Do You Really Need Ultra Settings in PC Games?
Lennon Byatt
You’ve just launched a new PC game, opened the graphics menu and immediately seen the usual options:
Low. Medium. High. Ultra.
Naturally, Ultra sounds like the best choice.
But does playing everything on Ultra actually make games look much better — and is it worth losing FPS for?
Recommended 1440p Gaming PC Specifications
For the best balance of performance and value, we recommend:
| Component | Recommendation |
|
CPU
|
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
|
|
GPU
|
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 or AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
|
|
RAM
|
32GB DDR5 6000MHz
|
|
Storage
|
2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
|
|
Motherboard
|
B650
|
|
PSU
|
750W 80 PLUS Gold
|
This specification is capable of running modern AAA games at high frame rates while providing plenty of headroom for future releases.
Browse AWD-IT's latest AMD Ryzen Processors:
https://www.awd-it.co.uk/components/cpu-processors/amd-cpu.html
What Do Ultra Settings Actually Do?
Graphics presets change several visual settings at once.
Switching from High to Ultra might increase things such as:
- Shadow quality
- Reflections
- Texture detail
- Lighting effects
- View distance
- Volumetric effects
- Ray tracing quality
All of these can improve how a game looks, but they also increase the amount of work your graphics card needs to do.
Ultra Doesn't Always Look Much Better
One of the biggest surprises for new PC gamers is that High and Ultra can sometimes look very similar during actual gameplay.
Ultra settings may improve tiny details such as sharper shadows or reflections in the distance.
If you stop and compare screenshots, you might notice them.
But while you're running around, driving or fighting enemies?
The difference can be much harder to see.
Meanwhile, your GPU could be working considerably harder to produce those extra details.
High and Ultra can sometimes look very similar during actual gameplay
High Settings Can Be the Sweet Spot
For many games, High settings offer an excellent balance between graphics and performance.
You can still get:
Great visuals + higher FPS + smoother gameplay
instead of sacrificing lots of performance just to make every graphics option say Ultra.
This is especially useful when gaming at higher resolutions such as 1440p or 4K, where your GPU is already rendering millions of pixels every frame.
Which Settings Hit FPS the Hardest?
Every game is different, but some settings are commonly more demanding than others.
Ray Tracing
Ray tracing can create more realistic lighting, shadows and reflections, but it can also be demanding on your GPU.
If you're struggling for FPS, reducing ray tracing quality - or disabling it entirely - can make a noticeable difference.
Fog, clouds, smoke and lighting effects can look fantastic but may also place additional load on the GPU
Shadows
Ultra-quality shadows can require considerably more processing for details that you might barely notice while actually playing.
Dropping shadows from Ultra to High is often worth trying.
Volumetric Effects
Fog, clouds, smoke and lighting effects can look fantastic but may also place additional load on the GPU.
Reflections
High-quality reflections can be demanding, especially in games featuring lots of water, glass or reflective surfaces.
Average FPS vs 1% Low
Here’s a simple example:
| Gaming PC | Average FPS | 1% Low |
|
PC A
|
160 FPS
|
65 fps
|
|
PC B
|
145 FPS
|
110 FPS
|
At first glance, PC A looks faster because it has the higher average FPS.
But PC B maintains much stronger performance during demanding moments.
For someone actually playing the game, PC B may therefore provide the smoother and more consistent experience.
This is one reason AWD-IT's existing performance guides sometimes refer to maintaining strong 1% lows alongside average FPS.
What About Texture Quality?
Texture quality is slightly different.
Higher-resolution textures rely heavily on your graphics card's VRAM.
If your GPU has enough VRAM available, you may be able to use high or even ultra texture settings without the same performance impact as some other graphics options.
If you're unsure what VRAM actually does, check out AWD-IT's guide to what VRAM means in gaming.
Competitive Games Are Different
If you're playing competitive games such as:
- Counter-Strike 2
- Valorant
- Fortnite
- Call of Duty
- Apex Legends
maximum graphical quality probably isn't your main priority.
Competitive players will often lower certain settings to achieve higher and more consistent FPS.
A slightly prettier shadow isn't particularly useful if reducing it helps your game feel smoother and more responsive.
You should also pay attention to your 1% lows, not just your average FPS. AWD-IT's 1% lows guide explains why consistent performance can matter just as much as the biggest FPS number.
Single-Player Games Are Different Again
For slower story-driven games, you might prefer better graphics over extremely high frame rates.
If you're playing a cinematic RPG at 80 FPS, for example, you may decide that increasing a few visual settings is worth dropping to 70 FPS.
There isn't one correct graphics preset for everyone.
It depends on:
What you're playing, what hardware you have and what you personally prefer.
For slower story-driven games, you might prefer better graphics over extremely high frame rates
What About 0.1% Lows?
If you've watched detailed PC benchmark videos, you might have also seen 0.1% low FPS.
This looks at even rarer slow frames.
For the average customer comparing gaming PCs, you don't need to obsess over it.
The easiest way to think about the numbers is:
Average FPS = How fast does it normally run?
1% low = How well does it hold up when things get demanding?
That's really all you need to know.
Best Sim Racing Setup for Beginners: Start With the Essentials
You don’t need a full cockpit immediately. A well‑chosen beginner setup helps you develop skills faster and keeps costs under control.
1. Steering Wheel and Pedals (Top Priority)
Your wheel and pedals are the most important part of any sim racing rig. Force feedback allows you to feel grip changes, kerbs, and steering resistance—crucial for learning car control.
Beginner tip: Focus on force feedback quality rather than raw power.
Your wheel and pedals are the most important part of any sim racing rig. Force feedback allows you to feel grip changes, kerbs, and steering resistance—crucial for learning car control.
Creators in attendance
Stacked lineup
Experience zones
Arcades · Sim rigs · PCs
Tech on display
Latest gen builds
Verdict
Showroom certified
Pick Your Tier
We've named each tier after a tournament stage, because let's be honest, that's exactly the kind of thing we'd do. Find your budget and dive in.
Group Stage
Round of 32
Quarter Final
World Cup Final
Don't Forget Your Monitor
Your PC can produce hundreds of frames every second, but your monitor also needs to be capable of displaying high refresh rates for you to fully benefit from them.
A smoother combination of strong FPS, consistent frame delivery and an appropriate refresh rate can make games feel significantly better.
If you're unsure what Hz means, read AWD-IT's guide to why monitor refresh rate matters, or browse the latest gaming monitors.
A smoother combination of strong FPS, consistent frame delivery and an appropriate refresh rate can make games feel significantly better.
Expected Gaming Performance
|
Game
|
1440p High
|
1440p Ultra
|
|
GTA 6 (Predicted)
|
120 FPS
|
90 FPS
|
|
Cyberpunk 2077
|
120 FPS
|
95 FPS
|
|
Black Ops 7
|
180+ FPS
|
150+ FPS
|
|
Fortnite
|
240+ FPS
|
200+ FPS
|
Performance will vary depending on drivers, game updates and graphics settings.
1440p Gaming
1440p provides a sharper image than 1080p but requires additional graphics power.
The AWD-IT Ares Ryzen 5 RX 9060 XT Gaming PC is a suitable option for players who want higher graphical settings, stronger frame rates and the ability to move into 1440p gaming.
Players targeting high-refresh-rate 1440p or 4K should look towards graphics cards such as the Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT
High-End Gaming
Players targeting high-refresh-rate 1440p or 4K should look towards graphics cards such as the Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT.
These cards provide the additional performance needed for demanding modern games, detailed graphical settings and higher-resolution monitors.
Browse AWD-IT’s range of RX 9070 XT gaming PCs.
Should You Pair Radeon with Ryzen?
A Radeon graphics card does not need an AMD Ryzen processor, but pairing the two can create a well-balanced all-AMD gaming system.
The most important consideration is balance. Your processor should be powerful enough to support the graphics card, while sufficient RAM, SSD storage and cooling will help the entire system perform reliably.
You can explore AWD-IT’s AMD Ryzen and Radeon gaming PCs for complete systems using both technologies.
Prebuilt or Build Your Own?
Building a PC gives you control over every individual component, but it also requires additional research, assembly and troubleshooting.
A prebuilt gaming PC arrives assembled and tested, making it a more convenient option for many first-time buyers.
It also gives you one main point of contact if you require technical support or warranty assistance.
Should You Just Use Ultra If Your PC Can Handle It?
Absolutely.
If your gaming PC can comfortably run your favourite game at Ultra while delivering the FPS you want, there's nothing wrong with using it.
The point is that you don't have to use Ultra just because it's there.
Sometimes dropping only one or two settings from Ultra to High can give you extra performance while making almost no noticeable difference to the game.
Try This Before Upgrading Your GPU
If a new game isn't running as well as you expected, don't immediately assume you need a new graphics card.
Try changing your settings first.
Start with:
Ultra → High
Then test the game again.
If performance is still lower than you'd like, reduce demanding settings such as ray tracing, shadows and volumetric effects individually.
You might discover that your current PC still has plenty of life left in it.
And if you're genuinely reaching the limits of your hardware, you can compare AWD-IT's latest graphics cards or browse our range of gaming PCs.
The Simple Answer
No, you don't always need Ultra settings.
Ultra can make games look better, but the visual improvement isn't always as large as the performance cost.
For many PC gamers, High settings are the sweet spot — delivering excellent visuals while leaving more performance available for higher and smoother frame rates.
So next time you install a new game, don't automatically click Ultra.
Try High first.
Your FPS counter might thank you.
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- Best SSD for Gaming in 2026
- Best Graphics Card for 1440p Gaming
- Best CPU for RTX 5070
- What Is Resizable BAR?
- How Much RAM Do You Need for Gaming?
- GTA 6 PC System Requirements (Predicted)
