By You may experience 2160p resolutions at high refresh rates with the help of the best 4K graphics card, which combines cutting-edge features, cutting-edge graphics technology, and superior performance.
Our tested picks, which range from the venerable Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 to the considerably more affordable AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE, cater to all budgets, whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option with smooth 4K60 performance or the best 4K graphics card ever—damn the expenses. Keep in mind that affordable 4K gaming doesn’t have to mean splurging, since we’ve included both the newest and best-selling models from past generations.
Recall that the cost of realizing 4K gaming‘s full potential is usually higher than that of lower-resolution choices and that the best 4K monitors are required to effectively utilize these GPUs. Nevertheless, considering the kind of enhanced performance these cards can provide, the cost is justified. Our guide will assist you in selecting the finest 4K graphics card for your demands and budget.
The best 4K graphics card in 2024
We’ve done the math using a thorough process that includes both artificial and real-world benchmarks to present to you our final list of the best GPUs available. In addition to raw power output, price-to-performance comparisons have also been done.
1. Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
SPECIFICATIONS
CUDA cores: 16,384
Core clock speed: 2235 MHz
Memory: 24GB GDDR6X
Memory clock speed: 1313 MHz
Power connectors: 1x 16-pin
Outputs: 1x HDMI 2.1 3x DisplayPort 1.4a
Not only is the RTX 4090 the greatest 4K graphics card now available for purchase, but it’s also the most potent consumer-grade choice available. The Ada Lovelace flagship outperforms its rivals with industry-leading performance in both gaming and hardware-accelerated demanding rendering.
During testing, we discovered that the RTX 4090 could smoothly run some of the most demanding PC games at framerates of up to 120 frames per second in native 4K. This 4K graphics card is ideal if you’re looking for the cutting edge. Nevertheless, the Ada flagship costs $1,599 / £1,359 / AU$2,300 for Nvidia’s Founders Edition edition, so uncompromised 2160p performance isn’t cheap. Depending on the brand and model, partner cards can be more costly overall, particularly if they include water blocks and custom coolers.
The RTX 4090 is a real gaming monster, but it also leads the field in productivity software performance. With a remarkable 16,384 CUDA core boost, the new TSMC 4nm technology is unbeatable by programs like Blender and PugetBench for Adobe Premiere Pro. This indicates that the enthusiast-level card from the manufacturer outperforms the RTX 3090 Ti, which was the previous leader, and costs $400 / £540 / AU$200 less. Put simply, nothing compares to it for leading price and performance.
2. Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090
SPECIFICATIONS
CUDA cores: 16,384
Core clock speed: 2235 MHz
Memory: 24GB GDDR6X
Memory clock speed: 1313 MHz
Power connectors: 1x 16-pin
Outputs: 1x HDMI 2.1 3x DisplayPort 1.4a
There is no denying the degree of performance you are receiving for your money, even though the top-tier Ampere graphics card is now over three years old. This is because, aside from price, the RTX 3090 boasts the same massive 24GB GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit memory bus as the current generation leader. That’s because some online stores and secondary markets are selling this productivity and gaming powerhouse for as low as $899.99 / £999.99 / AU$1,045.
Since Ada’s launch in September 2022, the Ampere series has grown more widely available, making cards like the RTX 3090 harder to find. Discounts and bundles do, however, occasionally appear as shops continue to clear out inventory, allowing you to get one of the top 4K graphics cards for a very appealing price. According to our testing, the original BFGPU can handle demanding Blender 3D rendering tasks with ease, and it can also handle incredibly fast encoding times in programs like Autodesk Maya and Adobe Premiere Pro.
Naturally, the RTX 3090 offers the same level of gaming performance as it did in September 2020. You will be able to play games in native 4K (and pushing high framerates through DLSS 2) for many years to come because to the high-speed and large-capacity VRAM, even though you aren’t benefiting from the new and better Frame Generation of DLSS 3. Here, 4K60 is more than doable, with some games reaching up to 100 frames per second.
3. Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
SPECIFICATIONS
CUDA cores: 8,704
Core clock speed: 1440 MHz
Memory: 12GB GDDR6X
Memory clock speed: 1188 MHz
Power connectors: 1x 12-pin
Outputs: 1x HDMI 2.1 3x DisplayPort 1.4a
When looking for a 4K graphics card in the upper mid-range, it’s difficult to find a better deal than the Nvidia RTX 3080. Released in 2020, the middle child of the Ampere range brought next-generation ray tracing capability and effective 4K performance at an aggressive pace, all at $699 / £649.
Now, depending on the store, it’s quite easy to obtain RTX 3080 stock priced between $550 and £525 or AU$1,034 through the end of 2023. Ada’s release has made it harder to find, similar to other Ampere cards in our list, although deals are still available. You can acquire a 4K graphics card with 12GB GDDR6X VRAM for a reasonable price, which will easily handle some of the largest PC games out there. Notably, recent games still don’t require nearly as much memory as they did even three years after their release; the same cannot be said of the 8GB RAM used in more widely available products.
The RTX 3080 was designed to enable 4K60 at a lower cost, as it was previously only accessible on high-end devices. When it first launched, it was more affordable than the top-tier Turing options; at this point, the Ampere card dramatically undercuts the RTX 4080 in the US, UK, and Australia by a whole nearly 50%. This model is still a good choice for 4K productivity and gaming this year, even if your pocketbook is a little slimmer or your PC case has less room.
4. AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
SPECIFICATIONS
Stream processors: 6,144
Core clock speed: 1855 MHz
Memory: 24GB GDDR6
Memory clock speed: 2500 MHz
Power connectors: 2x 8-pin
Outputs: 1x HDMI 2.1a 2x DisplayPort 2.1 1x USB Type-C
AMD chose to maintain rates that were similar to those of its previous generation models in terms of both size and cost during a period when Nvidia was going all out with bigger GPUs and higher price tags. It was easy to replace an earlier model with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX since it has a conventional 2x 8-pin PCIe power connector and a whopping 24GB GDDR6 RAM in a slim 2.5-slot package.
The pricing of AMD’s flagship graphics card, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX, is just as competitive as its physical factor and power consumption. Retailing for $999 / £999 / AU$1,549, it substantially undercuts Nvidia’s two most potent offerings. During testing, we discovered that the RDNA 3 flagship from Team Red was generally just as capable in games as the RTX 4080. This model’s ray tracing falls short of what Team Green has been working on perfecting since 2018, but the most crucial aspect of this model is its native performance in 4K, which is difficult to fault.
In our review, we stated that “the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX buries any real reason for gamers to buy an Nvidia RTX 4080,” and we have continued to support that statement throughout the many months that have passed. The Navi 31 is a hard value to beat if your only goal is to play 4K games on a modern graphics card for less than $1,000 / £1,000 / AU$1,500.
5. AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE
SPECIFICATIONS
Core Clock: 1,500MHz
Shaders: 5,376
Ray Processors: 84
AI Processors: 336
Memory: 16GB GDDR6
Memory Clock: 2,500MHz
Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 2.1, 1 x HDMI 2.1
Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin
TGP: 300W
In the midrange market, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE stands out thanks to an unrivaled combination of features and performance that much surpasses its price range. At $549 when it launched globally, it directly rivals the Nvidia RTX 4070 and even poses a threat to the more costly RTX 4070 Super in several areas. Its broad memory bus and quick VRAM make it a good choice for anyone looking for an entry-level 4K graphics card.
Our testing demonstrates excellent ray tracing and rasterization performance, closing the performance gap between AMD and Nvidia. With upscaling enabled, the RX 7900 GRE outperforms the RTX 4070 Super in gaming, demonstrating remarkable improvements in AMD’s FSR upscaling technology. It’s also a very good option for graphic designers, photographers, and video editors because it’s a creative card. The RX 7900 GRE is a surprisingly powerful card that delivers amazing value for its price, making it one of the best 4K graphics cards in 2024 even though it might not be able to outperform the RTX 4070 Super in every way.
HOW THE BEST 4K GRAPHICS CARDS WERE TESTED
Our selection process for the top 4K graphics cards involved subjecting the newest Nvidia and AMD products to industry-standard testing, artificial benchmarks, and real-world gaming performance. We use some of the hardest games available in a variety of genres and optimizations as part of our extensive test suite to ensure you can make an informed choice.
We make sure that every 4K graphics card that clears our desk goes through the same stringent testing procedure in a testing bench with the same CPU, SSD, and PSU in order to maintain fairness and consistency. Though performance alone won’t be our only consideration—power consumption, cost, and thermals are all important factors that determine whether or not we suggest a GPU. This is because modern 4K graphics are an investment, thus we go above and above to ensure you receive the most accurate information possible.
