Do you really need to play on ultra settings in games?

[dirtyferret]

Interesting video regardless of which settings you play games at

 

[EarthDog]

Yes.

That's the goal, right? That is a reason people use a PC instead of console for the higher IQ.

The only reason not to use ultra settings is if you are not reaching your target fps goal or play games competitively. Sure, some settings arent terribly noticeable between ultra and high... but, yes. I ultra whenever I can.

 

[dirtyferret]

Yes.

That's the goal, right?

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to playing on Ultra, high, low or custom settings. I personally shoot for Ultra but I like how the video shows graphic settings that may add little to no performance benefit yet increase demand on the GPU.

As long as PC gamers chase ultra performance,; Nvidia, Intel, and AMD will keep moving that goal post regardless of real world graphic benefit.

 

[Sithaer]

Ah this video,watched it some time ago.

No I do not have to play on Ultra at all,most of the time I can't even tell the difference anyway. 'Borderlands 3 is a good recent example'
As long as I don't have to play on Low I'm good most of the time with just medium-high/custom mix,when I'm forced to low thats when I upgrade my PC.

Playing on PC for me doesn't only mean 'cause better graphics',I like to play on PC cause I have the option to tweak my settings to my preferences,mod my games and other reasons like that + its what I grew up with.

 

[yakk]

Ultra settings are just what developers choose them to be. And... That's it really.

Users then go nuts over them, and IHVs use them for marketing and. ...perhaps... provide incentives for.

 

[cucker tarlson]

I usually dial down volumetric settings a notch,the performance gains can be huge.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Yes.

That's the goal, right? That is a reason people use a PC instead of console for the higher IQ.

The only reason not to use ultra settings is if you are not reaching your target fps goal or play games competitively. Sure, some settings arent terribly noticeable between ultra and high... but, yes. I ultra whenever I can.

This! While I find the story the most compelling reason to play games (which means some games have only average graphics), I always play as high as I can.

After all, the devs went through the trouble to implement a high visual standard. It was meant to be seen while playing, and I want to see it. It’s part of what we pay for.

 

[sam_86314]

I keep the settings that affect the visuals the most as high as I can, and turn down those that don't.

In Fallout 4, for example, I keep all of the settings at their highest except godrays/volumetric lighting. Having those on the highest setting destroys performance, and having them on medium doesn't really affect the visuals all that much while improving performance dramatically.

If a game runs perfectly regardless of settings, then ultra settings all the way.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Go hard or go home.

 

[Sithaer]

I keep the settings that affect the visuals the most as high as I can, and turn down those that don't.

In Fallout 4, for example, I keep all of the settings at their highest except godrays. Having those on the highest setting destroys performance, and having them on medium doesn't really affect the visuals all that much while improving performance dramatically.

If a game runs perfectly regardless of settings, then ultra settings all the way.

Pretty much what I also do.
I mean sure if its an older game or if I have the hardware for it then go for Ultra cause why not but otherwise nah.

What I'm sensitive to is Texture quality,I aint playing with low Textures even if everything else is turned down.

Example of what I do with most 'new' games:

Barely any difference yet significant performance boost.

 

[sam_86314]

Pretty much what I also do.
I mean sure if its an older game or if I have the hardware for it then go for Ultra cause why not but otherwise nah.

What I'm sensitive to is Texture quality,I aint playing with low Textures even if everything else is turned down.

Yeah, I always keep textures as high as they'll go. Texture mods and DLC tend to be the first things I look for.

 

[IceScreamer]

The answer to this question depends on the user. If I was to be asked, answer would be no. Of course you don't have to play on Ultra, and by Ultra I mean the absolute maximum settings.
Personally I think, and asking some other players/friends confirms this, most cannot tell a difference between some setting set on Med/High and Ultra. If you can and want that, hey, more power to you. But a lot of the times, and I mean a lot, a particular Ultra setting tanks the framerate while offering no discernible visual quality upgrade.

In short, if I have to look for the visual difference, and not outright see it without seeing clips/stills of a scene side by side then as far as I'm concerned the setting does not matter.

 

[Komshija]

No. I'm fine on high details above 40 FPS.
Sometimes the differences between "Ultra" and "High" level of details are very small or practically unnoticeable but the performance drop is significant. That's pure marketing to convince you that you can't play a game below the maximum possible level of details and below 60 FPS. If FPS drops to 55 - it's time to upgrade. Oh wait. Now we are at 144 FPS and soon we'll be at 240. So in 2021 if your GPU will not be able to push above 240 FPS @ 2K with maximum level of details - you'll have to upgrade. Sad thing is that many people actually such nonsense.

 

[Jetster]

For years I gamed with no shadows, AA or Ultra. Just could not afford them. Now, well its cool but not necessary to enjoy the game

 

[trog100]

i would say a definite no you dont have to play on ultra settings..

mostly large performance hits are taken for no real eye candy gains..

trog

 

[MyTechAddiction]

My philosophy on this is that medium to high settings give the best visuals and performance. Smoothness is more important than a 1% increase in shadows.Ultra and extreme settings are there just to kill GPUs and to one up people.

 

[EzioAs]

Need to? No.

 

[Vario]

I don't care about the settings as long as it runs well and smoothly.

 

[moproblems99]

Yes.

That's the goal, right? That is a reason people use a PC instead of console for the higher IQ.

The only reason not to use ultra settings is if you are not reaching your target fps goal or play games competitively. Sure, some settings arent terribly noticeable between ultra and high... but, yes. I ultra whenever I can.

This. Right now, monitor upgrade is forcing med-low settings and I f'ing hate it. If this was last year, I'd have a 2080ti. Hate paying full price this far into the cycle or I'd buy one now.

 

[kakantot]

High is the new Ultra.

 

[newtekie1]

Nope. It's nice if I can, but I don't have to. I'll dial the settings down to whatever I have to to get playable framerates. If the game is fun, I'll play it no matter how it looks or what settings I can play it on.

 

[64K]

I doubt my point of view makes a lot of sense to the average gamer but yes, I do like the eye candy. It doesn't make a game fun to play for me but it adds enjoyment to an already good game.

But I also like playing games from the 1990s and 2000s. Some of them look like crap visually by today's standards but they are fun for me to play or offer an entertaining story.

 

[NoJuan999]

Yes.

That's the goal, right? That is a reason people use a PC instead of console for the higher IQ.

The only reason not to use ultra settings is if you are not reaching your target fps goal or play games competitively. Sure, some settings arent terribly noticeable between ultra and high... but, yes. I ultra whenever I can.

My rig (X470/3700x/2060 Super) can run current AAA games on Ultra at ~90 fps minimum and most well above that.
So I tend to play at Ultra.
If I wasn't gettting the fps/smoothness I want I would have no problem dropping to High or even Medium settings

 

[freeagent]

I try to, if I can’t then I’ll try to get as close as I can. My 980 still has some balls, but it’s tough work for it sometimes. At 1080p only. My 970 is still kicking too, surprisingly decent. I replace both of my gtx 580s last winter. Those cards got their asses kicked.

 

[Khonjel]

Custom. Always custom. I behead motion blur and depth of field first chance I get. So the game automatically changes preset from ultra to custom for me. Then vignette, film grain and any other post-processing scheiße, yes that means blurry shitty TAA. Either no AA or no AA with supersampling.

Also turn down shadow to medium since I can't for the life of me notice the differences.