Graphics memory (VRAM) usage and Conclusion

Graphics memory (VRAM) usage

How much graphics memory does the game utilize versus your monitor resolution with different graphics cards and respective VRAM sizes ? Well, lets have a look at the chart below. The listed MBs used in the chart are the maximum measured utilized graphics memory during the test run. 

During game-play the game is swapping and loading stuff, you can sometimes literally see textures being filled into objects. Mind you that an Utra Quality texture pack also is available, we expect that if you use it, your VRAM values could be very different.

Up-to Full HD (1920x1080) an up-to 3GB graphics card of decent caliber will do the job fine. 4GB is your best bet and target for 2560x1440, especially at the best image quality settings VRAM eats away a large portion of whatever is available. If you want to play Ultra quality with Ultra HD as preferred monitor resolution, that 4GB is the minimum (unless you are comfortable to twiddle and fiddle around a little with AA settings etc).
  

Concluding

Watch Dog 2 is a sequel to a console port made Windows D3D11 compatible. It does look good and the PC version certainly has a nice selection of graphics settings available allowing you to tweak to your liking. As stated overall the game looks good, perhaps the one note I should comment is that the streets perhaps look a little dull as there isn't much traffic / people walking around. Ah well, it looks good, plays okay. If you like to run proper image quality settings with the HR Textures pack (+Ultra quality modes) then you'll need a beefy PC alright. If you will forfeit a bit on quality modes and settings the vast majority of the game plays with excellent framerates though, even with a mainstream card. Overall the game feels smooth in game-play, nothing negative to mention there. Both AMD and Nvidia are actually doing fine in resolutions up-to 2560x1440 really. Going upwards towards Ultra HD resolutions or DRS/VSR well then 4GB models will slowly start to run out of breathing air (VRAM). Obviously you can simply lower image quality settings a bit and work your way through there as the game will play just fine on pretty much any modern card as long as you stick to 1080P or 1440P for the more high end cards. Most modern graphics cards will run the game at Full HD without any issue. There is just no need to drop down in images quality modes too massively and heck, that's where we as PC gamers needs to be. At 1080P and Ultra quality settings your are looking at the 50+ FPS range for a GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB) and similar ranges for the AMD Radeon RX 480 series.

Please do make sure you have installed the latest compatible graphics card driver, the new 16.11.5 or higher driver from AMD as well as GeForce 376.09 or newer drivers. Download the latest AMD Catalyst drivers here and the Nvidia GeForce drivers here.

- H.

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