Having examined how each Crysis 2 detail setting performs with each of the tested GPUs, we can now provide some general recommendations as to which setting will likely work best with each graphics card.

GeForce 8800 GT: Given the minimum system requirements we knew that the 8800 GT could run Crysis 2, but were unsure of how well the venerable GPU would run the game at our chosen resolutions. Thankfully the results surprised us, showing that the 8800 GT can run Crysis 2 just fine at High settings at 1680x1050 and below. The resolution can be increased to 1920x1200, but performance drops to the mid-thirties and may result in some sub-thirty gameplay in the most graphically demanding scenarios. Alternatively the 880GT can play Crysis 2 on Very High settings at 1680x1050, but with an average frame rate of 33 the likelihood of sub-thirty frame drops is high, resulting in a worse overall experience than running High settings at 1920x1200.

Recommend Optimal Playable Setting: High at 1680x1050 (Average FPS = 43.2)

GeForce GTX 260: The GeForce GTX 260 can adequately run High settings at all three resolutions, and on Very High it performs similarly well at 1680x1050 and 1920x1200, though it does struggle at 2560x1600, which pushes the average frame rate below 30. On Extreme the GTX 260 breaks the 30 frames per second average at the lowest resolution, but with only a 2.3 frame per second margin it is likely that frame drops will occur in action-packed sequences.

Recommend Optimal Playable Setting: Very High at 1920x1200 (Average FPS = 43)

GeForce GTX 460: Like the GeForce GTX 260 the GeForce GTX 460 was able to run Crysis 2 smoothly on Very High at 1680x1050 and 1920x1200, but once again was unable to break the 30 frames per second barrier at 2560x1600 - here, the GTX 460 averaged just 28.5 frames per second. On Extreme the GTX 460 performed well at 1680x1050 and even managed an average frame rate of 32.4 at 1920x1200, but at 2560x1600 performance dropped drastically, resulting in an unplayable 19.6 average.

Recommend Optimal Playable Setting: High at 2560x1600 (Average FPS = 35.6) or Extreme at 1680x1050 (Average FPS = 39.6)

GeForce GTX 560 Ti: Moving on to the newer GTX 500 series cards, the mid-range GeForce GTX 560 Ti was able to effectively run every setting at every resolution extremely well, apart from Extreme at 2560x1600. Here, the frame rate averaged 25.8, but at other detail levels and resolutions the GTX 560 had no problems maintaining an average frame rate of 38.3 or above.

Recommend Optimal Playable Setting: Very High at 2560x1600 (Average FPS = 38.3) or Extreme at 1920x1200 (Average FPS = 42.6)

GeForce GTX 570: Going up in both price and performance, the higher end GeForce GTX 570 proved to be the first graphics card to step up to the plate and max out Crysis 2, even at the formidable Extreme 2560x1600 setting, where it just broke the 30 average barrier. On Very High the GTX 570 recorded an average frame rate of 46.9 at 2560x1600.

Recommend Optimal Playable Setting: Very High at 2560x1600 (Average FPS = 46.9) or Extreme at 1920x1200 (Average FPS = 51.4)

GeForce GTX 580: Last up to the bat is the current heavyweight champ, the GeForce GTX 580. Out to prove its worth, the GeForce GTX 580 showed that it can max out Crysis 2 at any setting and at any resolution - technically, the GTX 570 can also max out Crysis 2 at 2560x1600, but its 31.4 frames per second average makes it too close to a flat 30 to safely recommend. However, the added performance and VRAM of the GTX 580 results in a 35.7 frames per second average that should ensure that frame rates stay above 30 even in the most graphically demanding action scenes.

Recommend Optimal Playable Setting: Extreme at any resolution