If you jumped into NBA 2K27 on PC and opened the video settings, you probably ran straight into a wall of DLSS options and wondered which ones actually help.

You are not alone. It is the single most asked question about the game's graphics, and for good reason: 2K27 launched as one of the showcase titles for NVIDIA's newest DLSS technology, so there is more in that menu than ever.

Here is a plain English breakdown of what each setting does, who can use it, and how to set it up for the best mix of sharp visuals and smooth frame rate.

What DLSS Actually Does in NBA 2K27

DLSS is NVIDIA's suite of AI powered graphics features, and it only works on GeForce RTX graphics cards. In NBA 2K27 it shows up as several separate options, and they do different jobs. Getting them straight is half the battle.

• DLSS Super Resolution. The main one. It renders the game at a lower resolution and uses AI to upscale it to your screen, giving you a big frame rate boost with very little loss in sharpness. This is the setting most people want on.
• DLAA. Deep Learning Anti Aliasing. The opposite trade. Instead of boosting FPS, it uses the AI to make the image as clean and sharp as possible at your native resolution. Use it if you already have frame rate to spare and want the best possible look.
• Frame Generation and Multi Frame Generation. These insert AI generated frames between real ones to make the game look smoother. Frame Generation is available on RTX 40 series cards, and Multi Frame Generation, which inserts several frames, is exclusive to RTX 50 series cards.
• NVIDIA Reflex. Reduces input lag so the game feels responsive. Keep it on, and it becomes especially important when you use Frame Generation.
• DLSS 5 Neural Rendering. The brand new headline feature, sometimes called 3D Guided Neural Rendering. It uses AI to produce dramatically more lifelike lighting. It is stunning, and it is exclusive to RTX 50 series cards, and it is extremely demanding.

How to Turn DLSS On

Before anything else, update your graphics driver. The DLSS 5 features in particular need the GeForce Game Ready Driver that launched alongside the game in early September 2026, and an up to date driver smooths out a lot of launch issues regardless.

1. Open the NVIDIA app or GeForce Experience and install the latest Game Ready Driver.
2. Launch NBA 2K27 and go to the Settings, then the Video or Graphics section.
3. Find the DLSS options and enable DLSS Super Resolution, then set the mode (Quality is the best starting point).
4. Turn on NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency.
5. Leave Frame Generation and Neural Rendering off for now, get a stable base first, then add them one at a time.

The Best DLSS Settings, at a Glance

Here is what I would set, and why. Change one option at a time so you can actually feel what each one does.

A Warning About Neural Rendering

The DLSS 5 Neural Rendering is the most exciting and the most misunderstood setting in the game, so let me be blunt about it. It is genuinely beautiful, the lighting it produces is a real step up, but it is punishingly heavy.

Early testing found it could cut frame rates dramatically, in one case by around 73% on an RTX 5080, which is one of the most powerful cards you can buy.

So treat it as a luxury. If you have an RTX 50XX card and a high refresh display with frames to burn, try it and enjoy the eye candy. For everyone else, leaving it off is not missing out, it is being sensible.

Does DLSS Fix the Stutter?

A quick note, because it comes up alongside the DLSS questions a lot.

• In our NBA 2K27 review I noticed the occasional tiny stutter even on high end hardware. DLSS and Frame Generation can make motion feel smoother, but they are not a stutter fix on their own.
• If you are getting slight hitches, the usual culprits are worth checking first: let the game finish building its shaders on first launch, which takes about fifteen to twenty minutes.
• Then keep your driver current, and consider capping your frame rate a few frames below your monitor's refresh so the game runs steadily rather than spiking. Those do more for smoothness than any single DLSS toggle.

If You Are Not on NVIDIA

One honest caveat: DLSS is NVIDIA only, so all of the above needs a GeForce RTX card. If you are on an AMD or Intel GPU, those DLSS options simply will not appear for you, and you will be leaning on your card's own upscaling and the standard graphics settings instead.

The good news from our testing is that NBA 2K27 is well optimized overall, so a solid non RTX card can still run it nicely without any of the AI features.

FAQ

Does NBA 2K27 support DLSS?

Yes. On NVIDIA GeForce RTX cards it supports DLSS Super Resolution, DLAA, Frame Generation and Multi Frame Generation, NVIDIA Reflex, and the new DLSS 5 Neural Rendering.

What is the best DLSS setting in NBA 2K27?

For most players, DLSS Super Resolution on Quality plus NVIDIA Reflex. That gives a big frame rate boost with almost no loss in image quality. Add Frame Generation only once the base game already feels smooth.

What is DLSS 5 Neural Rendering?

It is a new AI lighting feature, also called 3D Guided Neural Rendering, exclusive to RTX 50 series cards. It makes lighting far more lifelike but is very demanding and can sharply reduce frame rate, so leave it off unless you have performance to spare.

Should I turn on Frame Generation?

Only after your base frame rate is already smooth. Frame Generation adds AI frames for smoother motion, but if you switch it on to rescue a low frame rate it can feel laggy. Keep NVIDIA Reflex on when you use it.

Why does NBA 2K27 tank my FPS when I enable Neural Rendering?

Because DLSS 5 Neural Rendering is extremely demanding. Reports found it can cut frame rate by large amounts, up to around 73% even on an RTX 5080. It is a high end luxury setting, not a default.

Do I need a new driver for DLSS in NBA 2K27?

Yes, especially for the DLSS 5 features. Install the latest NVIDIA GeForce Game Ready Driver, which launched alongside the game in early September 2026.

Related Reads

• NBA 2K27 Review: Great Basketball for the Casual Fan
• NBA 2K26 PC: How to Fix Crashes, Stutter, and Low FPS
• NBA 2K26 PC Review: Gameplay, MyCareer, Verdict
• NBA 2K27 PC: How to Fix Crashes, Stutter, and Low FPS
• NBA 2K27 DLSS Greyed Out? Which GeForce Cards Support It
• DLSS 5 Explained: What It Actually Does (And Why RTX 40 Owners Are Waiting)