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What is ray tracing in gaming and why should you care?
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Ray tracing is a sci-fi sounding setting that sits in your game menu, somewhere between 'textures' and 'shadows', tempting you with the straightforward option of 'ON' or 'OFF'.
But what does it actually do? What difference should you expect to see if you turn it on? And is it worth using?
What is ray tracing and how does it work?
Where traditional game lighting 'guesses' how light behaves, ray tracing actually simulates it.
Imagine shining a torch in a hall of mirrors. The beam hits the wall, bounces to the ceiling, glances off a window, then sneaks under a table.
Ray tracing follows virtual rays of light from the camera into the scene, calculating how they:
- bounce off surfaces
- create reflections
- form accurate shadows
- blend colours naturally
The result is an image that looks closer to how your eyes see the real world, rather than a painted backdrop.
What is ray tracing used for in gaming?
Reflections: puddles that actually reflect stuff
With ray tracing on, a wet street can show neon signs, passing cars, and your character, not just a fuzzy blur that looks like a melted sticker.
Lighting and global illumination: rooms that feel alive
Sunlight coming through a window tints the sofa, which softly colours the wall behind it. Everything talks to everything else.
Shadows: no more floating blobs
Instead of round dark patches under objects, shadows stretch and spread in a more natural way from the exact shape of the model.
These features make worlds in games like Cyberpunk or Fortnite feel richer and more believable.
What is ray tracing in GPU hardware?
Ray tracing can be resource intensive and so it requires specialised hardware.
Modern RTX and equivalent GPUs include RT cores; extra calculators hired purely to deal with light maths while the rest of the GPU draws textures and geometry.
That’s why:
- older GPUs often don’t support it
- performance can drop when enabled
- stronger GPUs handle it better
Is ray tracing worth turning on?
Ray tracing can definitely improve visuals, but it is not without its costs, and it is worth being aware of those costs.
| SCENARIO | RESULT |
|---|---|
| 1080p casual gaming | Nice but optional |
| 1440p story games | Usually worth it |
| Competitive esports | Often off for max FPS |
| Strong GPU + DLSS | Best combination |
Pros:
- prettier reflections
- natural lighting
- better immersion
Cons:
- lower raw FPS
- higher power use
- varies by game
How to turn on ray tracing in games
- Open the game
- Go to graphics / video settings
- Find ray tracing or RT reflections / RT shadows
- Enable and apply
- Restart the game if asked
If you don't see the option, your GPU or the game may not support it.
Ray tracing is used to make PC games look more realistic by simulating how light bounces, reflects, and casts shadows.
It matters because it changes the feel of game worlds, not just the frame counter, and with the right GPU and DLSS support it can balance visuals and performance nicely.
You can’t break anything by trying it, so experiment and decide what your eyes prefer.
If you’re shopping for your first gaming PC and want help deciding which GPU features matter for how you play, we’re happy to help. Phone 01706 214 233 or email [email protected].