Conclusion
We have created two tables below to look at the performance of the new $299 ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition versus the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB and Radeon RX 7600. It summarizes the percentages between these cards, as we expanded on under each game on the gameplay pages. This is a quick way to view those percentage differences. In this way, you can see how much faster the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC is versus the last generation GeForce RTX 3060 12GB video card, and what kind of uplift it provides. You can then also see if the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC was faster or slower than the Radeon RX 7600, and by how much. We then average the results at the bottom.
| ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC Perf VS. | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | Radeon RX 7600 |
|---|---|---|
| Returnal | 23% | 6% |
| Forspoken | 10% | 32% |
| The Callisto Protocol | 29% | 25% |
| Call of Duty Modern Warfare II | 23% | -14% |
| Chernobylite Enhanced Edition | 27% | 28% |
| Dying Light 2 | 15% | -1% |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 12% | -6% |
| AVERAGE Perf Increase | 19.8% | 10% |
In this table above, we have all our games running as shown in the gameplay pages, with no ray tracing and no upscaling. We can see that the performance scale is from a 10% uplift all the way up to a 29% performance uplift versus the previous generation GeForce RTX 3060 12GB video card. There are three games that are in the lower margins of uplift, but most of the games are in the 20%+ range. The average of the results is 19.8%, so we can just say 20%. This is therefore in line with and validates NVIDIA’s claims at the start of a 20% performance uplift versus the previous generation without upscaling. Some games may be in the lower teens, down to 10%, while others can be in the high 20’s. It is game dependent. When we add on DLSS, we also see big gains in performance.
When we compare the performance differences between the Radeon RX 7600, the performance metrics are a lot more varied. We see wildly varying results, from negative values, where the Radeon RX 7600 was faster, all the way up to huge percentages up to 32% faster with the RTX 4060. It really is wide-ranging, from -14% to a positive 32% difference, that’s a lot of variances. If we look at the number of games that were in the higher ranges, there were only 3 games, while the majority of games were in the low-performance range, meaning the Radeon RX 7600 is competing well. The average puts the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC at 10% on average faster than the Radeon RX 7600. Again, this is very game dependent and also varies when you consider upscaling.
| ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC Perf VS. | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | Radeon RX 7600 |
|---|---|---|
| Returnal w/Ray Tracing | 23% | 35% |
| Forspoken w/Ray Tracing | 13% | 50% |
| The Callisto Protocol w/Ray Tracing | 29% | 9% |
| Chernobylite Enhanced Edition w/RT | 30% | 222% |
| Dying Light 2 w/Ray Tracing | 19% | 36% |
| Cyberpunk 2077 w/Ray Tracing | 20% | 104% |
| AVERAGE Perf Increase | 22.3% | 76% |
In this table above, we are now using the results with Ray Tracing enabled in the games. When we compare the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC versus the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB we find values from 13% to 30%. Again, we do see one game that has a lower-than-expected performance advantage with Ray Tracing, but for the most part, there is a decent 20%+ increase with Ray Tracing and one that even hit a 30% uplift. The average came out to a 22.3% uplift versus the previous generation, which is slightly higher than it was without Ray Tracing. This shows that Ray Tracing seems to have improved by larger percentages in the newer architecture.
When we compare performance to the Radeon RX 7600, well it is pretty much what is expected. There was only one game that oddly enough only had a small 9% performance advantage with Ray Tracing, but otherwise, yeah, the Radeon RX 7600 gets smashed. We can see that the RTX 4060 goes all the way up to a 222% performance advantage over the Radeon RX 7600. The average of the results comes out to the ASUS Dual RTX 4060 OC is 76% on average faster at Ray Tracing compared to the Radeon RX 7600. The GeForce RTX 4060 is the GPU for Ray Tracing.
Pros and Cons
Let’s go over the pros and cons between the GeForce RTX 4060 and Radeon RX 7600. The GeForce RTX 4060 has some compelling pros. On the pro side, the GeForce RTX 4060 in our testing shows that it is generally faster than the Radeon RX 7600 in rasterized gaming performance. But the con is that the performance between the two varies wildly, with wide-ranging differences based on the game you are playing. One may be better than the other, simply based on the specific game you are playing.
The GeForce RTX 4060 has a pro in regards to ray tracing performance. Hands down, if you want to enable ray tracing in games the GeForce RTX 4060 is going to provide a better experience. Another pro with the GeForce RTX 4060 is the support of DLSS upscaling. DLSS is a big advantage with the GeForce RTX 4060, it provides a great performance uplift and does have better image quality than FSR. We noticed better image quality at 1080p specifically where these video cards do their battle primarily. The GeForce RTX 4060 also has DLSS 3 Frame Generation, a feature that no other card has at this price point, and this feature can deliver a new perceived framerate improvement like never before.
A pro the Radeon RX 7600 has is its price. The Radeon RX 7600 is $30 cheaper than the GeForce RTX 4060. Due to the fact that there is mixed performance between the video cards, based on the game, one can argue that sacrificing a few features might be worth it to save that much money in this price range. In this price segment, a $30 difference means a whole lot more. Some gamers may take a few losses here or there to save money, especially if performance is close enough.
Both video cards have 8GB of VRAM, so this comparison is a wash, neither has an advantage over the other in this respect. A pro of the GeForce RTX 4060 is that it has a large 24MB L2 cache, much larger than the previous generation GeForce RTX 3060. The Radeon RX 7600 also has a pro in the fact that it has 32MB of Infinity Cache. Both video cards offer some level of large cache between the core processors and VRAM.
Compared to the previous generation GeForce RTX 3060 12GB, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 does offer a performance uplift, so that is a pro. We experienced an average 20% uplift, with varying degrees dependent on the game, and more even in Ray Tracing. Though the video card has regressed in VRAM capacity versus the previous generation RTX 3060 12GB launch GPU, the price has also moved down to follow at $299 versus $329.
This price move was a good call, and the right one to make. The GeForce RTX 4060 has moved the performance marker up (versus the previous generation) while also lowering the price, which puts it in a positive light. Both the GeForce RTX 4060 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 are video cards gamers and enthusiasts should support because both video cards have increased performance and lowered pricing versus their previous generation counterparts. It is positive, forward-looking moves like this that should be promoted from one GPU generation to the next. As gamers and hardware enthusiasts, we should all want this.
Final Points
In our review today, we reviewed the ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition video card. ASUS will be keeping this video card at $299 MSRP, and it offers a factory overclock, custom cooling design, Dual BIOS, and plenty of overclock tweaking via ASUS GPU Tweak III.
We found that the video card performed well in games, as described above. It allows you to enjoy games at 1080p at maximum settings, with playable framerates. We did not need to enable upscaling to enjoy gaming at 1080p. Though we were certainly able to improve the gameplay experience by enabling DLSS in games, further giving us better gameplay. We were also able to turn on Ray Tracing and enjoy it in many games at 1080p. A few were demanding, but DLSS came in to save the day.
In the games not playable with Ray Tracing, DLSS provided the means to make them playable. In addition, DLSS 3 Frame Generation is a new feature only the GeForce RTX 4060 can provide at this price. DLSS adoption has been fast and swift, and there are just hundreds of games now with DLSS, and a good chunk with DLSS 3 now as well. With growing support, the future is only looking brighter for DLSS 3.
The ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition is a very power-efficient video card, and in our testing used the least amount of power. Even when overclocking, the GPU only sips power. This really is the most power-efficient GPU in this price range. The ASUS Dual Axial fan cooler worked extremely well and keeps this GPU cool and quiet. The video card is compact and will fit well in any small build where space is tight. We were also impressed with the overclocking potential of the ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition. We achieved a very high overclock, and it was pretty easy to achieve. Enthusiasts should have fun with this video card.
Overall, for $299 the ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition is a video card you should keep your eye on if you are in the market at this price range.
