If you want your games to dazzle, you’re in the right place to find the best graphics card for 4K gaming with options from Nvidia and AMD.
Now that 8K is clearly on the horizon, 4K gaming is slowly reaching a more affordable level. Heck, you can even buy 4K monitors on a tighter budget!
We won’t kid you either – gaming in 4K is stunning. On the latest titles like Hogwarts Legacy, you truly feel immersed in the game. Simply pair that GPU with an ultrawide gaming monitor and the experience is nothing short of magical.
The latest lineups from AMD & Nvidia are more than capable of providing comfortable frame rates at 4K, so there are now a few options to choose from. If you’re struggling to decide between the two giants, we’ve considered the closely matched RTX 4080 vs RX 7900 XT to bring you closer to that final decision.
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Before jumping the gun, make sure that your CPU and monitor are up to the additional demands of 4K gaming. You’ll need your monitor’s resolution to be at least 3840 x 2160 and a refresh rate hitting a minimum of 60Hz. We understand if you want to reach higher refresh rates than that, which is why we’ve selected the best 144hz gaming monitors.
If you’re especially keen on games like Modern Warfare II, consider a higher refresh rate of up to 120Hz to support first person shooter games as well. You might be interested in reading WePC’s thoughts on which GPUs can run 4K at 144Hz.
Without further ado, here are our best GPUs for 4K.
Best graphics cards for 4K gaming
Best overall graphics card for 4K gaming – ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4090 OC
ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4090 OC
- Most powerful GPU available
- Incredibly 4K with ray tracing performance
- Expensive
This GPU is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to reaching those high frame rates at 4K.
Even with DLSS turned off, expect over 120 FPS at 4K resolutions. With DLSS, you’re looking at an FPS boost hitting almost 170+ on average. With specs like these, the sky really is the limit for your GPU. Exploring the Nordic realm in God of War: Ragnarok will be simply breathtaking in 4K. Or else have the edge over your opponents in Modern Warfare II, thanks to this GPUs impressive boost clock of 2640 MHZ.
Read More: Best GPU for 1440p
Before committing to this incredible GPU, ensure your other hardware can keep up with its performance. We’ve written a guide to explain whether you need to upgrade your PSU in response to the 4090’s monstrous power consumption.
Don’t forget about your gaming monitor which will need a high refresh rate, or else consider these top gaming monitors to upgrade to.
To match the beautiful graphics this GPU is capable of rendering, the card itself has a nice, aesthetic design. Pair this with its exceptional cooling capabilities and you’re laughing. The only thing that might put a stop to that laughter is the price.
You might ask if the price is justified. Well, it is currently the best graphics card in the world, 31% faster than the RTX 4080 so that surely stands for something.
However, if you’re not convinced, check out the other GPUs below.
Best graphics card for 4K gaming (runner up) – AS Rock Radeon RX 7900 XT
AS Rock Radeon RX 7900 XT
- Good price for performance
- Brilliant at 4K
- Raytracing could be better
We have a lot of respect for AMD’s 7000 series graphics cards, and the AS ROCK we’ve listed here definitely takes the cake.
Simply put, the RX 7900 XT delivers an amazing 4K performance, similar to its Nvidia counterparts, for a fraction of the price. It’s currently one of two graphics cards fitted with AMD’s new RDNA 3 architecture designed to power 4K resolution.
Retailing at $899, you can quickly see how it’s undercutting its RTX 4090 competition. However, it’s important to know how this card maintains frame rates at 4K. Allow us to direct you to the GPU experts at WePC who have reviewed the card, testing it on games including Assassins Creed Valhalla, Cyberpunk 2077 & Overwatch 2.
Read More: Best GPU for 1080p
Unlike the RX 6900 XT from AMD’s previous generation, the RX 7900 XT performs strongly when it comes to RayTracing and we’ve found it can still maintain a high FPS in most games.
Finally, this card is an appealing option for those concerned about the running costs of gaming. Unlike Nvidia’s monstrous 4090, the RX 7900 XT has a PSU of only 750W which is impressive given its high performance specs.
Best budget graphics card for 4K gaming – ASUS ROG Strix RX 6800 XT
ASUS ROG Strix RX 6800 XT
- Brilliant look
- Competitive price
- Ray tracing performance could be better
While AMD cards are often seen as less powerful than their Nvidia counterparts, the RX 6800 XT goes some way to disproving this. It’s got an excellent 4K performance in multiple games, consistently reaching 60 frames per second or higher.
The price is really reasonable too, significantly undercutting many of the other cards on this list. While it is inevitable that this does have an effect on performance, the price for performance is really high.
Read more: RTX 4070 Ti vs RX 6800 XT
We’ve gone for this RX 6800 XT card from ASUS ROG for a combination of its effective cooling solutions and striking look. Robust cooling allows your GPU to maintain high levels of performance without the risk of damaging itself. Here it is covered by three fans and an intelligent design which maximizes airflow.
Overall, while not as insanely powerful as some of the GPUs on this list, the RX 6800 XT is still at the top end of gaming and comes with a more reasonable price tag than many on this list.
Frequently asked questions
Is 60 FPS good for gaming?
Yes – though next-gen GPUs can now reach up to 120 FPS, 60 will still deliver smooth gameplay, and has been the norm for PC gamers for decades.
What GPU do I need for 4K at 144Hz?
If you want to reach that killer benchmark, you’ll need a GPU from Nvidia’s 4000 range.
What GPU can run 4K 120hz?
Running a game at both 4K and 120Hz takes a load of computing power. While this does of course vary from game to game, you’ll definitely want one of the most powerful GPUs out there, something like the RTX 4090, RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XT.
How do I know if my GPU can handle 4K?
Simply search your GPU on Google to see what supported resolution it has. If it’s 4096 x 2304 or higher, your GPU supports true 4K.
What is the minimum graphics card for 4K gaming?
If you’re looking for an affordable graphics card for 4K gaming, go for the RTX 3080 12GB. While it is much slower than other graphics card like the RTX 4070 Ti, it will do the job so long as you have a good CPU to support it.
