KCD2 Graphics Guide: Experimental vs. Ultra

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD2) has captivated players with its immersive medieval world, and a key part of that immersion is the game's graphical fidelity. This guide dives into the Experimental and Ultra graphics settings, helping you decide which is best for your rig and gameplay experience. We'll break down the differences, discuss the performance impact, and give you practical tips for making an informed choice.

Understanding the Graphics Settings

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 offers a range of graphical presets, from Low to Ultra, and beyond Ultra lies the "Experimental" setting. This isn't just a slightly tweaked Ultra—it pushes the game's visuals to their absolute limits. But what exactly changes, and is it worth the performance hit?

Experimental vs. Ultra: A Detailed Breakdown

The Experimental setting essentially unlocks the highest possible graphical fidelity, going beyond what's offered in the Ultra preset. While the exact algorithms and implementations are Warhorse Studios' secrets, we can observe the following key differences based on player reports and observations:

Particles: Experimental likely increases the number and complexity of particle effects like smoke, fire, and dust, adding significant depth and realism to the environment.
Lighting: Experimental likely uses more advanced lighting techniques, potentially including ray tracing or more complex global illumination. This results in more realistic and dynamic lighting, with improved shadows and reflections.
Post-processing: Experimental probably employs higher-quality post-processing effects, such as anti-aliasing, motion blur, and depth of field, providing a smoother, more cinematic look.
Shader Quality: Experimental likely uses higher resolution textures and more complex shaders, improving the detail and realism of surfaces like metal, wood, and cloth.
Volumetric Effects Detail: Experimental likely increases the density and quality of volumetric effects like fog, mist, and godrays, creating a more atmospheric world.
Textures: Experimental may use even higher resolution textures than Ultra, although this is less certain. The difference might be subtle but could be noticeable on larger screens or in close-up views.
Character Details: Experimental may increase the level of detail for character models, including facial features, clothing, and hair, enhancing realism in cutscenes and interactions.

Performance Cost

The significant visual improvements of the Experimental setting come at a steep price: performance. Because it pushes your hardware to its limits, you can expect a noticeable drop in frame rate compared to Ultra, especially in demanding areas with complex foliage, lighting, and numerous NPCs. In some cases, this may lead to lower frame rates in dense environments or during large-scale battles.

For most systems, Ultra provides a balanced experience with stunning visuals and smoother performance. However, the Experimental setting is for those with top-tier hardware who want to maximize every detail, even if that means accepting frame rate dips in some areas.

Which Setting Suits You?

Ultra: This is the sweet spot for most players. It provides excellent visuals with a reasonable performance cost. If you have a mid-range or slightly older high-end PC, Ultra will likely offer the best balance between visual quality and smooth gameplay. For example, a PC with an NVIDIA RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT should be able to handle Ultra settings well, with consistent 60fps or higher in most situations.
Experimental: This setting is only recommended for players with high-end PCs, typically equipped with GPUs like the NVIDIA RTX 4080 or AMD RX 7900 XTX, and CPUs like the Intel Core i9-13900K or AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. Even then, you might experience frame rate dips in demanding areas, such as large battle scenes or when navigating dense foliage. If you prioritize absolute visual fidelity and have the hardware to handle it, Experimental can be breathtaking. However, be prepared to potentially lower other settings or accept occasional frame rate drops.

Does It Make a Difference?

Yes, the Experimental setting does make a difference. The improvements in lighting, particle effects, and post-processing are noticeable, adding another layer of visual polish to the game. However, whether that difference is worth the performance cost is subjective. If you're playing for immersion and can afford the performance hit, you'll appreciate the higher fidelity. But if smooth gameplay is your priority, Ultra will likely be the better choice.

For example, the difference in lighting effects and particle density is particularly noticeable in dense forests or during storms, where the Experimental setting brings more vibrant, realistic lighting and atmosphere.

NVIDIA DLSS 4 Update – Improving Performance and Visual Fidelity

In addition to the traditional graphical settings, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 players now have access to NVIDIA’s DLSS 4, which is part of the latest Cyberpunk 2077 patch 2.21 and a new NVIDIA driver update (version 310.2.1.0). This update introduces some major improvements to DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) and performance for supported titles, including Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.

What’s New with DLSS 4?

The DLSS 4 update brings several enhancements that can significantly improve the visual experience while boosting frame rates, especially on systems with NVIDIA RTX GPUs. Key features include:

Frame Generation: This adds more frames between existing ones, improving the perceived frame rate and reducing motion blur in high-demand scenes.
Ray Reconstruction: This enhances ray-traced lighting, shadows, and reflections by improving the quality of how rays interact with surfaces, adding depth and realism.
Super Resolution: DLSS now upscales images with greater fidelity, helping games look sharper without the same performance cost as native rendering.

How to Use DLSS 4 in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

While DLSS 4 isn't enabled by default in all games, Reddit users have shared methods for manually installing and enabling DLSS 4 in any DLSS 2.0+ game, including Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide based on community feedback:

Download New DLLs: Get the latest DLSS DLLs (nvngx_dlss, nvngx_dlssg, and nvngx_dlssd) from trusted sources like forums or Nvidia-related repositories.
Replace Old DLLs: Find the game folder for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and replace the old DLSS files with the new ones.
Nvidia Profile Inspector: Download the latest version of the Nvidia Profile Inspector tool and use the “DLSS Override” and “DLSS Forced Preset Letter” options to force the game to use the new DLSS profiles, enabling frame generation and ray reconstruction.

This process can allow you to enjoy the visual improvements of DLSS 4 even if the game doesn't officially support it through the app or automatic updates.

Sources: Reddit

Tips for Optimizing Performance:

Start with Ultra: Test your performance on Ultra first. If you're happy with the visuals and frame rate, stick with it. It offers a fantastic balance for most players.
Experiment Gradually: If you want to try Experimental, enable it and see how it performs in different areas. Focus on less demanding areas first, and if the frame rate is too low in heavy scenes, revert to Ultra.
Adjust Other Settings: Even on Ultra, you can fine-tune individual settings to improve performance. Lowering shadows, vegetation detail, or volumetric effects can help maintain a steady frame rate without sacrificing much visual quality.
Update Drivers: Ensure your graphics drivers are up to date for optimal performance. Both NVIDIA and AMD frequently release updates that can improve in-game performance, especially for newer titles like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
Monitor Your Hardware: Use monitoring tools like MSI Afterburner or HWMonitor to track your CPU and GPU usage. This can help you identify any bottlenecks and adjust settings accordingly. If your CPU is consistently maxed out while your GPU is underutilized, you might need to dial back some settings or enable CPU optimizations in your graphics control panel.

User Feedback and Community Insights

Many players report that while the differences between Ultra and Experimental are visually striking, the performance trade-off can be a dealbreaker for those without the latest hardware. Community forums and benchmarks indicate that while the game's visual upgrades are impressive, the extra settings can cause stuttering or frame rate dips in large open-world areas. Some players prefer a more stable 60fps experience with Ultra rather than experimenting with settings that result in occasional drops.

The introduction of DLSS 4 through community-driven updates is a game-changer for performance. DLSS 4, particularly with frame generation and ray reconstruction, can help players with older or mid-tier GPUs enjoy a more fluid experience with enhanced visuals.

Conclusion

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 offers stunning visuals, and the Experimental setting pushes them even further. However, it's crucial to weigh the visual benefits against the performance cost. For most players, Ultra will provide an excellent balance of beautiful graphics and smooth gameplay. Experimental is best reserved for those with high-end hardware who demand the absolute best and are willing to accept potential performance dips in exchange for enhanced realism.

With the added benefit of NVIDIA DLSS 4, players can further enhance their gaming experience by improving frame rates and visual fidelity without straining their hardware. By understanding the differences between the two settings and experimenting with the options, you can find the perfect balance for your rig and enjoy the immersive world of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 without sacrificing too much performance.

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