There is no verified, controlled benchmark here that establishes DX11 or DX12 as the faster renderer in The Witcher 3. On the older PC branch, results depend on the hardware, settings and scene; CD PROJEKT RED’s support notice describes a planned update that will use DX12 exclusively, so the comparison may not apply to that version.
What the DX11 vs. DX12 comparison can—and cannot—tell you
The DX11-versus-DX12 choice belongs to an older PC branch of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The 4.0 next-gen update changed the PC feature and settings context, but the available official information does not provide a controlled head-to-head test of both renderers on the same PC, game build, scene and settings.
That means there is no evidence-based universal FPS winner to name. A result from one setup would not establish how the other renderer performs on a different CPU, GPU, resolution or graphics configuration. CD PROJEKT RED’s current requirements notice also describes a planned update using DX12 exclusively, which could make the older renderer choice irrelevant for that version.
What changed with the 4.0 next-gen PC update?
CD PROJEKT RED announced version 4.0 as a free update for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, while noting that the scope of features varies by platform. On PC, the update added graphics options that can substantially affect performance comparisons:
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- Ray-traced global illumination and ambient occlusion, with optional ray-traced reflections and shadows on compatible PC hardware.
- PC ULTRA+ graphics settings.
- NVIDIA DLSS 3 support on compatible hardware and AMD FSR 2.1.
These features matter because a comparison is only meaningful if the settings are alike. Measuring one renderer with ray tracing enabled and another without it, or comparing different upscaling and frame-generation states, does not isolate renderer performance.
What is established about each renderer?
| Question | DX11 | DX12 |
|---|---|---|
| Availability in the older PC branch | One of the renderer choices covered by the older-branch comparison. | One of the renderer choices covered by the older-branch comparison. |
| Verified FPS advantage | Not established by a controlled, matched-PC comparison in the official information cited here. | Not established by a controlled, matched-PC comparison in the official information cited here. |
| Planned update described by CD PROJEKT RED | Not available according to the support notice’s planned DX12-exclusive configuration. | The support notice says the planned update will run exclusively on DX12. |
The DX11 patch history includes a fix for a launch or save-loading crash on certain AMD GPUs in patch 4.03. That is evidence of a specific issue that received a fix, not proof that DX11 is broadly unstable or slower now. Separately, CD PROJEKT RED said its December 2022 PC hotfix was intended to improve overall stability and performance, with further improvements in progress; that is historical context, not a present-day renderer verdict.
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Which renderer delivers higher FPS on the current release across matched PCs?
The available official evidence does not establish that either renderer delivers higher FPS across matched PCs. CD PROJEKT RED’s requirements information cautions that frame rates vary with the scene and gameplay, PC configuration, graphics settings and output resolution. Its listed ray-tracing and path-tracing figures use upscaling, while other listed configurations use native resolution. Those figures therefore cannot be treated as a simple DX11-versus-DX12 result—and the full target values are not available in the cited material.
For your own setup, treat the renderer choice as a configuration-specific decision rather than a guaranteed performance fix. Compare the same repeatable scene and settings, and note whether the game build and renderer are actually the same ones you intend to play.
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What test conditions should a fair performance comparison report?
A useful DX11-versus-DX12 test changes the renderer while holding other variables constant. A report should state:
- Game build and renderer: the exact game version and whether the run uses DX11 or DX12.
- Hardware and software: CPU, GPU, memory and graphics driver.
- Scene and repeatability: the same save or repeatable route, with comparable gameplay and scene conditions.
- Image settings: output resolution, graphics preset and individual settings that differ from the preset.
- Feature state: ray tracing on or off, and whether the compared features are available and configured alike.
- Upscaling and frame generation: the method and state for each run, including whether the test is native-resolution or upscaled.
- Performance measures: average FPS and frame-time behavior reported separately, when both are measured.
If feature parity is impossible—for example, one run uses a next-gen feature the other does not—label the result as a comparison of those configurations, not a clean test of the APIs alone.
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Does DX11 remain a current option in the planned next update?
CD PROJEKT RED’s support notice, “Upcoming changes to minimum requirements for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,” says the planned update will run exclusively on DirectX 12: “The game will exclusively run using DirectX 12, which allows us to support ongoing technical improvements and modern hardware more effectively.” The notice also says players may revert to an earlier version. That may preserve access to an older renderer branch, but the rollback route and available builds can depend on the platform; do not assume every store or installation offers the same path.
The notice lists a planned minimum configuration of Windows 11, a Ryzen 5 2600 or Core i5-8400 CPU, a GeForce GTX 1660 or Radeon RX 5500 XT 8GB GPU, 6 GB of VRAM, 12 GB of RAM and a 70 GB SSD. These are the notice’s forward-looking requirements, not guaranteed requirements for every existing game version. Check CD PROJEKT RED’s current notice before relying on them, since planned requirements and update details may change.
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- Cool Comfort: Enjoy a stable surface with our lap desk's dual bolster cushion, designed for comfort and airflow, keeping your lap cool during extended use.
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