Now we have spent a substantial period of time over the previous few days staring on the Shader Compilation loading display in a brand new recreation known as Stalker 2: Coronary heart of Chornobyl. For a few of you, the sport wants no introduction. However frankly, that have has been extra gratifying than testing half the merchandise we have reviewed in 2024, so most likely not even cracking the highest 10 most boring issues I’ve carried out this yr (that was a joke – I like what I do)…
Shader compilation loading screens apart, we have managed to check Stalker 2 this week, proper after the day-one patch was launched, benchmarking 31 totally different GPUs throughout three resolutions utilizing three high quality presets, plus outcomes from high quality upscaling (!). So there’s lots to go over.
Stalker 2 is a first-person shooter/survival horror single-player recreation developed utilizing Unreal Engine 5. It is the fourth essential recreation within the Stalker collection, and shockingly, it has been 15 years because the final launch, Name of Pripyat. That recreation was a staple for our CPU and GPU testing again within the day, so it is thrilling to lastly see a brand new Stalker title.
So with out losing any extra time, let’s get into it. The benchmark move we used for this evaluation takes place within the Lesser Zone, one of many first cities you encounter. This location was chosen as a result of it’s extremely demanding on each the CPU and GPU.
As we simply talked about, we examined a number of high quality presets. Altering the standard settings requires restarting the sport, and this triggers shader rebuilding – a course of that takes a number of minutes. Performing this course of at the least thrice per GPU, for a complete of 31 GPUs, made for an fascinating (and prolonged) testing expertise.
We examined the Epic preset each at native decision and with high quality upscaling, alongside the Excessive and Medium presets. For upscaling, we used DLSS on GeForce GPUs, FSR on Radeon GPUs, and XeSS for the Arc A770. Though the sport helps FSR and DLSS body era, we didn’t embrace these on this evaluation.
Earlier than diving into the benchmarks, we need to deal with the efficiency disparity between 8GB and 16GB VRAM GPUs. A number of the upcoming graphs will spotlight poor 8GB efficiency on the Epic preset, even with upscaling enabled. To higher perceive this, we have taken a better take a look at the difficulty.
Benchmarks
8GB vs 16GB VRAM Body Time Comparability
Epic – 1080p Native
Beginning with the native 1080p outcomes utilizing the Epic preset, we see the RTX 4090 delivering simply over 100 fps within the small city used for testing. Nevertheless, this outcome seems to be CPU-limited, despite the fact that testing was performed with the 9800X3D. That is evident as a result of the RTX 4090 was solely 9% quicker than the RTX 4080 Tremendous and 23% quicker than the Radeon RX 7900 XTX. The Radeon GPU’s efficiency wasn’t notably spectacular right here, roughly matching the RTX 4070 Ti Tremendous, whereas the RX 7900 XT carried out equally to the RTX 4070 Tremendous.
Attaining 60 fps at 1080p requires at the least a Radeon RX 7800 XT or RTX 3080. Nevertheless, the earlier era 10GB GPU confirmed some struggles with 1% lows – to not an alarming diploma, however there have been noticeable dips. Talking of dips, the 8GB fashions had been fully unplayable, failing to satisfy acceptable efficiency requirements.
Epic – 1080p Upscaling
Enabling upscaling considerably improves efficiency, notably for lower-end GPUs. The RTX 4090 remained CPU-limited, with the RTX 4080, Radeon RX 7900 XTX, and RTX 4080 Tremendous all nearing 100 fps. Attaining 60 fps was now potential with a Radeon RX 6800 XT or a 16GB RTX 4060 Ti.
An fascinating statement is that the 16GB RTX 4060 Ti averaged 65 fps, making it 10% quicker than the 8GB model. Nevertheless, by way of 1% lows, the 16GB mannequin was 100% quicker, delivering a a lot better expertise. This aligns with findings at 1440p with upscaling.
The takeaway right here is that 8GB graphics playing cards encounter efficiency points even at 1080p with upscaling on this recreation. Whether or not future optimizations will deal with this stays unsure, although some enchancment is probably going.
Epic – 1440p Native
Transferring as much as native 1440p with the Epic preset dropped the RTX 4090 to a median of 88 fps. This made it 17% quicker than the RTX 4080 Tremendous, although this margin is smaller than sometimes anticipated. Attaining a median of 60 fps now turns into very difficult, requiring at the least an RTX 4070 Ti, whereas the Radeon RX 7900 XT simply falls quick. Past this level, enabling upscaling turns into vital.
With high quality upscaling enabled – utilizing DLSS for GeForce GPUs, FSR for Radeon GPUs, and XeSS for the Arc A770 – efficiency improves considerably throughout most fashions. It turns into potential to exceed 60 fps with GPUs just like the Radeon RX 7900 GRE, RTX 3090, and RTX 4070.
Epic – 1440p Upscaling
Nevertheless, 8GB graphics playing cards proceed to wrestle, and the outcomes right here should not be interpreted too actually. Working out of VRAM results in erratic efficiency, with vital run-to-run variance. These figures are primarily based on a 3-run common, however the inconsistency resulting from VRAM limitations signifies that 8GB playing cards are successfully unplayable at 1440p with upscaling and the Epic preset.
Epic – 4K Native
As anticipated, native 4K is a major problem. Solely the RTX 4090 can ship near 60 fps, averaging 60 fps, whereas the RTX 4080 Tremendous managed simply 47 fps with 1% lows of 30 fps.
Epic – 4K Upscaling
Enabling upscaling at 4K is a should, and utilizing the standard mode permits the RTX 4090 to succeed in a median of 79 fps, offering a strong expertise. The RTX 4080 Tremendous averaged 65 fps, and the Radeon RX 7900 XTX reached 61 fps. Whereas these outcomes are respectable, the 1% lows are noticeable and will impression the general expertise. Customers would possibly take into account testing the balanced upscaling choice or dropping the decision to 1440p for smoother gameplay.
Excessive – 1080p
Alternatively, you possibly can attempt the Excessive preset, so let’s begin at 1080p. On the excessive finish, the information stays largely CPU-limited, although we managed to push as much as 112 fps with the RTX 4090. It is also now potential to common 60 fps with the Radeon RX 7700 XT or the 8GB RTX 4060 Ti. This implies 8GB graphics playing cards are working inside their VRAM limits utilizing the Excessive preset at native 1080p, which is a constructive growth. Moreover, body charges round 50 fps are achievable with GPUs just like the RX 7600 XT and RTX 4060.
Excessive – 1440p
At 1440p, the RTX 4090 nonetheless seems considerably CPU-limited, attaining 104 fps – a 20% enhance over the RTX 4080 Tremendous. In the meantime, AMD’s high performer, the RX 7900 XTX, was simply 5% slower than the RTX 4080. Attaining 60 fps now requires a GPU just like the RTX 4070, RX 7900 GRE, or RTX 3090, indicating hefty GPU necessities for 1440p gaming with the second-highest high quality preset.
Excessive – 4K
At 4K, only a few GPUs are able to exceeding 60 fps. Actually, solely the RTX 4090 managed to common 70 fps, whereas the RTX 4080, RX 7900 XTX, and RTX 4080 Tremendous all hovered within the mid-50s.
Medium – 1080p
Utilizing the Medium high quality preset at native 1080p allowed body charges to push as much as 121 fps, although efficiency stays closely CPU-limited. The one motive for the elevated body charge in comparison with the Excessive and Epic presets is the lowered CPU load.
Whereas it is unclear which particular settings brought on this variation (after spending a number of days testing 31 GPUs throughout three resolutions with 4 high quality configurations), settings like rendering distance and stage of element sometimes have an effect on CPU load. This highlights why testing CPU efficiency with low-quality settings is often unsuitable outdoors of aggressive shooters.
With the Medium preset, the RTX 4090 was simply 6% quicker than the RTX 4080 Tremendous and 10% quicker than the RX 7900 XTX. Attaining 100 fps or extra was now potential with GPUs just like the RX 7900 XT, whereas most GPUs supplied a 60 fps or higher expertise. For instance, the previous-generation RX 6750 XT averaged 61 fps, making Medium a strong choice for enhancing efficiency.
Medium – 1440p
Rising the decision to 1440p dropped the RTX 4090’s efficiency to 113 fps, which made it 18% quicker than the RTX 4080 Tremendous and 26% quicker than the RX 7900 XTX. Nonetheless, the Radeon GPU nonetheless carried out properly, averaging 90 fps.
For 60 fps or higher, the RX 6800 XT or RTX 3080 carried out successfully, whereas current-generation choices just like the RX 7800 XT or RTX 4070 additionally delivered strong outcomes.
Medium – 4K
Lastly at 4K it is potential to render 60 fps or extra on the native decision utilizing both the 7900 XTX, 4080, 4080 Tremendous or 4090. Under that you’ll want to allow upscaling.
Pushing the Limits in Stalker 2
Stalker 2 is an extremely detailed online game, and in consequence, this can be very demanding. That stated, we’re assured there’s room for additional optimization, although to what diploma stays troublesome to find out presently.
Fortunately, this is not a recreation the place you want huge body charges to get pleasure from it. Ideally, we might goal for round 100 fps, however that is a major problem proper now. A extra life like goal for many configurations is 60 fps, supplied you are keen to tinker with the standard settings.
Many avid gamers are more likely to encounter CPU limitations with this title, a development we have noticed in a number of current releases. The sport is especially CPU-heavy in cities and settlement areas. Open-world video games with NPCs and AI typically place larger pressure on the CPU than different kinds of video games, and on this case, it is presumably exacerbated by Unreal Engine 5.
Decreasing high quality settings has minimal impression on CPU efficiency in demanding areas although. Turning down settings primarily improves efficiency in much less demanding areas, creating a bigger FPS discrepancy between the lighter, open areas and the heavier city environments. This disparity will probably be particularly noticeable on mid-range CPUs.
One other more and more frequent development, as we predicted a couple of years in the past, is the fast getting older of 8GB graphics playing cards. For instance, when you have an entry-level product just like the Radeon RX 6600, you possibly can probably play at 1080p with medium-quality settings, attaining a modest 44 fps with out upscaling.
Nevertheless, in the event you invested in an RTX 4060 Ti, you would possibly anticipate 1440p with upscaling on the Epic preset to be possible. It’s – in the event you bought the 16GB mannequin.
The 8GB model, nevertheless, struggles considerably on this state of affairs and requires dropping to the Excessive preset, which is an inexpensive compromise. Nevertheless, it feels much less so whenever you’ve spent $400 on an RTX graphics card.
The floaty controls and “life like” animations make this recreation notably appropriate for body era, which might improve the smoothness of CPU-intensive areas with out totally addressing the latency problems with gaming at or beneath 60 fps.
On that observe, body era is actually unusable with 8GB graphics playing cards – at the least with the Epic preset, even at 1080p.
There are additionally points with the Excessive preset at 1440p, as VRAM utilization recurrently exceeds 8GB and, in some instances, climbs above 9GB. As soon as once more, this highlights how 8GB fashions typically end in a compromised expertise. If these playing cards had been geared up with 12GB or, ideally, 16GB of VRAM, these issues can be pointless. As Jensen would say, it “simply works.”
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