Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl Performance Review
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a first-person shooter and survival horror game developed with Unreal Engine 5. This marks the fourth main game in the Stalker series, following Call of Pripyat, which was released 15 years ago.
Testing Overview
We benchmarked 31 different GPUs across three resolutions (1080p, 1440p, and 4K) with three quality presets: Epic, High, and Medium. The testing occurs in the Lesser Zone, one of the game’s demanding locations. We measured performance with different quality settings, which required restarting the game and rebuilding shaders multiple times for each GPU.
Key Findings
Performance Disparity: There is a notable difference in performance between GPUs with 8GB and those with 16GB VRAM. The 8GB cards struggled, especially at higher settings.
1080p Native Testing: The RTX 4090 achieved just over 100 fps, limited by the CPU. The RTX 4080 Super and Radeon RX 7900 XTX performed sufficiently but did not exceed the 60 fps threshold for all users. 8GB cards were almost unplayable.
1080p with Upscaling: Enabling upscaling improved performance significantly, allowing GPUs like the RTX 4060 Ti (16GB) to reach around 60 fps. However, the 8GB versions continued to struggle.
1440p Testing: At native 1440p, the RTX 4090 averaged 88 fps. Achieving 60 fps required stepping down to different versions of the RTX 4070 or RX 7900. Upscaling made it easier to surpass 60 fps.
4K Performance: Native 4K gaming was demanding, with only the RTX 4090 averaging close to 60 fps. The performance gap for other models widened significantly. High and Medium Settings: Using High settings at 1080p made it easier for 8GB cards to handle the game well, allowing for playable frame rates. Medium settings further boosted performance, especially with less demanding GPU loads.
Conclusion
Stalker 2 is demanding, particularly on CPUs in towns. Lowering graphics quality helps in less challenging environments but may not resolve CPU limitations in resource-heavy areas. The disparities in performance based on VRAM are significant, leaving 8GB GPUs at a disadvantage. Upscaling technologies can enhance visual outcomes while improving frame rates. Players should consider their GPU VRAM when selecting settings to ensure an enjoyable gaming experience.
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