Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti: Is It Worth the Upgrade in 2024?

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is a mid-range graphics card that was announced in May 2023, alongside the RTX 4060. As the successor to the RTX 3060 Ti, the RTX 4060 Ti promises improved performance and efficiency thanks to NVIDIA's new Ada Lovelace architecture. However, with AMD's Radeon RX 7700 XT and NVIDIA's own RTX 4070 also vying for attention in the same price range, it can be difficult to determine if the RTX 4060 Ti is worth the upgrade in 2024.

Overview of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

The RTX 4060 Ti was launched as part of NVIDIA's 40 series lineup, targeting gamers looking for a balance between performance and price. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture, which offers significant improvements in ray tracing and AI-based rendering capabilities compared to previous generations.

Key Specifications

• CUDA Cores: 8GB version: 4,352; 16GB version: 4,352
• Base Clock: 2,535 MHz
• Boost Clock: 2,610 MHz
• Memory Interface: 128-bit
• TDP: 160 watts
• DLSS Support: Yes, including DLSS 3

Performance Comparison: 8GB vs. 16GB Versions

The primary difference between the RTX 4060 Ti 8GB and 16GB versions lies in their memory capacity. While both versions share the same core specifications, the additional VRAM in the 16GB model can lead to improved performance in memory-intensive applications and higher resolutions.

Gaming Performance

1080p Gaming: The RTX 4060 Ti 8GB performs well at 1080p, providing solid frame rates in most modern titles. However, the 16GB version shows a 16% increase in average performance at ultra settings, particularly in more demanding games.

1440p Gaming: At 1440p, the performance gap narrows, with the 16GB version still holding a slight edge. The 8GB version struggles in memory-heavy scenarios, leading to potential stuttering or lower frame rates.

Ray Tracing: Both versions support ray tracing, but the 16GB model handles it better due to its increased memory bandwidth. In ray-traced titles, the 8GB version may encounter limitations, especially as games become more demanding.

Comparison with AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is positioned as a direct competitor to the RTX 4060 Ti. Here’s how they stack up against each other:

Performance Insights

Rasterization: The RX 7700 XT outperforms both versions of the RTX 4060 Ti in rasterization tasks, offering around 12% better performance at 1080p and up to 25% at 4K resolutions. This makes it a more appealing option for gamers focused on traditional rendering rather than ray tracing.

Ray Tracing: While the RTX 4060 Ti excels in ray tracing thanks to NVIDIA's DLSS technology, the RX 7700 XT is slightly behind in this area. However, its additional VRAM may provide better performance in future titles that demand more memory.

Comparison with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070

The RTX 4070 is another competitor to consider, especially for gamers looking for higher performance. Here’s how it compares:

A few key takeaways from this comparison:

• The RTX 4060 Ti 16GB has double the VRAM capacity of the 8GB model, which could provide a performance boost in VRAM-hungry games.
• The RX 7700 XT has a higher boost clock and more GPU cores than the RTX 4060 Ti, but a lower TDP than the 16GB model.
• The RTX 4070 has significantly more GPU cores and a higher memory speed than the RTX 4060 Ti, but the same VRAM capacity as the 16GB model.
• Now that we've covered the specifications, let's dive into the real-world performance of these GPUs.

Performance Benchmarks

To get a comprehensive understanding of how these GPUs perform, we'll look at benchmarks across various resolutions, games, and settings. We'll also explore the impact of DLSS and ray tracing on performance.

1080p Performance

At 1080p resolution, the RX 7700 XT consistently outperforms the RTX 4060 Ti 8GB by a significant margin, often exceeding 10% in many games. The RTX 4060 Ti 16GB, on the other hand, is able to close the gap with the RX 7700 XT in some VRAM-sensitive titles thanks to its extra memory capacity.

In games like Cyberpunk 2077, Resident Evil 4, and The Last of Us Part I, the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB is able to match or even surpass the RX 7700 XT's performance at 1080p. However, in less VRAM-constrained games, the RX 7700 XT maintains a clear lead.

The RTX 4070 is the clear winner at 1080p, outperforming both the RTX 4060 Ti and RX 7700 XT by a significant margin, often exceeding 20% in many games.

1440p Performance

At 1440p, the performance gap between the RTX 4060 Ti and RX 7700 XT narrows, with the RX 7700 XT still maintaining a slight edge in most games. The RTX 4060 Ti 16GB's extra VRAM becomes more beneficial at this resolution, allowing it to keep up with the RX 7700 XT in VRAM-hungry titles.

In games like Forza Horizon 5, the RX 7700 XT offers a 10-15% performance advantage over the RTX 4060 Ti 8GB at 1440p. However, in ray tracing-enabled games like Resident Evil 4 and Metro Exodus, the RX 7700 XT and RTX 4060 Ti 16GB are neck-and-neck.

The RTX 4070 continues to lead the pack at 1440p, outperforming the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB by around 15-20% in most games.

4K Performance

At 4K resolution, the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB starts to pull ahead of the RX 7700 XT in some games, thanks to its superior memory bandwidth and VRAM capacity. However, the RX 7700 XT still manages to maintain a slight lead in many titles.

In Resident Evil 4, the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB is able to outperform the RX 7700 XT by a significant margin at 4K. However, in games like Forza Horizon 5, the RX 7700 XT still holds a 5-10% advantage.

The RTX 4070 is the clear winner at 4K, outperforming the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB by around 20-25% in most games. This makes the RTX 4070 a more suitable choice for gamers who prioritize high-resolution gaming.

Ray Tracing and DLSS Performance

Ray tracing performance is an area where NVIDIA has traditionally held an advantage over AMD. However, with the RX 7700 XT, AMD has made significant strides in improving its ray tracing capabilities.
In 3DMark's Port Royal ray tracing benchmark, the RX 7700 XT scores around 1000 points higher than the RTX 4060 Ti, a substantial difference. In games like Resident Evil 4 and Metro Exodus with ray tracing enabled, the RX 7700 XT and RTX 4060 Ti 16GB offer comparable performance.
NVIDIA's DLSS technology also plays a significant role in boosting performance, especially at higher resolutions. However, it's worth noting that DLSS 3 with frame generation can consume more VRAM than standard DLSS upscaling. This could impact performance on the RTX 4060 Ti 8GB in VRAM-limited scenarios.

Price and Value Comparison

The RTX 4060 Ti 8GB has a starting price of $399, while the 16GB variant is priced at $499. The RX 7700 XT has a launch price of $449, and the RTX 4070 starts at $599.

In terms of value for money, the RX 7700 XT and RTX 4060 Ti 8GB offer similar cost-effectiveness, with the RX 7700 XT having a slight edge. The RTX 4060 Ti 16GB and RTX 4070 provide less value due to their higher prices.

It's worth noting that the RTX 4060 Ti 8GB may struggle with VRAM limitations in some games, especially at higher resolutions. The extra VRAM of the 16GB model can provide a tangible performance boost in these scenarios, but at a higher cost.

Conclusion

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is a capable mid-range graphics card that offers solid performance at 1080p and 1440p resolutions. The 16GB variant, in particular, can compete with the AMD RX 7700 XT in many games, especially those that benefit from its extra VRAM capacity.

However, the RX 7700 XT maintains a slight edge in overall performance, offering better value for money and improved ray tracing capabilities compared to the RTX 4060 Ti. The RTX 4070, on the other hand, is a more powerful option for gamers who prioritize high-resolution gaming and want to future-proof their systems. Ultimately, the decision to upgrade to the RTX 4060 Ti in 2024 depends on your specific needs and budget. If you're running an older GPU and primarily game at 1080p or 1440p, the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB could be a worthwhile upgrade. However, if you have a more recent GPU or prioritize 4K gaming, the RX 7700 XT or RTX 4070 may be better options.