STALKER 2 PC Performance Review and Optimisation Guide
Introduction – STALKER 2 has arrived on PC
STALKER 2 – A stunning sequel to a PC classic
If you were a PC gamer in the mid-2000s, you would have heard of STALKER. While it doesn’t have the same level of fame as Crysis, it was well-known for its strong visuals and how well it captured its setting. The original STALKER games were incredibly impressive, and the game’s proprietary X-Ray Engine was legendary for its visual features and deep simulation systems. Now, STALKER 2 has arrived, and it is a worthy successor to the originals.
Yes, STALKER 2 has moved the game from X-Ray to Unreal Engine 5 (5.1 specifically). While this is disappointing for longtime fans, it should be noted that X-Ray had its problems, and it would basically need to be recreated entirely to build a modern game. STALKER 2 has a new technological underpinning, but it retains the atmosphere as the original. It is a great-looking game and, like the originals, a demanding one.
Today, we will examine the PC version of STALKER 2 and see how it runs across a wide range of PC hardware configurations. We will also provide optimisation tips and advice on what kind of hardware you need to run this game well. This game is hard on both CPUs and GPUs; even ultra-high-end PCs will struggle.
Review Contents
- CPU Performance
- Memory Performance
- Preset Scaling – Minimum to Extreme
- OC3D Optimisation Tips and Settings
- DLSS 3 Upscaling
- FSR 3.1 Upscaling
- 1080p
- 1440p
- 4K
- Conclusion
GPU Drivers
When testing STALKER 2 on PC, we used the newest Nvidia and AMD GPU drivers available at when the game launched. These drivers were AMD Software 24.10.1 and Nvidia’s GeForce 566.14 driver for Windows 10/11.
Test Setup – OC3D’s New Test Rig
Last year, OC3D started conducting new game testing and GPU reviews on a new test system. Thanks to Corsair, Intel, and ASUS, we have created a new testing system that will allow us to properly test new graphics cards and the newest PC releases. This system features Intel’s i9-13900K processor and a ROG Strix Z790-F Gaming motherboard, with all other components coming from Corsair.
Our new test system is powered, cooled, and operated using Corsair components. The OS we will be using is Windows 11, and the case we will be using is Corsair’s airflow-optimised iCUE 5000T.
System Specs
Below are the full specifications of our new GPU/Games testing system and links to all the components we used.
OC3D GPU/Games Test System Specifications (Affiliate Links below)
CPU – Intel i9-13900K
Cooling – Corsair iCUE H150i Elite CAPELLIX XT
Motherboard – ASUS ROG Strix Z790-F Gaming WiFi
Memory – Corsair Vengeance 2x16GB (32GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory
Storage – Corsair MP600 PRO NH 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD
Case – Corsair iCUE 5000T RGB
Power Supply – Corsair HX1500i
OS – Windows 11
Nvidia GPUs Tested
When testing new games, we like to use a large number of graphics cards to see how well titles run on both old and new PC hardware configurations. To do this, we use a large selection of AMD and Nvidia graphics cards, including recently released graphics cards from Nvidia’s RTX 40 series to older GeForce graphics cards like Nvidia’s RTX 2060.
- Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Gaming
- Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WindForce
- Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Eagle
- Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Eagle
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER Founders Edition
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 6GB
AMD GPUs Tested
On the Radeon side of the GPU spectrum, we can test the following selection of GPUs, which include both RX 7000 and RX 6000 series GPUs.
- Radeon RX 7900 XT
- Radeon RX 6800 XT
- Radeon RX 6800
- Radeon RX 6700 XT
- ASUS ROG Radeon RX 6600 XT Strix
- PowerColor RX 6600 Fighter
