Best 4K Graphics Cards for Gaming
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti was released in June of 2021, and it is currently the top-of-the-line option for 4K gaming along with the RTX 3090. It is also extremely difficult to find, with scalpers reselling it for thousands of dollars. Luckily, quite a few other graphics cards are capable of 4K resolution and cost a fraction of the price.
The best 4K graphics cards offer at least 8GB of GDDR6 ram, which leaves you with quite a few choices. Compare your options with the following top-rated 4K graphics cards for gaming.
Check our guide on the best 1440p graphics cards if you have a 1440p gaming monitor.
Table of Contents
Quick Compare Table
Top 6 4K graphics cards for gaming
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB GDDR6
The MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2080 Ti includes 11GB of GDDR6 memory, which is more than adequate for 4K gaming. The graphics card supports a max resolution of 7680 x 4320 pixels (8K), making it a future-proof choice.
You can connect a maximum of four monitors. The card includes three DisplayPort, one HDMI, and one USB Type-C output.
MSI Gaming has boosted the clock speed to 1755 MHz from the 1635 MHz clock speed used in Nvidia’s RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition. The boost increased the potential performance of the card from 13.45 teraflops to 15.28 teraflops.
The MSI Gaming version of the RTX 2080 Ti features a solid design with a durable backplate and nickel-plated base for increased resistance to wear. Unless you want to spend twice as much, this is likely one of the best 4K graphics cards for your money. Although it is from the previous generation of Turing GPUs.
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Provides more than enough graphical power for 4K gaming | One of the more expensive recommendations |
| Supports 8K resolution for future video game titles | Higher prices |
| Offers a performance boost over the Founder’s Edition | Availability problems |
| Supports ray tracing technology |
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3070 OC 8GB
The Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3070 OC Edition comes with a slightly lower price tag compared to the previous recommendation.
It has 8GB of video memory and a metal backplate, along with two HDMI ports and two DisplayPort outputs. The Gigabyte RTX 3070 OC Edition also supports ray tracing.
Despite having less memory compared to the RTX 2080 Ti, the RTX 3070 from Gigabyte offers a moderate performance increase. You get 21.37 teraflops instead of 15.28 teraflops.
The design includes a large triple-fan cooling system, as seen on most of the cards on this list. The cooling solution is rated for a much higher load compared to the heat generated by the card, which helps keep the fans running at lower speeds. Thanks to the lower fan speeds, the Gigabyte RTX 3070 generates less noise.
This card also features gigabyte RGB Fusion so you can control and sync your RGB lighting throughout you gaming PC.
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Slightly better performance compared to RTX 2080 Ti | Occasionally difficult to find for at the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) |
| Cost-effective option for 8K support and ray tracing | |
| Generates less noise compared to related cards |
XFX Speedster MERC319 AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT 16 GB
The XFX Speedster MERC319 Radeon RX 6800 XT is a close match to the Nvidia RTX 3070. It retails for about the same price and offers better performance. In fact, it closely matches the performance of the hard-to-find RTX 3080, with 20.74 teraflops of graphical processing power.
The XFX Speedster RX 6800 XT includes 16GB of video memory and 4,608 stream processors. It also has two DisplayPort, one HDMI, and one USB Type-C display output. The card is also well-built, with a metal backplate and sleek, aerodynamic design.
The RX 6800 XT from XFX Speedster supports ray tracing and 8K video resolution. However, it also draws a lot of power, requiring at least 300W from the power supply. The card also tends to produce excessive noise when pushing it to its limits.
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Supports 8K resolutions and ray tracing | The fan is a little noisy |
| Tends to cost less than Nvidia cards with comparable performance | Requires more power compared to other choices |
| Includes a sleek design that looks great in PCs with window cases |
MSI GeForce RTX 3080 VENTUS 3X 10G OC
The MSI RTX 3080 is a card from the RTX 3080 lineup. It features ampere architecture which is the latest from Nvidia.
When playing 4K games the RTX 3080 can handle pretty much anything you throw at it. It’s even possible to play some games at 8K since this card is quite a bit considerably faster than that of the RTX 2080 Ti.
The MSRP of this card is a great price making it a really good 4K gaming GPU. However it may be hard to find at this price due to shortages but regardless it is an amazingly fast graphics card.
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| 10 GB of GDDR6X VRAM | High price |
| Factory Overclocked | Requires a good quality and high watt PSU |
| 3 large cooling fans and high quality materials | Scarce availability |
| Large heatsink allows for better cooling |
MSI GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GAMING X TRIO 8G
The MSI GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Gaming X Trio is a suitable alternative to the Nvidia Founders Edition of the same card. It is also nearly identical to the RTX 3070 from Gigabyte apart from some performance increase. However, the MSI Gaming X Trio version includes advanced fan technology to deliver better cooling, which helps keep the card silent.
As with the Gigabyte RTX 3070, the MSI RTX 3070 Ti supports ray tracing and up to 8K resolutions. The geometrical design around the fans is unique and helps the card stand out, which is useful if your PC case has a window.
The card includes four video outputs, including three DisplayPort connections and one HDMI port.
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| One of the quietest high-end graphics cards | Low availability |
| Outperforms most of the cards on this list | The card is heavy and may require support to avoid warping |
| Supports 8K resolution and ray tracing |
AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT Taichi X 8G OC+
The AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is not the most powerful graphics card on this list. You get 9.3 teraflops of computational performance. It may suffer from lower frame rates at 4K resolution with high graphics settings but still offers a great value.
The card includes 8GB of video memory with support for DirectX 12 and software-based ray tracing. However, it does not include specialized hardware for ray tracing.
One of the best features of this card is the cooling system, which includes three fans optimized to balance cooling efficiency and noise. The card is noticeably quieter and runs cooler compared to other choices.
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| One of the best budget options for 4K gaming | Not the most powerful 4K graphics card |
| Runs considerably quieter compared to other cards | |
| Includes four DisplayPort outputs |
Conclusion
You now have six top options for building a powerful gaming PC. All six options are relatively cost-effective considering the price of the base cards from AMD and Nvidia. If you want the least expensive 4K card, the ASRock RX 5700 XT is a top recommendation.
The remaining five options provide a good balance between high-end performance and affordability. To find the right one, consider how much you are willing to spend to avoid needing to replace your card in the next few years.
Be sure check our other guides and articles on the best graphics cards you can get.
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3070 OC 8GB
The Best 4k graphics card in our opinion
The RTX 3070 is a great card which outperforms the RTX 2080 Ti in most cases. If you can get this card for a good price, it makes a great 4K gaming machine.
It can play pretty much any game at 4k at ultra or at least high settings and the price makes it even better as the MSRP is not too expensive.
Last update on 2024-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
