notes that artifacts remain. These observations belong to those publications; GPUStores does not present this page as its own visual test.

FAQ

Is DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction available now?

Yes. NVIDIA announced its release on August 25, 2026. The NVIDIA App 11.0.9 release notes now include this feature. Early Access described the August rollout.

What is its release date?

The official release date is August 25, 2026. NVIDIA publishes no exact release time; the GeForce On event time must not be presented as one.

Does it support RTX 20, RTX 30, RTX 40 and RTX 50?

Yes. NVIDIA says the new Ray Reconstruction model works on every GeForce RTX generation.

Which driver is required?

GeForce Game Ready Driver 580.88 WHQL or newer is required. NVIDIA does not specify a minimum NVIDIA App version number in the current announcement.

How do I enable it?

Update the NVIDIA App, then choose Graphics > Program Settings > Driver Settings > DLSS Override - Model Presets > Recommended.

How many games can use the new model?

NVIDIA says the model can currently be applied to 30 games through the NVIDIA App. That is distinct from developer-delivered native game integrations.

Does DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction increase FPS?

Its primary role is ray-traced and path-traced reconstruction quality. NVIDIA states performance similar to the previous model, not a universal FPS increase.

Compare options only if your GPU is already the limit

These buttons open targeted Amazon.ca searches, not exact offers. Confirm the model, price, seller, stock and delivery with the retailer. No price is displayed or assumed here.

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Official sources

NVIDIA App — Release Highlights 11.0.9 ↗

NVIDIA App 11.0.9 notes checked September 23, 2026. Launch sources below retain their historical verification date.

NVIDIA GeForce — DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction Available Now ↗NVIDIA GeForce — Gamescom 2026 GeForce announcements ↗NVIDIA GeForce — May 31 model announcement ↗NVIDIA GeForce — COMPUTEX 2026 announcements ↗NVIDIA Developer — DLSS feature reference ↗

Sources checked: August 25, 2026 at 12:01 PM ET

A higher FPS counter does not tell you what changed

To compare two Ray Reconstruction models, keep the same save, output resolution, DLSS mode and ray-tracing settings. Turn off dynamic resolution and frame generation for the first pass. Otherwise, a lower internal resolution or a different frame multiplier can conceal the new model’s cost.

  1. Run through the scene once to reduce loading and compilation effects.
  2. Record three identical runs per setting, including game and driver versions. Compare the median result and visible stutters.
  3. Then restore frame generation to evaluate your actual playing setup. Keep that result separate.

This is our proposed protocol, not a completed benchmark. NVIDIA describes Ray Reconstruction and frame generation as separate features. NVIDIA reference.

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