A new Cyberpunk 2077 mod is making the rounds recently, and it puts a spotlight on just how much performance you can squeeze out of the notoriously demanding game - even if you don't have a modern graphics card.
cyberpunk 2077 next-gen screencap
The mod, according to GameRant, adds unofficial support for AMD's FSR 2.0 as an augmentation to the already-present FSR 1.0. Modder PotatoOfDoom made it possible because FSR 2.0 is an open-source software by nature. However, they also made it clear that the mod itself is still a proof-of-concept. As such, anybody who installs the new Cyberpunk 2077 mod should expect a few bugs.
You can download the mod now via NexusMods, where it has been downloaded a total of over 4,200 times. It's also been endorsed 134 times, proving that while still technically in beta, the software is doing well enough with users. Here's a video detailing just how much performance you can squeeze out of Cyberpunk with this mod, courtesy of the YouTube channel MxBenchmarkPC:
The game was benchmarked in 1440p on custom graphics settings, with a mixture of medium, high, and ultra toggles. Ray tracing was turned on with the RTX 3080-i7 10700F system, and the differences between FSR 1.0 and 2.0 were obvious from the get-go. However, the mod actually works as a replacement for the in-game DLSS option so bear that in mind if you have an RTX card.
On FSR 1.0 set to Ultra Quality mode, the game's image was marred with constant shimmering and obnoxious jagged edges as a result of the upscaling algorithm. But with FSR 2.0, the shimmering and jagged edges were mostly gone in favor of a more natural-looking image. Performance was mostly the same as it was on FSR 1.0 and nowhere near close to DLSS' performance gains, but the image improvement was clear.
To install the mod, here's what you need to do:
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Download the mod from Nexus
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Extract the downloaded archive into the game's main install folder. Ensure all 3 DLL files are in the same folder as the main .exe file.
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RUN the file called "EnableSignatureOverride.reg" as admin.
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Go into the game and select DLSS in the game's graphics. Select the mode as needed.
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Use Cases For This Cyberpunk 2077 Mod
Since we're implementing FSR 2.0 into Cyberpunk with this mod, we're going to be limited in terms of what graphics cards players can use. As per Tom's Hardware, AMD recommends that you only use FSR 2.0 on cards not older than the GTX 1070 or RX 590. You can still use it on cards older than that, but Team Red says the performance gains you'll get will be very small.
However, this does present a great case for folks still stuck with 1070/590-class GPUs who still want to play CD Projekt Red's sci-fi RPG. At 1440p medium settings, the 1070 was only able to pump 30+ frames per second. This frame rate goes up to the low 50s when you play at 1080p medium settings, even with the FSR 1.0 option turned off. But perhaps you can expect a solid 60 FPS or even up to 70 FPS if you turn on FSR 2.0.
With the FSR 2.0 mod, you could be able to squeeze out more performance while also turning a few more settings up. Maybe High settings are a good option, but that will be up to you to test out with your own 1070 or 590.
Related Article: Was Cyberpunk 2077's Horrible Launch Caused By Faulty QA Testing?
This article is posted on GameNGuide
Written by RJ Pierce
