How we test and source DLSS 5 guides

Every page shows what its answer rests on, in a line of badges under the title. This page explains those badges, how results are measured, and what we will not publish.

What the evidence badges mean

• Tested by us — run on our own Windows PC, with the GPU, driver, tool version, route, resolution and date listed next to the result. As of September 29, 2026 no result on this site comes from our own hardware yet; every result says where it comes from.
• Developer notes — taken from the tool's own README, release notes or maintainer replies on GitHub, for the version named on the page.
• Community reports — traceable player reports (GitHub issues, forum threads, in-app reports) with a link. We count only reports we can open and read.
• Video demo — a creator's recorded demonstration. It shows what happened on that PC, with that version, on that day.
• Not yet verified — a common question we cannot answer with evidence yet. We say so rather than guess.

Works, works with caveats, does not work

• Works: the effect visibly toggles on and off, and the game runs for ten minutes without a crash.
• Works with caveats: it runs, but with a notable problem such as flicker, broken HUD elements, crashes in some scenes, or a required workaround.
• Does not work: no visible effect, the install fails, or the game crashes.

How we measure performance

1. Restore the game's original files and confirm it runs normally.
2. Pick a repeatable 60-second path or a fixed saved scene, and note resolution, preset and upscaler mode.
3. Record three runs without DLSS 5: average FPS, 1% low FPS and frame time (PresentMon or NVIDIA FrameView).
4. Install one route with one tool, confirm the effect is active, and repeat the same three runs.
5. Capture on/off screenshots of the identical frame.
6. Restore the originals and check the game is back to normal. Failures are published as failures, with the error text.

What we will not publish

• FPS numbers, test results or player reviews we did not measure or cannot link to.
• Download files or DLLs. Every download link goes to the developer's own GitHub, and we archive official hashes so you can verify a file.
• Advice to use mods in online games with anti-cheat. See the ban-risk guide.

Independence and corrections

This is an unofficial guide. It is not affiliated with NVIDIA, with the DLSS 5 Swapper developer, or with any other tool listed here. Tool availability and versions are checked automatically on the status page. If you find a mistake, email [email protected]; corrections are applied and dated on the affected page.