Ray Tracing Performance
We are going to focus on Ray Tracing 1080p gameplay performance with the ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition video card. We will include DLSS and FSR performance on the same graph in the games that are supported. We will use DLSS on NVIDIA GPUs and FSR on AMD GPUs. For video card comparisons we are using an EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB XC Black Gaming video card and an AMD Radeon RX 7600 video card and an Intel Arc A750 Limited Edition video card.
Returnal
Returnal was launched on the PC in February of 2023 and is based on Unreal Engine 4. The game supports real-time ray tracing effects, particle systems, and volumetric rendering. We utilize the graphics preset to set EPIC graphics settings with an unlocked framerate, and everything is enabled. For ray tracing tests we have enabled Ray Traced Shadows and Reflections at EPIC settings. We use the built-in benchmark.
Now we are really pushing these cards by enabling Ray Tracing at maximum settings in games at 1080p. The ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition is actually able to provide a playable gameplay experience with EPIC Ray Tracing enabled in Returnal at 1080p, without even needing upscaling. It is hitting almost 70FPS without even using upscaling. Out of all the video cards, it is the only one that is playable with EPIC Ray Tracing here.
Compared to the previous generation, the new ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC is 23% faster than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Compared to the Radeon RX 7600 the new ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC is 35% faster than the Radeon RX 7600 using Ray Tracing. The Intel Arc A750 also matches the performance of the Radeon RX 7600, both seem to have equal Ray Tracing performance in this game. Overclocking the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC improves performance by 9%. DLSS further enhances the performance and can give you 90FPS with Ray Tracing.
Forspoken
Forspoken was released on January 24th, 2023, on the PC and uses the Luminous Engine. The game supports all upscaling methods and Ray Tracing. We are going to customize the settings and enable the highest graphics settings, including Ultra High Texture Memory. We are going to enable both Ray Tracing options, Shadows, and Ambient Occlusion. We use the built-in benchmark.
Forspoken really puts the screws to these video cards using Ray Tracing, even at 1080p. Though the ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC has the fastest performance here, it isn’t what we would call playable, or enjoyable. In order to get aspects of this game smooth, you will need to enable DLSS which will work here and drive the game past 60FPS, so upscaling is needed with Ray Tracing, even on the RTX 4060 in this game.
Compared to the previous generation, the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC is only 13% faster, which seems very narrow to us from gen-to-gen. However, compare it to the Radeon RX 7600 and the new ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC is a whopping 50% faster! Intel Arc A750 is even faster than the Radeon RX 7600 with Ray Tracing! Intel Arc A750 is 11% faster than the Radeon RX 7600. Overclocking the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC did not seem to affect performance much in this game. We checked and re-checked this performance, and it remained true. There are sections of the game that simply don’t get a benefit as other bottlenecks are in-play.
The Callisto Protocol
The Callisto Protocol was released in December of 2022 on the PC and is based on Unreal Engine 4. We run the game in DX12 mode with unlimited framerate, and all graphics settings enabled and at the highest graphics settings. This game supports ray tracing, and FSR upscaling only, we use FSR2 for testing. For Ray Tracing we enable Ray Traced Shadows, Ray Traced Transmission, and Ray Traced Reflections to High. We use the built-in benchmark.
Finally, a game where Ray Tracing isn’t so bad on the Radeon RX 7600, as it comes much closer to ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC video card performance here. In The Callisto Protocol, using maximum Ray Tracing the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC Edition is very playable at just over 60FPS. It is the only video card to achieve this here, using Ray Tracing. Compared to the previous generation the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC is 29% faster than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB, which is a very healthy uplift gen-to-gen. Compared to the Radeon RX 7600 it is a more narrow 9% faster. Intel Arc A750 seems to be on par with the RTX 3060 here. Overclocking the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC improves performance by a small 7%.
Chernobylite Enhanced Edition
Chernobylite was released on the PC in 2021, but the free Enhanced Edition update for the game was released in April 2022. The Enhanced Edition provides a visual overhaul of the game with better textures, plus introduces tessellation and ray tracing features. It features raytraced reflections, raytraced translucency, raytraced caustics, and raytraced dynamic diffuse global illumination. The game is based on Unreal Engine 4. For our Ray Tracing test, we have enabled the Ultra Ray Tracing option.
Chernobylite Enhanced Edition is another game that really puts the screws to all video cards when Ultra Ray Tracing is used because it uses Ray Traced Global Illumination. This game is just super demanding with it enabled, so we can really see who is the what here. The ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition is much faster than all the other video cards, but as strong as it is, it isn’t fast enough to be playable unless we use DLSS upscaling. Only with DLSS upscaling is it playable at 71FPS.
Compared to the previous generation GeForce RTX 3060 12GB the new ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC is 30% faster. This shows that the Ray Tracing performance versus the previous generation is a pretty big upgrade with the RTX 4060. The Radeon RX 7600 flat-out bombs in this game and the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC is a ridiculous 222% faster. What is interesting again, however, is how well (relatively speaking) the Intel Arc A750 handles Ray Tracing in this game. It does not bomb like the Radeon RX 7600 but rather comes within earshot of the GeForce RTX 3060 on Ray Tracing performance. Kick in FSR, and it can match upscaling performance with the RTX 3060. Overclocking the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC improves performance by 10%.
Dying Light 2
Dying Light 2 was released in February 2022 on the PC and uses Techland’s C-Engine. The game supports Ray Tracing, DLSS, and FSR2. This game supports Ray Tracing environmental effects including Ray Traced Soft Shadows, Ray Traced Ambient Occlusion, Ray Traced Global Illumination, and Ray Traced Reflections. We utilize the built-in preset option to set “HIGH-QUALITY RAYTRACING” which enables the game’s highest graphics settings plus the environmental effects explained above at the highest values. The game is run in DX12 Ultimate mode with ASYNC Compute turned on. We use the built-in benchmark.
The scaling we see here, is pretty much predictable, except for again how well the Intel Arc A750 is handling Ray Tracing. Just look at that, Intel Arc A750 is outperforming the brand new AMD Radeon RX 7600 by 28% when Ray Tracing is used! Intel Arc A750 is almost at the same level as the new ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition performance as well. It’s knocking on that door.
In Dying Light 2, with the highest quality Ray Tracing this is another game that is not playable on the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC, even though it is the fastest card on the graph. It does require DLSS upscaling to be playable, and then you can hit 80FPS. Compared to the previous generation the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC is 19% faster than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Compared to the Radeon RX 7600 it is 36% faster. Overclocking the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC improves performance by 9%.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 was released in December 2020 and uses the REDengine 4. We have the game patched to version 1.62 and use the built-in benchmark. We test using the Graphics Preset option to set graphics settings. We use the Ray Tracing Graphics Preset of either: “Ray Tracing: Low”, or “Ray Tracing: Medium” or “Ray Tracing: Ultra” as indicated. This game supports DLSS and FSR2.
Of course, we did not expect Cyberpunk 2077 to be playable at “Ultra Ray Tracing”, even at 1080p, and it was not. However, it is playable with DLSS enabled on, and only on, the new ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC where it can hit over 60FPS with DLSS. Once again also notice how Intel Arc A750 is about on par with RTX 3060 Ray Tracing performance, and is 60% faster than the Radeon RX 7600.
Compared to the previous generation the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC is 20% faster than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Compared to the Radeon RX 7600 it is 104% faster. Compared to Intel Arc A750 it is 27% faster. Overclocking the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC improves performance by just 8%. DLSS is the key here.