Best GPUs for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 – our top picks
Table of Contents
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 boasts a tonne of improvements over the original, and it looks like the recommended system requirements have levelled up too. While the first game recommended you have at least a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or GPU Radeon RX 580 and 16GB of RAM, the sequel advises you go for an RX 7800 XT or RTX 4070, have a hefty 32GB of RAM, and pretty powerful processor in the form of a Intel Core i7-13700K or an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D.
What’s interesting though, is that while improvements have been made to the graphics, details, and animations, you’re not getting ray-tracing stuffed into this title. Instead what you’re getting is screen-space reflections (SSR). In short, SSR is kind of like Ray Tracing, so you’ll see reflections in water, damp surfaces and so on, but it’s not as intensive as ray tracing. This means that you don’t need a GPU that’s something like a 50-series to enjoy this game looking at close to its best.
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There are loads of GPUs that would be best for this game, but it’s really down to your budget with this one. We’ve selected three solid options that are worth considering, that would also be good for other more graphically intensive titles too. These have all run the gauntlet in our testing lab for their respective reviews, and they delivered great synthetic and gaming output.
Products at a glance
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Best GPU for Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Founders Edition
- GPU: GB203
- CUDA Cores: 10752
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR7
- Memory Bus width: 256 bit
- Base Clock speed: 2295 MHz
- Boost Clock speed: 2617 MHz
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Best AMD GPU for Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
Sapphire Radeon RX 7900 XT
- GPU: Navi 31
- Stream Processors: 5,376
- VRAM: 20GB GDDR6
- Memory bus: 320-bit
- Base clock speed: 1,387 MHz
- Game Clock speed: 2.2025 MHz
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Best mid-range GPU for Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4070 Super OC Edition
- GPU: AD104
- CUDA cores: 7,168
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 504 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Boost clock speed: 2595 MHz
How we picked
We picked these GPUs based on their price, features, and the performance they showcased during our in-house testing. This paints a clear picture of their real-world and synthetic performance, as GPUs aren't only used for gaming.
This helps us to cater to professionals as well. That being said, we're testing new products every day, and if there are better GPUs than these for this title, we'll update it accordingly. If you're interested in learning about our testing process, head over to the PC Guide Testing lab for more details.
Our top picks
- GPU: GB203
- CUDA Cores: 10752
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR7
- Memory Bus width: 256 bit
- Base Clock speed: 2295 MHz
- Boost Clock speed: 2617 MHz
- Small and clean design with no compromise
- Upgraded GDDR7 fast memory
- Offers fast connectivity with HDMI 2.1, DP 2.1, and PCIe Gen 5
- Still highly priced due to current state of GPU market
- Increased power requirement
- Availability already a worry
Kingdom Come Deliverance II offers graphical improvements, and if you want to experience them without burning a hole in your pocket, we recommend the RTX 5080. This is one of the two recently released RTX 50-series GPUs, and after testing it in-house for our RTX 5080 review, we were blown away by its synthetic and gaming performance.
It features excellent generational improvement over the RTX 4080 and even outperformed the RTX 4080 Super. This is due to the new Blackwell architecture, more cores, and significant advancements in the AI department.
To test this GPU, we paired it with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, the best gaming processor, and a handful of games at various resolutions natively and, some with Ray Tracing and DLSS 4 and MFG enabled. Since KCD 2 is most likely also going to be a graphically demanding title, we'll start with the result of Indiana Jones and The Great Circle.
The Nvidia RTX 5080 FE is an impressive graphics card from the get-go. Its eco-friendly packaging and minimal size are surprising factors in unboxing, but the performance doesn't falter with that design. Instead, it quickly pushes 4K framerates at the highest settings and improves on the previous generation without breaking a sweat.
PC Guide
In this title, the RTX 5080 managed 234, 193, and 126 FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Meanwhile, the RTX 4080 managed 234, 184, and 109 FPS in the same three resolutions. Ray Tracing is a requirement for this title, so this shows how easily the 5080 handled rendering RT frames.
Besides that, Cyberpunk 2077 ran at 213, 151, and 72 FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, respectively. After turning on RT overdrive, the FPS dipped to 19, but by enabling DLSS Performance and Multi-Frame Generation at the 4X settings, it jumped up to 183 FPS, which is an increase of 162%.
Considering this performance, this graphics card should easily handle what Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 can dish out. With DLSS and MFG in its corner as well, it shouldn't have any issue churning out high FPS at 4K.
Regarding its specifications, it has 10,752 CUDA cores, 16GB of GDDR7 VRAM, a base clock speed of 2295 MHz, and a boost clock speed of 2617 MHz. While the VRAM didn't increase, the new memory type helped it deliver much better performance. In addition, this is the Founder's Edition, meaning third-party variants with custom OC settings should deliver even greater results.
Overall, this is an excellent GPU that should set you up for years to come. There are plenty of RTX 5080 GPUs to choose from, with some having the same price tag as the MSRP and offering excellent value. If you're interested in exploring more options, check out the best CPUs for RTX 5080 for a solid gaming and working build.
- Bandwidth: 800 GB/sec
- TDP: 300 W
- Strong pricing
- Excellent gaming performance
- Tons of VRAM
- Slower GDDR6 memory
- Power users will want the XTX
If you're looking to build an all-AMD gaming PC and want to play KCD 2 at 4K, we recommend you get the RX 7900 XT. This is the second-best GPU from AMD currently, and in our RX 7900 XT review, it was able to churn out pretty good frames at 4K and 1440p.
What makes this GPU even better is that it costs less than Nvidia alternatives if you are looking to target the 4K resolution, making it a good value-for-money option. This is why we recommend this graphics card for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.
The variant we tested is the AMD's reference model, which measures 10.9 x 4.3 x 2 inches (LxWxH), making it a 2-slot card. This means that it'll take up less space on your motherboard, and you should be able to use the PCIe or M.2 slots on the lower half of the motherboard.
As for its gaming performance, the RX 7900 XT natively delivered 62 and 119 FPS at 4K and 1440p in Cyberpunk 2077. Shadow of the Tomb Raider ran at 123 FPS at 4K and 227 FPS at 1440p, while Assassin's Creed Valhalla managed 90 and 145 FPS in the same two resolutions.
Testing these games natively means that AI upscaling technologies like FSR 3 weren't used, so turning that on can increase this output. Besides that, you can always overclock the GPU to make the cores run faster, which increases its performance but at the cost of a higher power draw and thermal output.
The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT was always a powerful graphics card from day one, but now it's made all the more aggressive by far cheaper pricing. If you're in the market for a futureproofed GPU for tomorrow's games then this one delivers with its 20GB GDDR6 VRAM in 1440p and 4K with ease.
PC Guide
So, even if there are instances where KCD 2 might give this GPU some trouble, which it shouldn't, there are plenty of routes to take to enhance its performance. It does have 4 GB more than the RTX 5080 and a better memory bus connection of 320 bits, but the Blackwell architecture and GDDR7 memory give the RTX 5080 a much better performance in comparison.
As for the synthetic performance, we ran Fire Strike Ultra, Time Spy Extreme, and Port Royal. The first two tests gauge the GPU’s ability to render 4K frames, while Port Royal is for real-time Ray Tracing output. The RX 7900 XT managed 17137, 12275, and 13237 points in all three tests.
This output, for reference, is decent but not the best compared to Nvidia alternatives, as they have better Ray Tracing output. That being said, it doesn't mean that this GPU is a dud, and it should easily handle professional workflows.
Overall, this is a solid 4K GPU that doesn't cost a lot, and if you can get it on sale, its value increases significantly. It should also be able to handle the graphical requirements of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II at 1440p and 4K without any issues.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this graphics card has excellent performance, build quality, and value for money. One reviewer said: “Build quality is great, noise levels are great, temperatures are great, stability is great. I have literally not had a single issue with this card, other than one single game from 2009 (Burnout: Paradise) which I had to drop down to 1080p because the decade-old rendering engine would crash in 4k during certain camera sequences.”
- GPU: AD104
- CUDA cores: 7,168
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 504 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Boost clock speed: 2595 MHz
- 20% more CUDA cores
- Better value for money than original card
- Strong performance in 1440p and 4K
- Some partner cards get expensive
- Still uses 16-pin adapter
If you want to play Kingdom Come: Deliverance II at 1440p and maybe push 4K, we recommend opting for the RTX 4070 Super. This GPU is better than the RTX 4070, as we've tested and reviewed it for our RTX 4070 Super review.
This selection also plays close to the system requirements but you shouldn't have any issues running KCD 2 with decent frame rates. This GPU has 7,168 CUDA cores, 12GB of GDDR6X VRAM, and a boost clock speed of 2595 MHz. This means that it has good hardware to handle a variety of games without breaking a sweat; however, 1440p would be the sweet spot for this GPU.
To test its gaming performance, Assassin's Creed: Mirage and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. We got 150 and 117 FPS at FHD, 119 and 80 FPS at QHD, and 74 and 60 FPS at UHD. So, it has no issues rendering 4K frames in these titles, which have a high graphical fidelity.
If you're after a leading 1440p GPU but also want to check out 4K without an eyewatering MSRP, then it's a card you should consider in 2025.
PC Guide
Currently, it only has DLSS 3 in its arsenal, but DLSS 4 eventually being available for RTX 40-series GPUs means its performance can be increased further. Besides that, you can overclock it to boost it, but this will ramp up its TDP, so we recommend checking out the best PSUs for RTX 4070 Super to ensure you don't run into stability issues.
This GPU is capable of punching above its weight class and is one of the best mid-range GPUs currently available on the market. You should have a smooth experience [laying Kingdom Come: Deliverance II with this graphics card. However, if you can wait a bit, the RTX 5070 and 5070 Ti are set for a February release and should offer much better performance, so holding out for these GPUs might be a good call.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this GPU has great performance, value for money, cooling ability, and build quality. One reviewer said: “As it stands, i felt that this card is a much better value, and I don’t have buyers remorse. It’s a more powerful, feature rich, cooler, quieter and more power efficient card that I hope will serve it’s purpose for several years to come!”
How to choose the best GPU for Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
There are plenty of factors you need to consider before choosing a GPU, so we've listed a couple of them to help you make an informed decision.
System requirements and budget
The point to start from is to check the system requirements of the game you want to play. This is especially important if you're building a new PC with a particular game or setup in mind. In this case, the RX 7800 XT or the RTX 4070 are the recommended GPUs, which are good mid-range options with great 1440p output.
This gives you something to base your components around; however, if you want to target a higher resolution, you'll have to spend more to get a high-end GPU and then pair it with a compatible processor. This is where the budget comes in, as you'll have to decide what your budget allows for high-end components.
If it allows for it, then the sky is the limit; if it doesn't, then sticking to mid-range or budget options is a good call. If you find that a gaming PC with the 7800 XT or the 4070 is a good option, we recommend you check out the best CPUs for RX 7800 XT and the RTX 4070.
Usage
Another important factor to consider is what you plan on using your rig for. If it is just for gaming, then you can pair it with an X3D processor like the Ryzen 7 7800X3D and a decent GPU like the RTX 4070 Ti Super, and you should be able to run plenty of games at 1440p and 4K with high frame rates.
However, if you've got other workflows like video editing or 3D rendering to take care of, the components will have to be different. In this case, an X processor like the Ryzen 9 7900X with the same GPU would be a good fit as the card also has good synthetic output, and the CPU is great for multi-threaded workloads, productivity, and gaming.
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