Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 evaluation

Hoping to shake the despondent emotions that current graphics playing cards have instilled in me, I’ve been quietly hoping that writing my Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 evaluation would raise my spirits. Sadly, this GeForce GPU isn’t the right pixel pusher that mainstream avid gamers deserve, however it’s under no circumstances a write-off.

In distinction to the launch of the RTX 4060 Ti, the RTX 4060 arrives on the scene with the AMD Radeon RX 7600 snapping at its heels for the title of greatest graphics card for round $300. Evaluating the 2, there’s a winner in my eyes, however the spot on the high of the rostrum isn’t fully clear-cut.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 specs

Diving into the nitty-gritty of the RTX 4060 specs reveals some notable variations versus the RTX 4060 Ti, in addition to some unlucky similarities. It’s the primary Lovelace graphics card to make use of the AD107 GPU die, the smallest and least highly effective of the bunch (an outline that befits the pixel pusher as an entire too.)

Listed here are the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 specs:

The RTX 4060 has simply shy of 30% much less CUDA and Tensor cores in comparison with the RTX 4060 Ti, however retains 95% of RT cores, with a shortfall of two. As anticipated, each base and enhance clock speeds are additionally noticeably decrease, too. I hoped that we’d see an excellent worth proposition from Nvidia right here, however I’d sooner describe it as acceptable contemplating the GPU’s worth of $299 / £289.

The identical configuration of a 128-bit reminiscence bus and 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM from the RTX 4060 Ti additionally make a reappearance on the RTX 4060, albeit with 8MB much less L2 cache to assist enhance bandwidth. This cocktail of constraints negatively impacts efficiency at larger resolutions and might even depart some choices off the desk at 1080p, which I’ll focus on intimately in a while within the evaluation.

The RTX 4060 is on the very least environment friendly, pulling with a TGP of 115W, that means you’ll solely want a single 8-pin PCIe energy connector on most fashions. Nvidia has opted to not give this graphics card the Founders Version therapy, so there’s no want to worry about 12VHPWR right here.

I’m utilizing the MSI Ventus 2X OC mannequin for our evaluation, which boasts a 30MHz overclock and is among the few RTX 4060 fashions out there at MSRP/RRP. Whereas I haven’t had an opportunity to check the costlier fashions that pack bigger coolers and better clock speeds, I can confidently say you’re higher off choosing one thing like this MSI card if worth is your predominant concern.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 benchmarks

For my Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 benchmarks, I’ve collected body charge knowledge for native 1080p, 1440p, and 4K resolutions. I additionally ran DLSS Body Era checks individually. Every benchmark was run 3 times to supply a median outcome, utilizing the sport’s highest high quality preset, together with any extra ray tracing choices.

Listed here are the specs of my check system:

GPU: MSI Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ventus 2X OC#
Driver: GeForce Sport Prepared model 536.40
OS: Home windows 11 Professional 22H2 (22621.1928)
Motherboard: Asus TUF Gaming X670E-Plus (BIOS model 1413)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5 6,000MHz
SSD: WD_Black SN850X
PSU: Corsair RMx SHIFT Collection 1000W

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 efficiency

Analyzing my benchmark knowledge to explain Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 efficiency appears like déjà vu, because the outcomes mainly mirror the RTX 4060 Ti albeit with typically decrease body charges throughout the board. Suffice it to say, this graphics card is greatest suited to 1080p gameplay with some caveats whereas enjoying video games at resolutions like 1440p or 4K is both doable at a push or fully unachievable.

At 1080p, the RTX 4060 feels expectedly performant, managing to hit common body charges of 60fps or larger within the majority of our testing suite. It even manages to sail north of 30fps when put up in opposition to Cyberpunk 2077’s RT Extremely preset, with out the help of DLSS.

For all these positives, nevertheless, it reveals the identical stuttering points I witnessed in my RTX 4060 Ti testing when enjoying the likes of A Plague Story: Requiem. The 8GB of VRAM and 128-bit reminiscence bus are simply saturated with each ray tracing bell and whistle turned on, even at 1080p, that means you’ll have to handle your texture high quality settings fastidiously in some situations to keep away from poor efficiency.

Taking part in video games at 1440p utilizing the RTX 4060 is doable, however I typically wouldn’t advocate it, save for some esports video games like League of Legends or Fortnite. Apart from uncooked efficiency naturally being decrease than 1080p, you’re extra prone to encounter the bandwidth points I’ve highlighted with A Plague Story: Requiem.

With regards to 4K, the RTX 4060 merely isn’t geared up for gaming at this decision. To be clear, this isn’t one thing I anticipate from a 60-class card to start with, and we’re solely speaking about native rendering right here.

Turning our consideration to the RTX 4060’s AI options, DLSS 3, the software program suite of Tremendous Decision and Body Era, helps the pixel pusher punch above its weight. The upscaling know-how is effectively documented at this level, so I’d as a substitute wish to concentrate on the latter for a second. At appropriate resolutions, DLSS Body Era will help double each minimal and common body charges, as was the case in our testing with F1 22. Nonetheless, it does have its limits, with diminishing returns at 1440p, and worse efficiency at 4K.

In a vacuum, the RTX 4060 performs effectively sufficient, however issues turn out to be extra difficult when the RX 7600 enters the image. The Nvidia GPU undoubtedly has the sting in ray-traced eventualities like Cyberpunk and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, however it falls behind the AMD pixel pusher in rasterized workloads. After all, the Radeon graphics card doesn’t have a DLSS Body Era equal to shut the hole, however that know-how isn’t out there in each recreation.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 worth

At $299 / £289, the RTX 4060 worth appears like a tough promote. Sure, it’s cheaper than its predecessor, the RTX 3060, was at launch, however you’re prone to discover it less expensive now or for promotional affords to emerge very quickly. Then there’s current-generation competitors to contemplate, just like the RX 7600 and Intel Arc A750 and A770.

In some methods, the RTX 3060 looks as if a greater purchase too, with 12GB of VRAM and a wider reminiscence bus, that means it may well extra simply deal with 1440p eventualities. It’ll carry out a bit worse than the 4060, and also you’ll forgo DLSS Body Era assist, so it is dependent upon how vital that’s for you. For me, the characteristic is good to have however isn’t a dealbreaker proper now.

When you’re not as a lot of a ray-tracing zealot as I’m, then AMD could be the more sensible choice. Trying again at my AMD Radeon RX 7600 checks, the cardboard’s rasterized body charges in Complete Battle: Warhammer 3 and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands put each the RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti in its rearview mirror – shockingly so. Plus, it’s $30 cheaper out the gate with out even taking current worth drops under consideration.

I’m but to spend time with the Arc A750, however my experiences with the A770 counsel they’re an excellent match for these which can be solely concerned with enjoying the newest PC video games and sometimes dabble with ray tracing. Even then, there are nonetheless compatibility points that workforce blue must work out earlier than I can firmly advocate them, leaving the RTX 4060 trying just like the safer guess.

If Nvidia shaved $50 off right here and even matched the RX 7600, I’d be lots rosier about its value. At its marketed worth level, nevertheless, I’d advocate ready for a worth drop earlier than choosing one up. Belief me, you received’t want to attend lengthy if earlier releases are any indication.

Is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 price it?

If I have been shopping for a current-generation graphics card at the moment for beneath $300, I’d decide the RTX 4060. That is talking as somebody that prefers to prioritize ray tracing and different graphical niceties at the price of larger efficiency, and I perceive I’m one thing of a minority (for now).

Nvidia nonetheless has the sting in the case of ray tracing, and DLSS Body Era helps preserve that lead and shut the hole in opposition to AMD in rasterized video games (in the event that they assist it). Generally, it’s an honest all-around performer, however it’s under no circumstances a monumental leap in comparison with its predecessor.

The RTX 4060’s 8GB of VRAM is extra forgivable right here than it was on the RTX 4060 Ti, however not by a lot. I actually hope that is the final era of graphics playing cards with a stack that begins with 8GB of VRAM, GeForce, or in any other case. It’s already inadequate for a few of at the moment’s PC video games and can proceed to battle within the years to return if tendencies proceed as they’re.

Professionals:

Finest ray tracing efficiency for beneath $300
Reasonably priced DLSS Body Era assist
Strong all-around 1080p body charges

Cons:

Can’t sustain with AMD rasterization efficiency
Reminiscence bandwidth points may cause stuttering
8GB of VRAM leaves some settings off the desk

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 options

If the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 doesn’t fit your wants, there are different pixel pushers on the market that could be excellent for you.

AMD Radeon RX 7600

When you prioritize efficiency above all, ray tracing be damned, then think about choosing workforce pink’s budget-oriented GPU. Take a look at our full AMD Radeon RX 7600 evaluation to study extra.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

When you’ve acquired some additional money to spend and fancy a lift to efficiency, you then’re in luck. Peruse our Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti evaluation for an in-depth take a look at its efficiency.

When you’re after a broader take a look at the GPU house, take a look at our information to the very best graphics playing cards you should purchase at the moment.