BEST 4K GRAPHICS CARDS FOR GAMING

Best 4K Graphics Cards For Gaming

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

MSI GAMING GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GDRR6 352-bit HDMI/DP/USB Ray Tracing Turing Architecture Graphics Card (RTX 2080 TI...
XFX Speedster MERC319 AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT CORE Gaming Graphics Card with 16GB GDDR6 HDMI 3xDP RX-68XTALFD9
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 10GB GDRR6X 320-Bit HDMI/DP Nvlink Torx Fan 3 Ampere Architecture OC Graphics Card (RTX...
MSI Summit E16FLIP Ink Black 16" QHD+ Touch Ultra Thin 2-in-1 Professional Laptop Intel Core i7-1195G7 RTX3050 32GB...
ASRock Radeon RX 5700 XT Taichi Triple Fans OC Video Graphics Card 8GB 256-Bit GDDR6 DirectX 12 Dual BIOS PCI...
Card
MSI GAMING GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GDRR6 352-bit HDMI/DP/USB Ray Tracing Turing Architecture Graphics Card (RTX 2080 TI...
XFX Speedster MERC319 AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT CORE Gaming Graphics Card with 16GB GDDR6 HDMI 3xDP RX-68XTALFD9
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 10GB GDRR6X 320-Bit HDMI/DP Nvlink Torx Fan 3 Ampere Architecture OC Graphics Card (RTX...
MSI Summit E16FLIP Ink Black 16" QHD+ Touch Ultra Thin 2-in-1 Professional Laptop Intel Core i7-1195G7 RTX3050 32GB...
ASRock Radeon RX 5700 XT Taichi Triple Fans OC Video Graphics Card 8GB 256-Bit GDDR6 DirectX 12 Dual BIOS PCI...
Cores
4352
4608 (stream processors)
8704
6144
2560 (stream processors)
Base Clock
1350 MHz
1900 MHz
1440 MHz
1580 MHz
1810 MHz
Boost Clock
1755 MHz
2340 MHz
1740 MHz
1830 MHz
2025 MHz
Memory
11GB GDDR6
16GB GDDR6
10GB GDDR6X
8GB GDDR6X
8GB GDDR6
Power Connectors
2 x 8 pin, 1x 6-pin
2 x 8 pin
2 x 8 pin
2 x 8 pin
2 x 8 pin
Output
1 x HDMI 2.0b, 3x Display Port 1.4a, 1x USB-C
2x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB-C
3 x DisplayPort 1.4a, HDMI 2.1
3 x DisplayPort 1.4a, HDMI 2.1
2 x HDMI 2.0b, 4x Display Port 1.4
Performance
Very good can play basically all games at ultra 4K
4K games can be played easily at ultra settings. Similar performance to somewhere between RTX 3070 and RTX 3080.
One of the best on this list. Can be hard to get for a good price. 4K ultra in pretty much all games. 8k in some games
4K Ultra in pretty much all games. A bit faster than the RTX 3070 and 2080 Ti.
Not as good in 4K as the other cards but provides a reasonable experience. Good budget option for 4K gaming.
Rating
-
-
-
-
Price
$529.99
$399.99
$758.50
Price not available
Price not available
Prime
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
-
-
-
MSI GAMING GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GDRR6 352-bit HDMI/DP/USB Ray Tracing Turing Architecture Graphics Card (RTX 2080 TI...
Card
MSI GAMING GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GDRR6 352-bit HDMI/DP/USB Ray Tracing Turing Architecture Graphics Card (RTX 2080 TI...
Cores
4352
Base Clock
1350 MHz
Boost Clock
1755 MHz
Memory
11GB GDDR6
Power Connectors
2 x 8 pin, 1x 6-pin
Output
1 x HDMI 2.0b, 3x Display Port 1.4a, 1x USB-C
Performance
Very good can play basically all games at ultra 4K
Rating
-
Price
$529.99
Prime
Amazon Prime
XFX Speedster MERC319 AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT CORE Gaming Graphics Card with 16GB GDDR6 HDMI 3xDP RX-68XTALFD9
Card
XFX Speedster MERC319 AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT CORE Gaming Graphics Card with 16GB GDDR6 HDMI 3xDP RX-68XTALFD9
Cores
4608 (stream processors)
Base Clock
1900 MHz
Boost Clock
2340 MHz
Memory
16GB GDDR6
Power Connectors
2 x 8 pin
Output
2x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB-C
Performance
4K games can be played easily at ultra settings. Similar performance to somewhere between RTX 3070 and RTX 3080.
Rating
-
Price
$399.99
Prime
Amazon Prime
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 10GB GDRR6X 320-Bit HDMI/DP Nvlink Torx Fan 3 Ampere Architecture OC Graphics Card (RTX...
Card
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 10GB GDRR6X 320-Bit HDMI/DP Nvlink Torx Fan 3 Ampere Architecture OC Graphics Card (RTX...
Cores
8704
Base Clock
1440 MHz
Boost Clock
1740 MHz
Memory
10GB GDDR6X
Power Connectors
2 x 8 pin
Output
3 x DisplayPort 1.4a, HDMI 2.1
Performance
One of the best on this list. Can be hard to get for a good price. 4K ultra in pretty much all games. 8k in some games
Rating
Price
$758.50
Prime
-
MSI Summit E16FLIP Ink Black 16" QHD+ Touch Ultra Thin 2-in-1 Professional Laptop Intel Core i7-1195G7 RTX3050 32GB...
Card
MSI Summit E16FLIP Ink Black 16" QHD+ Touch Ultra Thin 2-in-1 Professional Laptop Intel Core i7-1195G7 RTX3050 32GB...
Cores
6144
Base Clock
1580 MHz
Boost Clock
1830 MHz
Memory
8GB GDDR6X
Power Connectors
2 x 8 pin
Output
3 x DisplayPort 1.4a, HDMI 2.1
Performance
4K Ultra in pretty much all games. A bit faster than the RTX 3070 and 2080 Ti.
Rating
-
Price
Price not available
Prime
-
ASRock Radeon RX 5700 XT Taichi Triple Fans OC Video Graphics Card 8GB 256-Bit GDDR6 DirectX 12 Dual BIOS PCI...
Card
ASRock Radeon RX 5700 XT Taichi Triple Fans OC Video Graphics Card 8GB 256-Bit GDDR6 DirectX 12 Dual BIOS PCI...
Cores
2560 (stream processors)
Base Clock
1810 MHz
Boost Clock
2025 MHz
Memory
8GB GDDR6
Power Connectors
2 x 8 pin
Output
2 x HDMI 2.0b, 4x Display Port 1.4
Performance
Not as good in 4K as the other cards but provides a reasonable experience. Good budget option for 4K gaming.
Rating
-
Price
Price not available
Prime
-

Top 6 4K graphics cards for gaming

MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB GDDR6

MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB GDDR6
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

Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3070 OC 8GB
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

XFX Speedster MERC319 AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT 16 GB
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

MSI GeForce RTX 3080 VENTUS 3X 10G OC
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

MSI GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GAMING X TRIO 8G
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+

AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT Taichi X 8G OC+
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

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 2024-09-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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