Best Graphics Cards for Cyberpunk 2077 Path Tracing

Millions of gamers were excited for Cyberpunk 2077’s stunning visuals. But, the launch didn’t meet the hype. Almost three years later, CD Projekt RED added full path tracing to Cyberpunk 2077. This made Night City look as amazing as it should have been from the start.

This new ray tracing tech comes with a price tag. Just having a top-notch GPU isn’t enough. This section will guide you on the best graphics cards for Cyberpunk 2077’s path tracing.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

The RTX 4080 is recommended as the smartest pick for high-end GPUs for Cyberpunk 2077.
The RTX 4090 is suggested for those willing to spend more for the most powerful GPU on the market.
The RTX 4070 Ti is identified as a budget-friendly option for high-end Cyberpunk 2077 performance.
DLSS 3 Frame Generation in combination with Ray Tracing can significantly boost FPS in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.
VRAM requirements in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty can reach up to 18 GB, necessitating a RTX 4090 graphics card.

Unleashing the Power of Path Tracing in Cyberpunk 2077

Introduction to Path Tracing

Path tracing is a cutting-edge technique that makes 3D scenes look incredibly real. It’s different from traditional ray tracing because it handles everything at once. For each pixel, a ray is sent into the scene, bouncing off surfaces until it hits a light source.

This process makes each pixel’s color accurate, giving the visuals a more lifelike feel. It’s a way to make games look like they’re right in front of you.

The Impact of Path Tracing on Cyberpunk 2077

Path tracing has greatly improved Cyberpunk 2077’s visuals. Now, Night City’s environments feel more real, with better lighting, shadows, and reflections. This makes the game’s world feel deeper and more atmospheric.

But, this boost in graphics quality comes with a price. Path tracing is very demanding on computers, needing strong graphics cards to run smoothly. This means players need powerful hardware to enjoy the game’s new look.

Cyberpunk 2077 Path Tracing: Performance Benchmarks

Extensive benchmarking has been done to assess Cyberpunk 2077’s path tracing performance. The results show how different graphics cards handle this advanced technique.

Rasterization Performance

First, we looked at rasterization performance. Without ray tracing, a Radeon RX 7600 or NVIDIA RTX 4060 can hit 60 FPS at 1080p. For 1440p at 60 FPS, you need a Radeon RX 7700 XT or NVIDIA RTX 4070 or better.

But, achieving 4K60 was tough. Only the NVIDIA RTX 4090 could do it without upscaling.

Ray Tracing Performance

Next, we tested ray tracing performance. The game ran at ultra settings with ray-traced features at “Medium” quality. At 1080p, the NVIDIA RTX 3090 hit 60.7 FPS, while the RTX 4060 managed 55.7 FPS.

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, however, only reached 49.7 FPS. At higher resolutions, the gap between NVIDIA and AMD grew. The RTX 4090 hit 36 FPS at 4K, while the RX 7900 XTX only managed 17 FPS.

Path Tracing Performance

Finally, we tested path tracing, the most demanding mode. Even the NVIDIA RTX 4090 struggled, hitting 61 FPS at 1080p and only 20 FPS at 4K. The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX did even worse, hitting 14.5 FPS at 1080p and 4.3 FPS at 4K.

To improve performance, we tested upscaling technologies like NVIDIA DLSS. With DLSS enabled in “Quality” mode, the RTX 4090 hit 47 FPS at 4K. With DLSS 3 Frame Generation, it reached 73 FPS. But without upscaling, path tracing was too demanding, even for top graphics cards.

The benchmarks show path tracing in Cyberpunk 2077 is very demanding. The visuals are stunning, but the needed hardware is out of reach for most gamers. As tech advances, we’ll see more accessible path tracing options. For now, it’s a peek into gaming’s future.

Conclusion

Cyberpunk 2077’s path tracing feature has made the game look amazing. But, it has also made the game run slower. NVIDIA graphics cards, like the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090, are the best for enjoying this feature.

AMD’s graphics cards can’t keep up with NVIDIA’s when it comes to path tracing. Using NVIDIA DLSS helps keep the game running smoothly, even at high resolutions.

If you want the best Cyberpunk 2077 path tracing experience, get the NVIDIA RTX 4080 or RTX 4090. These cards make the game’s stunning visuals worth it. With the right hardware, you can fully enjoy the game’s world, Night City.

FAQ

What is path tracing and how does it impact the graphics in Cyberpunk 2077?

Path tracing is a way to make 3D scenes look more real. It makes the graphics in Cyberpunk 2077 look amazing. The city of Night City now has better lighting, shadows, and reflections.

What are the hardware requirements for running Cyberpunk 2077 with path tracing?

Path tracing makes Cyberpunk 2077 very demanding on computers. Even the top NVIDIA RTX 4090 can’t always keep up at 4K60. AMD’s Radeon RX 7900 XTX does even worse.Upscaling tech like NVIDIA DLSS is key to keeping the game smooth. It’s especially important at high resolutions.

Which graphics cards are recommended for the best Cyberpunk 2077 path tracing experience?

For the best path tracing in Cyberpunk 2077, go for NVIDIA. The RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 are top choices. AMD cards can’t match NVIDIA’s performance in this area.