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Can the RTX 4060 run 4K?

The RTX 4060 might be a powerhouse in 1080p but it certainly won't do much in 4K
Last Updated on June 29, 2023
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Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card is among the recent PC component entrants vying for attention, boasting impressive specs and a host of cutting-edge technologies. However, the question on every gamer’s mind is: Can the RTX 4060 run 4K?

In truth, the RTX 4060 isn’t primarily designed for 4K gaming, particularly for high-demand, graphically intensive titles. Although it can handle lighter eSports games at 4K, it might struggle to deliver high frame rates for more demanding games at this resolution.

This GPU can certainly exceed 30 FPS in many games, due in large part to the new Frame Generation feature and DLSS, but the limited VRAM and memory interface may become a bottleneck in most benchmarks, negatively affecting performance in the 4K gaming landscape.

Is the RTX 4060 enough?

Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4060 comes equipped with 8GB of VRAM, which, while adequate for 1080p and even 1440p gaming, is not quite up to the task when it comes to handling 4K gaming at high frame rates like Ada Lovelace architecture predecessors.

High-resolution textures and data-heavy gaming environments, inherent in 4K gaming require a substantial amount of VRAM, and 8GB may fall short of meeting these requirements, especially for newer, graphically demanding titles like Cyberpunk and Forza Horizon.

The RTX 4060’s 128-bit memory interface can also potentially limit its performance. This is because the memory interface width plays a crucial role in determining how much data can be processed simultaneously. A narrower interface, like the one found on the RTX 4060, may struggle to keep up with the demanding workloads of 4K gaming, leading to potential performance issues.

That said, less demanding games should run adequately at 4K on the RTX 4060. However, if you are aiming for consistently high frame rates in visually stunning AAA titles at 4K resolution, you might need to consider GPUs with more VRAM and a wider memory interface.

A beefier new card option in the form of the RTX 4060 Ti is set to hit the stage this July with an MSRP of $500. This card, which has better power efficiency, ray tracing options, and far more Cuda Cores, may well be a 4K gaming beast, but it remains to be seen how much of an upgrade it will be over other RTX variants.

While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 is a formidable GPU for 1080p and 1440p gaming, it’s not quite the perfect fit for 4K gaming. It can manage less demanding games at 4K, but for a truly immersive, high-frame-rate 4K gaming experience, you might need to turn to more powerful options in the Nvidia hardware lineup. As always, your choice of GPU should align with your gaming needs and budget.

Camilo is a contributor for PC Guide. He's been into tech since he was a teen, surfing through the web and local stores trying to find the cheapest way to play the latest Half-Life on his old Windows