Stalker 2 is the latest addition to the Stalker franchise, which is focused on surviving the harsh plains of Chornobyl, fighting against enemies and the environment, all the while searching for valuable items.
So, each gunfight, decision, and second counts in the horror survival game, and to get the best gaming experience, you need a GPU that can handle the graphics of this title without causing stuttering or lag issues. However, judging by the early reviews, Stalker 2 seems to be a “technical disaster,” as many claim that it wasn’t ready to be released, reminding us of what happened with Cyberpunk 2077 and Battlefield 2042.
Even the mighty RTX 4090 wasn’t able to hit 60 FPS at native 4K in this grueling FPS shooter. The official system requirements for playing the game at 4K 60+ FPS are an RTX 4080 or the RX 7900 XTX, which are solid 4K GPUs. However, the game itself will have to be optimized if we are to see 60+ FPS.
Taking all of this information into account and seeing how games get more optimized with further patches, we’ve selected a handful of GPUs based on their price, features, the game system requirements, and the performance they showcased during our in-house testing. This allows us to show their real-world performance and only recommend the best. If you’re interested in how we select and review products, we’ve got you covered.
Products at a glance
- Best GPU for Stalker 2
Gigabyte RTX 4080 Super Windforce V2
- GPU: AD103
- CUDA Cores: 10,240
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 736.3 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Base clock speed: 2295 MHz
- Best AMD GPU for Stalker 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
- Best mid-range GPU for Stalker 2
ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super OC Edition
- GPU: AD103
- CUDA Cores: 8,448
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 672.3 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Base clock speed: 2340 MHz
How we picked
We researched the market and found various options from Nvidia and AMD. We filtered those options based on their price, compatibility, performance, and other features, such as DLSS and FSR.
In addition, we also conduct rigorous in-house testing of the cards. This gives us insight into how they’ll perform across various scenarios, whether in gaming or professional tasks. We’re always updating our list with the latest information, so if there are better pairings than these, we’ll be sure to update them, so check back with us. If you’re interested in learning about our testing process, head over to the PC Guide Testing lab for more details.
Top Black Friday GPU deals
Here’s our hand-picked list of today’s GPU Black Friday deals. Our deals team is always hard at work to keep this list updated, so be sure to check back in if there’s nothing that piques your interest at the moment.
- GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4060 Gaming OC 8G Graphics Card – Save 11% now!
- Acer Nitro Radeon RX 7800 XT – Save 9% now!
- MSI SHADOW 3X OC GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER – Save 6% NOW!
- ASUS The SFF-Ready Prime GeForce RTX 4070 Super OC Edition – Save 8% now!
- ASUS TUF Gaming RX 7900 XTX OC Edition 24GB GDDR6 Graphics Card – Save 13% Now!
Our top picks
- GPU: AD103
- CUDA Cores: 10,240
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 736.3 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Base clock speed: 2295 MHz
- A true beast for 4K gaming
- Slightly improved performance
- Costs less than the RTX 4080
- $999 / £959 still isn’t cheap
For those who want to play Stalker 2 at the best settings possible without running into performance issues, we recommend the RTX 4080 Super. This GPU sits in second place in the performance hierarchy, only behind the RTX 4090. It has better performance than its base model, and when we tested it for our RTX 4080 Super review, it delivered excellent 4K results and managed 51 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 without enabling DLSS 3.
This graphics card has 10,240 CUDA cores with base and boost clock speeds of 2295 and 2550 MHz, respectively. While the clock speeds might not seem very fast, 10,240 cores running simultaneously mean that this card can easily handle graphically demanding titles. You can also overclock the GPU to get better performance, but that will also improve its power draw and thermal output.
So, we recommend using the best 140mm case fans to promote good airflow and the best PSU for the RTX 4080 Super so you can overclock it without worrying about the overhead.
The RTX 4080 Super effectively erases any reason to go out and buy the original RTX 4080 with slightly increased performance and a much more palatable price point. It delivers across the board in terms of high-end gaming performance in 1440p and 4K while being just as powerful for content creators, too.
PC Guide
According to the system requirements of Stalker 2 on Steam, at 1440p with high settings, you should get 60 FPS with 32GB RAM, and that too with AI upscaling technologies like DLSS, FSR, TSR, and XeSS enabled. So, there is a good chance that Stalker 2 won’t be very optimized at release, and they’ll have to tune it with patches after release.
That said, it won’t hurt to have a powerful GPU on your side in this case; with time, the performance should only improve. We ran a couple of games at 1440p and 4K to check its in-game performance. In Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, it managed 139 and 119 FPS at 1440p and delivered 95 FPS at 4K.
Now, these results could’ve been higher if we had enabled DLSS 3, but we test our cards natively. So, the RTX 4080 Super should be able to run Stalker 2 at a good resolution with good framerates, and you can boost its performance by leveraging DLSS 3.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, the RTX 4080 Super has excellent performance and runs very quietly. One reviewer stated: “This thing never makes a noise and no coil wine at all! Great performance, and super happy with this purchase.”
- 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
- Boost clock speed: 2,500 MHz
- 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 lean toward Team Red and their GPUs, we recommend the RX 7900 XT. The great aspect about AMD cards is that while they may not have the same Ray Tracing performance as Nvidia GPUs, they provide great value for money and solid gaming performance.
In our RX 7900 XT review, this card had better 4K results in Cyberpunk 2077 than the RTX 4080 Super and, besides that, was on par with it while costing significantly less. So, it should be a good option to run Stalker 2 as it has FSR 3.1 to boost its performance.
The RX 7900 XT has 5,376 stream processors powering it, and their base and boost clock speeds are 1,387 and 2,500 MHz, respectively. In addition, it has 20GB of GDDR6 VRAM with a 320-bit memory bus, meaning you can ramp up the in-game settings for various titles without worrying about running out of memory or into performance issues.
The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT’s new price point and powerful performance put it firmly in competition with some of Nvidia’s best mid-range GPUs, and its large memory pool ensures it will be futureproofed for many years to come.
PC Guide
That said, you can also overclock this GPU, but remember that it’ll also increase its power consumption and generate more heat. This GPU’s TDP is 300W and can go up depending on how much you overclock it. So, in this case, we recommend using the best PSU for RX 7900 XT to ensure that all the components get the right amount of power.
Regarding its performance, we ran a handful of games at 4K and 1440p, and it made quick work of them all without breaking a sweat. In Doom Eternal, it managed 195 and 349 FPS at 4K and 1440p, respectively. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, it delivered 123 and 227 FPS in the same two resolutions.
In synthetic benchmarks, it managed 17,137 in Fire Strike Ultra, which tests how well a GPU can perform at 4K. For reference, the RTX 4080 Super managed 17,005. So, it has excellent performance in gaming and work, and given its price point, it is exceptional value.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, the RX 7900 XT has top-notch performance, build quality, and thermal design. One reviewer said: “The GPU can run anything at 1440p and even 4k at ease. Very fast. I had some issues figuring out AMD drivers and its software, but after learning, it is 10x better than nvidia’s GeForce experience. It is a bulky card. No issues with drivers. Don’t listen to all the horror stories. This card is worth it. It stays under 75C at 100% load. no lighting whatsoever but I’m not complaining since this is one of the cheapest 7900xts.”
- GPU: AD103
- CUDA Cores: 8,448
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 672.3 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Base clock speed: 2340 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2670 MHz
- Top overclock among custom models
- Super cooling solution with good capacity
- Smart looking – chic design
- Far too high a price for the Strix
- Hefty and large
- Uses the 12VHPWR 16-pin power connector
If you’re looking for a mid-range GPU that fits your budget well, we recommend the RTX 4070 Ti Super. This card is on the brink of entering the “high-end” domain, and its performance speaks to that. In our RTX 4070 Ti Super review, it managed 44 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 without using any upscaling technologies to boost its performance.
This GPU has 8,448 CUDA cores, a base clock speed of 2,340 MHz, a boost clock speed of 2,670 MHz, and 16GB of GDDR6X VRAM with a 256-bit memory interface width. This means that this card has great hardware under the hood and should be able to handle tasks of varying difficulties.
It features three DisplayPorts and two HDMI, which means it can power multiple monitors, which is great for gaming or productivity. The variant we tested was the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super OC Edition, which measures 13.22 x 5.9 x 2.48 inches or 336 x 150 x 63 mm.
The RTX 4070 Ti Super is a compelling choice, offering added value and 4K gaming capability for less than previous in Nvidia’s lineup. However, we wouldn’t opt for the Strix specifically given the cost of the the card over and above MSRP.
PC Guide
So, before making a purchase, ensure that your casing has enough space to house it comfortably without cramping up the space. That can lead to restricted airflow and overheating of the GPU and other components. We recommend using the best case for RTX 4070 Ti Super to ensure everything fits nicely and keeps running cool.
To see how it performs in the real world, we ran a handful of games at 4K. In Counter-Strike 2 and AC Mirage, it managed 151 and 84 FPS at 4K, while in R6S, it delivered 160 FPS. So, it is more than capable of pushing 4K natively and taking it to the next level with DLSS 3.
That said, it does cost more than the RX 7900 XT, so maybe that is something you’ll have to consider whether you want to pay more for a mid-range GPU or go for AMD, spend less, and get a solid 4K GPU. Either way, both of these cards should be good for running Stalker 2.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this card has excellent value for money, performance, cooling, and aesthetics. One reviewer said: “The most aesthetically pleasing card on the market at this price point? I’d say yes. That’s why I bought it. It’s also fast, and quiet, and built like a tank, and not overly huge. But most of all it’s simply nice looking for a visible build. That’s ultimately why you’re gonna pay a little extra over something that says “TUF” on it or has some weird aggro gamer style, isn’t it?”
How to choose the best GPU for Stalker 2
Games are becoming more graphically demanding, and that is true for Stalker 2 as well, given its system requirements. However, that doesn’t mean you go for the flagship option and call it a day, as they cost a lot.
AI upscaling and frame generation technologies can also be used to push GPUs to perform better, opening up more options. So, there are a couple of factors you need to consider before making a purchase, and we’ve mentioned a few of them to help you make an informed decision.
Budget
Your budget is the most important aspect you need to consider. It is easy to overspend on a GPU when the recommended GPU is the RTX 4070, but we recommend that you filter the available options based on your budget. This will give you a list of cards that offer good performance and value.
Variant
The same GPU could perform differently depending on the third-party variant. For example, some manufacturers overclock the GPU, which is known as “OC Editions,” and have better cooling solutions and other features.
ROG Strix GPUs come with RGB lighting and fancy backplates, which increases the overall price of the GPU, while ASUS TUF keeps it simple, and those cards cost less. PNY, Gigabyte, and ZOTAC cards also cost less than ROG Strix variants.
Fundamentally, they are all the same but have different add-ons from the manufacturers. So, opt for a GPU that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket.
Stalker 2 System requirements
Before purchasing any GPU, look at the game’s system requirements. In this case, the recommended GPU for Stalker 2 is the RTX 4070, RTX 3070 Ti, or RX 6800 XT. All of these are excellent GPUs. We’ve reviewed the 4070 and 6800, and they are on par with each other, with both taking home some victories.
We’ve also reviewed the RTX 3070, which isn’t very different from the RTX 3070 Ti. That said, just because a GPU is mentioned in the system requirements doesn’t mean that GPUs lower than that won’t be able to run the game. You might have to tweak some settings, but it’ll run.
However, system requirements to give you a good idea of where your hardware is and how much you need to improve, but that doesn’t mean overspending on a GPU just for a minor upgrade.
That said, with Black Friday around the corner, you might be able to get your hands on an RTX 4070 or maybe even the Super variants for less. So, keep an eye on the Black Friday GPU deals for some excellent deals.
