Modding stands as one of the standout advantages of PC gaming, offering players an unrivaled degree of customization that consoles simply cannot match. The open architecture of the PC platform fosters vibrant communities dedicated to creating and sharing mods. These enhancements not only breathe new life into both classic and contemporary titles but also tackle bugs and optimize graphics and performance well past the developers’ initial release. A prime example is Nexus Mods, which hosts an extensive library of user-generated content exceeding hundreds of thousands of mods, enabling players to enhance their gaming experiences long after official support has waned.
Among the various categories of mods, performance enhancements are witnessing a notable surge in popularity. One particularly exciting development is known as DLSS Enabler, created by modder artur07305 and publicly released on January 15, 2024. Rather than introducing new quests or environments, this mod specifically targets the technical elements, including performance improvements and visual fidelity.
DLSS Enabler empowers users to leverage advanced NVIDIA technologies—such as temporal upscaling and frame generation—in any DirectX 12 game that supports DLSS 2 or DLSS 3, provided the user’s GPU is compatible with DirectX 12 (feature level 12_0 or higher is strongly recommended).This mod is designed to offer enhanced motion fluidity, higher frame rates, and richer lighting effects without requiring the very latest hardware, making high-end gaming more achievable for a broader audience. This guide aims to help you maximize the experience offered by DLSS Enabler across various modern titles.
Understanding DLSS Enabler
To appreciate what DLSS Enabler brings to the table, it’s important to note that it enhances performance and visual quality in modern DirectX 12 games that support DLSS 2+ through advanced Render Tool integrations. The mod achieves this by injecting features not natively supported by the game or the GPU.
Starting with version 4.0.0.2, new functionalities have been introduced to amplify visual fidelity and fluidity. These improvements are designed to work harmoniously, giving gamers greater control over their experiences, regardless of their system’s capabilities.
Enhanced Frame Generation
Multi-Frame Generation (MFG) expands on traditional frame generation capabilities by allowing support for both 3X and 4X modes in suitable titles. These new modes can significantly enhance smoothness, particularly on high-refresh-rate monitors. However, they are specifically beneficial for those who own GPUs lacking their own frame generation support.
The availability of Multi Frame Generation hinges on the game’s native compatibility with the feature. The extended modes necessitate the 4.0.0.2+ Tech Preview builds of the mod, although recent iterations allow overriding frame generation factors in games that may not support DLSS MFG, provided the game uses NVIDIA Streamline DLL files from version 2.7.2 or higher. As noted by the mod’s creator, enhancing visual smoothness can substantially impact GPU-bound scenes, enabling even demanding games to exhibit a more fluid visual presentation.
Introducing SSRTGI
Screen-Space Ray Traced Global Illumination (SSRTGI) offers a form of simulated ray-tracing, enriching indirect illumination and enhancing overall scene depth without necessitating GPUs with dedicated RT support. Dubbed “High-Performance SSRTGI, ” this feature delivers richer lighting while maintaining low overhead, improving aspects such as color bounce and atmospheric depth. Its impact varies based on the individual game’s rendering pipeline and the efficacy of the mod’s injection hooks.
Dynamic Frame Generation Unleashed
Dynamic Frame Generation, included in the experimental DLSS Enabler branch, adapts the frame generation factor to consistently achieve a predetermined framerate. Instead of applying a constant frame generation ratio, this feature optimally generates interpolated frames only when advantageous for maintaining the set framerate. This technology, akin to NVIDIA’s planned Dynamic Multi Frame Generation, aims to find an ideal balance of fluidity, responsiveness, and visual quality.
OptiScaler Integration for Universal Upscaling
DLSS Enabler employs OptiScaler as a standardized upscaling backend, facilitating user customization of various modern upscalers while integrating them smoothly with DLSS functionality. This allows players to utilize advanced temporal reconstruction even in games that lack native support, or allowing unsupported upscaling solutions to function effectively, utilizing inputs from contemporary game engines.
Installing DLSS Enabler
The installation process for DLSS Enabler varies based on the version. Stable releases come with an installer, while the latest Tech Preview builds necessitate manual configuration. Always consult the official installation guide available on the Nexus Mods page.
1. Stable Releases (3.x and Below)
For stable versions of DLSS Enabler (3.02.000.0 and earlier), a standard installer facilitates setup for users.
- Download the Installer: Navigate to the Main Files section on Nexus Mods to download the installer package (e.g., DLSS Enabler 3.02.000.0 Installer).
- Run the Setup Application: Execute the installer, which will guide you through the installation similar to a typical Windows setup wizard.
- Select Your Target Game(s): When prompted, lead the installer to the directory of the DirectX 12 game you wish to enable DLSS for. The installer will also scan for compatible titles.
- Complete Installation: After selecting the correct game folder, follow further prompts to finish the process. This will place all necessary DLLs and configuration files in appropriate locations.
- Launch the Game: Once installation concludes, start the game as you normally would. The mod’s features should be automatically activated.
This installer facilitates basic DLSS upscaling and frame generation support across numerous DirectX 12 titles, compatible with both NVIDIA and AMD/Intel GPUs.
2. Tech Preview Builds (Version 4.0.0.2+ Manual Install)
The Tech Preview versions introduce advanced features like Multi Frame Generation (3×/4×), Adaptive Frame Generation, SSRTGI, and enhanced temporal upscaling with OptiScaler. Installation is manual and slightly more complex.
- Download the unified DLSS Enabler DLL file: Go to the “Files“tab → “Update Files“section on Nexus Mods and select the appropriate DLL for your 4.0.0.x build.
- Choose an Appropriate DLL Filename: The mod documentation specifies names like “version.dll”, “winmm.dll”, “dbghelp.dll”, etc. Use the one that aligns with your specific game to ensure correct injection.
- Place the Renamed DLL in the Game Folder: Copy the renamed DLL into the same directory as the game’s executable.
- Remove Previous Versions: If you have earlier versions of DLSS Enabler in the game folder, delete them to avoid conflicts.
- Launch the Game and Access the Mod Menu: Start the game normally, and when in-game, press the tilde key (`) to access the mod’s settings.
The Tech Preview builds consolidate all features (Multi/Adaptive Frame Generation, OptiScaler backend, and SSRTGI) into a single DLL file, utilizing manual placement rather than an installer.
3. Tips & Precautions
Stability: Tech Preview builds forego the installer, which may introduce stability issues, rendering them experimental.
Compatibility: Verify that the game supports DirectX 12 and DLSS 2/3. DLSS Enabler is limited to these titles. Additionally, the mod’s Multi Frame Generation operates only in games compliant with NVIDIA Streamline version 2.7.2 or later.
Anti-Cheat: Caution is advised regarding multiplayer games, as some anti-cheat systems may flag DLL injections as violations.
Testing DLSS Enabler’s Capabilities
This section assesses the performance of DLSS Enabler’s latest features in Cyberpunk 2077, renowned for its demanding graphics and supported extensively throughout the mod’s development. Given that the game includes built-in upscaling and frame generation options, it serves as an ideal test case for evaluating features like Screen-Space Ray Traced Global Illumination (SSRTGI), Multi Frame Generation, and Dynamic Frame Generation. Our tests will focus on visual quality, performance, and gameplay smoothness under typical conditions.
Testing was conducted on a system with the following specifications:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-14700K
- RAM: 32 GB DDR5-7000 CL34
- Storage: 2 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
- Operating System: Windows 11 25H2
- All system firmware, drivers, BIOS, and OS updates were fully up-to-date prior to testing
The testing will occur on a monitor with a resolution of 2560×1440 (1440p) and a max refresh rate of 240 Hz with VSync enabled, aiming for clean, tear-free footage. The game settings are configured to High, with DLSS set to Quality mode, and ray tracing enabled for global illumination, shadows, and reflections, complemented by DLSS Ray Reconstruction for proper denoising—except for comparisons with SSRTGI, which requires comparing ray tracing effects with both options enabled and disabled.
The Tech Preview build of DLSS Enabler used is version 4.0.0.11.
After extracting the mod archive, we copied the “version.dll“file into the game folder located at “Cyberpunk 2077\bin\x64“, which contains the executable:
We also updated Cyberpunk 2077’s NVIDIA Streamline DLL files to enhance compatibility with Multi Frame Generation and Dynamic Frame Generation while addressing potential bugs from legacy Streamline versions. You can download the latest stable version (2.10.3.0) of the Streamline DLLs from the following link:
Copy the relevant Streamline DLL files discovered in the “bin“folder from the downloaded Streamline archive into “Cyberpunk 2077\bin\x64“, replacing any existing files. We recommend backing up the game’s default Streamline files in case any issues arise or if you decide to revert to the original state.
Next, we will launch the game to verify that the mod is functioning correctly.
After entering the game, access the mod’s settings menu by pressing the tilde (`) key:
The settings menu contains four primary sections:
- GRAPHICS: This section allows not only the activation of Screen-Space Ray Traced Global Illumination (SSRTGI) but also includes options to adjust its quality and performance settings. A work-in-progress Ghostbuster feature is being developed to minimize ghosting artifacts from injected interpolated frames.
- PERFORMANCE: This section encompasses multiple functions, including enabling/disabling VSync, setting framerate limits, and managing NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency behavior. Players can also toggle the Dynamic Frame Generation feature and manage Multi Frame Generation multipliers, useful for games supporting DLSS but lacking MFG.
- INTERFACE: This section presents performance data and information relevant to the game, such as framerate, latency, frame generation multipliers, and the selected upscaling mode.
- DEBUG: This segment contains diagnostic tools for monitoring mod stability and performance. It can be ignored unless the user has an interest in debugging or testing the mod directly.
One notable feature of DLSS Enabler is its ability to “fool”compatible titles into recognizing your GPU as DLSS Multi Frame Generation-capable, even when it’s not:
It is essential to clarify, however, that this representation of DLSS Multi Frame Generation is a modded feature rather than the genuine technology, as it is based on modifications of AMD’s FSR Frame Generation 3.1 system.
Now let’s delve into testing the mod’s distinguished features, starting with SSRTGI.
SSRTGI Performance Evaluation
In this examination, we will compare the SSRTGI feature of DLSS Enabler against Cyberpunk 2077’s standard rasterized and ray-traced lighting solutions, assessing both visual impact and performance in GPU-constrained settings at 1440p with DLSS SR set to DLAA (native resolution). Detailed image comparisons will be available via the following link:
The comparisons reveal that DLSS Enabler’s SSRTGI can enhance indirect lighting effects, such as bounce lighting, compared with the game’s basic solutions. However, this improvement comes at a significant cost to performance, especially when using Ultra SSRTGI mode, which matches the demands of Cyberpunk’s Psycho ray-traced GI available for high-end RT GPUs. For users with less powerful GPUs or those lacking hardware support, we recommend opting for the Medium SSRTGI setting for a balanced trade-off.
Performance of Multi Frame Generation
We will present video footage capturing gameplay across four frame generation settings in Cyberpunk 2077, illustrating the native NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation 2X mode and three corresponding Multi Frame Generation modes (2X, 3X, 4X) enabled by DLSS Enabler, even for GPUs that do not support NVIDIA’s specific MFG.
Native DLSS Frame Generation 2X Mode
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DLSS Enabler MFG 2X Mode
Watch Video
DLSS Enabler MFG 3X Mode
Watch Video
DLSS Enabler MFG 4X Mode
Watch Video
The presented videos distinctly illustrate the ability of DLSS Enabler’s MFG feature to elevate visual smoothness, as demonstrated by decent consistency in frame pacing and latency. The MFG 3X and 4X modes, however, reveal noticeable shadow flickering and artifacts compared to both DLSS Enabler’s MFG 2X functionality and NVIDIA’s native DLSS Frame Generation 2X mode, which maintains the highest visual stability. Nonetheless, the mod’s capacity to produce additional interpolated frames with acceptable pacing and responsiveness showcases its impressive capabilities, especially considering the difficulties NVIDIA faces in ensuring smooth pacing for its DLSS MFG AI-generated frames. Furthermore, the handling of user interface elements indicates a significant achievement, as this remains a challenge even for proprietary solutions like NVIDIA’s FG/MFG.
Dynamic Frame Generation Challenges
Unfortunately, Dynamic Frame Generation could not be effectively tested in Cyberpunk 2077 as it consistently defaulted to utilizing 4X Multi Frame Generation mode, irrespective of the FPS thresholds specified. This could suggest a bug present in the current version of the mod, and it would be advisable for the mod creator to optimize this feature to target a single arbitrary framerate limit—like with VSync paired with Reflex Low Latency settings—instead of allowing it to operate within a variable frame generation range.
Functionality of OptiScaler Integration
The inclusion of OptiScaler within DLSS Enabler facilitates a greater degree of tweaking for frame generation algorithms, NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency configurations, and other specific settings, such as controls over temporal upscaling technologies and rendering techniques like sharpness and anisotropic filtering.
Common DLSS Enabler Troubleshooting
Upon the successful installation of DLSS Enabler, a playful OptiScaler splash message should greet you upon launch. Following this, the mod’s menu can be accessed by pressing the tilde (`) key. If this does not occur, it may indicate that the mod did not initialize correctly or the game lacked DLSS 2/3 compatibility. The quickest method to diagnose this is to inspect the generated “dlss-enabler.log“file located in the game’s executable folder. This file provides information on whether the mod attached correctly, your GPU recognition, and core component loading (FrameGeneration, OptiScaler, and NvAPI emulation).Look for logging entries indicating success, as their absence correlates with issues in accessing features within the game menus.
Updating the NVIDIA Streamline DLLs in the game is critical for utilizing Multi-Frame Generation or Dynamic Frame Generation features, as this not only ensures functionality but might also rectify older version bugs affecting mod interactions.
In case of persistent unavailability of frame generation or SSRTGI, ensure that the game supports DLSS2 or DLSS3 natively and confirm that you are utilizing the corresponding Tech Preview build that encompasses these features. Each title’s unique graphics rendering pipeline significantly affects feature availability, in addition to whether DLSS hooks get intercepted early enough during startup.
Users have reported issues such as stuttering or instability when alt-tabbing or visual glitches while frame generation is active. Often, temporarily disabling frame generation alleviates such problems, and a complete game restart may reset the rendering pipeline effectively. Other common problems, like missing options or game crashes, usually stem from incorrect DLL placement/naming or ineffective compatibility with specific games, making it vital to remove older versions and ensure the correct naming conventions (such as version.dll or dbghelp.dll) are properly utilized.
Final Insights
DLSS Enabler stands as a pioneering community-led initiative aimed at democratizing advanced upscaling and frame generation capabilities for PC gamers. By merging the well-regarded OptiScaler mod, integrating NvAPI emulation, and offering extended frame generation features, it enables users to enhance gaming performance and visuals in demanding titles such as Cyberpunk 2077—even on hardware that may not support cutting-edge software innovations from major GPU manufacturers. The latest enhancements—like Multi Frame Generation, Dynamic Frame Generation, and Screen-Space Ray Traced Global Illumination—exemplify the capability of community tools to innovate within contemporary graphics rendering frameworks, broadening access to cutting-edge features across both NVIDIA and non-NVIDIA platforms.
However, it’s crucial to recognize that DLSS Enabler remains a technical project, deeply reliant on the specific DLSS implementations across various titles and the user’s familiarity with troubleshooting. Performance outcomes can vary widely based on game specifications, GPU capabilities, and drivers, so thorough testing and realistic expectations are paramount. For single-player users seeking greater performance and smoother visuals, this mod indeed represents a powerful addition to the gaming toolkit.
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