Introduction
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is one of the cheapest graphics cards within the RTX 4000 range, offering gamers an affordable option that leverages the Ada Lovelace architecture. As a result, the RTX 4060 is a solid choice for a budget-friendly PC build targeting 1080p gaming. Plus, the DLSS 3.0 technology supported in several titles significantly bolsters framerates, making high refresh rate gaming much more viable. However, to see which RTX 4060 cards are the best on the market, we’ve tested a range in a series of benchmarks that cater to a good range of prospective buyers and use cases.
The RTX 4060 is a worthwhile pickup for budget gamers, competing with AMD’s RX 7600 and RX 7600 XT. This buyers guide takes an in-depth look at a range of RTX 4060 graphics cards, assessing the specs, design, and pricing to determine which are the best options.
Suggested Article: Best Power Supplies to Buy for the RTX 4060
Our Top Pick: MSI RTX 4060 Ventus 2X OC
The best RTX 4060 is the MSI Ventus 2X OC variant. There are a number of cards that sit above the all-important MSRP price point, and the MSI RTX 4060 Ventus 2X OC is one of the few available at this price. It isn’t the most impressive when it comes to thermals or the aesthetic. However, what it lacks in these areas it makes up for based on its competitive pricing versus alternative RTX 4060 variants.
The Best RTX 4060 Graphics Cards
1. MSI Ventus 2X RTX 4060
The MSI RTX 4060 Ventus 2X OC is one of the few cards with a launch MSRP of $299.99, making it an excellent option for those on a budget or those who being are price-conscious. This model is the Ventus 2X OC variant, one of MSI’s more budget-focused cards. This card offers a dual-fan design, keeping the overall footprint nice and small while also featuring MSI’s updated TORX fan design, which aids airflow and thermals.
Aesthetically, the Ventus 2X is one of the more plain-looking cards, sporting a black design throughout. Unfortunately, RGB is lacking, as there are no visible lighting strips on any areas of the card. While this is a shame, MSI likely did this to keep costs low, which makes sense as this is an MSRP option.
| Key Specs | MSI RTX 4060 Ventus 2X OC |
|---|---|
| Video Memory | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit |
| Core Clock Speed | 1.83GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2.50GHz |
| CUDA Cores | 3072 |
| RT Cores | 24 |
| GPU Length | 199mm |
| Power Consumption | 115W |
The biggest weakness of this particular RTX 4060 is its thermal capability. Airflow in a dual-fan model will be slightly more limited than that of a triple-fan card. Despite this, the MSI RTX 4060 Ventus 2X OC is still worth considering if you are willing to tolerate a slightly hotter card.
Pros
- MSRP pricing
- Compact footprint
- Ideal for budget systems
Cons
- Simple aesthetic
- OK thermals
2. Gigabyte RTX 4060 WINDFORCE OC
Gigabyte has been a mainstay in the graphics card space for quite some time, and their WINDFORCE cards are known for offering decent temperatures and even stronger gaming performance. This particular model is a dual-fan design, so thermals may be slightly weaker than those of a triple-fan card. However, we were impressed during our testing with this card. The WINDFORCE cooling system offered suitable temperatures under load.
It’s worth noting that this card is an OC model, which means the boost clock is slightly overclocked compared to the reference specs. This overclock aids performance in certain games, providing a small bump in framerates.
| Key Specs | Gigabyte RTX 4060 WINDFORCE OC |
|---|---|
| Video Memory | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit |
| Core Clock Speed | 1.83GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2.47GHz |
| CUDA Cores | 3072 |
| RT Cores | 24 |
| GPU Length | 192mm |
| Power Consumption | 115W |
Again, this card’s aesthetic is a bit weak. Gigabyte has kept the overall design a bit plainer, but we like the textured accents on the front of the card. The Gigabyte RTX 4060 WINDFORCE OC is almost entirely black, which helps it blend in with darker-themed PC builds.
Regarding the cons, it has a higher price point than a card like the MSI Ventus 2X because this is an OC model. Those looking to pick up the best-priced RTX 4060 will want to consider one of the MSRP options.
Pros
- Overclocked boost speed
- Low power consumption
- Compact size
Cons
- Plain design
- Priced above MSRP
3. ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC
The ASUS Dual OC model is among the best-looking RTX 4060 graphics cards. It features a well-rounded futuristic design on the GPU’s back and front. While this card still offers the plain grey and black aesthetic, the markings on the shroud do provide some nice contrast.
With this design, gamers on a budget can enjoy a GPU with additional flair, bringing a cool aesthetic to their PC build. It is a bit lacking in the lighting department, but we imagine this is to keep costs down.
| Key Specs | ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC |
|---|---|
| Video Memory | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit |
| Core Clock Speed | 1.83GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 2.53GHz |
| CUDA Cores | 3072 |
| RT Cores | 24 |
| GPU Length | 227mm |
| Power Consumption | 115W |
The ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC copes thermally well, even under strenuous workloads. While we’d prefer a triple-fan design, the ASUS Dual model remains cool while keeping noise levels to a minimum.
The only factor significantly weakening the appeal of this GPU is its higher price point. This ASUS Dual model can be found anywhere from $20-$30 more than MSRP at the time of writing. While this may not seem like a lot of money, those genuinely sticking to a budget will want to look at some of the cheaper RTX 4060 variants.
Pros
- Unique design
- Solid thermals
- Decent overclocked boost speed
Cons
- Pricier than MSRP
- Slightly larger footprint
How We Tested the Best RTX 4060 Graphics Cards
To provide informed product recommendations, we rigorously test all our graphics cards at varying resolutions and alternating settings within several AAA and Esports titles. Our settings are detailed in a How We Test Graphics Cards article to ensure our testing is fair and repeatable. There, you’ll find an in-depth rundown of our full testing suite for GPUs.
Hogwarts Legacy
Settings: 1080p, Effects High, Material High, Fog High, Sky High, Foliage High, Post Process High, Shadows High, Textures High, View Distance High, Population High, Anti Aliasing TAA High, Windowed Fullscreen
The first game we fired up was Hogwarts Legacy, dialling the resolution to 1080p with the settings at high. Overall, the RTX 4060 performed pretty well. In these benchmarks, it offered an average of 95FPS, placing it between the RX 6750 XT and RTX 3060 Ti. Hogwarts Legacy can be quite hard to run and significantly benefits from higher VRAM as it tends to be a resource hog. With 8GB of VRAM, the RTX 4060 is somewhat limited compared to a card like the RX 6750 XT.
Starfield
Settings: 1440p, Shadow Quality High, Indirect Lighting High, Reflections High, Crowd Density High, Particle Quality High, Volumetric Lighting High, Motion Blur off, GTAO Quality High, Grass Quality High, Contact Shadows High VSync Off, DLSS/FSR OFF
In Starfield, we decided to crank the resolution up to 1440p, and this is where performance starts to take a hit. Unfortunately, the 8GB of VRAM, again, is constraining the performance of the RTX 4060, hence why we’re only seeing a 59FPS average. This places it slightly above the RX 7600 and RX 7600 XT, which have 52FPS and 58FPS averages, respectively. While the RTX 4060 may be able to offer slightly better performance in Esports games, AAA titles are more of a struggle.
COD Warzone
Settings: 1080p, DLSS: On/Off, Texture Resolution High, Texture Filter Anisotropic High, Level of Detail High
In COD Warzone at 1080p with DLSS enabled, the RTX 4060 averaged 115FPS, which placed it between the previous-generation RTX 3060 and RX 6600 XT. Oddly, in Warzone, NVIDIA cards don’t tend to perform as well as AMD cards, which is why many of the Radeon 6000 cards are beating out the RTX 4060. However, the 115FPS average was perfectly playable and smooth across the board. It demonstrates how solid DLSS can be when enabled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need PCI-E 5.0 for the RTX 4060?
The RTX 4060 only uses PCI-E 4.0, so you won’t need a fancy new motherboard to utilise this GPU to its full potential.
Can the RTX 4060 Handle 4K?
The 4060 can handle 1080p and has some legs in 1440p, but 4K is out of the question due to this card’s VRAM constraints and general performance.
How Big is the RTX 4060?
The 4060 comes in various sizes, but most of the AIB cards are under 300mm, with some below 200mm.
