“Dying Light 2 Stay Human” is an action-packed, open-world survival horror game developed by Techland.
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Released in February 2022, it is the sequel to the highly acclaimed “Dying Light.” Set in a post-apocalyptic world, players take on the role of Aiden Caldwell, a skilled survivor with impressive parkour abilities and combat skills.
The game features a vast cityscape filled with zombies, hostile factions, and numerous secrets to uncover. With a dynamic day-night cycle and an engaging storyline, “Dying Light 2” offers a thrilling gaming experience that requires a well-optimized PC for the best performance.
Minimum and Recommended System Requirements
Before diving into optimization, it’s crucial to understand the game’s system requirements to ensure your PC can handle the demands of “Dying Light 2.” Here’s a detailed look at the minimum and recommended specifications:
Minimum Requirements (1080p, 30 FPS, Ray Tracing Off)
- OS: Windows 7 64bit
- CPU: Intel Core i39100 or AMD Ryzen 3 2300X
- RAM: 8GB
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 560 (4GB VRAM)
- Storage: 60GB HDD
For players looking to experience the game with better visuals and smoother performance, meeting the recommended requirements is advisable:
Recommended Requirements (1080p, 60 FPS, Ray Tracing Off)
- OS: Windows 10 64bit
- CPU: Intel Core i58600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
- RAM: 16GB
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX Vega 56
- Storage: 60GB SSD
Ray Tracing Enabled Requirements
Minimum (1080p, 30 FPS):
- CPU: Intel Core i58600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
- RAM: 16GB
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070
- Storage: 60GB SSD
Recommended (1080p, 60 FPS):
- CPU: Intel Core i58600K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
- RAM: 16GB
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- Storage: 60GB SSD
Optimizing Your PC for Smooth Gameplay
Optimizing your PC to run “Dying Light 2” smoothly at 1080p involves several steps, from hardware upgrades to finetuning in-game settings. Here are detailed recommendations:
1. Update Your Drivers:
Ensure that your GPU drivers are up to date. Both NVIDIA and AMD release regular updates that optimize performance for new games. Keeping your drivers current can solve many performance issues.
2. Adjust In-Game Settings:
Tweaking the in-game settings can significantly improve performance without a substantial loss in visual quality. Here’s a closer look at what you can adjust:
Resolution: Stick to 1080p for a balance between performance and visual quality.
Texture Quality: Lower this setting if you experience stuttering. Medium settings often provide a good compromise between performance and quality.
Shadows and Reflections: These are demanding settings. Setting them to medium or low can boost FPS without drastically affecting the visuals.
AntiAliasing: Reducing or disabling this can improve FPS. However, keeping it at a low setting can still help reduce jagged edges without a major performance hit.
Ray Tracing: If your system supports ray tracing but struggles with performance, consider reducing or disabling specific raytraced effects like shadows or reflections.
3. Use Performance Boosting Technologies:
DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling): If you have an NVIDIA GPU, enable DLSS to upscale lower-resolution images, enhancing performance while maintaining image quality.
FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution): AMD’s FSR can also be used to improve performance on supported GPUs. This technology helps by rendering the game at a lower resolution and then upscaling it.
4. Monitor and Manage Background Processes:
Close unnecessary background applications that consume CPU and RAM. Tools like MSI Afterburner can help you monitor your system’s real-time performance and identify resource-heavy applications.
5. Overclocking:
Consider overclocking your GPU and CPU if you are comfortable with it. Overclocking can provide a performance boost but ensure you have adequate cooling solutions to prevent overheating. Always proceed with caution and follow proper guidelines to avoid hardware damage.
6. Hardware Upgrades:
If your system still struggles to maintain smooth gameplay, it might be time for hardware upgrades. Upgrading to a faster SSD, adding more RAM, or investing in a more powerful GPU can make a significant difference. Here are some specific upgrade suggestions:
SSD: Switching from an HDD to an SSD can greatly reduce load times and improve system responsiveness.
RAM: Increasing RAM to at least 16GB can help manage the game’s memory requirements more effectively.
GPU: Upgrading to a more powerful GPU, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or higher, can significantly improve your gaming experience, especially if you plan to use ray tracing.
Advanced Optimization Tips from the Community
Here are some unique points from expert gamers and community tips to further enhance your gaming experience in “Dying Light 2”:
API Choice: DX11 vs. DX12
DX11: Generally offers better performance with less VRAM usage and more stability. It is recommended for most players, especially if experiencing stuttering with DX12.
DX12: If your GPU supports DX12 Ultimate, enabling it can provide advanced features like ray tracing. However, it may cause inconsistent performance, so monitor your frame rates closely.
Asynchronous Compute
Enable this setting if you are using DX12. It provides a slight FPS boost and can help smooth out performance.
AntiAliasing
Options: Low and High. High setting reduces blurring caused by Temporal Anti-Aliasing (TAA) and offers a more stable image with minimal performance difference.
Particles Quality
Set to Low, as there is minimal visual difference between Low and High settings, but High can reduce FPS by about 3%.
Contact Shadow Quality
Enhances shadows for objects close to surfaces. Set to Very High for better visual fidelity without a performance hit.
Ambient Occlusion
Settings: None, Low, High. High significantly enhances visuals with minor performance costs. A low setting offers a good balance.
Global Illumination
The minimal performance difference between Low and High. Set to High for slightly better shadowing and overall lighting effects.
Reflections Quality
Impact: High setting can reduce FPS by 23%. Set to Low for better performance on lower-end GPUs.
Fog Quality
Affects volumetric lighting quality. Set to Low to avoid a significant FPS drop, especially since most gameplay occurs outdoors where the difference is less noticeable.
Can I run “Dying Light 2” on an older PC?
Yes, as long as your PC meets the minimum requirements. However, for the best experience, especially with ray tracing, a more modern setup is recommended.
How can I improve performance without sacrificing too much visual quality?
Start by lowering the most demanding settings like shadows, reflections, and ray tracing effects. Use performance-boosting technologies like DLSS or FSR if available.
Will upgrading my RAM help with performance?
Yes, increasing your RAM to at least 16GB can help manage the game’s memory requirements, reducing stuttering and improving overall performance.
Is it necessary to have an SSD for “Dying Light 2”?
While not necessary, using an SSD can significantly reduce load times and improve the game’s overall responsiveness.
What are some specific settings I should tweak for better performance?
Focus on lowering shadow quality, and reflection quality, and disabling or reducing ray tracing effects. Additionally, enabling DLSS or FSR can provide a significant performance boost.