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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesTo improve frame rates while keeping path tracing on in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered for PC, start with the upscaler and its performance mode, then try supported frame generation. If that is not enough, lower output resolution and reduce other graphics settings one at a time. CD PROJEKT RED says resolution significantly affects FPS, and its performance figures vary by scene and system configuration.
This guide covers the PC Remastered release from September 29, 2026, which adds path tracing. It is not a settings guide for the different ray-tracing and DLSS feature set in the 2022 Next-Gen Update. CD PROJEKT RED announced the Remastered upgrade as free and said it includes broad visual and performance changes.
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Start with the settings that can raise performance without disabling path tracing
- Confirm you are running Remastered and update your GPU driver. Check that the game has the current PC upgrade, then install the driver recommended for your graphics card. NVIDIA recommends its current Game Ready driver for the upgrade.
- Enable your GPU’s supported upscaler. Choose a performance-oriented mode if your current setting does not meet your frame-rate target. Change one mode at a time and compare both smoothness and image quality in the same scene.
- Try frame generation if your hardware supports it. NVIDIA documents DLSS 4.5, Ray Reconstruction, and Dynamic Multi Frame Generation for the Remastered PC release. It says RTX 50-series GPUs support up to 6X Multi Frame Generation. The available features and results depend on the GPU and configuration; do not assume the same multiplier applies to other cards.
- Lower output resolution if performance remains short. Test the next lower resolution that suits your display and preference. CD PROJEKT RED specifically warns that higher resolution significantly affects FPS.
- Adjust other graphics options incrementally. Change one option, replay the same section, and keep path tracing enabled if preserving it is your priority. This makes it easier to identify a useful trade-off rather than lowering several settings without knowing which change mattered.
These are practical settings to test, not guaranteed FPS gains. The developer says performance depends on the scene and system configuration; NVIDIA’s feature documentation describes supported rendering technologies, not a universal result for every PC.
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Measure the result in comparable gameplay
Use a repeatable section of gameplay and keep the location, camera view, resolution, graphics settings, and upscaler mode consistent between comparisons. Busy scenes and different environments can produce different readings, so a single number from one moment is not a reliable prediction for the whole game.
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- Record your GPU, resolution, path-tracing settings, upscaler and mode, and whether frame generation is on.
- Compare image quality as well as perceived smoothness; inspect for artifacts or other visual trade-offs after changing modes.
- Distinguish the game’s rendered or base frame rate from the displayed rate with generated frames. A generated-frame figure is not the same thing as the GPU rendering that many distinct frames on its own, and it does not by itself establish input responsiveness.
CD PROJEKT RED says its path-tracing configuration was measured with upscaling and Frame Generation switched on, and that actual FPS varies by scene and system configuration. Its current PC requirements page also cautions that performance depends on resolution and settings. Treat any figure without those details as incomplete.
How to interpret NVIDIA’s published FPS figures
NVIDIA reports a maximum of up to 245 FPS at 4K on an RTX 5080 using Ultra+ path tracing, DLSS 4.5 6X Multi Frame Generation, and Ray Reconstruction. This is a 2026 vendor-reported maximum for that specified configuration—not a typical result, independent benchmark, guarantee, or minimum hardware requirement.
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NVIDIA also publishes maxima for other GPU and resolution combinations. Each figure below is its reported maximum with the technologies described in its Remastered coverage; none should be treated as a prediction for a different setup.
| Resolution | GPU | NVIDIA-reported maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 1440p | GeForce RTX 5090 | Up to 420 FPS |
| 1440p | GeForce RTX 5080 | Up to 320 FPS |
| 1440p | GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | Up to 269 FPS |
| 1080p | GeForce RTX 5080 | Over 410 FPS |
| 1080p | GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | 380 FPS |
| 1080p | GeForce RTX 5070 | 320 FPS |
| 1080p | GeForce RTX 5060 Ti | 235 FPS |
These 2026 figures are reported by NVIDIA. They are not directly comparable unless GPU, resolution, settings, upscaling, frame-generation configuration, and the distinction between base and generated frames are accounted for.
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Check PC compatibility before troubleshooting further
CD PROJEKT RED’s current requirements page says Windows 10 is no longer officially supported or tested, though the game may continue to run on it, and that an SSD is now required. Consult the page for the current requirements and compatibility notes before diagnosing performance on a system that may not meet them. Its detailed hardware configuration table is presented as an image, so exact CPU and GPU tiers are not reproduced here.
When settings are not enough
If you still cannot meet your target after testing the settings above, first compare the target resolution and desired image quality with your hardware and budget. A GPU upgrade may be worth considering for local play, but one vendor maximum is not enough to choose a card: look for results measured with the same game build, path-tracing settings, resolution, and frame-generation approach you intend to use.
Cloud gaming is another possibility if your local GPU is not capable. NVIDIA mentions streaming in its Remastered coverage, but the material available does not establish that streamed Remastered sessions expose path tracing. Check the service’s current game support, features, availability in your region, connection requirements, and latency before relying on it for this specific experience. The 2022 Next-Gen Update announcement describes older Complete Edition streaming support with RTX and DLSS; that older information does not confirm the feature set for Remastered.
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