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Jul 13, 2023

The BEST Graphics Cards For 4K In 2023

In this guide, I will walk you through our selection of the best graphics cards

In this guide, I will walk you through our selection of the best graphics cards for 4K based on gaming and productivity performance, features, and value.

4K gaming is all the rage right now, but you need one of the best graphics cards for 4K in order to have an enjoyable experience. While every graphics card is technically capable of outputting a 4K image, you need a very powerful GPU in order to actually run games at 4K. Fortunately, gaming at 4K is now possible thanks to these graphics cards.

Here's a quick look at the best graphics cards for 4K, alongside a brief comparison of their specs:

Last update on 2023-06-05

While shopping for a 4K graphics card, there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. Modern games are becoming increasingly complex, and it is becoming harder and harder to run newer titles at 4K with the highest quality settings. Therefore, it is also important to consider the newest technologies, like DLSS 3.0 vs. AMD FSR, which can help improve the 4K performance of GPUs.

Here is a selection of the best graphics cards for 4K that you can buy right now:

Best Overall 4K Graphics Card

Architecture: AMD RDNA 3 | CUDA Cores/SPs: 6144 | Base Clock: 1855 MHz | Boost Clock: 2680 MHz | Memory: 24GB GDDR6 | Bus Width: 384 bit | Power Consumption: 420W | Power Connectors: 3x 8-pin PCIe

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is one of the fastest gaming graphics cards on the consumer platform today. Not only does it compete directly with Nvidia's premium RTX 4080 graphics card, but it does so at a much lower price, making it the value champion in this category. With its superb gaming prowess and versatile features, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX is ideal for 4K gaming and video editing.

What separates the Radeon RX 7900 XTX from the crowd is its massive stash of video memory. AMD has equipped this card with 24GB of GDDR6 memory, which is fantastic for 4K gaming and video editing. Modern video games are demanding more and more video memory due to high-resolution textures, and the 24GB arrangement of the 7900 XTX will ensure that all the game's required assets can be stored in the VRAM without hassle.

In terms of rasterization performance alone, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX goes head-to-head with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 at 4K. In my gaming tests, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX actually comes out ahead in most games at 4K, while the lead shrinks in favor of the RTX 4080 at lower resolutions like 1440p. This is most likely due to the Radeon's 24GB VRAM as compared to the 16GB VRAM of the RTX 4080.

AMD has also equipped the Radeon RX 7900 XTX with loads of features to make it a competitive all-rounder for 4K. Most notably, AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution is now in a very impressive phase of its development and can now compete directly with Nvidia's DLSS 2.0 from the last generation. Granted, Nvidia still holds the lead in this department, but AMD is surely catching up rapidly.

There are several aftermarket variants of the Radeon RX 7900 XTX that are worth consideration, but I recommend the Sapphire Nitro+ AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X Gaming variant. This is a high-end variant that does charge a bit of a premium over MSRP, but it delivers unmatched cooling performance, superb acoustics, and an extremely impressive design that is sure to elevate the looks of any PC build.

The card is exceptional when you consider the VRM layout of the PCB. It packs a 17+3 phase design with 70A power stages, capable of driving a 1000W through your GPU silicon if need be. This robust power delivery system is particularly important from an overclocking perspective.

While the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is priced to undercut the competing GeForce RTX 4080, it is not a cheap graphics card by any means. It targets the 4K gaming category, so be prepared to take a hit to your savings if you want to get in on the action. Moreover, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX can also draw a lot of power when under full load, raising some concerns over its efficiency.

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is very well-equipped for 4K gaming. It offers excellent 4K rasterization performance, with decent ray-tracing performance as well. On paper, it is an even better value than the competing RTX 4080, and it does not require the fancy 16-pin power connector either.

AMD has struggled a bit with ray tracing in the past, and while that is no longer the case, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX still lags slightly behind the competition in this department. Moreover, it is quite an expensive graphics card and can draw a lot of power.

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is ideal for those users who want to experience 4K gaming without completely breaking the bank for Nvidia's offerings. It also offers more VRAM than the competition in this price bracket.

The fine blend of gaming performance, features, as well as value for money makes the Radeon RX 7900 XTX the best overall 4K graphics card on the market.

Related to the Radeon RX 7900 XTX:

Best Graphics Card for 4K 144Hz

Architecture: Nvidia Ada Lovelace | CUDA Cores/SPs: 16384 | Base Clock: 2235 MHz | Boost Clock: 2535 MHz | Memory: 24GB GDDR6X | Bus Width: 384 bit | Power Consumption: 450W | Power Connectors: 1x 16-pin 12VHPWR

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is the golden child of the new RTX-40 series by Nvidia, based on the new Ada Lovelace architecture. Replacing the outgoing RTX 3090 flagship, the RTX 4090 takes its place as the top offering from Nvidia for the premium consumer market. It targets 4K gaming at a high refresh rate, making it the first graphics card to comfortably hit 4K 144Hz in many games without artificial assistance.

While the RTX 3090 (and 3090 Ti that came later) could comfortably game at 4K in the majority of modern titles, the RTX 4090 takes that to another level. 4K gaming has never been so easy for a desktop-grade graphics card, as the RTX 4090 delivers unparalleled rasterization performance in most modern titles, yielding frames in the triple-digits in most scenarios. This makes the RTX 4090 an ideal candidate for 4K 144Hz gaming in the modern day.

Of course, Nvidia keeps building on its lead in artificial intelligence and machine learning by implementing DLSS 3.0 in this iteration. This new update to DLSS now incorporates frame-gen technology, which can use machine learning to accurately synthesize artificial frames in between native ones, therefore bumping up the FPS count significantly. This feature further enhances the lead that Nvidia holds over rival AMD when it comes to machine learning technologies.

In my testing, the GeForce RTX 4090 held a comfortable lead over both the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX and the outgoing GeForce RTX 3090 when it comes to 4K gaming. The RTX 4090 ran away with the performance crown in rasterization as well as ray-traced gaming scenarios at 4K in the majority of my test suite. Moreover, my testing yielded a whopping 61.2% gain for the RTX 4090 over the RTX 3090 in 4K gaming.

These test results are in line with the pricing disparity that is present between these three cards. While the RTX 4090 is currently unmatched in 4K gaming performance at the time of writing, it holds the unwanted award of being the most expensive graphics card in our test suite as well. The relatively poor value offered by the RTX 4090 hurts its recommendation factor to the mainstream market, limiting it to the enthusiasts who want the best of the best.

Moreover, the RTX 4090 has a bad habit of hogging all the power for itself. During the course of my testing, the Gigabyte Gaming OC RTX 4090 hit a power draw peak of 390 watts in gaming, while the power draw increased to a whopping 434 watts under synthetic load. Keep in mind that this power draw is for the GPU alone and does not take into account the rest of the components.

With a graphics card as premium as the RTX 4090, there are several high-end variants to choose from. I recommend the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming OC for its competent thermal performance, decent acoustics, and unique RGB lighting implementation. The PCB boasts a 20-phase VRM for the GPU and a 4-phase VRM for the memory, which is an impressive configuration. It is a relatively expensive variant of the RTX 4090, but given the overall package that it offers, it is definitely worth considering.

There is no doubt about the performance of the RTX 4090. It is the fastest gaming graphics card out there and delivers unparalleled performance in both rasterized and ray-traced scenarios at 4K. It is even capable of running many modern titles at 4K 144Hz.

One cannot simply ignore the fact that the RTX 4090 is a ridiculously expensive piece of equipment. It also draws a lot of power under load.

The RTX 4090 is aimed squarely at enthusiasts who want the best of the best without any regard for pricing. If you want to game at 4K 144Hz, then this is the card to get.

Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4090 delivers industry-leading performance at 4K in both traditionally rasterized and ray-traced games, making it the best graphics card for 4K 144Hz gaming.

Related to the GeForce RTX 4090:

Best Budget Graphics Card for 4K

Architecture: Nvidia Ada Lovelace | CUDA Cores/SPs: 5888 | Base Clock: 1920 MHz | Boost Clock: 2580 MHz | Memory: 12GB GDDR6X | Bus Width: 192 bit | Power Consumption: 200W | Power Connectors: 1x 8-pin PCIe

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 falls in the mid-range for the RTX-40 series graphics cards and primarily targets high-end gaming at 4K. The main aim for the RTX 4070 is to bring 4K gaming to the mainstream with the help of DLSS 3.0 frame-gen technology. Even without the artificial frame boosting mechanics, the RTX 4070 can comfortably handle modern 4K rasterized gaming without any hitches.

One of the most impressive features in the RTX 4070's arsenal is its DLSS 3.0 technology. This phenomenon makes use of the machine-learning Tensor cores in the RTX 4070 to artificially boost the framerate by synthesizing new frames from scratch. This is an unprecedented technology that yields an incredible boost in gaming performance, particularly at high resolutions like 4K.

During the course of my testing, the RTX 4070 delivered impressive rasterization performance at 4K, going head-to-head with the outgoing RTX 3080 and AMD's Radeon RX 6800XT. However, when Ray Tracing is turned on, the RTX 4070 establishes a somewhat noticeable lead thanks to its 3rd-Gen RT cores. Moreover, DLSS 3.0 allows it to stretch its lead even more, making it the best GPU for 4K gaming in this price bracket.

Another impressive feature of the RTX 4070 is its efficiency. While the other RTX-40 series graphics cards are notorious for their high power draw, the RTX 4070 sips a quiet 200W at maximum load. You also don't need a fancy new 16-pin connector for this graphics card. Due to the efficient nature of the RTX 4070's GPU, it only requires a single 8-pin connector capable of delivering 150W of power by itself.

Among the many variants of the RTX 4070 on the market, the ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4070 OC edition stands out. Not only is it a relatively inexpensive variant of the RTX 4070, but it also delivers exceptional thermal performance while being a very understated graphics card. Some may prefer a bit more RGB lighting and aesthetic appeal, but the TUF Gaming RTX 4070 certainly does not skimp on the crucial features.

Moreover, the TUF Gaming RTX 4070 OC comes with a mild overclock from the factory, giving you a nice little bump in performance. You can, of course, try your hand at manual overclocking too. The dual BIOS feature and the expansive power budget of the RTX 4070 TUF Gaming make it an ideal candidate for safe overclocking. The card boasts a 13-phase VRM design in an 11+2 configuration with 50A power stages, giving you plenty of power for overclocking.

Of course, the 12GB VRAM of the RTX 4070 limits it somewhat when it comes to future-proofing. While the DLSS 3.0 frame-gen technology gives it a palpable boost, you might want to tinker with the graphic settings in your favorite games in the near future. Nevertheless, the RTX 4070 delivers exceptional value for money and should definitely be considered the best budget GPU for 4K gaming as of the time of writing.

The RTX 4070 is a solid performer at 4K in both rasterized and ray-traced games, but its performance is truly enhanced when using the DLSS 3.0 frame-gen technology. With its relatively affordable price point, the RTX 4070 delivers exceptional value for money for 4K gaming in this price bracket.

While the RTX 4070 is perfectly capable of 4K gaming right now, it may start to struggle a bit in the future, depending on the progression of games. Its 12GB memory can also prove to be a hindrance in 4K video editing.

If you want to enter the world of 4K gaming without breaking the bank, then the RTX 4070 is the perfect starting point. It is also a particularly efficient graphics card, so it can work well with older PSUs as well.

The combination of excellent gaming performance at 4K with a competitive price point makes the RTX 4070 the best budget graphics card for 4K gaming.

Related to the GeForce RTX 4070:

Best Graphics Card for 4K Video Editing

Architecture: Nvidia Ampere | CUDA Cores/SPs: 5888 | Base Clock: 1500 MHz | Boost Clock: 1815 MHz | Memory: 8GB GDDR6 | Bus Width: 256 bit | Power Consumption: 220W | Power Connectors: 1x 8-pin, 1x 6-pin PCIe

While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 is a last-gen graphics card as of the time of writing, it is still an impressive performer in 4K video editing. It does lack certain unique features like DLSS 3.0 frame-gen, but that does not matter a lot if you plan to use this GPU mainly for productivity. The 4K video editing performance of the RTX 3070 is extremely impressive when you consider the affordable price point of this card.

The RTX 3070 cannot be underrated from a gaming point of view, either. Granted, the 8GB of video memory may prove to be a limitation in modern games at 4K, but the rasterization performance of the GPU core itself is still quite impressive. DLSS 2.0 provides the much-needed boost that the RTX 3070 requires in most games to deliver a very playable experience. Nevertheless, the affordable price tag of the RTX 3070 makes it the best GPU for video editing 4K movies for the price.

For the purposes of 4K video editing, the RTX 3070 is quite well-equipped. The 8GB of video memory may be a limitation in hefty projects with several layers, but the overall editing experience is quite smooth and acceptable. The rendering times of the RTX 3070 fall right in between the AMD Radeon RX 6800 and the more expensive RTX 3080, making the RTX 3070 the best GPU for 4K rendering in this price bracket.

The market is flooded with numerous variants of the RTX 3070, but the one I recommend for video editing is the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3070 VISION OC. This unique graphics card variant is targeted at creative professionals, owing to its sophisticated design language and unmatched reliability. It also comes with a small factory overclock, allowing you to squeeze a bit more performance from the RTX 3070 GPU inside.

The GeForce RTX 3070 VISION OC uses a 10+2 phase VRM design which is perfectly acceptable for this category of graphics card. Given the middling power draw and decent efficiency of the GPU core, the VRM is quite respectable and you can even try your hand at manual overclocking without worrying about reliability issues.

Of course, the low price tag of the RTX 3070 is a big positive. It was already quite competitively priced when it was launched, but prices have fallen down (after an unprecedented rise) to even more reasonable levels. This opens the door to 4K video editing for many mid-range consumers and value hunters who were otherwise locked out of this category due to the exorbitant pricing of the GPUs.

Being a last-gen graphics card, the RTX 3070 does not make use of the new ATX 3.0 standard and the 16-pin connector. This might be good news to most potential buyers, as the conventional 8-pin and 6-pin connectors are much easier to use with traditional power supplies without adapters. The card is also not particularly power-hungry, often topping the efficiency charts in my testing.

The GeForce RTX 3070 offers exceptional value for money while being a competent graphics card for 4K video editing. Its reasonable price tag opens the door of 4K content production to mid-range and budget categories.

While the RTX 3070 can still hold its own in 4K gaming, it may not age gracefully in this category due to the lack of DLSS 3.0 and the rising demands of games.

If you are looking for a graphics card that would enable you to edit videos at 4K and work on 4K projects at a reasonable price, then the RTX 3070 is the ideal GPU for you.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 is the best graphics card for 4K video editing thanks to its respectable 4K editing performance and value-oriented pricing.

You might also want to read:

Best Mid-Range Graphics Card for 4K Gaming

Architecture: Nvidia Ada Lovelace | CUDA Cores/SPs: 7680 | Base Clock: 2310 MHz | Boost Clock: 2760 MHz | Memory: 12GB GDDR6X | Bus Width: 192 bit | Power Consumption: 285W | Power Connectors: 1x 16-pin 12VHPWR

It is hard to imagine a graphics card more perfectly suited for the mid-range than the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. From its performance to its pricing, the card is aimed squarely at the mid-range gaming segment of the market. The RTX 4070 Ti delivers respectable performance in both rasterized and ray-traced games at 4K without completely going overboard on pricing. Additionally, it also supports the impressive DLSS 3.0 frame-gen technology for an added boost.

As far as gaming performance is concerned, the RTX 4070 Ti performs admirably at 4K. In my testing, the RTX 4070 Ti is slotted in between the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti and AMD's RX 6950XT, making it a very enticing option for 4K gaming in general. You can also aim for some high refresh rate gaming in lighter titles if those particular games support DLSS 3.0 frame-gen technology. My test results put the RTX 4070 Ti firmly in control of the mid-range category, and it does so at a reasonable price point.

Moreover, the RTX 4070 Ti is a competent option for 4K video editing as well. It only has a 12GB frame buffer, but the rendering performance offered by the GPU is just too good to pass up. Keeping in view the gaming and productivity performance of the GPU, as well as the features on offer, it is not a stretch to say that the RTX 4070 Ti might just be one of the best 4K GPU offerings from Nvidia in recent times.

Of course, the RTX 4070 Ti is not perfect. The unpopular 16-pin connector does make another appearance here, as the RTX 4070 Ti is ready for ATX 3.0 PSUs. Nvidia does provide adapters in the box for conventional power supplies, so you shouldn't have any problems there, but the adapters have been known to suffer from some quality control issues. Moreover, the RTX 4070 Ti is not particularly power efficient, with peak power draw reaching nearly 300W in my testing.

As far as the variant goes, I recommend the MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Trio. This variant is quite a high-end one, so it charges a bit of a price premium, but it is totally worth it. The heatsink array of the Gaming X Trio, combined with its silent fans, makes this variant an excellent performer in thermals and acoustics. It does offer a factory overclock as well, and you can even try your hand at manual overclocking safely thanks to the reliable 10+2 phase VRM design and features like Dual BIOS.

What makes the RTX 4070 Ti such an enticing option for 4K gaming is its well-rounded nature. It checks a lot of boxes while having a reasonable price tag, making it a very impressive 4K graphics card. The 12GB memory buffer may prove to be a slight limitation in the future, but that is certainly not a deal-breaker right now.

The RTX 4070 Ti is very well-balanced. It offers great 4K gaming performance, respectable 4K video editing performance, has modern features like DLSS 3.0, and is reasonably priced.

There is not a lot to be disliked about the RTX 4070 Ti. Some users may find the use of a 16-pin connector a bit annoying. Moreover, the card can be particularly power-hungry in certain scenarios, and the 12GB memory buffer may prove to be a limitation down the road.

The RTX 4070 Ti is perfect for most mainstream gamers and content creators who want to target the 4K resolution. It is aimed squarely at the mid-range segment and can satisfy the needs of most users in that category.

The blend of superb 4K gaming performance with a respectable price-to-performance factor makes the RTX 4070 Ti the best mid-range graphics card for 4K gaming on the market.

Related to the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti:

Our specialized team of PC hardware experts ran a barrage of tests on our target graphics cards in order to gauge their performance at 4K resolution. The test suite was designed to judge both the gaming and productivity performance of these graphics cards across a variety of different scenarios. These test results allowed us to establish an unbiased and objective assessment of the 4K performance of the GPUs in question.

Here are some key GPU terms that you should know when shopping for a GPU in 2023.

1080p vs. 1440p vs. 4K GPU

GPU usage is significantly higher at 4K resolution compared to 1440p or 1080p resolutions for several reasons. The primary factor is the increased pixel count of 4K, which requires a much more powerful GPU to render and display the graphics smoothly. With four times the number of pixels compared to 1080p, and twice the number compared to 1440p, the GPU needs to work harder to process and render each frame, resulting in higher GPU usage.

Additionally, at lower resolutions, such as 1080p, the workload of the GPU is often limited by the CPU. As a result, the CPU usage tends to increase at lower resolutions, making the game more CPU bound rather than GPU bound. This means that the CPU becomes the limiting factor in processing game logic and other tasks, while the GPU may not be utilized to its full potential. On the other hand, at 4K resolutions, the increased demand for rendering graphics puts more strain on the GPU, making the game more GPU bound.

Furthermore, higher resolutions like 4K often require more graphical horsepower, higher texture resolutions, and more detailed models, all of which put an additional burden on the GPU. These advanced graphical elements require more processing power to render at higher resolutions, resulting in higher GPU usage. In contrast, at lower resolutions, the demand for these graphical effects may be reduced, leading to lower GPU usage.

Lastly, it's worth noting that advancements in GPU technology and game optimization have made it possible to achieve better performance at higher resolutions over time. However, due to the inherent demands of 4K resolution, it remains a more taxing task for the GPU compared to lower resolutions like 1440p or 1080p. As a result, users often need more powerful and capable GPUs to achieve smooth gameplay and optimal performance at 4K resolutions.

128-bit vs. 256-bit

The difference between a 128-bit and 256-bit GPU lies in the memory bus width, which affects the speed and efficiency of data transfer between the GPU and its memory. A 256-bit GPU has a wider memory bus and higher memory bandwidth, allowing it to transfer larger amounts of data per cycle compared to a 128-bit GPU. This results in better gaming performance as the 256-bit GPU can handle complex graphics tasks more efficiently.

The narrower memory bus of a 128-bit GPU can lead to lower memory bandwidth and slower data transfer. This may cause performance bottlenecks when handling demanding graphics tasks such as high-resolution textures and advanced shaders, especially at 4K. In contrast, a 256-bit GPU offers faster rendering, smoother gameplay, and improved visual quality due to its ability to handle larger amounts of data per transfer cycle.

It's important to note that memory bus width is not the sole factor determining gaming performance. Other aspects like VRAM capacity, GPU architecture, and clock speeds also play a role. However, in general, a 256-bit GPU is better suited for demanding gaming scenarios like 4K, providing superior performance compared to a 128-bit GPU.

Technically, all modern graphics cards are capable of outputting 4K. However, choosing the right graphics card can be a daunting task. Since 4K is such a demanding resolution, our team used stringent criteria to determine which graphics cards were better suited for 4K.

Also Read: How We Test Graphics Cards

The most important factor in determining whether or not a graphics card is suited for 4K is the gaming performance of that particular card. The 4K resolution presents a unique challenge to most GPUs as it is an extremely demanding resolution to run, especially on modern titles. Judging by pixel count alone, 4K is roughly 4 times harder to run than 1080p. We used empirical testing data to determine which graphics cards were the best for 4K gaming at the time of writing.

Encoding and rendering a 4K video stream is a challenging task in itself. Video editing presents a different set of obstacles to gaming. While gaming is more focused on the raw processing power of the GPU core, video editing is also heavily dependent on the size and speed of the VRAM. A particular graphics card cannot be considered the best for 4K unless it excels in both 4K gaming and video editing.

Modern graphics cards are filled to the brim with exciting new features and technologies. With the advancements in the fields of machine learning and artificial intelligence, graphics cards have gotten smarter than ever. Technologies like Deep Learning Super Sampling and AMD FidelityFX have now established themselves as a core part of a GPU's arsenal. It is very important to consider the impact of these technologies on 4K gaming at this time.

Let's face it, 4K is not an easy resolution to run. Especially with the graphical complexity of modern games, it is very difficult to establish a playable framerate in most games at this resolution. This is why most graphics cards that are capable of 4K gaming carry premium price tags. However, not all 4K GPUs are exorbitantly expensive. There are several graphics cards that can deliver exceptional value for your money in terms of cost-per-frame data.

At Tech4Gamers, we take great pride in our expertise in offering accurate recommendations based on thorough testing and solid evidence. Our dedicated team conducts detailed and specialized evaluations of each graphics card, extracting valuable insights about its performance, durability, user-friendliness, practicality, and overall value.

To identify the optimal graphics card for 4K, our team carefully selected a range of graphics cards that met our stringent criteria. These GPUs underwent an extensive series of tests, providing crucial information about their 4K gaming performance, video editing performance, feature set, and value proposition.

By combining a wealth of objective data with hands-on analysis of the products, our team compiled a list of the very best graphics cards for 4K at this moment.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is the only graphics card that can comfortably run 4K 144Hz in most modern games. You may need to tinker with the graphics settings a little bit to hit a consistent 144 FPS.

4K uses a lot more GPU than 1080p. Judging by pixel count alone, 4K is roughly 4 times harder to run than 1080p. Those extra pixels put a lot of toll on the graphics card during gaming.

Technically, all modern GPUs are capable of 4K. However, only a select few can play games comfortably at this resolution. One should check the 4K gaming benchmarks of the GPU to know if it does 4K comfortably.

The RTX 4090 is the GPU that can handle 3 4K monitors simultaneously. It is the fastest gaming graphics card on the market right now and can comfortably game at 4K.

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