Gamers across the globe are always looking for the best gaming experience, and that’s why there are many graphics cards available on the market that offer gamers to experience gaming with the best quality ever. The good thing is most of them can fit in your budget. In this industry, the competition between Nvidia and AMD is pretty close. If you are looking for the best GPUs for 4K gaming on your system, we have listed the best graphics cards you can consider.
First, let’s go through some points you should consider before choosing a GPU.
Things to consider while choosing a GPU for your system
Before you go through the list of the best GPUs for 4K, here are some points that you should go through before choosing a perfect GPU for your system.
Compatibility
First, find out how much physical space is there on your system to input a graphics card. You must also take care of the power supply. Do your homework and know how many amps can it supply on the 12v rails? Also, the rated watts, and how many six- and eight-pin PCIe connectors does it have?
When you get all the answers, compare them to the graphics card you want to buy. If your power supply is not enough for the graphics card, you have to go for a power upgrade. Finally, check whether your monitor has a display port, HDMI port, or DVI port. Crosscheck this information with the card you want to buy. If you buy a GPU with different ports, you have to buy an adaptor.
Know about your system well
You have to know the limitations of your system. For instance, if you have an older dual core CPU, it will not allow you to use high-end graphics cards. So, if you know your system limitations, you can save money.
When you have a 4K resolution monitor, you have to go for a graphics card that supports 4K efficiently.
Memory and Bandwidth
Not all high-end graphics cards come with a high memory by default. You have to understand which kind of games you’re going to play on that graphics card and how much memory space you need. The gaming data that is ready to be processed by the graphics card is usually stored on the card’s dedicated memory GDDR3, GDDR5, or (more recently) GDDR6. While choosing your memory card, you have to pay attention to the bandwidth. Choosing GDDR5 for better performance is better because 1GB of GDDR5 is more efficient than 4GB of GDDR3.
CUDA Cores (Nvidia) or Stream Processors (AMD)
You have to pay attention to CUDA Cores ( Nvidia) and Stream Processors ( AMD).
The more CUDA cores or Stream Processors are on your graphics card, the better the GPU is at rendering outstanding visuals. It is a very important component of a good gaming experience. These components can handle intense graphics works in the game.
TDP Values
Like any other device, GPU also produces heat for the work they are doing. The TDP value shows this heat rate. It also indicates the amount of required power to keep your graphics card at an acceptable temperature. Remember, the more power your graphics card requires, the more it will produce heat. That’s why it is always advisable to go for a GPU with a low TDP value.
The main points that you should consider while choosing the perfect GPU for your system are mentioned above. You can go through the best GPUs for 4K gaming and choose which one will suit your preferences.
Our Recommendations of The Best GPUs For 4k Gaming On PC In 2022:
AWARD | MODEL | RETAILER |
BEST GRAPHICS CARD FOR PC GAMING | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 | |
AMAZING EXAMPLE OF GAMING ARCHITECTURE. IT HAS SOME INSPIRING SETUPS AND DESIGNS | AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT | |
COMES WITH SOME AMAZING GPU BOOST FREQUENCY | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti | |
CARD WITH LOTS OF INTERESTING FEATURES AND THE ULTIMATE 4K GAMING EXPERIENCE | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 | |
ONE OF THE MOST PROFESSIONAL GRAPHIC CARDS YOU CAN OWN IF YOU HAVE A BIG BUDGET | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 | |
OFFER YOU A GOOD GAMING EXPERIENCE WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK, IT IS AN EFFICIENT OPTION FOR YOU | Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 twin age OC | |
WISH TO BUY A GPU ONLY FOR PLAYING GAMES AND NOTHING ELSE, THIS WILL BE THE BEST OPTION FOR YOU | EVGA GE-Force RTX 3080 Ti XC3 | |
AMD lover and looking for an alternative to the offerings of AMD, you can consider buying GYGABYTE Radeon RX 6800XT | GYGABYTE Radeon RX 6800XT | |
THIS GRAPHIC CARD IS MSI'S VERSION OF AMD'S, ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT GRAPHIC CARDS RTX 3080 TI IN PERFORMANCE | MSI RADEON RX 6900 XT gaming X trio |
9 Best GPUs for 4k gaming in 2022
Though this is rare nowadays, it is undoubtedly the best graphics card for PC gaming in recent times.
Specifications
- CUDA cores: 8,704
- Memory: 10GB GDDR6X
Reasons to buy
- Ultimate gaming experience
- Best for the sound quality
- Best of the series
Why should you avoid it?
- Expensive
Brief review
It is more efficient than the previous RTX 20 series. Though it is a $699 card, it can easily outperform the $1,200 RTX 2080 Ti. It can offer you a different and satisfying experience of gaming. When talking about the first generation of ray tracing capable cards, those required a huge frame rate sacrificed which was a problem with the users. But in RTX 3080, this problem is resolved. It has many differences from the previous series, and you would be amazed to know that RTX 3080 can actually run Crysis.
Nvidia has added a whole load more than CUDA cores, updated Tensor Cores (for extra dlss goodness), and second-gen RT Cores for making it more attractive. It has everything you would need for an ultimate gaming experience.
Though RTX 3080 needs a bit more power ( at least 850W PSU), it is the most advanced and features packed graphics card on the recent market. It is a flagship graphics card of the new Ampere generation. Whether it is sound, quality, or design, it is undoubtedly the best beast. It is a perfect balance of engineering, technology, design, and production. The manufacturers knew what the exact needs of gamers were and worked on almost everything in this graphics card.
AMD’s RDNA 2 is an amazing example of gaming architecture. It has some inspiring setups and designs.
Specifications
- RDNA cores: 4,608
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6
Reasons To Buy
- 4K excellence
- Cheaper than an RTX 3080
Reasons To Avoid
- Moderate ray tracing performance
- Slower than the 3080 at 4K
Brief review
It only has a few performance differences with the RTX 3080. It can be a good choice for PC games with 4K. It can be a little tough and confusing to choose between this graphics card and RTX 3080. If we start to compare while keeping in mind the financial side, The RX 6800 XT is $50 cheaper and can provide users with high 4k performance along with a hefty VRAM increase over the RTX 3080. Now, you can think that if you can purchase an RTX 3080 by spending only $50 extra, then it will be a smarter decision. But, if you’re looking for super-resolution, then the final FX super-resolution by AMD can be a good choice, and it also offers solid upscaling worth enabling in supported games. It is, undoubtedly, the best representation of the RDNA 2 inflection point. It can offer amazing gaming performance with various modern games.
An efficient option that is affordable for most of us
Specifications
- CUDA cores: 4,864
- Memory: 8GB GDDR6
Reasons To Buy
- It is affordable and efficient at the same time
- 2080 Super performance
- Under $400
Reasons To Avoid
- It has a 12-pin power connector that can be irritating for sometimes
- Not quite good enough for 4K
Brief review
RTX 3060 Ti uses the same GA104 GPU as RTX 3070 ( RTX 3060 Ti comes with fewer enabled SMS). They both have the same 8GB GDDR6 memory across 256-bit buses.
Although RTX 3060 is 17% less capable in the Core count, it comes with some amazing GPU Boost frequency. If you are looking for an efficient graphics card on a budget, it can be the best option for you. The features it offers are not bad at all for a $399 card. At this price, RTX 3060 is 20% cheaper than RTX 3070. It’s an efficient GPU for the full stack of resolutions and a good tracing capability to boot.
This graphics card also has many similarities with RTX 2080, proved in almost every test. It is a good option on the recent market with 2nd generation RT core and 3rd generation tensor core. Though it is not efficient for 4k like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, it is quite good if we consider the price tag.
An amazing card with lots of interesting features and the ultimate 4K gaming experience.
Specifications
- CUDA cores: 5,888
- Memory: 8GB GDDR6
Reasons To Buy
- Turing-topping frame rates
- Comparatively low power consumption
- This FE card is small
Reasons To Avoid
- This also has a 12-pin power connector that can be disturbing for some time.
It is a high-end Ampere that can fit your budget easily. The functionalities and abilities of this graphics card can match RTX 2080 Ti in different things for less than half of that’s price.
This is a $499 graphics card with 4K capable graphics that don’t require too much fiddling. It is most probably one of the best graphics cards in this price range. The gaming performance credentials of this graphics card is undoubtedly impressive.
Specifications
- CUDA cores – 10,496
- Memory – 24 GB DDR6
Reasons to buy
- Axial-tech fan setup reduces turbulence and improves cooling
- Larger, improved heat sinks further reduce thermal loads
- GPU Tweak II utility allows custom performance tuning to optimize performance when it is needed.
Reasons to avoid
- Expensive
Brief review
If you have a pretty good budget and want to buy the best graphics card that money can buy, nothing can be a better option than this. Not only improved materials, but this beast also comes with custom system control. If you are looking for a perfect choice for 4K, let me tell you that this GPU can also work efficiently on 8k. Especially if you are a professional who earns from gaming and is crazy about modern games, you can consider buying this GPU. This is supported by up to 4 displays.
This is one of the most professional graphics cards you can own if you have a big budget. You can even look for the founders edition, which is VR-ready and Rated at up to 350W. But, if you are willing to purchase the founder’s edition, make sure to have enough space on your sister as this GPU requires a good amount of space.
Specifications
- Memory – 12GB GDDR6
- Cuda core – 3584
Reasons to buy
- Can run at 8K/60FPS or 4K/120FPS
- Active fan control via ZOTAC Gaming FireStorm drivers
- Freeze Fan Stop capability stops fans when there is no need
Reasons to avoid
- It is not capable as other high-end graphics cards
Brief review
If you want a GPU that can offer you a good gaming experience without breaking the bank, it is an efficient option for you. Though it is the initial level card of the 30th series GPU, you will be impressed to know that it still supports DLSS, ray tracing, and much more. Besides the performance, the ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge comes with three display ports and one HDMI 2.1. It also has an efficient cooling fan along with Zotac’s firestorm software that allows you to control the fan. The whole system helps you to keep your GPU at an adjustable temperature.
Specifications
- Storage – 12 GB GDDR6
- Cuda cores – 10240
Reasons to buy it
- 350 watts total power draw
- Comes with three DisplayPort and one HDMI slot
- Supports 4K/ 120Hz HDR
Reasons to avoid
- It has a smaller design compared to other 3080 GPUs. It might cause some thermal issues.
Brief review
If you wish to buy a GPU only for playing games and nothing else, this will be the best option for you. With three DisplayPort and an HDMI slot, it can give you an exciting gaming experience on 4K. If you want, you can push it up to 350 watts without bothering the temperature. If you need the best of it’s performance, it will also allow you to use EVGA’s Hybrid Kit for water cooling. Besides amazing performance, this GPU allows you to access fine details like ARGB LEDs on the backplate. The PCI Express 4.0 interface makes it quite easy to work with the best GPU system. It offers an amazing gaming experience if you need a graphics card for gaming purposes.
Specifications
- Storage – 16 GB GDDR6
- Cuda Core – 4,606
Reasons to buy
- Features three 80mm alternate spinning fans for better thermal performance
- Extended heatsink provides passthrough airflow for better performance and thermal balance.
- Comes with two DisplayPort and two HDMI slots
Reasons to Avoid
- Limited game support for FidelityFX
Brief review
If you are an Nvidia lover and looking for an alternative to the offerings of Nvidia, you can consider buying GYGABYTE Radeon RX 6800XT . Though it’s pricing is quite the same with 3080 Ti, it offers a massive space of 16GB and faster clock speed. Three 80mm alternate spinning fans and an extended heatsink ensuring that the GPU is cooled every time for better performance and ultimate gaming experience. With two Display Ports and two HDMI slots, this card allows four displays at a single time for complete satisfaction. Talking about it’s performance on the 4K screen, we can say that it works efficiently on 4k. You would also be impressed to know that this card provides users with an efficient and ultimate gaming experience on 8k.
Specifications
- Storage – 16GB GDDR6
- Cuda Cores – 5,102
Reasons to buy
- Works with Mystic Light RGB Lighting control
- Matte metal backplate provides strength while adding passive cooling
- Optimized for running with AMD processors
Reasons to avoid
- Uses slower GDDR6 memory
Brief review
This graphics card is MSI’s version of AMD’s, one of the most efficient graphics cards RTX 3080 Ti in performance. It can be a perfect choice if you are looking for an affordable and efficient graphics card for gaming on 4K. This can be the most compatible option for you if you are using an AMD chip, as this graphics card supports AMD processors. Not only on 4K, but it supports up to 8k. It will allow you to add more power or connect to other gaming applications via crossfire. By using this feature, you can connect a second 6900 XT. Crossfire is quite rare nowadays as not all GPUs offer it. So, you can now enjoy the power of two graphics cards on a single computer system. TORX Fan 4.0 is also inbuilt in the system to focus on the hot areas to balance the temperature for a great performance.
The metal backplate of the GPU helps you to avoid GPU sag. It can damage the pins of the card. It also comes with Mystic Light RGB Lighting that allows you to control with other MSI RGB accessories and parts. You have now complete control over your card’s RGB lighting system. This graphics card gives you maximum control over your system, more than other GPUs out there.
Wrapping up
GPU depends on the preferences. Before buying one, you have to be sure about what you want from your GPU, what kinds of games you play, and your expectations from your graphics card. In the above-mentioned list, we have talked about the most popular and worthy graphics cards out there. If you are not bothered about money and can afford a high priced and amazing graphics card, you can go for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 anytime. If you are looking for a graphics card in an affordable range that can deliver good performance, there are different options for you mentioned on the list. Even if you are looking for an efficient GPU just for gaming purposes, there are options for you too. You can know more about these products and buy them on Amazon.
Hope this article was helpful to you and you have found the answer to your queries.
Summary for The Best GPUs For 4k Gaming On PC In 2022:
AWARD | MODEL | RETAILER |
BEST GRAPHICS CARD FOR PC GAMING | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 | |
AMAZING EXAMPLE OF GAMING ARCHITECTURE. IT HAS SOME INSPIRING SETUPS AND DESIGNS | AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT | |
COMES WITH SOME AMAZING GPU BOOST FREQUENCY | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti | |
CARD WITH LOTS OF INTERESTING FEATURES AND THE ULTIMATE 4K GAMING EXPERIENCE | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 | |
ONE OF THE MOST PROFESSIONAL GRAPHIC CARDS YOU CAN OWN IF YOU HAVE A BIG BUDGET | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 | |
OFFER YOU A GOOD GAMING EXPERIENCE WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK, IT IS AN EFFICIENT OPTION FOR YOU | Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 twin age OC | |
WISH TO BUY A GPU ONLY FOR PLAYING GAMES AND NOTHING ELSE, THIS WILL BE THE BEST OPTION FOR YOU | EVGA GE-Force RTX 3080 Ti XC3 | |
AMD lover and looking for an alternative to the offerings of AMD, you can consider buying GYGABYTE Radeon RX 6800XT | GYGABYTE Radeon RX 6800XT | |
THIS GRAPHIC CARD IS MSI'S VERSION OF AMD'S, ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT GRAPHIC CARDS RTX 3080 TI IN PERFORMANCE | MSI RADEON RX 6900 XT gaming X trio |
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a GPU in the graphics card shortage?
There are two ways to get a GPU in the graphics card shortage. You can either attempt manually to refresh every store page or sign up for a trusted app for this purpose. Several issues such as increased demand, disruption of manufacturing, etc can cause this issue.
If you want to get a GPU in the middle of a graphics card shortage and live in the UK, you can try to use Hotstock. On the other hand, if you are a citizen of the US, you can try to get a GPU from an application named stock informer. Or, you just can wait for the shortage to end. The demand has increased at a high level in this pandemic era, and it is one of the biggest reasons for this shortage to appear. You can also find plenty of free discord servers with stock alert boards and dedicated community members. For instance, the stockdrops server is one of those servers that can be helpful to you.
Not to forget, there are also Twitch streams. It is recommended to keep checking Falcodrin on Twitch for Nvidia GPUs. Other providers can help you with that.
Is there an easy way to get a new graphics card?
It is one of the best ways to make sure that you can have a graphics card for your gaming experience. You can try buying a new computer which is a prebuilt gaming PC. Though you have to wait for some days, you will get the guaranteed PC with GPU in situ. You should keep monitoring different servers, applications, and platforms to look for a new graphics card. You must do your homework before choosing one as not all graphics cards can suit your system.
Which is better GTX or RTX?
The older NVidia graphics cards did not have the extra AI and ray-tracing silicon like the RTX level cards. The older GTX prefix nowadays is used to denote those older NVidia cards. Nvidia has introduced the RTX prefix with their RTX 20 series that was released 3 years ago. This prefix comes with Tensor Cores and RT Cores. Both components are necessary for real-time ray tracing and deep learning supersampling. So, in that case, we can say that RTX is better than the GTX.
Is ray tracing only for RTX cards?
The RTX prefix only refers to Nvidia GPUs with dedicated Ray tracing hardware. These cards use the same DirectX Ray Tracing that API Microsoft has created. But, not only RTX prefix GPUs use that. It is also used by AMD’s RDNA 2 GPUs. These AMD GPUs can support a higher performance impact of real time ray tracing compared to Nvidia’s GPUs. On the other hand, Intel’s Xe-HPG GPUs will be the first Alchemist graphics card to use the ray-tracing using Microsoft’s DirectX Ray Tracing API.
Is SLI or CrossFire still in the market?
In the past, people used to run two cards in the SLI or crossfire for maximum performance, but nowadays, major games ignore multi GPU users completely ( Including all DXR games). On the other hand, only a few next-generation cards support linking two cards. For instance, if we talk about Nvidia, only the $1,500 RTX 3090 supports NvLink connections, which is also only for using creative applications. So, we can say that in the recent generation of gaming, SLI or Crossfire does not exist.
Do you need a 4K capable graphics card?
If you have a 4K gaming monitor, you would obviously need a 4K capable graphics card. You also have to consider which kinds of games you like to play. For instance, if you are more into frame rates or ultra-competitive shooters, your preference would be to aim for super high fps figures. So, either 1440p or 1080p resolutions would be the perfect choice for you.
The more games like CoD:Warzone that includes the DLSS will increase, the more Nvidia cards will be capable of making an approximation of 4K visuals on your 4K monitors.
What do you mean by Founders Edition graphics card?
You’ve surely heard about the founder edition graphics card at least once in your life if you are a gamer. It is nothing but the in-house designs of Nvidia Ford and its graphics cards. They are usually reference cards that run at stock clocks.
If we talk about the RTX 20 series, Nvidia decided to offer the founder’s edition along with the factory overclocks. This decision had made the comparison of cards even more difficult as the founder’s edition cards give users a baseline for performance, but on the other hand, Nvidia has since returned to producing them as a reference all again.
Can Any GPU support 4K Resolution?
Yes. Nvidia GeForce GTX 600 and 700 series support 4K resolution. They are recently at lower refresh rates of 30Hz to 60Hz. In some cases, they can sacrifice other things such as reflections quality or long-distance renders.
1440p/144Hz or 4k/60? Which Is Better?
If you are playing fast-paced games, a higher refresh rate display is better than a lower refresh rate display as smoother actions feel more energetic than an ultra-sharp display. Exceptions are also there, as if you are using a large display of 49 inches or more, you should go for 4K capabilities. Both comes with pros and cons, and it will rely on your preference. Ask yourself, do you prefer more? Is it action or short part lines?
Why Do Most 4k Monitors Have Low Refresh Rates?
It happens as 4K resolution is not mainstream yet. Most displays have 1080p Full HD or 1440p QHD quality. So, we can say that they cannot efficiently produce 4K/120Hz displays, especially if most computers can’t run them. However, the technology is progressing faster than ever, and more and more users are getting powerful hardware. So, we can expect that the monitor manufacturer might soon produce 4K displays with faster refresh rates.
How do I find out whether my laptop screen supports 4k videos or not?
It is not that tough to find out whether your laptop supports 4K videos or not. For finding out that, you have to follow the steps mentioned below:
- First, go to the display settings
- Here you will find out the resolution of your laptop screen.
- 720p = 1280 x 720 – this resolution is usually known as HD or “HD Ready” resolution
- 1440p = 2560 x 1440 – this resolution is commonly known as QHD or Quad HD resolution.
- 4K or 2160p = 3840 x 2160 – this resolution is commonly known as 4K, UHD or Ultra HD resolution.
So, if the resolution of your laptop screen is 4K or 2160p = 3840 x 2160, it means that it supports 4K.
Which graphics card is better, AMD or Nvidia?
It is the oldest question among game lovers. At present, we can say that Nvidia graphics cards are the preferable option for playing games with high resolution, which means if you want to play games at 1440p or above, you can go for Nvidia. On the other hand, AMD cards are more affordable with only a little bit of difference from Nvidia.
Though AMD has FidelityFX Super Resolution, which works quite similarly to DLSS and can boost frames per second in games that support it, the results are not at all, without the AI smarts or the inbuilt anti-aliasing all impressive as DLSS. One essential point to mention here is that FSR works on GeForce GPUs as well, whereas DLSS works on Nvidia only.
G-Sync or FreeSync, which is better?
If you have a monitor that supports one of these features, it will help you synchronize the display with the GPU reducing the screen tear and input lag.
FreeSync ( AMD tech) is more affordable than G-Sync ( Nvidia tech) and is not only that, but FreeSync monitors are also G-Sync compatible. So, if you get a monitor that supports FreeSync, you can buy AMD or Nvidia cards without any headache in the future.
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