DLSS 5 Mod Reduces Rendering Load on Ultrawide Monitors

Higher fps by processing some parts of your screen in less detail: that is the idea behind FoveatedDLSS5. This experimental ReShade add-on from modder maximedgoulet reduces the DLSS 5 Neural Rendering workload at the edges of the image. This could be particularly beneficial on very wide monitors, although the reported performance gains come from just one game so far.

Less processing outside the center

FoveatedDLSS5 uses a principle also found in VR: foveated rendering. The center of the image retains full resolution for Neural Rendering, while areas closer to the edges are processed at a lower resolution. Your peripheral vision generally picks up less detail in those areas.

With the default settings on a 7680 × 2160 display, Neural Rendering processes approximately 71% of the original pixel count. That percentage refers specifically to this processing step, not the game's entire rendering workload. It therefore does not translate directly into an equivalent percentage increase in frame rate.

From 49 to around 80 fps

The creator reports on Reddit that The Witcher 3 went from 49 to around 80 fps with the mod. That test used a GeForce RTX 4090, a resolution of 7680 × 2160 and 2x multipass. That is a gain of over 60%, but it is the developer's own measurement rather than a comprehensive, independent benchmark.

• 7680 × 2160: with the default settings, around 71% of the pixels remain for Neural Rendering to process.
• 4K: 93% of the pixels are still processed with the default settings.
• 3440 × 1440: the mod disables itself with the default settings.
• Adjustable: users with 16:9 and 21:9 displays can shrink the central zone to further reduce processing at the edges.

The striking gain at 7680 × 2160 is therefore not a reliable indicator of what to expect on every monitor. The size of the central zone determines how much room there is to reduce quality at the edges.

Experimental and not universally compatible

The add-on is a prerelease and has so far been tested in one game. It also only works when Neural Rendering runs after upscaling. This means it cannot be combined with the so-called Neural Upstream trick.

The graphics card used also comes with a caveat. DLSS 5 officially supports only the RTX 50 series; support for the RTX 40 series is planned, but has no release date yet. The result on the RTX 4090 was achieved using a modified DLL. You should also expect softer details around the edges and a brief flicker when adjusting the foveation sliders.

What does this mean for you?

If you have a very wide monitor and enjoy experimenting with rendering settings, this offers an interesting trade-off between image quality and speed. For a typical 4K or 3440 × 1440 setup, the benefits are much more limited with the default settings. Our advice: focus on whether the softer edges bother you while playing, and do not base a graphics card purchase on this single mod test.

Source: TechPowerUp