Gameplay Performance
We are going to focus on 4K gameplay performance with these two video cards. We will include DLSS and FSR performance on the same graph in the games that are supported. We will use DLSS on NVIDIA GPUs and FSR on AMD GPUs. Ray Tracing performance will be shown on a separate page. For video card comparisons we are using an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti Founders Edition Overclocked and a SAPPHIRE NITRO+ AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT PURE Overclocked video card.
Dying Light 2
Dying Light 2 was released in February 2022 on the PC and uses Techland’s C-Engine. The game supports Ray Tracing, DLSS, and FSR. We use the built-in preset to set “HIGH QUALITY” which sets the highest game graphics, without Ray Tracing. We manually enable DX12 and ASYNC Compute. For our benchmark, we are using a custom manual run-through at the end of the game hopping between rooftops, as well as free-roaming on the ground city level, as well as a forested area, in the daylight.
In Dying Light 2, running at 4K and “High Quality” we find both video cards are very close in performance when they are overclocked to the max. The GeForce RTX 3090 Ti FE Overclocked only edges out the Radeon RX 6950 XT Overclocked by a tiny 1% difference. Therefore they both provide the same gameplay experience, which is over 60FPS at 4K and quite playable in this game.
We actually find that Ultra Quality FSR provides a higher boost in framerate, over Quality DLSS. With Ultra Quality FSR the Overclocked Radeon RX 6950 XT receives a 54% performance boost and jumps to 99FPS, which is super smooth. The Overclocked GeForce RTX 3090 Ti FE also receives a performance boost, its performance boost is a little less at 46%, but that still brings it to 95FPS, and the experience compared to the 6950 XT is the same, though DLSS does look better. If you compare FSR vs DLSS, the 6950 XT Overclocked is 5% faster. At these differences, it doesn’t matter so much, and DLSS does provide better image quality.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction was released on PC in January of 2022. This game uses the Ubisoft Anvil gaming engine and supports DLSS and multiple TAA options as well as a high-definition Texture Pack. We are running the game at the highest graphics settings, at a fixed 100% resolution. We will test with TAA and DLSS where supported. We are using the built-in benchmark.
In Rainbow Six Extraction, we are running the game at 4K with the highest in-game settings and TAA. The Overclocked GeForce RTX 3090 Ti is 28% faster than the Overclocked Radeon RX 6950 XT when compared. However, despite that raw difference, both video cards are playable in this game at these settings. The Radeon RX 6950 XT Overclocked is still pumping out 100FPS at 4K, so that is certainly playable, and both have the same gameplay experience. The RTX 3090 Ti does allow DLSS in this game, and with that, it receives a 44% performance boost up to 186FPS. If you absolutely need that, then that card overclocked will get you really high framerates.
Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 5 was released on PC in November of 2021 and it uses the ForzaTech game engine. For our evaluation, we raise the in-game graphic settings beyond the “Extreme” preset to the maximum game settings. In addition to the “Extreme” preset, we raise SSAO Quality to Ultra, Reflection Quality to Extreme, SSR Quality to Ultra. We also disable MSAA and use TAA. We utilize the built-in benchmark for testing.
In Forza Horizon 5 we are running at custom highest in-game graphics settings, with TAA at 4K. In this game, the tables turn from the previous game, and now the Radeon RX 6950 XT Overclocked is 12% faster than the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti FE Overclocked. However, similar to the previous game both video cards are still very much playable. The GeForce RTX 3090 Ti Overclocked produces an 84FPS average, which is very smooth and fast in this game at 4K. Though the Overclocked RX 6950 XT will buy you a little more and get you about 10FPS more performance.
Far Cry 6
Far Cry 6 was released in October of 2021 and uses the Dunia Engine. We utilize the built-in benchmark for testing. We have the HD Texture pack installed and turned on. We utilize the “Ultra” graphics preset which sets all options to the highest game settings. This game supports FSR upscaling.
In Far Cry 6 we are running the game at 4K with the highest in-game settings plus HD Textures. We find that the Overclocked Radeon RX 6950 XT edges out performance and is faster by 4% compared to the Overclocked GeForce RTX 3090 Ti FE. The difference is so small between them though that you wouldn’t be able to tell which is which while gaming. They both provide the same gameplay experience, which is very playable at 4K with high framerates. Both can also enable FSR and hit a limit of 119FPS, mostly due to CPU bottlenecking with FSR enabled. At 119FPS both video cards provide the same performance and experience with improved framerates.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 was released in December of 2020 and uses the REDengine 4. We have the game patched to version 1.52 and perform a long manual run-through driving in the game’s open world. We test using the Graphics Preset option to set graphics settings, mainly “Ultra”. This game supports DLSS and FSR.
In Cyberpunk 2077 we are running at 4K and “Ultra” settings. This game is so demanding that neither card is playable until we utilize DLSS or FSR. Technically the Overclocked GeForce RTX 3090 Ti FE is 16% faster than the Overclocked Radeon RX 6950 XT. However, the performance is so low on both, in the 30’s average, that it doesn’t really matter.
The only way to make both playable is to use DLSS or FSR. With DLSS the Overclocked GeForce RTX 3090 Ti FE is playable at 58FPS, and with FSR the Overclocked Radeon RX 6950 XT is playable at 61FPS. Interestingly, FSR is faster than DLSS here, the Overclocked Radeon RX 6950 XT is 5% faster with the highest quality forms of upscaling. DLSS does look better in image quality.
Microsoft Flight Sim 2020 Game of the Year Edition
MS Flight Sim 2020 was released in August of 2020 but has received a big update in November 2021 called the Game of the Year Edition update. This brought with it support for the DX12 API which we have enabled for testing. We are utilizing the game’s “Ultra” preset for graphics settings and live terrain is enabled. We perform a manual run-through of an activity landing in New York with an outside view camera.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 we are playing at 4K and “Ultra” settings and both video cards are playable and provide a good experience. The GeForce RTX 3090 Ti FE Overclocked is 10% faster than the Radeon RX 6950 XT Overclocked and does give a bit smoother framerates.
Watch Dogs Legion
Watch Dogs Legion was released on the PC in October of 2020 and uses the Disrupt game engine. We utilize the built-in benchmark for testing. We have the HD Texture pack installed and enabled for testing. We use the built-in graphics preset of “Ultra” for testing. This game supports DLSS upscaling.
In Watch Dogs Legion we are playing the game at 4K and the highest settings with HD Textures. This game, like Dying Light 2 has both video cards performing exactly the same and providing the same gameplay experience, with only a 1FPS difference. At 73 or 74FPS gameplay is very smooth and enjoyable on both video cards. The Overclocked GeForce RTX 3090 Ti FE has one advantage, it allows DLSS and can boost performance by 34%.