Are you among those players struggling with frame drops in Cyberpunk 2077? Get the best cyberpunk 2077 settings for RTX 4080 or similar GPUs. Here’s how to get smooth 4K performance and great visuals on an RTX 4080.
-Amlan Shekhar Baruah
Cyberpunk 2077, with its futuristic landscapes and intense gameplay, has quickly gained popularity as one of the best sci-fi RPGs. In fact, it has become one of the most demanding games on the market. PC gamers with high-end GPUs like the RTX 4080, who want to achieve the best balance of performance and visuals, will need to fine-tune their settings. Whether you’re aiming for smooth 4K gameplay or trying to harness the power of ray tracing with DLSS support, this guide will walk you through the best Cyberpunk 2077 settings for RTX 4080 to deliver the optimal experience.
Let’s dive into the settings you need to adjust, focusing on ray tracing, 4K performance, DLSS, and Ultra settings for a smooth, immersive gaming experience.
Ray Tracing Guide – What to Enable or Disable
Ray tracing in Cyberpunk 2077 is a stunning visual feature that enhances lighting, reflections, and shadows, making the world feel more lifelike. However, ray tracing is GPU-intensive, and while the RTX 4080 can handle it well, there are still trade-offs in terms of frame rates and overall performance. For players looking for the best Cyberpunk 2077 settings for RTX 4080, here is how you can manage it for the best experience:
1. Reflections
Enable Ray Tracing: Reflections for ultra-realistic reflections, especially in the rain or near glass and water surfaces. However, this can significantly impact FPS.
Pro Tip: Turn down Reflection Quality if you’re aiming for better performance without sacrificing too much visual fidelity.
2. Lighting and Shadows
The RTX 4080 excels at Ray Tracing: Global Illumination and Ray Tracing: Shadows, both of which enhance lighting effects. While it’s tempting to max these out, you can optimize by setting shadows to Medium if you’re facing performance drops.
Pro Tip: Adjust Ray Tracing: Shadows to High for a perfect balance between quality and FPS.
3. Ambient Occlusion
Ray Tracing: Ambient Occlusion (RT AO) creates realistic shading around objects and surfaces, improving depth perception. This setting can be kept on Ultra without a noticeable hit to performance on the RTX 4080, especially when paired with DLSS.
Pro Tip: Keep RT AO on Ultra for the best results in Cyberpunk 2077’s dark alleyways and tight corners.
4. DLSS Integration
DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) is essential for maximizing performance, especially with demanding settings like ray tracing. You can use DLSS Quality mode for 4K without significant loss in visual fidelity while gaining a substantial FPS boost.
Cyberpunk 2077 4K Performance on RTX 4080 (Benchmarks & DLSS Tips)
The RTX 4080 is designed to crush 4K gaming, even at Ultra settings, but Cyberpunk 2077 can still tax the GPU, especially when ray tracing is enabled. Let’s break down what you need for smooth 4K gameplay and how DLSS comes into play.
1. DLSS Settings – Choosing the Right Mode
When running Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K, DLSS will be your best friend. It allows you to maintain high visual fidelity without compromising frame rates. Here’s a quick guide on the best DLSS modes to use:
DLSS Performance: This mode will lower the internal resolution of the game, boosting FPS significantly. It’s ideal if you’re looking to achieve 60 FPS or higher on ultra settings.
DLSS Quality: Best for those aiming to maintain 4K visuals with minimal impact on performance. It offers the best balance of visuals and performance and works great with the RTX 4080.
DLSS Balanced: A middle ground between Performance and Quality, giving you a decent FPS boost without losing much in terms of visuals.
Pro Tip: Start with DLSS Quality and monitor your FPS. If you’re getting less than 60 FPS, try switching to Balanced or Performance for a smoother experience.
2. FPS Expectations at 4K with RTX 4080
At 4K resolution, you can expect the following FPS ranges with DLSS Quality and Ray Tracing enabled:
Ray Tracing: Ultra, DLSS Quality: 50-60 FPS
Ray Tracing: Ultra, DLSS Balanced: 60-75 FPS
Ray Tracing: Ultra, DLSS Performance: 75-90 FPS+
These benchmarks are based on a system with an RTX 4080, and performance may vary slightly depending on the exact settings and hardware setup.
3. Other Settings to Consider for 4K
For the best 4K performance, consider lowering a few settings:
Texture Quality: Set to High instead of Ultra if you’re struggling with FPS.
Crowd Density: Affects the number of NPCs in the game. Lowering this can give you a slight FPS boost with minimal visual impact.
Ultra Settings Breakdown – Worth It or Not?
The best Cyberpunk 2077 settings for RTX 4080 provide some of the most visually stunning moments in gaming, but they also come with a performance cost. So, are they worth it on the RTX 4080? Let’s break it down.
1. Ultra Settings: What’s on and What’s Off
Texture Quality: With RTX 4080, you can keep this on Ultra without issue, as the GPU has ample VRAM and processing power to handle it.
Shadow Quality: Ultra shadows look fantastic but are one of the more demanding aspects. Set this to High if you need a performance boost without much visual loss.
Post-Processing Effects: Things like Film Grain and Chromatic Aberration are often set to Ultra for the cinematic feel. These don’t impact performance too much, so feel free to leave them enabled.
2. Should You Use Ultra Settings in 4K?
Yes – RTX 4080 can handle Ultra settings in Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K with DLSS Quality mode, delivering an excellent balance of performance and quality.
No – If you’re aiming for consistent 60 FPS or above, consider tweaking settings like Ray Tracing or Shadow Quality down to High to achieve smoother gameplay.
Pro Tip: Try using DLSS Balanced with Ultra settings to get a great balance of visual quality and frame rates.
Optimizing Cyberpunk 2077 Settings for RTX 4080 – Final Tips
Monitor Your GPU Load: Keep an eye on your GPU usage and temperature. The RTX 4080 is powerful, but if it’s running too hot, lowering settings like Ray Tracing or Crowd Density will help.
Use NVIDIA Control Panel: For fine-tuning, adjust settings in the NVIDIA Control Panel, especially for Vertical Sync (V-Sync), Max Frame Rate, and G-Sync to reduce screen tearing.
Stay Updated: Always check for driver updates from NVIDIA. Game patches and GPU drivers can drastically improve performance.
Best Cyberpunk 2077 Settings for RTX 4080
To summarize, the best Cyberpunk 2077 settings for RTX 4080 will deliver 4K resolution with smooth performance when paired with DLSS Quality and selective ray tracing. Enabling Ray Tracing: Reflections, Global Illumination, and Shadows in moderation will make the world of Night City come alive, all while maintaining high FPS.
For the ultimate experience, start with DLSS Quality mode for 4K and Ultra settings, then adjust as necessary based on your FPS needs. If you’re looking to push the limits of your RTX 4080, don’t shy away from enabling ray tracing, but remember, small tweaks can ensure you don’t sacrifice too much performance for those stunning visuals.
By following this Cyberpunk 2077 ray tracing guide, optimizing 4K performance, and breaking down Ultra settings, you’ll be ready to dive into Night City with RTX 4080and enjoy the best Cyberpunk 2077 settings for RTX 4080. Get ready for the most immersive and visually stunning experience.
Pro Tip: Keep DLSS at Quality or Balanced for the best visual fidelity while maximizing performance, ensuring your experience is both smooth and breathtaking.
Bonus Update: Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition is now available on the Nintendo Switch 2 — making it one of the rare third-party titles optimized well enough to shine on handheld hardware. Curious which other AAA games run great on the Switch 2? Check out our list of AAA titles available on Nintendo Switch 2.
Author bio:
Amlan Sekhar Baruah is a gym trainer by profession and a gamer by passion. When he’s not helping people get fit, he dives into virtual worlds of games like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and many more. He loves to express his thoughts by writing about them for Enigmatic Horizon, sharing his opinions on gameplay, stories, and everything that makes gaming exciting.
His LinkedIn: Amlan Shekhar Baruah
