Ray tracing performance cost estimator
Pick a graphics card and game. See the FPS you lose to ray tracing and path tracing, and how much of it DLSS or FSR wins back.
How the ray tracing cost is estimated
For each game the tool estimates frame rates with ray tracing off, on, and with path tracing where the game offers it. The cost is the percentage of frames lost against the off result. It then repeats each case with DLSS or FSR Quality and Performance to show how much of the loss upscaling recovers. RTX cards are weighted ahead of older or AMD cards because they have stronger ray tracing hardware.
What to expect
| Mode | Typical cost | Usually needs |
|---|---|---|
| Ray tracing | 25 to 45% of FPS | A mid-range RTX card with DLSS. |
| Path tracing | 60 to 80% of FPS | A high-end RTX card with DLSS and frame generation. |
Learn how frame generation helps in our Multi Frame Generation guide, and see how DLSS Ray Reconstruction improves ray-traced images. Compare modes in the DLSS and frame generation estimator.
Frequently asked questions
How much FPS does ray tracing cost?
It varies by game and card. Light ray tracing often costs around a third of your frame rate, while path tracing can cost well over half. RTX cards handle it better than older or AMD cards. The estimator shows the loss for your own GPU, game and resolution.
What is the difference between ray tracing and path tracing?
Ray tracing adds effects such as reflections, shadows or lighting using traced rays. Path tracing, sometimes called full ray tracing, simulates light for the whole scene, giving more realistic results but costing far more performance. Path tracing usually needs DLSS and frame generation to run smoothly.
Does DLSS win back the FPS lost to ray tracing?
Often most of it. Upscaling renders fewer pixels, which cuts the cost of ray-traced effects, and DLSS Ray Reconstruction improves how the denoised image looks. Combined with frame generation, many cards can run ray tracing at playable frame rates. The estimator shows the recovery for each mode.
Which RTX 50 card is best for ray tracing?
Ray tracing speed scales with the whole card, so the higher you go, the better it handles heavy effects. Mid-range RTX 50 cards manage light ray tracing at 1440p with DLSS, while path tracing at high settings is best on high-end cards. Test your favourite game above.
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