As display technology has progressed, 4K monitors are becoming cheaper. This has opened up the possibility of 4K gaming to many more gamers around the world. But to utilize all those pixels at a decent frame rate, you’ll need a 4K-capable GPU in your PC too.
Generally, if going for 4K gaming, you would be recommended top-of-the-line cards which are crazy expensive. But, there are also some more wallet-friendly cards out there that can give you a cutting-edge 4K gaming experience. Let’s discuss them in this article.
Top 5 Best GPUs for 4K Gaming in 2022:
1. Zotac Gaming RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC – Best Overall
SPECS:
- Memory: 12GB GDDR6
- CUDA Cores: 3584
- Base Clock: 1.32 GHz
- Boost Clock: 1.80 GHz
The new Ampere architecture cards from Nvidia are great for 4K gaming. Considering more and more gamers will be moving forward and playing in that resolution in the coming years, they’ve been developed with that in mind.
When it comes to 4K gaming, VRAM is highly important. The RTX 3060 has 12GB 192-bit GDDR6 memory and a boost clock of 1.80 GHz, so it has enough horsepower to power most AAA titles. As you can see in 4K gaming benchmarks, when paired with the i5 12400F, it delivers a good 30-45 FPS playable framerate in games like God of War, Cyberpunk 2077, and Elden Ring.
This card from Zotac succeeds in other aspects too. It has dual fans with active fan control and a metal backplate. This keeps temps under control and gives it a high level of durability. So, it’s a good card overall.
Pros
- 4K- and 8K-ready
- Three DP 1.4a ports and one HDMI 2.1 port
- Good build quality
Cons
- Increase noise and thermal output after hours of gameplay
2. EVGA GTX 1660 Super SC Ultra Gaming – Best on a Budget
SPECS:
- Memory: 6GB GDDR5
- CUDA Cores: 1408
- Base Clock: 1.53 GHz
- Boost Clock: 1.83 GHz
The GTX 1660 Super might belong to an older generation of GPUs with the Turing architecture, but it is still capable of 4K gaming in 2022. This is one of the best versions of the card from EVGA, with a higher boost clock of 1.83 GHz from 1.78 GHz on the reference card.
As gaming benchmarks show, when paired with the Ryzen 5 3600, the GTX 1660 Super manages around 4K 30 FPS in games like Red Dead Redemption 2, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Death Stranding. Since it lacks DLSS, it’s hard to go beyond that in most AAA titles.
All in all, the EVGA GTX 1660 Super SC Ultra Gaming is worth considering if you’re after 4K gaming on a tight budget. It might be laggy in a few areas, but if you’re willing to optimize settings you should have a fun 4K gaming experience nonetheless.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Dual fans for cooling
- All-metal backplate increases durability
Cons
- Lacks DLSS and ray tracing
3. XFX Speedster SWFT 210 Radeon RX 6600 CORE – Best Value for Money
SPECS:
- Memory: 8GB GDDR6
- Stream Processors: 1792
- Base Clock: Not Stated
- Boost Clock: 2.49 GHz
Looking for a new card from AMD? The RX 6600 is a good value-focused GPU for 4K gaming. When paired with the Ryzen 5 3600, the RX 6600 delivers 60 FPS in games like Battlefield V, CoD: Warzone, and Days Gone. The 8GB GDDR6 memory can only stretch so far though, and this card certainly struggles with more graphic-intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Control.
The XFX Speedster SWFT 210 RX 6600 CORE is designed well all-around: dual-fan setup for cooling, strong metal backplate, and all the ports that you might need. To sum it up, get the RX 6600 if you’re after a new GPU for 4K gaming from Team Red.
Pros
- Latest RDNA 2 architecture
- Good build quality
- Silent and efficient cooling
Cons
- Lacks RGB
4. EVGA RTX 3070 FTW3 Ultra Gaming – Best High-Value GPU from Nvidia
SPECS:
- Memory: 8GB GDDR6X
- CUDA Cores: 5888
- Base Clock: 1.50 GHz
- Boost Clock: 1.81 GHz
Granted, the above-mentioned cards deliver a playable frame rate at 4K for most games. But they’re not suitable if you’re used to smoother gameplay with high refresh rate monitors. If you prefer 60-75 FPS or above for gaming at 4K, you’ll need a beast of a GPU. In comes the EVGA RTX 3070 FTW3 Ultra Gaming!
When paired with a Ryzen 7 3700x CPU, it delivers 60-75 FPS in games like Dying Light 2, Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, and GTA Online. It even reaches beyond 100 FPS in Doom Eternal!
Being an EVGA card, it’s also built and designed well. There’s adjustable ARGB lighting and an all-metal backplate for durability. I’ll admit, the RTX 3070 isn’t exactly cheap and affordable, but if you have the budget to spare, it’ll provide you with an awesome 4K gaming experience!
Pros
- Powerful triple-fan cooling setup
- Eye-catching RGB and aesthetics
- Great build quality
Cons
- Expensive
5. PowerColor Red Devil AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT – Best High-Value GPU from AMD
SPECS:
- Memory: 12GB GDDR6
- Stream Processors: 2560
- Base Clock: 2.15 GHz
- Boost Clock: 2.71 GHz
An upgraded version of the RX 6700 XT, the RX 6750 XT is an interesting card for 4K gaming. As you can see in this benchmarks video, when paired with an i5-12400 CPU, it delivers 75-100 FPS in games like CoD: Warzone, Battlefield V, and Apex Legends.
When buying a card from a brand like PowerColor, you expect a bit of a performance jump from the reference card. This card doesn’t disappoint in that regard, going up to 2.71 GHz from the reference cards’ 2.60 GHz boost clock.
Power efficiency takes a nosedive with this added performance, and you need a minimum 700W PSU. The triple-fan setup, the heat pipes, and the backplate do a good job of keeping it cool, though. Everything considered, the PowerColor Red Devil AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT is a solid GPU for 4K gaming.
Pros
- Elegant and stealthy design
- Vibrant RGB lights
- LED-illuminated ports for easy access
Cons
- Power-hungry
Frequently Asked Questions
Which CPU Is Optimal for 4K Gaming?
When it comes to gaming and other graphic-intensive workloads, the GPU is generally more important than the CPU in a PC. That being said, it’s important to not go for a CPU that can potentially bottleneck performance. You can check some recommendations here.
Can Enabling DLSS Improve Framerate at 4K?
DLSS stands for Deep Learning Super Sampling. In a nutshell, it’s supposed to increase framerate by rendering frames at a low resolution and then using AI to upscale them. By enabling DLSS, a game can be rendered at 1080p but displayed at 4K! AMD also has a similar technology, called FidelityFX Super Resolution. Unfortunately, not all games support this tech yet. You can check the full list of supported games here.
Wrap Up
It’s the way the news goes: with any technology, pricing often falls with higher adoption and competition among companies. Although 4K gaming has become more accessible, you need to be mindful if you want to do it on a budget. I hope I helped you out in your purchase decision with this article!
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