Modder Offloads DLSS 5 to Secondary GPU for Up to 127% FPS Boost
A developer has created a ReShade add-on that runs Nvidia's DLSS 5 Neural Rendering on a second graphics card, leaving the primary GPU to handle game rendering. The technique, demonstrated with Cyberpunk 2077, can boost neural-rendered frame rates by up to 127%, though it requires a second display and doubles latency. The project is available on GitHub for users to try.
The mod, called MGPU Bridge, exploits DLSS 5's post-frame nature. It creates a separate Direct3D 12 device on a secondary graphics card, transferring each finished frame for neural processing. The result displays on the second card's monitor, so nothing returns to the primary GPU, which also runs cooler.
Testing with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D and dual RTX 5060 Ti cards showed major gains. In Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p, Ultra Performance mode jumped from roughly 70 frames per second on the render card to 157 when offloaded. The developer notes neural processing costs stay constant regardless of upscaling mode, making offloading more beneficial as render workloads shrink.
This technique could democratize high-end upscaling for users with older or mid-range primary GPUs, provided they have a spare card and monitor. However, the doubled latency and need for a second display may limit its appeal to specific enthusiasts, possibly affecting competitive gamers negatively. It could also influence future software design, encouraging developers to consider multi-GPU offloading for post-processing, though hardware costs and driver support remain hurdles for mainstream adoption.