NVIDIA Reflex 2: NVIDIA has officially launched Reflex 2, the next evolution of its input latency reduction technology, bringing significant improvements with the introduction of Frame Warp. However, if you own an older RTX GPU, there’s some bad news: Reflex 2 will initially be exclusive to the new GeForce RTX 50 “Blackwell” series at launch. While NVIDIA has confirmed future support for older RTX GPUs, the company has not provided a timeline for when that will happen.
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NVIDIA Reflex 2: Exclusive to RTX 50 Series at Launch, Support for Older GPUs Coming Later
What is NVIDIA Reflex 2 and Frame Warp?
NVIDIA Reflex 2 builds upon the first-generation Reflex technology, which was designed to minimize system latency by ensuring that frames are generated and processed more efficiently. The biggest upgrade in Reflex 2 is Frame Warp, a feature that dynamically updates the frame according to the latest mouse input, reducing input lag significantly.
Traditionally, games suffer from input latency due to CPU-GPU processing delays. Reflex 2 introduces Frame Warp, which allows the CPU to generate a frame and update it in real time based on the latest mouse input before it reaches the display. This ensures that what you see on screen is as close as possible to your real-time actions, improving responsiveness in fast-paced games like Valorant and The Finals.
Why is Reflex 2 Limited to RTX 50 GPUs at Launch?
At launch, NVIDIA Reflex 2 with Frame Warp will only be supported on RTX 50 series GPUs (desktop and laptop) running NVIDIA driver 570+. The company has not specified a technical reason for this exclusivity, but it likely relates to DLSS 4’s Machine Frame Generation, which also plays a role in latency reduction.
Since DLSS 4 generates additional AI-based frames, NVIDIA might be optimizing Reflex 2 specifically for RTX 50 GPUs to balance performance and latency before rolling out the feature to older GPUs.
Will Older RTX GPUs Get Reflex 2?
Yes, but not right away. NVIDIA has confirmed that Reflex 2 will eventually support older RTX GPUs, but the company has not given a concrete release date. This means that if you’re using an RTX 40, 30, or 20 series GPU, you’ll have to wait until NVIDIA releases an update.
How Much Latency Does Reflex 2 Reduce?
Based on NVIDIA’s internal testing, Reflex 2 with Frame Warp can reduce input latency by up to 75% compared to a standard rendering pipeline. For example, in The Finals, using a Ryzen 9 9950X with an RTX 5070 at 4K resolution:
- Without Reflex 2: 56ms latency
- With Reflex 1: 27ms latency
- With Reflex 2: 14ms latency
These numbers highlight the significant improvement that Reflex 2 brings to competitive gaming, where every millisecond counts.
Which Games Support Reflex 2 at Launch?
As of now, The Finals and Valorant are the only two games that will support Reflex 2 at launch. More games are expected to add support in the future, especially as Reflex 2 becomes available on older GPUs.
Final Thoughts: Is Reflex 2 Worth the Upgrade?
If you’re a competitive gamer looking for the lowest possible latency, Reflex 2 is a game-changer. However, since it’s limited to RTX 50 GPUs at launch, those with older RTX cards will have to wait for future updates. NVIDIA’s decision to limit Reflex 2 initially might be frustrating, but it ensures that the technology is fully optimized before rolling out to a wider audience.
For now, if you want Reflex 2 with Frame Warp, upgrading to an RTX 50 series GPU is your only option. Otherwise, stay tuned for future updates on when older RTX GPUs will receive support.
FAQs
What is NVIDIA Reflex 2?
Reflex 2 is an upgraded input latency reduction technology featuring Frame Warp for improved responsiveness.
Which GPUs support Reflex 2 at launch?
Only RTX 50 series GPUs with NVIDIA driver 570+ support Reflex 2 at launch
