Best GPUs for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (2026): Open-World Performance Guide

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is one of the best-optimized open-world RPGs to land on PC in years. Built on a custom CryEngine, it loads fast, runs smooth, and doesn't require a flagship GPU to reach 60 fps at high settings. That changes which card makes sense at each price point, and this guide cuts through the noise to tell you exactly which GPU to buy for your resolution target.

One thing worth flagging before the picks: KCD2 has no ray tracing and no frame generation support. It's pure raster performance, which shifts the math noticeably in AMD's favor at 1440p.

Our top pick: Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 XT

The Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 XT hits 116 fps average at 1440p ultra in KCD2 and trades within 3% of the RTX 5070 Ti at that resolution, at a meaningfully lower price. For a game that rewards raster throughput over RT hardware, this is the pick.

Quick picks

Specs at a glance

Benchmarks

How we picked

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 runs on a custom CryEngine build, which means no ray tracing, no frame generation, and no shader compilation screens. It's among the smoothest-running open-world titles available on PC: textures load cleanly, traversal is stutter-free, and the engine distributes GPU and CPU load well. This is good for mid-range buyers, because it means you don't need top-shelf hardware to run it well.

The picks in this guide are organized by resolution target, not by raw price. At 1080p, the budget pick handles the game at Ultra settings without issue. At 1440p, you have more options, and AMD's raster value puts the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT ahead of same-priced Nvidia cards in native fps terms. At 4K ultra native, the RTX 5070 Ti is the first card to deliver a genuinely smooth experience without relying on upscaling.

One thing worth understanding before buying: VRAM doesn't matter much in KCD2. Testing by TechSpot showed the 8GB and 16GB versions of the RTX 4060 Ti running identically in this game, across all resolutions. That said, every pick in this guide still carries 16GB, because you're not buying a GPU just for one title. Stalker 2, Avowed, and open-world games that do push VRAM will test that buffer.

Both DLSS and FSR are supported, and they're worth using at 4K or if you're running a mid-range card at 1440p. DLSS 4 Quality mode on Nvidia cards delivers cleaner results than FSR 4 Quality on AMD cards in KCD2, though FSR 4 has closed the gap compared to earlier versions. See our 1440p GPU guide for a broader look at current-gen value at that resolution.

Best Overall: Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 XT

Specs

AMD RDNA 4 RX 9070 XT | 16GB GDDR6 | ~2970 MHz boost clock | ~220W TDP | PCIe 5.0 | Dual HDMI / Dual DisplayPort

What it does well

At 1440p ultra in KCD2, the Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 XT averages 116 fps, which puts it within 3% of the RTX 5070 Ti at that resolution. For a game with no ray tracing, that gap isn't worth the premium. The Pulse is the first card in this lineup you'd confidently pair with a 144Hz or 165Hz 1440p monitor and run native high-settings without touching the upscaling controls.

The 16GB GDDR6 pool doesn't do much extra work in KCD2 specifically, but it matters across the rest of the buyer's library. Stalker 2 at 1440p Ultra, Avowed, or any UE5 open-world title that pushed past 10GB will thank you for it. The card also supports FSR 4 Quality, and at 1440p Quality mode, frame rates push into the 140s.

Sapphire's Pulse cooler has been one of the better mid-tier thermal solutions on RDNA 4. Two large fans, a solid backplate, dual HDMI and dual DisplayPort, and a real heatsink rather than a slab. It runs cool in KCD2's moderate GPU load and stays quiet.

What you give up

The RX 9070 XT doesn't support DLSS. If the reader's library is heavy on DLSS-supported titles, Cyberpunk with RT, or Alan Wake 2 path tracing, that's the moment to reconsider. FSR 4 Quality is genuinely good in 2026 and competes well in raster-focused titles like this one, but DLSS still edges it in sharpness on supported games.

At 4K ultra native, the 9070 XT averages around 68 fps in KCD2. That's playable, but not smooth on a 4K 120Hz monitor. FSR 4 Quality at 4K gets fps into the 80s, which is workable. Buyers targeting 4K without upscaling should move up to the Best Premium pick.

Who it's for

The 1440p 144Hz or 165Hz player who wants smooth KCD2 frames without paying the DLSS and ray tracing premium they won't use in this game. Also the buyer with a mixed open-world library who wants 16GB GDDR6 headroom at a price well under the RTX 5070 Ti. If you want to see how the 9070 XT stacks up against the 5070 Ti across a wider range of titles, we have a head-to-head comparison.

Best Value: MSI Ventus RTX 5060 Ti 16G OC

Specs

NVIDIA Blackwell RTX 5060 Ti | 16GB GDDR7 | ~180W TDP | PCIe 5.0 | Dual fan | HDMI 2.1b / DisplayPort 2.1b

What it does well

At 1080p ultra in KCD2, the MSI Ventus RTX 5060 Ti averages 81 fps, which handles a 144Hz 1080p monitor comfortably. At 1440p ultra native, it drops to around 57 fps, which means enabling DLSS 4 Quality mode is the right play for smooth 1440p. With DLSS Quality active, fps climbs into the 80s to low 90s, pushing past the 60fps floor with headroom.

The 16GB GDDR7 is the correct SKU here. The RTX 5060 Ti also ships in an 8GB variant, and while 8GB is fine for KCD2 specifically, it will throttle on other titles in the buyer's library. The 16GB version is the one worth buying. The MSI Ventus 2X OC Plus is the stable in-stock listing; the 3X OC variant was showing limited availability at the time this was written.

At ~180W TDP, this is one of the more power-efficient picks in the roundup. It runs on a 550W quality PSU, stays quiet under KCD2's moderate load, and fits in mid-tower and smaller cases without issue.

DLSS 4 also earns its keep across the buyer's broader library. Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p Quality mode, Black Myth: Wukong with upscaling enabled, or any Nvidia-supported title with DLSS 4 active will benefit from the transformer model quality upgrade that this generation introduced.

What you give up

The native 1440p number is the honest caveat. At 57 fps ultra native, this card leans on upscaling to reach smooth 1440p. That's fine for most buyers who'll enable DLSS anyway, but if the reader specifically wants to run 1440p ultra with no upscaling and hit 100+ fps, the RX 9070 or RX 9070 XT is a better fit.

The 128-bit memory bus is narrower than the AMD alternatives in this roundup. In KCD2 it doesn't show up, but in bandwidth-heavy titles it can affect minimum frame rates. Buyers moving to 1440p 165Hz+ who also play traversal-heavy UE5 games might want more headroom.

Who it's for

The buyer with a mixed game library that includes DLSS-supported or RT-heavy titles alongside KCD2. This is the right pick for someone who plays Cyberpunk or Alan Wake 2 alongside their open-world RPG rotation and wants consistent DLSS 4 quality across everything. Also: streamers (NVENC AV1 is the best streaming quality available), and anyone who specifically wants a quieter, lower-power card.

Best Premium: ASUS TUF RTX 5070 Ti OC

Specs

NVIDIA Blackwell RTX 5070 Ti | 16GB GDDR7 | ~300W TDP | PCIe 5.0 | 3.125-slot triple-fan | HDMI 2.1 / DisplayPort 2.1 | 3-year warranty

What it does well

At 4K ultra in KCD2, the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 Ti OC averages 97 fps. That's the first card in this roundup to deliver native 4K with consistent headroom above 60fps. With DLSS 4 Quality active at 4K, fps exceeds 120 on most scenes, putting a 4K 120Hz monitor within genuine reach in this title.

At 1440p ultra, it averages 119 fps, which means a 144Hz or 165Hz 1440p monitor is never the bottleneck. If you're upgrading from a lower-end card and finally want to turn off the fps counter and stop thinking about it at 1440p, this is the pick.

The ASUS TUF line is a consistently reliable mid-to-high-tier AIB: three fans, 3.125-slot cooling, military-grade component selection, a protective PCB coating, and a 3-year warranty. For a card at this price, the build quality is appropriate.

For titles outside KCD2, the RTX 5070 Ti earns its position further. DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation, genuine RT performance in Cyberpunk 2077 and Alan Wake 2, and 16GB GDDR7 across the whole VRAM-hungry end of the 2026 library. Avowed, Indiana Jones, Black Myth at 4K RT: this card handles them without compromise.

What you give up

The ~300W TDP is load-bearing. This card needs a quality Tier A PSU at 750W or higher. The RTX 5070 Ti's transient spike behavior pushes well past its rated TDP during burst load, and a budget 650W unit that's technically "rated for" the TDP will throttle it. Reports from early buyers who paired it with undersized PSUs confirm thermal throttling in sustained workloads. This isn't a card to cheap out on the power supply for.

At 3.125 slots, it won't fit in tight SFF cases. Mid-tower minimum.

Who it's for

The 4K player who wants native ultra performance in KCD2 and across the broader AAA library. Also: buyers with any creative workload (Blender Cycles, DaVinci Resolve with neural FX, Stable Diffusion inference, Premiere with AI tools) where Nvidia's CUDA ecosystem and 16GB GDDR7 pull ahead of AMD. And the buyer who wants one card that handles everything at high settings for the next four years without compromise.

Best Budget: PowerColor Reaper RX 9060 XT

Specs

AMD RDNA 4 RX 9060 XT | 16GB GDDR6 | ~150W TDP | PCIe 5.0 | HDMI / DisplayPort

What it does well

At 1080p ultra in KCD2, the PowerColor Reaper RX 9060 XT averages 97 fps. That handles a 144Hz 1080p panel without upscaling. KCD2 is well-suited to this card: the engine's efficient CryEngine base means a mid-range GPU can run the game at proper settings, unlike UE5 titles that punish anything below the RTX 5070 Ti tier at high presets.

The 16GB GDDR6 is the headline number at this price point. The nearest Nvidia competition with 16GB costs more, and buying 8GB at this tier is a decision you'll regret within a year as modern AAA titles continue pushing VRAM requirements upward. KCD2 itself doesn't care (8GB performs identically), but Stalker 2, Avowed, and future open-world releases do.

At ~150W TDP, this is the lowest-draw card in the roundup. It runs on a 550W PSU with room to spare, stays near-silent in lighter workloads, and fits any mid-tower or compact build without case planning.

What you give up

At 1440p ultra native, the Reaper averages around 63 fps. That's across the 60fps floor but leaves little room in busy scenes, particularly in dense towns like Kuttenberg. FSR 4 Quality mode at 1440p gets fps into the 80s, which is the right play for 1440p owners on this card.

The PowerColor Reaper is a step below the Hellhound in thermal design. It runs a few degrees warmer under sustained load. For KCD2's moderate GPU demands it's fine, but buyers who spend a lot of time in heavier titles (Cyberpunk at max settings, sustained GPU workloads) may want to consider the Hellhound or XFX alternatives at similar price points if stock allows.

Who it's for

The 1080p 144Hz player who wants KCD2 to run properly at Ultra without overspending. Also the 1440p buyer on a tight budget who's comfortable with FSR 4 Quality enabled for smooth frames. Good for compact builds given the low TDP.

Editor's Pick: ASRock Challenger RX 9070 OC

Specs

AMD RDNA 4 RX 9070 | 16GB GDDR6 | ~200W TDP | PCIe 5.0 | Triple fan | 0dB silent mode | DisplayPort 2.1a / HDMI 2.1b

What it does well

The ASRock Challenger RX 9070 OC is the non-XT version of the chip, and it shows at 1440p ultra: 106 fps average in KCD2, about 10% behind the 9070 XT at that resolution. For a player running a 144Hz monitor, that's still clean performance with headroom. The frame rate difference between 106 fps and 116 fps is not perceptible in practice.

The 16GB GDDR6 pool matches the 9070 XT. The 0dB silent mode means the card idles completely silent, which matters for media playback, lighter tasks, or any time the GPU isn't under full load. The triple-fan cooler handles the ~200W TDP well, running quiet even under sustained KCD2 load.

The RX 9070 sits in the right price gap between the Best Budget pick (9060 XT at 1080p territory) and the Best Overall (9070 XT at full 1440p confidence). If the reader plays primarily at 1440p and the 9070 XT feels like more than needed, this is the card.

What you give up

The 4K numbers are borderline. At 4K ultra native, the RX 9070 averages around 59 fps in KCD2, just under the threshold for comfortable 4K gaming. FSR 4 Quality at 4K brings it into the mid-70s, which is usable, but buyers with a 4K monitor should step up to the Best Overall or Best Premium picks.

No DLSS. The same trade-off as the 9070 XT: FSR 4 is the upscaling path, and it's good in raster-focused titles like KCD2, but DLSS pulls ahead in RT-heavy games.

Also worth noting: the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT both ship under ASRock's Challenger branding. The non-XT Challenger is the correct pick for this slot. Confirm the listing shows "RX 9070" without the "XT." They're different chips at different prices.

Who it's for

The 1440p 144Hz buyer who wants the same RDNA 4 raster performance as the 9070 XT without paying the XT premium. Specifically suited for KCD2-heavy players or buyers who run open-world RPGs and raster-first titles and don't need ray tracing. See the GPU how-to guide for a broader framework on matching GPU tier to monitor and use case.

Bottom line

If you're at 1440p and want the best raster value for KCD2, the Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 XT is the right call. It matches the RTX 5070 Ti within 3% at that resolution in this game, and in a title with no ray tracing, that 3% isn't worth the premium. For buyers who want 4K native performance or play a heavy RT library alongside KCD2, the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 Ti OC handles both. At 1080p on a budget, the PowerColor Reaper RX 9060 XT runs KCD2 at Ultra with ease and comes with 16GB GDDR6 for the titles that actually need it. The ASRock Challenger RX 9070 OC is the Editor's Pick for 1440p buyers who want the RX 9070 XT's chip family without the full XT price. And the MSI Ventus RTX 5060 Ti 16G OC is the right pick for buyers who want DLSS 4 or have a game library that leans Nvidia.

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