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

[Vayra86]

Thats some unique graphics card you got there: "GTX 170Ti "

Runs minesweeper @ 240 fps

in ultra.

need vs want - Google Search

That is my idea too when it comes to ultra. The other examples I gave about the choice for PC however, are not dependant on your bank account but entirely on the platform. PC is the best way to get access to content and this also echoes in price and having many sources to pull from.

Ultra is that typical, 'you didn't know you missed this until you tried it'. A bit like drugs. If you've always done medium, its just fine, and you won't game a second less for it, but still get all of the advantages a PC brings. And really todays reality is that Ultra is 75% unnecessarily heavyweight settings and the other quarter is built on commercial gain. We don't directly benefit from having ultra settings that are very heavy. GPU vendors do. We do instead benefit from code and settings/balance that runs well and efficiently on GPUs. GPU vendors... don't RTX is a nice little example pulled into extremes.

Every once in a while a game gets released that runs so ridiculously well while looking so good, it kinda sets all the other ultra-settings in games straight and shows you how many times you've been screwed over the past years.

 

[INSTG8R]

Nope I’m quite happy with “Very High” @1440 I know my limits.

 

[neatfeatguy]

In the end, as long as I can disable Motion Blur and Ambient Occlusion (it makes some games look like crap), it doesn't hurt my feelings one bit if my settings are between medium to maxed. As long as fps are upwards of 45+, I'm content.

 

[Vario]

Runs minesweeper @ 240 fps

in ultra.



That is my idea too when it comes to ultra. The other examples I gave about the choice for PC however, are not dependant on your bank account but entirely on the platform. PC is the best way to get access to content and this also echoes in price and having many sources to pull from.

Ultra is that typical, 'you didn't know you missed this until you tried it'. A bit like drugs. If you've always done medium, its just fine, and you won't game a second less for it, but still get all of the advantages a PC brings. And really todays reality is that Ultra is 75% unnecessarily heavyweight settings and the other quarter is built on commercial gain. We don't directly benefit from having ultra settings that are very heavy. GPU vendors do. We do instead benefit from code and settings/balance that runs well and efficiently on GPUs. GPU vendors... don't RTX is a nice little example pulled into extremes.

Every once in a while a game gets released that runs so ridiculously well while looking so good, it kinda sets all the other ultra-settings in games straight and shows you how many times you've been screwed over the past years.

If its an enjoyable game, I don't even pay attention to the graphics as long as it is smooth.

 

[mouacyk]

there are much more meaningful metrics to the graphical experience now. and it's better to tweak toward these rather than a set fidelity standard. i see 2 camps:

1. frame pacing - reduce expensive effects to achieve consistent frame times

2. motion clarity - adjust settings to target strobing refresh rates (such as 120Hz ULMB)

i use both... 2 for competitive play and 1 for sp

 

[moproblems99]

If its an enjoyable game, I don't even pay attention to the graphics as long as it is smooth.

The true answer to this question is no. Ultra is never needed. Just like nothing more than a Honda Fit is needed to get from point a to point B. However, that is not the point. Anyone here will take the best graphics they can get - always. E-sports excluded as that isn't in scope here. No one says: 'hey, my machine is good enough for 4k@144 with Ultra settings but I am just going to play on medium.'

 

[sam_86314]

This older video sums up some of my thoughts on ultra settings...

I definitely agree with him that game benchmarks should focus on lower settings too, or finding settings that look similar to ultra with better performance.

 

[natr0n]

With Far Cry/5-NewDawn some settings on ultra eat up more resources yet look the same as high for example.

With that example its not always optimal to play on ultra. Also lazy optimizations play a factor.

 

[moproblems99]

I definitely agree with him that game benchmarks should focus on lower settings too, or finding settings that look similar to ultra with better performance.

I don't see the point in testing with lower settings. Ultra is going to be worst case scenario. Using past experience, you should be able to extrapolate reasonable close what each successive downgrade will net.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

I will never understand the "Ultra or go console". Such an elitist stance, and I really do not agree with it. Since when did gaming become all about pretty graphics?
The main reason I game on PC is primarily the choice of games. RTS games suck on consoles (the few that are available), there's no MOBA games on consoles, and there's very few MMOs on consoles.

Also, mouse+keyboard > controller, any day (for me at least).

PS I always game on "custom", as I rarely update my computer, so it's almost never strong enough to handle high/ultra with acceptable FPS

Yes, there are more differences to sum it up this simply. Consoles offer simplicity, but you get what you get. There are some console games that allow you to choose FPS over resolution, but most games leave you locked in. On a PC, an RX 570 will get you 60FPS if you fiddle with the sliders. If you want better, you go out and purchase better, but it’s not a prerequisite. I’ve sold off my PS4 Pro and have a desktop now.

On a side note, the one thing I don’t like on PC vs console are all the different launcher services. You have to quit one launcher to have proper controller support in another, and some launchers just plain suck—MS store is a good example of a service that gives me fits. To this day, MCC/Reach won’t launch, and Forza Horizon 4 didn’t won’t until I moved it he game to another drive! Plus it’s that many more accounts that want your billing info and have to keep your data secure.Sorry for the side rant.

 

[freeagent]

If I spent a grand+ on my gpu, and at least twice that on the rest of the components I would expect everything to run @ ultra too lol. But I didn’t, so for the moment I can continue to be impressed with how well my rigs do given their age. They are by no means anywhere near top of the line, but for 1080p 60hz they are still great for ultra to higher settings in a wide range of newer games. For now I remain somewhat ignorant because I have not experienced the power of a modern system, nor have a seen one since all my friends disappeared when the missus and I started to breed. Also the reason I don’t have a modern system

Last winter I bought a 980 Classified and a 970 FTW used for 350 for the pair to replace my GTX 580s, both cards were cheaper than a used 1060 6gb in the local market

 

[Hyderz]

ultra when i can, but newer games now i use a mix of very high and ultra, so some settings dropped
cant wait for ampere to come out next year.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I behead motion blur

Agreed, motion blur is not a "feature". It's a way for programmers to hide lazy coding.

 

[EarthDog]

If I spent a grand+ on my gpu, and at least twice that on the rest of the components I would expect everything to run @ ultra too lol.

That's the thing.. it doesnt remotely take that to do it. From testing here and other reviews, we can see a 1660ti class card can run ultra settings in an overwhelming majority of titles (those not named metro:exodus for example). Otherwise something like a 5700 or rtx 2060 super does "all" games and are sub $400 cards.

 

[freeagent]

I understand that my friend, but that still doesn’t stop people from buying much higher end cards

 

[potato580+]

i dont need such fancy graphic, just a decent 60/75fps its alr great for me, 720p is good, 1080p is beast

In the end, as long as I can disable Motion Blur and Ambient Occlusion (it makes some games look like crap), it doesn't hurt my feelings one bit if my settings are between medium to maxed. As long as fps are upwards of 45+, I'm content.

most avoided by me too, especially blurry yes

 

[EarthDog]

I understand that my friend, but that still doesn’t stop people from buying much higher end cards

True though not my talking point. You mentioned a specific cost (expensive) of a rig and ultra expectations, but you didn't spend that much and had to lower your IQ settings. I'm simply saying it doesn't take what you described (a $1K GPU) to get there in the first place. 1080p Ultra 60 FPS gaming is easily found sub $400 across all games. $300 on most. Less if you go used.

 

[vega22]

depends on the game, most i play they will be as low as pos xD

 

[Vario]

When you go 5 years between midrange graphics cards as I do, you get to experience the full graphics cycle of ultra to high to medium to low.

 

[NoJuan999]

When you go 5 years between midrange graphics cards as I do, you get to experience the full graphics cycle of ultra to high to medium to low.

I tend to update my GPU every 3 years, so I go from Ultra to High to Medium.

 

[witkazy]

Reading through posts of this thread can't help but realise that half of what is sellin' TI's and what nots is peer pressure .(said old man with integrated graphics ,there i did it for Ya ,i'm kind person mostly ) Remember kids peer pressure is what got me smoking and Amber pregnant, not that i know Amber but wit the name like that....

 

[trog100]

people pay a lot of money to get a better graphics card but apart from a psychological need to run "ultra" based on nothing other than this need losing performance dosnt make a lot of sense..

some games go beyond ultra and have a "crazy" setting which kind of tells it own story..

trog

 

[EarthDog]

people pay a lot of money to get a better graphics card but apart from a psychological need to run "ultra" based on nothing other than this need losing performance dosnt make a lot of sense..

some games go beyond ultra and have a "crazy" setting which kind of tells it own story..

trog

Ultra does look better. Perhaps it isnt by much but there is a difference.

What story does having 'crazy' settings tell trog?

 

[trog100]

crazy is as crazy does dog..

trog

 

[candle_86]

No, I play PC because I prefer the controls. I played FarCry on an fx5200 back in the day, graphics quality wasn't my goal. I also played crysis on an 8600gt and oblivion on a 7300gt.