There is no single GPU model or brand required for ray tracing in every modern PC game. You need a graphics card and driver that expose the ray-tracing capability the game uses, plus a game build that supports that GPU. For practical performance, hardware-accelerated ray tracing is preferable—but support alone does not promise a particular resolution, graphics quality, or frame rate.
Which GPU capabilities matter?
Ray-tracing API support
The graphics card and its driver must expose the API capability the game uses. For Direct3D 12, Microsoft defines ray-tracing tiers and documents how software can query a device’s tier through D3D12_FEATURE_DATA_D3D12_OPTIONS5. The Microsoft DirectX Raytracing Functional Specification, version 1.48, dated September 8, 2026, treats ray tracing as a first-class D3D12 capability alongside compute and rasterization. Its specification distinguishes native support from emulation; API exposure by itself does not make software emulation equivalent to hardware acceleration.
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Hardware acceleration
For practical performance, look for a GPU with hardware ray-tracing acceleration. Intel describes dedicated ray-tracing units in Arc graphics, and AMD says Radeon RX 6000 graphics include hardware ray-tracing acceleration. Those vendor statements establish feature availability, not relative speed or a cross-vendor performance ranking. Actual results depend on the GPU, the game, its settings, and the system.
Game and GPU-family support
The game must implement ray tracing, and its implementation must support your GPU family and API path. Intel notes that developers integrate ray tracing through DirectX 12 or Vulkan; support on one manufacturer’s GPUs does not automatically mean the developer has enabled it on another manufacturer’s cards. Hardware blocks cannot make an unsupported game feature appear.
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Do you need an NVIDIA RTX card?
No universal RTX-brand requirement applies. NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel GPUs can support ray-tracing features, but the relevant test is whether the specific game supports your exact GPU family and driver—not whether the card carries a particular brand label. For example, Bandai Namco’s Armored Core VI requirements list an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB, AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT 8GB, or Intel Arc A770 16GB for the game’s ray-tracing graphics requirement. The page limits ray tracing to the garage, so that list is an example for that title and mode, not a general minimum for PC ray tracing.
How to check whether your GPU will work
- Find the game’s official requirements. Check whether the named GPU requirement applies specifically to ray tracing or to the game overall, and note any mode limitation.
- Check API and driver support. For a D3D12 game, Microsoft documents querying the device’s ray-tracing tier using
D3D12_FEATURE_DATA_D3D12_OPTIONS5. A compatible API or tier is a capability check, not a performance guarantee. - Confirm support for your GPU family. Look for the game developer’s confirmation or requirements covering your specific GPU family. Do not assume a feature listed for one vendor’s cards is enabled for all vendors.
- Match the requirement to your play target. Compare the game’s stated GPU class with the resolution, graphics preset, and frame rate you want. A listed minimum does not by itself guarantee a chosen frame rate or quality level.
- Use relevant performance evidence. For a meaningful comparison, seek reputable benchmarks for the exact game, GPU, resolution, and settings. Feature names alone cannot establish which GPU will run ray tracing faster.
What about upscaling and frame generation?
Upscaling and frame generation are separate performance features, and their availability depends on the game and GPU. They are not universal prerequisites for ray tracing, and the cited API and game requirements do not establish them as required hardware features. Check each game’s own feature support if you plan to use either.
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Quick checklist before enabling ray tracing
- The game offers ray tracing in the mode you intend to play.
- Your GPU and driver expose the ray-tracing API support the game uses.
- The developer supports your exact GPU family and API path.
- Your card has hardware ray-tracing acceleration if practical performance is important.
- The game’s requirements or reliable benchmarks fit your resolution, settings, and performance target.
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