How it works
Ray tracing models how light paths interact with surfaces. A game may use it for only reflections or shadows while keeping other rendering methods for the rest of the scene. More extensive path tracing follows additional light interactions and can require substantially more graphics work; the menu names do not imply equal cost.
Important differences and limits
The visual benefit depends on the scene and implementation. A reflective interior may show a clearer difference than a simple outdoor view. Reconstruction and denoising can introduce their own artifacts, and turning every ray-tracing option on can reduce responsiveness. Hardware support alone does not establish playable performance.
A useful practical check
Compare the same scene with individual effects enabled and disabled. Watch reflective surfaces, shadow edges and motion as well as frame times. If the improvement is subtle, reduce that effect before lowering all texture quality. Keep the combination whose visible benefit justifies its performance cost on your actual display.
An example in practice
A puddle reflecting objects outside the camera view can illustrate a benefit that simpler screen-based reflections may not show. Judge whether that detail matters during play, then compare the cost in the same scene. An attractive effect is optional if its cost disrupts the experience.