Experience Cyberpunk 2077 on the RTX 4060 8GB

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. testing the GeForce RTX 4060 in Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 with DLSS 3.5
3. Specs of the MSI Ventus version
4. System Requirements
5. Setting up the test environment
6. Gameplay at 1080p resolution with DLSS off
7. Enabling DLSS and Ray Reconstruction
8. Impact of Ray Reconstruction on reflections
9. Frame generation and its impact on FPS and input lag
10. Playability and smoothness at 60 FPS
11. Performance at Ultra settings and 1440p resolution
12. Comparison of DLSS quality and performance
13. The benefits and drawbacks of rate racing overdrive
14. Native resolution vs DLSS resolution
15. Performance and visuals at 4K resolution
16. Comparison of DLSS presets at different resolutions
17. Conclusion

Introduction

In this article, we will be testing the performance of the GeForce RTX 4060 in Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 with DLSS 3.5. We will be using the MSI Ventus version of the card, running it with the latest NVIDIA drivers and without any manual overclocking. The goal is to evaluate how well the RTX 4060 handles the Game at different settings and resolutions, and to explore the impact of DLSS and other features on performance and visual quality. Let's dive in and see how the RTX 4060 performs in the world of Cyberpunk 2077.

Testing the GeForce RTX 4060 in Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 with DLSS 3.5

Cyberpunk 2077 is a visually demanding game, especially when it comes to ray tracing. With the latest DLSS 3.5 technology, the RTX 4060 aims to provide a smooth and immersive gaming experience. We will be testing the card at various resolutions and settings to determine its capabilities and limitations.

Specs of the MSI Ventus version

The RTX 4060 from MSI features 8GB of VRAM and is equipped with third-generation RT cores. It is powered by the latest NVIDIA drivers and supports DLSS 3.5. Its specs make it a promising option for gamers looking for a mid-range GPU with ray tracing capabilities.

System Requirements

Before diving into the performance testing, let's take a look at the system requirements for Cyberpunk 2077. The recommended specifications include a Ryzen 7 5800X processor, 32GB of DDR4 3600MHz CL14 RAM, and the latest NVIDIA drivers.

Setting up the test environment

To ensure accurate and reliable results, we set up the test environment with the recommended system requirements. The RTX 4060 was paired with the Ryzen 7 5800X CPU and 32GB of high-speed RAM. We used TechPowerUp's GPU-Z to monitor the card's specifications and enabled resizable BAR for improved performance.

Gameplay at 1080p resolution with DLSS off

We started our testing with the native resolution of 1080p and DLSS disabled. The results were underwhelming, with the game running at around 35 frames per Second (FPS). The reflections appeared soft and blurry, and the overall gaming experience was not ideal. It became evident that DLSS would be necessary to achieve better performance and visual quality.

Enabling DLSS and Ray Reconstruction

We then enabled DLSS and disabled Ray Reconstruction to focus on evaluating the impact of DLSS alone. The FPS improved slightly, reaching around 40-45 on average. However, the improvement in visual quality was minimal, and there were still noticeable artifacts and blurriness in the reflections.

Impact of Ray Reconstruction on reflections

Next, we enabled Ray Reconstruction alongside DLSS to observe the impact on reflections. The results were promising, as the reflections became sharper and more realistic. However, the FPS dropped to the 20s, making it clear that a higher resolution or more powerful GPU would be necessary to achieve smooth gameplay with these settings.

Frame generation and its impact on FPS and input lag

As the RTX 4060 is a 40 series card, we also tested the performance with frame generation enabled. While this feature helped increase the FPS to a more acceptable range, input lag became a noticeable issue. The gameplay felt slightly sluggish, especially when looking in certain directions. It was still playable, particularly with a controller, but the input delay was suboptimal for competitive gaming.

Playability and smoothness at 60 FPS

We continued testing by aiming for a smooth 60 FPS experience. With DLSS set to quality and frame generation enabled, the performance improved significantly. The input delay was still Present but manageable, and the game looked visually stunning. The FPS stayed consistently above 60, providing a more enjoyable and immersive gameplay experience.

Performance at Ultra settings and 1440p resolution

We then tested the performance of the RTX 4060 at the more demanding ultra settings and 1440p resolution. The results were mixed, with the card struggling to maintain a stable FPS above 60. While reflections and visuals were of higher quality, the gameplay experienced occasional stutters and drops in FPS. It became clear that higher-end GPUs would be more suitable for playing the game at ultra settings and higher resolutions.

Comparison of DLSS quality and performance

We compared the visual quality and performance of DLSS at different presets, including quality, balanced, and performance. The quality setting offered the best visual fidelity, but the performance hit was significant, resulting in lower FPS. The balanced and performance presets provided a good compromise between visual quality and performance, with performance being more suitable for achieving higher FPS.

The benefits and drawbacks of rate racing overdrive

We evaluated the benefits and drawbacks of rate racing overdrive, a feature that enhances reflections through path tracing. While the reflections themselves were of higher quality, the overall performance and visual experience suffered. The game became more intensive to run, negatively impacting FPS and introducing noise and blurriness in certain scenes.

Native resolution vs DLSS resolution

We compared the visual quality and performance of running the game at native resolution versus using DLSS to upscale the image. At lower resolutions, using DLSS provided a significant boost in performance while maintaining a decent visual quality. However, at higher resolutions such as 1440p and 4K, DLSS became necessary to achieve smooth gameplay and a visually pleasing experience.

Performance and visuals at 4K resolution

At 4K resolution, the RTX 4060 struggled to maintain high FPS without compromising visual quality. While the game was playable, it hovered around 30 FPS, making it more suitable for a cinematic experience. Enabling DLSS improved performance, but the visual fidelity was slightly compromised. Frame generation helped increase the FPS but introduced noticeable input lag.

Comparison of DLSS presets at different resolutions

We compared the different DLSS presets, including quality, balanced, and performance, at different resolutions. The quality preset provided the best visual fidelity but had the most significant impact on FPS. The balanced preset offered a good compromise between visual quality and performance, while the performance preset prioritized FPS gain at the expense of some visual quality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the GeForce RTX 4060 provides a decent gaming experience in Cyberpunk 2077, capable of running the game at 1080p and 1440p resolutions with smooth FPS and good visual quality. DLSS plays a crucial role in achieving better performance and maintaining a visually pleasing experience. However, at higher resolutions such as 4K, the RTX 4060 struggles to deliver high FPS without compromising visual fidelity. Overall, the RTX 4060 is a mid-range GPU suitable for gamers looking for a balance between performance and price.