Warhammer 40,000 Darktide is a co-op horde shooter that combines dense enemy swarms with detailed, atmospheric levels and optional ray tracing. That mix of many enemies on screen and rich visuals makes it demanding on both CPU and GPU, so a balanced build keeps the four-player horde fights smooth at your chosen resolution.
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Top 3 picks at a glance
Why hordes and ray tracing both weigh in
The signature swarms put a large number of enemies on screen, loading the CPU, while the detailed hive-city levels and optional ray tracing lean on the GPU. Both can bottleneck you in different moments, and ray tracing raises the graphics demand sharply, so matching your RT ambitions to your card matters.
A modern 8-core CPU keeps the horde battles smooth, a 70-class GPU with 12GB of VRAM suits 1440p with RT off, and stepping up helps if you want ray tracing. 16GB of RAM is the floor with 32GB preferable, and a fast SSD keeps levels loading cleanly.
Recommended build tiers
Aim for a balanced build, and size the GPU up if you want ray tracing enabled at your resolution.
| Budget band | CPU | GPU | RAM | Target performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,100-1,350 | Modern 6/8-core | Current 60/70-class, 12GB | 16GB DDR5-6000 | 1080p high, RT off, high fps |
| $1,550-1,850 | Modern 8-core | Current 70/80-class, 12GB+ | 32GB DDR5-6000 | 1440p high with RT and upscaling |
| $2,300+ | High-end 8-core | Current 80-class, 16GB | 32GB DDR5-6000 | 4K high with RT and frame gen |
1080p no-RT rig
A modern CPU and a 60 or 70-class 12GB card run Darktide at 1080p high settings with ray tracing off at high frame rates, holding up in the swarms. At $1,100 to $1,350 it is the practical entry point.
1440p ray-tracing rig
A 70 or 80-class card with a modern 8-core CPU and 32GB of RAM enables ray tracing at 1440p with quality upscaling. The stronger GPU and CPU handle RT and the swarms together.
4K RT rig
An 80-class 16GB GPU with a high-end CPU pushes 4K with ray tracing and frame generation. The 16GB of VRAM keeps RT effects and textures loaded across the detailed hive-city levels.
Where to spend and where to save
Spend on a balanced 8-core CPU and a 70-class or better GPU, because the dense swarms load the processor while detailed levels and optional ray tracing load the graphics card. Size the GPU up specifically if you want ray tracing enabled at your resolution.
Save by leaving ray tracing off if you prefer higher frame rates, which lets a mid-range card run the game well at 1080p or 1440p. Put savings into rated-speed RAM and a fast SSD rather than chasing an RT-capable flagship you may not need for a horde shooter.
Smoothing the horde fights
The biggest swarms are the hardest test, so if you dip, lower effect and shadow settings that spike during those moments. Ray tracing raises the GPU load significantly, so treat it as optional and enable a quality upscaler if you turn it on.
Run RAM at rated speed, keep the game on an SSD for quick mission loads, and a modern 8-core CPU keeps the horde battles stable. Match ray-tracing settings to your card so VRAM never runs short at higher resolutions.
Frequently asked questions
Is Darktide CPU or GPU heavy?
Both. The dense swarms load the CPU while the detailed levels and optional ray tracing load the GPU. A balanced build with a modern 8-core CPU and a 70-class or better GPU handles the horde fights well.
Do I need ray tracing on in Darktide?
No. The game looks great with RT off and runs at higher frame rates on mid-range cards. Ray tracing adds atmosphere but is demanding, so treat it as optional based on your GPU and resolution.
Is ray tracing worth it in Darktide?
It adds atmosphere but is demanding and lowers frame rate significantly. On mid-range cards it is best left off for smoother horde battles, while stronger GPUs can enable it at 1440p with quality upscaling.
Bottom line
For Warhammer 40,000 Darktide, build balanced: a modern 8-core CPU for the swarms, a 70-class or better GPU with 12GB of VRAM for the visuals, 16 to 32GB of DDR5 and a fast SSD. Size the graphics card up if you want ray tracing, and the four-player horde battles stay smooth in the grim darkness of the far future.
