DLSS 5 on AMD Radeon: Unofficial Mod Setup, GPU Support and Performance Caveats

What the project is​

The project is called DLSS-NR on AMD. Developer Daniel Blanco released it as his own implementation that lets DLSS 5 Neural Rendering run on current Radeon graphics cards. It is an unofficial community implementation, and neither Nvidia nor AMD supports it.

The repository answers the "translation layer" question directly. It says the DLSS DLL comes from the user. The README's FAQ says it is not a compatibility layer. It describes a ground-up reimplementation of the DLSS neural network runtimes for AMD architectures, using HIP kernels, memory layouts and game integration. It also says no Nvidia code is included or translated at runtime. Those are the developer's own claims. I have no independent code audit to point to.

There is a caveat on that point. One write-up said users must supply the Nvidia DLL and also "trust a closed executable." Another contributor's open-source runtime, AMDNR, is selectable from the same launcher and offers similar functionality with a fully auditable codebase. If you care about auditability, that difference matters.

Official DLSS 5 versus the mod​

Nvidia's research page describes DLSS 5 as a real-time generative rendering stage in spirit. In its own words, it generates the final displayed appearance rather than reconstructing a higher-cost reference output. Nvidia says it runs locally in game pipelines on GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs. Nothing in that description makes AMD hardware officially supported.

Timing is worth getting right. Nvidia announced DLSS 5 in March 2026 and said it would arrive in the fall. TechTimes reports that Blanco published the first build on September 3, 2026. It says that was the same day Nvidia officially launched DLSS 5 with NBA 2K27. That first build did only one thing: get Neural Rendering running on RDNA 4 hardware.

Supported GPUs and how the scope has grown​

The current README lists these cards:

• Radeon RX 9000 (RDNA 4)
• Radeon RX 7000 (RDNA 3)
• Radeon RX 6000 (RDNA 2)

The README says version 0.8.0 ported the main DLSS features: Super Resolution, Ray Reconstruction, Frame Generation and Neural Rendering. These work on RDNA 4 and RDNA 3. RDNA 2 is still in testing. It supports Neural Rendering for now, and more features are planned.

Club386 reports that v0.8.0 enables DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution (Models M and L), Ray Reconstruction (Model F), and up to 4x MFG in supported games. That is far wider than the narrow DLSS 5 Neural Rendering demo the headline implies.

What you need​

The current README lists these requirements:

• OS: Windows 11.
• Game: a DirectX 12 title that uses DLSS, FSR or XeSS. Vulkan and Linux support are planned.
• GPU: a Radeon RX 9000, 7000 or 6000 series card.
• Driver: Adrenalin 26.1.1 or later.
• Files: your own legitimately obtained copy of the DLLs. For Neural Rendering that is nvngx_dlssnr.dll, build 310.8.0.0 or later, taken from a game that supports DLSS 5.

Optionally, you can also import nvngx_dlssg.dll, nvngx_dlss.dll and nvngx_dlssd.dll. These enable Frame Generation, Super Resolution and Ray Reconstruction.

Setup steps​

Based on the current README:

1. Download the NeuralHub setup executable from the latest GitHub release and run it.
2. Import nvngx_dlssnr.dll into NeuralHub, plus any optional DLLs you want. FSR is bundled.
3. Let NeuralHub scan for games.
4. Install the mod loader in each game you want to use, and configure the DLSS or FSR features.
5. Start the game and enable DLSS, FSR or XeSS. Any quality mode or native antialiasing works.
6. Press End to open the in-game overlay.

Success looks like the overlay opening in-game, with the DLSS features you chose active. Frame Generation is the awkward one. The README says it currently requires spoofing and DLSS-FG inputs.

Setup details have changed between versions. Earlier READMEs described a standalone installer, FSR as the required game path, and narrower GPU support. Check the README and release notes for the build you download, because older guides may no longer apply.

Common failure points​

• Anti-cheat: the README says games with anti-cheat will block the DLL. Use the mod only with anti-cheat off, which in practice means single-player titles. Do not try it in online games.
• Wrong DLL build: Neural Rendering needs build 310.8.0.0 or later. A DLSS 5-capable game is the stated source.
• Old driver: you need Adrenalin 26.1.1 or later.
• Problems you can't solve: the project asks users to open a GitHub issue and attach dlssnr_on_amd.log.

Performance: the catch​

The numbers vary a lot. They come from different builds, settings and games, so treat them as separate reports, not a controlled comparison.

• The developer: the README claims 90-100 FPS at 1080p on an RX 9070 XT, using the full HT model. The stated goal is to match an RTX 5070 Ti.
• The AOL/BGR piece: Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K with ray tracing on Ultra fell from 61 FPS to 9 FPS on an RX 9070 XT with Neural Rendering on.
• Earlier OC3D coverage: an early build ran Cyberpunk 2077 at 28 FPS at 1080p on a Radeon RX 9070 XT.
• Igor's Lab and Hardware Busters: Igor's Lab reports Hardware Busters measured around 33 FPS at 1080p on the RX 9070 XT.
• User reports: one summary cites Reddit users describing an average 25% performance drop in Cyberpunk 2077 path tracing at 1440p. That is anecdotal.

My reading is that the project is improving quickly, but the developer's best-case figure hasn't been independently confirmed. The mixed reports fit Club386's note that it may not be as stable or optimised as Nvidia's official implementation. The BGR piece's "tech demo" label seems fair for heavy workloads.

The BGR piece says Nvidia's Tensor cores are missing on AMD hardware. OC3D takes a different view. It suggests the tech runs on generic AI compute and doesn't need specialised hardware features. Both views may hold some truth. Dedicated hardware can run the workload faster, but the mod shows the model can run elsewhere, just more slowly.

What this does not mean​

• Not official support. Neither company endorses it. The README disclaims any affiliation and provides the software as-is, at your own risk.
• Not an RDNA 5 preview. The BGR piece repeats rumours about an AMD "Neural Lighting" feature on RDNA 5. I could not verify those with AMD material. TechTimes notes AMD has not officially announced Neural Lighting or any DLSS 5 equivalent, and RDNA 5 has no confirmed launch date.
• Not a free pass on licensing. The legal notes say DLSS is an Nvidia trademark and you must bring your own DLLs. That is a gray area you should weigh yourself.

Should you try it?​

If you have an RX 9000 or 7000 series card, want to experiment and play single-player DirectX 12 games, it is a fun project. Treat it as experimental, since the 9 FPS Cyberpunk result shows how hard it can fall over. It is not something to rely on in competitive or anti-cheat-protected games. Keep the supported FSR 4.x or in-game upscalers as your fallback. Read the release notes before every update, because requirements and setup have shifted several times in under two months.