Resident Evil Requiem performance with graphics cards

Resident Evil Requiem has become one of the most demanding and at the same time most scalable games of the momentEspecially on PC, performance varies greatly depending on the graphics card, available VRAM, and the upscaling technologies enabled. Between ray tracing, path tracing, and the different DLSS and FSR options, there's a world of difference in FPS and image quality, as shown. GPU tests and benchmarks.

The aim of this guide is to unify everything that is known so far about the performance of Resident Evil Requiem with different GPUs.From modest options like the GTX 960 to powerhouses like the RTX 5090, including desktop and laptop graphics cards, as well as the latest driver optimizations and official patches. All explained in everyday Spanish, but without sacrificing technical rigor, and with tools for measure performance with 3DMark.

Improved RE Engine graphics engine and new technologies

Resident Evil Requiem uses a very advanced version of the RE Engine, Capcom's proprietary engine that has been with the saga since Resident Evil 7. Compared to previous installments like Resident Evil Village, this one has introduced significant improvements in both lighting effects and hair rendering systems and complex materials.

The big visual leap comes from the incorporation of path tracing.This is in addition to the already well-known classic ray tracing. The game combines ray tracing, path tracing, and ray reconstruction techniques, resulting in more realistic global illumination, more believable reflections, and much more natural shadows, especially in dark scenes with multiple light sources.

In addition to RT and PT, Capcom has integrated specific technologies to enhance the characters' hair.With a "Hair Strands" system that gives hair a much more natural look, albeit at a noticeable cost to FPS and VRAM usage. This system looks particularly good on characters like Grace, and the generational leap compared to previous titles using the engine is evident.

In terms of upscaling and frame generation, Resident Evil Requiem is very complete on PC.It supports NVIDIA DLSS (including DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation), AMD FSR 3 and FSR 3.1.5, but does not offer support for Intel XeSS. NVIDIA's multi-frame generation can produce up to three AI-generated frames for every traditional frame, significantly improving smoothness, and can be complemented by the hardware-accelerated GPU programming.

In terms of visual content, the technical analyses include image galleries with multiple scenes where different environments and interiors are explored, trying to avoid plot spoilers. It's a useful way to see how the game's appearance changes depending on the chosen graphics preset or lighting mode (rasterization, RT, or path tracing).

PC graphics options and key settings

The Resident Evil Requiem graphics menu offers a good number of fine-tuning options.However, it does have some questionable design choices. For starters, you can play in windowed mode and borderless windowed mode, but there's no dedicated full-screen mode, which some users find disappointing.

It is possible to disable V-Sync and motion blur.The game doesn't impose an artificial FPS limit. However, a significant bug has been detected: when DLSS is enabled in DLAA mode (using it only for edge smoothing), the frame rate is capped at 60 FPS, making this combination undesirable if you want to take advantage of high-refresh-rate monitors.

One of the biggest criticisms is that it only supports 16:9 aspect ratio resolutions.If you have a 16:10 monitor, you'll see the typical black bars at the top and bottom, which is quite annoying on vertical ultrawide screens or on certain professional laptops that use a 16:10 aspect ratio.

It is also questionable whether the "Chromatic Aberration" setting is linked to "Lens Distortion"If you disable one, you disable both; and if you want to keep one active, you're stuck with the other as well. This limits image customization, especially if you're someone who hates chromatic aberration but tolerates some lens distortion.

The game includes five base graphics presets.These are further compounded by variations when activating ray tracing on low or high settings, or when switching to path tracing. Interactive comparisons published by specialized media outlets clearly demonstrate how FPS and visual quality change when switching between presets.

Impact of presets, RT, and path tracing on performance

With ray tracing enabled, reducing the overall game quality has a brutal impact on FPS.There are scenarios where, by lowering the preset from high to low, you can gain around 145% in performance, which is incredible. Under these conditions, you can see extremes of as little as 32 FPS versus over 200 FPS depending on the selected setting.

The switch to path tracing, on the other hand, is very expensive in terms of performance.Tests show frame rate penalties of around 64% compared to the "traditional" ray tracing mode, with all other parameters remaining more or less constant. The visual differences are noticeable in lighting and shadows, but they don't always justify such a significant drop in FPS, especially if smooth gameplay is your priority.

On high-end graphics cards, some of this penalty can be compensated for with DLSS 4 and frame generation.In fact, with an RTX 4070 Super, a 4060 or a 5060 it has been proven that it is viable to play with path tracing at 1080p using upscaling plus frame generation to maintain the experience around 60 FPS, although some very busy scenes may drop to the late 40s FPS.

An interesting technical detail is that the "Shadows" setting still affects VRAM usage even with path tracing enabled.The best option is to leave it on "High" to avoid further increasing memory consumption and prevent potential lag, especially if your graphics card "only" has 8 GB.

Furthermore, certain rasterized effects continue to significantly impact performance.Screen-space reflections (SSR) can reduce FPS by up to 20%, while Hair Strands adds around a 5% penalty and adds ~1 GB of extra VRAM usage, something to keep in mind on 8 GB GPUs.

VRAM consumption and differences between 8 GB and 16 GB

Resident Evil Requiem is not discreet with video memoryWith graphics settings at their lowest, VRAM usage typically ranges from 5 to 7 GB depending on the resolution. At maximum quality, usage rises to approximately 9 to 12 GB.

The situation escalates when we combine ray tracing, path tracing, and 4K frame generation.In that extreme configuration, typical figures range between 15 and 17 GB of reserved VRAM. In other words, graphics cards with 16 GB (or more) have a clear advantage over 8 GB models.

In tests comparing RTX 5060 Ti and RX 9060 XT with 8 and 16 GB versionsWithout ray tracing, both perform virtually the same. However, when RT is enabled, the 16GB variants start to pull ahead slightly, and the gap widens as the resolution increases, precisely because the game reserves more memory and avoids VRAM "pressure."

The shadow and hair settings also significantly influence consumption.Setting shadows to maximum can increase VRAM usage by 1 to 1,5 GB; therefore, on 8 GB GPUs, the sensible recommendation is to leave shadows on "High." Enabling Hair Strands adds another gigabyte of usage.

A rule of thumb for 8GB graphics cards would be: textures on normal or high (depending on resolution), shadows on high, and hair disabled if using FG.In tests combining path tracing and frame generation, to maintain stable frame rates, it has been found that low textures, shadows, and hair settings are the safest option for these models.

Performance without ray tracing: 1080p, 1440p and 4K

If you decide to forgo ray tracing, Resident Evil Requiem is quite reasonable in terms of requirements.At 1080p, with conventional graphics and without RT, the game runs very smoothly on most of the mid-range cards included in the comparisons.

At Full HD (1080p) resolution, GPUs such as an RTX 3060, an Arc B580, or an RX 7600 are sufficient. to easily surpass 60 FPS with balanced settings. The only one that falls slightly behind in these specific tests is the Arc A770, which averages around 49 FPS under the same conditions, probably due to driver and optimization issues in this particular game.

Upscaling to 1440p makes things more serious, but it's still accessible.To achieve around 60 FPS with a demanding setup, an RTX 3060 Ti or an RX 9060 XT is recommended as a minimum. Cards like the RX 7600 XT, the Arc B580, or the RTX 4060 will only reach slightly above 50 FPS, which is perfectly playable if you adjust the quality settings or use upscaling.

In 4K, Resident Evil Requiem becomes much more demanding, although it's not an impossible "GPU hog" either.Starting with an RTX 5070 or an RX 7900 XT, you can break the 60 FPS barrier without RT, which puts it on par with other modern AAA games that demand power, but without reaching the extremes of some poorly optimized Unreal Engine 5 titles.

The overall conclusion without ray tracing is that the game scales well and doesn't put excessive strain on the hardware.As long as you respect the logical limits of your GPU and adjust the most demanding options a bit, it's perfectly playable on a current mid-range device.

Ray tracing and path tracing performance on modern GPUs

With ray tracing enabled, Resident Evil Requiem raises its demandsBut it's not as unmanageable as other titles that practically force you to use aggressive upscaling even at 1080p.

At 1080p with RT, an RX 9060 XT offers a solid experienceAn RTX 5060 also performs well, although averaging around 58 FPS. Adjusting one or two parameters or adding DLSS in Quality mode can result in very smooth gameplay.

At 1440p with Ray Tracing, you're already playing in the league of the RX 7900 XT or RTX 5070. To enjoy a comfortable average FPS with good quality. Graphics cards a step below need to use DLSS/FSR or reduce details to stay close to 60 FPS.

At 4K with RT is where the game starts to get really difficultIn our tests, the only card that clearly exceeds 60 FPS with ultra ray tracing is the RTX 5090, reaching approximately 78,5 FPS. The rest of the high-end models fall below this unless aggressive upscaling techniques are applied.

With path tracing, the situation becomes even more difficult.Although some mid-to-high-end graphics cards like the RTX 4060, 5060, or 4070 Super can handle Pro Tools at 1080p with the help of DLSS and frame generation, there are very dense scenes where the FPS drops to around 50 or even lower. At 1440p, the 4070 Super with Pro Tools, upscaling, and Frame Generation is more than adequate for most of the game, but there are still demanding peaks.

Experience with older graphics cards: GTX 980, GTX 970, and GTX 960

One of the biggest surprises is that Resident Evil Requiem can run on graphics cards as old as a GeForce GTX 980., provided you are willing to sacrifice graphic quality and forgo modern technologies such as RT or DLSS.

The GTX 970, with performance close to the 980, can also run the game at 1080p If you lower the parameters and use upscaling techniques (FSR in this case, since there's no DLSS). However, the VRAM limit and the age of the architecture take their toll, especially in scenes with more geometry and effects.

The most extreme case was shown by the RandomGaminginHD channel with a 2GB GTX 960This GPU can now be found second-hand for around 25 euros. The first step to trying to play games with it is to set absolutely everything to the lowest possible quality.

Even so, VRAM consumption exceeds the available 2 GBThe memory indicator bar is completely red, a sign that the game is using a lot of system memory and causing a significant bottleneck. This is not a good sign if you're looking for stability.

At 1080p, with minimum quality settings and in a particularly demanding area, the GTX 960 averages around 18-19 FPSBy activating FSR 3.1.5 in Performance mode, indoors the frame rate rises to around 40 FPS, with peaks sometimes reaching 50 and occasional drops below 40.

Outdoors, especially in the Leon scene mentioned in the tests, the performance drops noticeably.With low quality settings and FSR in Performance mode, the average frame rate doesn't reach 30 FPS, hovering around 25 FPS. To get closer to an average of 30 FPS, you have to switch FSR to Ultra Performance mode, but with only 2 GB of VRAM, frame rate drops below 30 FPS and noticeable stuttering still occurs.

Recommended and optimized settings for different GPUs

For those seeking a balance between quality and performance with ray tracing disabledA highly recommended configuration involves leaving Hair Strands off, shadows on high, ambient occlusion on high, and visual effects on low or medium, depending on the power of the GPU.

An example of an optimized configuration without RT could beHair Strands disabled, texture quality as high as your VRAM allows, mesh on standard, screen reflections enabled, subsurface scattering on high, ambient occlusion on high, visual effects quality on low, volumetric fog on low, shadows on high, and scaling technology on DLSS Quality or FSR Quality if your graphics card does not support DLSS.

If you have a GPU with 8 GB, it's key to moderate three aspects: textures, shadows, and hair.For stable VRAM usage at 1080p/1440p resolutions, the ideal settings are Normal textures (or High at 1080p), High shadows, and hair disabled, at least if you're also using frame generation. If you're not using frame generation, you can be a bit more aggressive with textures.

In path tracing, the toll is even higher, so the advice gets tougher.: Textures on Normal, Shadows on High, Hair Strands off, SSR with caution (it can eat up to 20% of your FPS), and DLSS in Balanced or Performance mode depending on the resolution you are using.

There are even advanced tricks for NVIDIA usersFor example, you can force the "Preset E" of the Ray Reconstruction model using NVIDIA Profile Inspector by creating a profile for "re9.exe" and setting the "DLSS-RR – Forced Preset Letter" option to that value. This slightly improves the quality of path-traced lighting, at the cost of a 5-8% performance decrease.

Patches, drivers, and stability improvements

Capcom has already released a first optimization patch specifically for the PC versionFocusing on improving performance and stability on recent NVIDIA GPUs, especially the RTX 40 and RTX 50 series, this patch addresses a bug that caused FPS drops in certain specific configurations.

According to the update notes, users of RTX 40 and 50 series graphics cards may see performance increases of up to 16% in some scenarios.provided they also install the appropriate drivers. NVIDIA, for its part, has released the GeForce 595.71 driver and a hotfix 595.76 specifically designed for Resident Evil Requiem.

The GeForce 595.76 Hotfix driver corrects power consumption issues, crashes, and unexpected shutdowns. These issues occurred under specific hardware configurations, improving overall stability. It's highly recommended if you play with an RTX 40 or 50 series card.

Interestingly, it has been found that driver 576.88 can perform better than newer versions like 591.86 on some RTX 30 and 40 series cards.Especially when combined with DLSS in this game. Some users report higher FPS and fewer artifacts with that particular version, so it might be an alternative to consider if you don't need the latest fixes from other titles.

Beyond pure performance, the patches have also touched on interface aspectsThe dynamic sizing of text boxes has been improved to avoid localization problems and character overflows in different languages, which affects both subtitles and certain menus.

Laptop performance: what GPU, CPU, RAM, and SSD do you need?

On laptops, Resident Evil Requiem maintains its heavy reliance on the GPUIn other words, the mobile graphics card will be the factor that most influences the FPS rate, much more than the processor, provided that the latter meets reasonable minimum requirements.

The amount of VRAM is once again crucial.Laptops with 4GB graphics cards (like many variants of the GTX 1650 Laptop) struggle to handle 1080p, even with significantly reduced settings. With 6GB (for example, the RTX 2060 Laptop), you can play in Full HD with lowered settings, but it still won't be ideal.

To enjoy 1080p gaming properly, the minimum recommended VRAM for a laptop is 8 GB.Any mobile GPU that falls below that figure will force you to accept further compromises or experience stuttering in demanding scenes. If your device has 6 GB or less of RAM and you want to get the most out of the game in the medium term, it might be worth considering an upgrade.

On CPU, the title is not particularly fussy.It benefits from modern processors, especially some Ryzen processors with 3D cache on desktops, but on a laptop, an Intel Core Ultra 7 240 or a Ryzen 7 260 is more than enough to meet and exceed the recommended requirements. An even more powerful processor might slightly improve the minimum FPS if you have a very high-end graphics card, but it's not critical.

Regarding RAM, it works with 8 GB, but ideally 16 GB in dual channel.More than 16 GB is not necessary for this game, and if you have to choose, it's always worth prioritizing a better GPU rather than upgrading to 32 GB of memory if your main use is gaming.

One non-negotiable point is the storage unitResident Evil Requiem is based on a next-generation RE Engine that relies heavily on asset streaming, something that simply doesn't work well on a mechanical hard drive. The game can boot from an HDD, yes, but the experience is poor, with constant stuttering and extremely long loading times.

The strong recommendation is to use a fast SSD, with at least 2.000 MB/s read speed.Otherwise, the engine won't be able to feed data at the necessary rate, and you'll experience "micro-cuts" even if the GPU and CPU have plenty of resources.

Laptops with RTX 50 Series Graphics: DLSS 4, Path Tracing, and Better Options

For those looking to enjoy the game with all the "bells and whistles" enabled (path tracing, DLSS 4, frame generation, etc.)Laptops with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards are currently the most well-rounded option.

These mobile GPUs incorporate fifth-generation RT cores These features allow for much more efficient path tracing, as well as full support for DLSS 4, multi-frame generation, and DLSS Ray Reconstruction. In Resident Evil Requiem, ray reconstruction is automatically activated when path tracing is enabled, improving sharpness and reducing noise while also boosting performance.

DLSS 4 Super Resolution uses an advanced transformer-based model To reconstruct the image in greater detail than previous versions, it allows the use of aggressive upscaling modes (Performance or even Ultra Performance) while maintaining acceptable sharpness. In this game, this is key to counteracting the impact of path tracing.

DLSS's multi-frame generation can multiply the FPS rate several times.creating up to three AI-generated frames for every traditional frame. Combined with DLSS 4 and Reflex to reduce latency, the feeling of smoothness is far superior, even if the native FPS rate isn't particularly high.

As for specific RTX 50 Laptop models, they could be ordered like this.:

• RTX 5060 Laptop: very balanced for 1080p, with the option to play at 1440p if you lower the quality and use DLSS 4.
• RTX 5070 Laptop: ideal for 1080p with everything quite high and solid 1440p using DLSS 4 to mitigate the 8GB VRAM limit.
• RTX 5070 Ti LaptopDesigned for optimal 1080p and 1440p resolution, with 12 GB of VRAM providing headroom for RT/PT.
• RTX 5080 Laptop: very powerful, 16 GB of VRAM, geared towards 1440p and higher resolutions without suffering.
• RTX 5090 Laptop: the top-of-the-range model with 24 GB of VRAM, perfect for 1600p or higher screens with everything maxed out.

ASUS has taken advantage of this generation to update its ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16 by integrating these GPUsThe G14 stands out for its portability (Ryzen AI 9 465, 32 GB of LPDDR5X and RTX 5060 Laptop), with a 2880 x 1800 screen where DLSS 4 in Performance mode allows for comfortable gaming.

The ROG Zephyrus G16 focuses more on raw powerWith Intel Panther Lake processors up to 16 cores, up to 64 GB of LPDDR5X, and a configuration with a 16 GB RTX 5080 Laptop. Its 1600p panel is a perfect match for this graphics card, allowing you to enjoy Requiem with RT/PT without worrying about FPS.

Steam Deck and performance on alternative portable systems

Although Steam initially listed Resident Evil Requiem as "unsupported" on Steam DeckHowever, the reality after the latest patches and adjustments to FSR is somewhat more positive.

Using FSR 3 in Balanced mode, initial reports indicate that a fairly stable 40 FPS can be achieved on Valve's console.It's not a perfect experience, nor comparable to that of a powerful PC, but it can be considered "playable" if you don't mind significantly reducing the graphics quality and accepting certain resolution limitations.

It's clear that the Deck isn't the ideal environment for enjoying trajectory drawing.But for portable gaming with modest settings and upscaling, the experience has improved since launch thanks to Capcom's joint work with engine optimizations.

Shader compilation, micro-stuttering, and overall port quality

One of the common fears with PC ports is shader compilation and stuttering.In this respect, Resident Evil Requiem fares quite well.

When the game starts there is a brief shader compilation phase that lasts about half a minuteAnd if you need to delve deeper into the analysis, you can use the WPR and WPA performance toolOnce completed, the gaming sessions are quite stable, without constant micro-stutters or unexpected recompilations during gameplay, something that is greatly appreciated in a horror title where immersion is key.

In terms of overall visual quality, many reviews agree that it is the most impressive Resident Evil game with the RE Engine to date.The lighting, facial animations, and level of environmental detail are superior to Village, and the Hair Strands hair system, despite its cost, makes all the difference.

However, there is some inconsistency in some interiors.Some areas are clearly inherited from previous installments, while others showcase a much more modern level of detail and polish. Even so, the overall experience is well above average, and while it may not surpass the best Unreal Engine 5 titles, it's certainly not far behind.

The implementation of ray tracing and, above all, path tracing has not convinced everyone.Some analysts feel that Capcom has focused its efforts on specific scenes, leaving others less polished, and criticize the fact that activating path tracing also forces the activation of DLSS and Ray Reconstruction without allowing for more customized configurations.

It also doesn't help that there are bugs like the 60 FPS limit with DLAA or the automatic reset of DLSS mode to "Performance" when starting the game with path tracing enabled.ignoring any settings the user has saved.

In terms of overall performance, the general feeling is that the game is well optimized for its graphical ambitions.Without ray tracing, it's relatively kind to GPUs; with ray tracing, it remains reasonable within reason; and only path tracing becomes the real "villain" for more modest cards. VRAM usage skyrockets in extreme configurations, but in most cases, 8 GB is still sufficient if the key parameters are properly adjusted.

With the patches now available, the drivers polished, and the various tuning guides that have emergedResident Evil Requiem has established itself as a technically cutting-edge title, yet surprisingly flexible, capable of running on anything from a humble GTX 960 (with many compromises) to a laptop with an RTX 5090 Laptop and maximum path tracing, making it clear that the RE Engine still has plenty of life left in it.