F1 2021 in test: Notebook and desktop benchmarks

But back to the graphics options: The submenu "Video Mode" contains various other settings, ranging from the GPU used to the dynamic resolution, which can optionally be enabled. For example, V-Sync, a frame rate limit and anisotropic filtering are also available here if desired. Above all, TAA is available as edge smoothing.

Owners of Nvidia chips can also use DLSS if necessary to somewhat compensate for the performance loss due to ray tracing in higher resolutions. Ray tracing also costs a decent amount of performance in F1 2021 (about 30% according to our experience). Without ray tracing, the graphics performance is similar to that of F1 2020, so if you were able to play the predecessor smoothly, you should have no problems with F1 2021.

Since each benchmark race varies slightly due to the varying AI, the determined results are not quite constant, but constant enough to mostly create a usable and reliable performance ranking, as long as systems do not run into the CPU limit, which happens quite quickly in F1 2021 with stronger GPUs (at least without ray tracing).

Very nice: At the end of each benchmark, a quite detailed evaluation is displayed including minimum, average and maximum FPS. The values are also automatically saved as an XML file in Windows' "My Games" folder.

If you put up with low to medium details in Full HD, a graphics card from the entry-level segment is sufficient. Besides the GeForce MX450, the GeForce MX350 also supports a mix of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels and the Medium preset with an average of over 40 FPS. For high or maximum details, it should better be a mid-range model (GeForce GTX 1650 or Radeon RX 5500M upwards). These chips sometimes crack the 100 FPS mark with deactivated ray tracing. A suitable GPU from the upper mid-range (RTX 3050 Ti or better) is required including ray tracing.

Although ray tracing leaves its mark in terms of performance, it does not have to be an absolute top model for a combination of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels and the Ultra High preset. The corresponding options are playable starting with a GeForce RTX 2060.

Ray tracing only becomes really demanding when using 4K resolutions. Without DLSS, even stronger high-end GPUs have to struggle with maximum graphics settings, although decent results can be achieved with an RTX 2080 or RTX 3070 and higher.

Since gaming tests are very time-consuming and often hindered by installation or activation limits, we can only provide you with a part of the benchmarks for the publication of the articles. More graphics cards will be installed in the coming days and weeks.