The objective is to maximize the Ray Tracing and Super Sampling (SSAA) variables simultaneously, creating a workload that stresses both the RT cores and the VRAM bandwidth.
1. Locating the user.cfg
The configuration file is buried in your Windows user profile rather than the game folder.
File Path:
%LocalAppData%\4A Games\Metro Exodus\<RandomNumber>\user.cfg
2. The “GPU Torture” Config Fragment
Open the user.cfg and search for the following variables. To ensure the game doesn’t overwrite your changes, set the file to “Read-Only” after saving.
| Parameter | Recommended Stress Value | Technical Purpose |
r_quality_level | 4 (Extreme) | Sets the baseline geometry and texture resolution to maximum. |
r_raytrace | 3 (Ultra) | Maximizes the ray-per-pixel count for Global Illumination. |
r_enum_ssaa | 10 (4x SSAA) | The Stress Multiplier: Renders 4x the pixels before downsampling. |
r_shading_rate | 1.0 | Prevents Variable Rate Shading (VRS) from “saving” GPU cycles. |
r_gameplay_physx | 1 | Offloads heavy particle physics to the GPU cores. |
3. The SSAA Stability Test
While the 2026 gaming landscape favors DLSS/FSR, for Stress Testing, we use r_enum_ssaa 10.
- The Math: If you are at 4K ($3840 \times 2160$), setting SSAA to 4x forces the GPU to internally render at 8K ($7680 \times 4320$).
- Warning: This will cause your GPU power draw ($W_{draw}$) to hit its peak. Ensure your Power Supply (PSU) is rated for your GPU’s transient spikes, as Metro Exodus is notorious for triggering “OVP” (Over Voltage Protection) shutdowns on unstable systems.
4. Technical Analysis: Identifying a Fail
Run the standalone benchmark tool (found in the game folder) and loop it 10 times.
- Artifacts: If you see small white dots or flickering during the “Taiga” sequence, your VRAM Clock is too high ($f_{mem} > limit$).
- Hard Crash: If the game closes to desktop without an error, your Core Voltage is too low for the frequency ($V_{core} < f_{core}$).
- Consistency: Aim for a 99% Frame-Time Consistency score. If it drops below 97%, your GPU is likely “Power Throttling” due to heat.