Nvidia DLSS 4.5 Now Available for All RTX GPUs, Including My RTX 3070 Laptop

Nvidia is rolling out DLSS 4.5 for RTX graphics cards, and it’s not just the latest 50-series models that are getting this upgrade. This update is reaching back to 2018 hardware, including my RTX 3070 laptop, which struggles under the weight of too many Chrome tabs.

First revealed at CES 2026, DLSS 4.5 is now accessible through the Nvidia App for any “RTX” GPU. This means you can leverage AI upscaling to enhance lighting, texture edges, and motion clarity. However, while you’re getting access to “DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution,” it’s important to note that features like Frame Generation won’t be available for older GPUs, as the Tensor cores in RTX 20 and 30-series cards don’t support the necessary FP8/FP4 floating-point operations.

Nvidia has pointed out that the absence of FP8 support in these older models may lead to performance drawbacks when using DLSS 4.5’s Super Resolution. In simpler terms, while AI upscaling can help maintain frame rates, using the latest version might not yield the best results. If you encounter issues, Nvidia suggests reverting to the 4.0 “Model K” by selecting the override option in the app. At least the choice is there.

This update marks another step in Nvidia’s mission to integrate AI into PC gaming. The company has been championing DLSS long before AI became a buzzword in various industries. Now, it positions itself more as an AI innovator than just a gaming GPU manufacturer, which was evident in its CES announcement focusing on this feature rather than unveiling new graphics cards.

DLSS has the potential to help gamers with older hardware achieve playable frame rates across their Steam libraries, and the inclusion of 4.5 support for previous generations is a positive development. However, some gamers still express concerns, labeling the results as “fake frames,” suggesting that AI-generated images paired with native visuals create an illusion of increased frame rates.

AI tools like DLSS are becoming standard across the gaming landscape, with even the Nintendo Switch 2 utilizing a version of the upscaler to achieve 4K visuals. Meanwhile, Sony and AMD are collaborating, with the PS5 increasingly relying on PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) for performance enhancements similar to the FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) technology found in Radeon GPUs.

Is the shift towards default AI upscaling a negative trend? While it offers immediate benefits, the environmental impact of the tech industry and rising RAM prices pose significant concerns for gamers looking to upgrade their rigs. Nonetheless, as these tools become more integrated into GPUs and consoles, they are becoming increasingly difficult to avoid.