Is path tracing worth it?

[Sassanid]

As you can see in these videos I took, turning on PT costs me around 30-40fps. Is it really worth it and does it make much of a difference overall in your opinion?

Am I blind or can anyone see differences?

https://vimeo.com/937975747?share=copy
https://vimeo.com/937979347?share=copy

[Way]

Better question is, in mid combat are you really going to notice the slightly better looking lighting?

[Hadley333]

it looks good, but the game already looks good enough with RT off at max settings you won't miss out much.

[Sassanid]

Yeah, I think I'll turn off PT and use those 30-40fps towards Reshade instead. I agree game already looks good, but Reshade makes it look even better even with PT off imo

[egg fu]

yes, the difference is really substantial. RT not so much.

[Nar!]

I mean, if you have the hardware to reach at least 60fps+ with PT on, then yes, it's absolutely worth it. Path tracing tech looks sweet on this game. (I've seen way too many 4k vids demonstrating it on CP2077 and yes, it looks great)

If you don't have the hardware to crank up acceptable fps with it on, then what's the point? Right?

This is completely up to you, man. You don't need to ask around if it's worth it. Just run the game, play it and see if you think it's worth having PT at those frames.

A 4090 can pull it off.

If you can't see the difference between it on or off, then you don't have to worry about it and just leave it off and play at higher fps.

FPS > Lighting Effects, for better immersion imho.

It's completely up to you, though. The game does look great without RT/PT, but it also looks amazing with those traced features on. The building reflections. Vehicle reflections. Water reflections. Colored light bouncing (lots of neon in NC). Proper realistic shadow effects.
All these things look fantastic. Some really stand out during day time and some at night.

[Nike Mate]

Originally posted by Way:

Better question is, in mid combat are you really going to notice the slightly better looking lighting?

For a 13 hour gameplay you must be a speedrunner. I guess you are right, you don't need that extra lighting, so why do you budge what the op has to say?

[mitsubi]

PT is great, another level of immersion.

[Vox Maximus]

Originally posted by Way:

Better question is, in mid combat are you really going to notice the slightly better looking lighting?

Lighting with PT and Ray reconstruction is significantly better looking and game is much more than just a combat.

[Vox Maximus]

Path Tracing is phenomenal if your PC can handle it with playable FPS.

[Bjørn]

The sample videos you used to make a comparison were perhaps not the best choices, with how dark it is. Go somewhere sunny, and / or with lots of lights and shadows, and do some comparisons then.

Originally posted by Nar! MnK:

I mean, if you have the hardware to reach at least 60fps+ with PT on, then yes, it's absolutely worth it. Path tracing tech looks sweet on this game. (I've seen way too many 4k vids demonstrating it on CP2077 and yes, it looks great)

I can agree to this! I'm drooling over the 100+/- fps I see on the vids with path tracing enabled, and I've also watched some comparison vids elsewhere.

I've tried path tracing a bit, but my 3070 Ti (rest of specs in profile) screamed in agony, limping along at 20-30 fps, so it was like getting a taste of forbidden fruit. I'm happy to have 60 fps with ray traced reflections and lighting for now.

I'd definitely have used path tracing with the performance I see in the vids above.

[envirovore]

Light acting like light should is always going to look better than faked raster solutions, and will do more to trick you brain into immersion than texture fidelity.

[joshuasmith89]

4k gamer here. PT absolutely makes a difference. 4080s 13600kf. RT overdrive with DLSS set to balanced and im good for 70-78fps depending on whats going on. its super worth it.

[SiEgE]

Originally posted by Fret 𐎣𐎡𐎠𐎵𐎡:

As you can see in these videos I took, turning on PT costs me around 30-40fps. Is it really worth it and does it make much of a difference overall in your opinion?

Am I blind or can anyone see differences?

https://vimeo.com/937975747?share=copy
https://vimeo.com/937979347?share=copy

Without an RTX 4090, I'd not bother at all. 4090 grants me 80-45 fps.

RT+PT+RR+DLSS is awesome.

[Vox Maximus]

Originally posted by SiEgE:

Originally posted by Fret 𐎣𐎡𐎠𐎵𐎡:

As you can see in these videos I took, turning on PT costs me around 30-40fps. Is it really worth it and does it make much of a difference overall in your opinion?

Am I blind or can anyone see differences?

https://vimeo.com/937975747?share=copy
https://vimeo.com/937979347?share=copy

Without an RTX 4090, I'd not bother at all. 4090 grants me 80-45 fps.

RT+PT+RR+DLSS is awesome.

4080 is doing fine too with DLSS and FG in 4K. In sub 4K it's more than just fine.

[dog]

I'd rather have the higher frame rate.