Testing of Halo: Campaign Evolved on PC has revealed that the highest graphical settings provide only marginal visual improvements over the lowest preset, while demanding a significant performance cost. Across a range of hardware, from mid-tier GPUs like the RTX 3070 to high-end configurations such as the RTX 5080, the difference between Low and Ultra settings was found to be subtle.
One particular test rig utilizing an RTX 4070 Super and Ryzen 7 7800X3D saw a performance drop of approximately 20% when switching from Low to Ultra settings. While this might be negligible at very high frame rates, it represented the difference between maintaining a consistent 60 frames per second at 1440p without upscaling and falling below that threshold.
Visual comparisons in the early stages of the game show minimal disparity between Low and Ultra presets. While some minor differences were observed in later missions, such as slightly softer shadows and lighting interactions on the Ultra setting, and increased foliage detail, these changes did not significantly detract from the overall visual experience. Even blood textures appeared nearly identical between the two presets.
When employing upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR, the Ultra preset can offer a slight benefit if these technologies are set to their 'Low' quality modes. In this specific scenario, the performance difference between Low and Ultra graphics settings was minimal. However, with DLSS set to 'Ultra', the performance hit from the Ultra graphics preset increased to around 22%, suggesting that the Low setting would be preferable in such cases.
For players prioritizing smooth performance, particularly those aiming for consistent frame rates at resolutions like 1440p, opting for the Low graphics preset is recommended. The performance gains often outweigh the subtle visual enhancements offered by higher settings.
Testing on handheld gaming devices, such as the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X at 1080p, showed that the 'Very Low' graphical setting combined with FSR Medium upscaling provided a solid experience. This suggests that even less powerful hardware can achieve enjoyable performance with thoughtful configuration.
Ultimately, unless a system can maintain extremely high frame rates where a minor dip is unnoticeable, prioritizing the Low graphics preset in Halo: Campaign Evolved appears to be the most practical approach for a balance of visual fidelity and performance. It is also advised to disable motion blur for a clearer image.