The primary goal for Alan Wake 2 optimization is clarity and stability. Ray Reconstruction provides incredible detail but can feel “jittery” if the internal resolution is too low. By adjusting the renderer.ini, we can implement a “Path-Tracing Clarity” profile: forcing higher shader precision and adjusting the LOD bias to ensure that DLSS has the best possible source data to reconstruct.
Hardware Compatibility & Expectations
- RTX 40-Series & 30-Series: Ray Reconstruction is officially supported on all RTX cards. However, 40-series cards benefit most when paired with Frame Generation.
- VRAM Management: Path tracing in Alan Wake 2 is extremely VRAM-heavy. If you have less than 12GB of VRAM, you must use the “Low” texture setting in the config to prevent massive stutters.
- Mesh Shaders: This game requires a GPU with hardware-level Mesh Shading (RTX 20-series or later / RX 6000-series or later). Older cards like the GTX 1080 will see a 50% performance penalty.
Backup and Preparation
- Completely exit Alan Wake 2 and the Epic Games Launcher.
- Navigate to your AppData folder (path below).
- Copy renderer.ini and save a backup copy as
renderer.ini.bak. - Open the original with Notepad++.
File Location
The configuration file is hidden in your local user data: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Remedy\AlanWake2\renderer.ini
Best renderer.ini Settings for Ray Reconstruction
Search for these specific variables. These tweaks focus on reducing AI-induced blur and maximizing the efficiency of the denoising pipeline:
"m_bRayReconstruction": true,
"m_eDLSSQuality": 2, // 2 = Balanced; 1 = Quality
"m_fDLSSSharpness": 0.500000,
"m_iRayTracingQuality": 1, // 1 = Medium (Best for performance)
"m_bRayTracedReflections": true,
"m_bRayTracedIndirectDiffuse": true,
"m_fLODDistanceScale": 1.200000,
"m_iTextureMemoryLimitMB": 0, // 0 allows the game to auto-detect
"m_bLensDistortion": false,
"m_bFilmGrain": falsePro Tip: If you experience “ghosting” behind Alan or Saga while they move, try setting
"m_fDLSSSharpness"to 0.6 or 0.7. While Ray Reconstruction handles denoising, a slight bump in sharpness can help define the edges that the AI might otherwise “smear” during fast motion.
Key Parameters Explained
| Parameter | Recommended Value | Impact |
| m_bRayReconstruction | true | Replaces the standard denoiser with AI; essential for sharp path-traced lighting. |
| m_fLODDistanceScale | 1.2 | Increases the distance at which high-quality meshes are kept, giving DLSS more detail to work with. |
| m_bLensDistortion | false | Disables the “fisheye” effect which often causes blurring at the edges of the screen. |
| m_iRayTracingQuality | 1 | Medium is the “sweet spot.” Ultra (3) offers diminishing returns for a massive FPS hit. |
In-Game Settings vs. Config
To complement your Ray Reconstruction tweaks, match these in-game Graphics settings:
- Resolution Upscaling: Set to DLSS. If you are at 1440p, use Balanced. If you are at 4K, use Performance.
- Path Tracing: Enable Indirect Lighting and Reflections. If your FPS is below 40, turn off “Path Traced Transparency.”
- Post-Processing: Turn Motion Blur and Film Grain to OFF. These effects add “fake” noise that can confuse the Ray Reconstruction AI.
Troubleshooting & Common Fixes
- Low FPS in Bright Areas: This is often a VRAM issue. Lower the Texture Quality in the menu (this changes the
m_iTextureMemoryLimitMBin the config). - Flickering Textures: If you see white dots or “fireflies,” ensure your NVIDIA Drivers are at the latest version. Ray Reconstruction requires specific API updates to handle the Northlight Engine’s shaders.
- Settings Resetting: Alan Wake 2 will overwrite the
.iniif you change settings in-game. Once you find your perfect balance, you can set the file to Read-only.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does Ray Reconstruction work on AMD cards?
No. Ray Reconstruction is a proprietary NVIDIA DLSS 3.5 feature. AMD users should use FSR 3 and set the standard denoising to “High” for a similar (though less precise) result.
Why does Ray Reconstruction look “blurry” at 1080p?
AI reconstruction needs data (pixels) to work. At 1080p Performance mode, the internal resolution is too low for the AI to accurately guess the lighting details. For 1080p, always use DLSS Quality.
Does “Frame Generation” affect Ray Reconstruction?
They are independent features. You can use Ray Reconstruction without Frame Gen, but using both is highly recommended for a smooth 60+ FPS experience in heavy path-traced scenes.
Conclusion and Expected Results
By manually refining your renderer.ini, you are giving the Northlight Engine a more defined set of rules for how to handle AI-upscaling. You can expect sharper reflections in the puddles of Bright Falls, significantly less “shimmering” on fine details like chain-link fences, and a more stable frametime graph when exploring dense forest areas.