PC gaming‘s status quo shakes up again as Nvidia prepares another generational leap with their cutting-edge RTX 4000 graphics cards. Most headlines focus on the flagship RTX 4090 and 4080 models that push performance ceilings ever higher. But further down the stack, the upcoming RTX 4060 aims to raise the bar for mainstream gamers.
Building on lessons from the RTX 3000 launch, Nvidia now looks to cater to buyers wanting high refresh rate 1080p gaming without breaking the bank. Early rumors suggest the RTX 4060 will deliver their signature features and architectural refinements at just $100 over 2020‘s RTX 3060 pricing.
For cost-conscious gamers, let’s dive into the RTX 4060 details from expected release timing and pricing to key specs plus modeled benchmarks. Analyzing leaked technical specifications against prior generation x60 cards and projected competition paints a picture of strong generational value ready to power high FPS gaming.
RTX 4060 Release Date and Target Pricing
Official announcements remain pending from Nvidia brass, but current rumors expect a staggered RTX 4000 series rollout:
- RTX 4090 launches October 2022, upwards of $2000
- RTX 4080 follows in November 2022, around $1200
- RTX 4060 targets Q4/Holiday 2022 or Q1 2023, sub $400 price
Supply challenges may complicate actual availability. But the 4060 aims to deliver unprecedented value, only $50-100 over the RTX 3060‘s original $329 MSRP. Given ongoing inflation plus added cooling needs for the new architecture, a modest 10-15% increase seems reasonable if Nvidia hits distribution targets.
Positioning the 4060 above the 3060 Ti for 15-25% less cost would make it the new undisputed 1080p gaming king. Rumors even point to performance surpassing the RTX 3070. At $350-400 that would bring a ton of power down to midrange pricing.
But remember, real street pricing depends heavily on supply constraints closer to launch. Fingers crossed history doesn‘t repeat itself with limited inventory and inflated markups.
Hardware Specifications – Upgrades for Efficiency
The RTX 4060 won’t claim raw performance crowns, but rumors point to some exciting upgrades:
| Component | RTX 4060 (rumored/expected) | RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| GPU Die | Ada Lovelace AD104 | Ampere GA106 |
| CUDA Cores | 4608 | 3584 |
| Memory | 8GB GDDR6/X | 12GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus Width | 128-bit | 192-bit |
| Bandwidth | ~512 GB/s | 360 GB/s |
| TDP | 220W+ | 170W |
| Process Node | TSMC 5nm | Samsung 8nm |
With CUDA core counts up nearly 30% over the 3060 and extreme bandwidth from next-gen memory, Nvidia extracts more performance per watt, hitting 220W+ power target.
The 4060 does make some cutbacks on raw memory at 8GB. While the skinnier 128-bit bus paired with GDDR6X partially offsets this, bigger textures in future games may require some settings tweaks.
Overall an impressive blend of new process nodes, targeted architecture uplifts like cache sizes, and smart cost reductions to make the 4060 shine. Let’s analyze the gaming ramifications.
Gaming Performance Benchmarks – Smashing 1080p Goals
Translating hardware gains into real-world gaming, credible leaks point to performance surging past the RTX 3070 and potentially the 3070 Ti.
Here are rough fps targets at 1080p maximum settings:
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – 95-125 fps
- Cyberpunk 2077 – 88-115 fps
- Red Dead Redemption 2 – 105-140 fps
The 4060 may need slight compromises on most intensive ray traced effects in Cyberpunk 2077 and the like. But with DLSS 3 frame generation offsetting costs, smooth 60 fps with lighting upgrades remains achievable.
Esports favorites like Valorant, Apex Legends and Fortnite should scream way past 180+ fps for high refresh displays. This leads us into the 4060’s cutting edge feature set.
Boosting Experience with AI and Lighting – Meet Ada Lovelace
Raw performance numbers only tell part of the story. The RTX 4060 brings a host of AI powered graphics innovations:
- DLSS 3 – Frame generation further accelerates performance where implemented, potentially over 4K 120 fps in supported titles by rendering intelligently.
- Advanced Ray Tracing Cores – Lighting and reflection upgrades remain playable versus 3060, if not quite 3080 Ti quality.
- 4th Gen Tensor Cores – Continued AI refinements assisting Nvidia technologies across gaming, streaming and recording.
- AV1 Encoder – Next generation video coding enables high efficiency streaming and captures.
While staying economical on memory, Nvidia ensures you get full access to their signature Ada Lovelace architecture benefits. Even heavier ray tracing workloads become feasible through DLSS without ruining frame rates. And AV1 integration future proofs creative workflows.
But what about power requirements and heat?
Beefy Cooling Required – Time to Upgrade Infrastructure
Generating 220W+ of heat calls for serious cooling upgrades. Plan for:
- 750W or greater high efficiency power supply
- High airflow case with mesh front panel and included fans
- Budget for additional case fans or liquid AIO cooler if overclocking
Total board power can burst over 300W in some titles. The petite 4060 die helps offset massive flagships, but still demands proper power and thermal support.
If choosing a small form factor case, ensure it can dissipate heat adequately or performance may throttle. Proper cooling adds to the purchase price but enables the 4060 to achieve its potential.
How Does the 4060 Stack Against Competing Cards?
On expected specs, the 4060 contends with AMD’s Radeon RX 7600 XT which should launch around the same time. Both target mainstream gamers with strong 1080p gameplay under $400.
AMD’s RDNA 3 architecture remains largely under wraps but will likely challenge RTX 4000 cards for raw rasterization fps per dollar. However, they historically trail Nvidia’s software and features.
The 7600 XT may lack equivalent answers to DLSS 3 performance boosting and AV1 encoding too. For gamers wanting the complete package out of the box, that still positions the 4060 as the superior value.
But if chasing every last fps for the dollar excites you, waiting on RX 7600 benchmarks nearer launch makes sense. Just ensure your system meets the latest power and cooling requirements so future upgrades shine!
Either way, both next generation midrange cards look to massively outclass current offerings like the RX 6600 XT and RTX 3060 for similar cash.
Should You Upgrade to the 4060?
If building a new gaming PC from scratch or running older 900/1000 series GPUs, the RTX 4060 brings astronomical gains. Pushing well over 2X raw performance and opening rich lighting effects, you’ll finally achieve high refresh 1080p gaming nirvana at high settings.
Upgraders on 2060 or 5600 XT class hardware also stand to gain substantially. You unlock DLSS 3 capabilities and real time ray tracing that properly showcases modern titles.
I‘d likely wait if already owning a 3060 Ti however, given the performance overlap. Allow the 4060 to mature and monitor RX 7000 competition.
For most midrange gamers though, the RTX 4060 strikes an outstanding balance of bleeding edge features and 1100p gaming muscle at unprecedented value. Just ensure your power supply, motherboard and cooling can keep up!
Stay tuned for independent benchmarks later this year. But if the RTX 4060 even approaches rumors of nearly RTX 3080 caliber firepower under $400, Nvidia may have a mainstream hit that finally shakes up the price/performance landscape for good.
Thanks for reading my preview! Please share your thoughts or questions in the comments. And consider subscribing for more analysis around upcoming PC hardware.
