Gameplay performance
For our evaluation, we are setting the resolution at 1080p (1920 x 1080). We are charting default and upscaled results in this section. Upscaling via FSR or DLSS is utilized depending on the video card and in-game selections. In all games, we set the in-game graphics as high as they can go or used a combination of settings that accomplished the same goal. Our comparison card today is the ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition. The choice was based on the MSRP of GPUs at release. The ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition was priced at $299 on release day, 29 June 2023 aimed squarely at 1080p gaming.
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.
To start things off, we see the GIGABYTE Radeon RX 7600 GAMING OC is quite fast and runs the game smoothly, even faster with FSR. Both video cards provide fast frames and are over 100 FPS with FSR. Overclocking gained 3.7%. The ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition was faster by 5% until upscaling was enabled, then the GIGABYTE Radeon RX 7600 GAMING OC prevailed by 3%.
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 use the built-in benchmark.
The results in this game show that the GIGABYTE Radeon RX 7600 GAMING OC is simply unplayable until overclocked. Even then only with FSR enabled. The ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition was faster here by 36% and 69%. Ouch. (we ran the benchmark a number of times and the result was consistent) Overclocking did boost by 16%, but it was a bit anti-climatic.
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-traced shadows, reflections, and transmissions. We use the built-in benchmark.
Both cards are playable here. The GIGABYTE Radeon RX 7600 GAMING OC is somewhat choppy until upscaling is enabled, then the gameplay is smooth. The ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition is the faster card here by 25 and 30%. Overclocking gained 4.8%.
Chernobylite Enhanced Edition
Chernobylite, based on Unreal Engine 4, was released on the PC in 2021, but the 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. It supports upscaling, and we use the highest quality. We use the built-in benchmark.
Both cards are nicely playable without help. The game is beautiful and runs very well. Unfortunately, the GIGABYTE Radeon RX 7600 GAMING OC takes a beating again. The results are quite good but overshadowed by the ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition by 68 and 51%.
Dying Light 2
Dying Light 2 was released in February 2022 on the PC. It uses Techland’s C-Engine and supports Ray Tracing for various environmental effects including Ray Traced Soft Shadows, Ray Traced Ambient Occlusion, Ray Traced Global Illumination, and Ray Traced Reflections. It also supports both DLSS and FSR 2.0 upscaling technologies. We are using the game’s built-in benchmark. We use the game patched to 1.12.1e
Here we see the ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition split the difference between the overclocked and the out-of-box GIGABYTE Radeon RX 7600 GAMING OC. Once upscaling is enabled the results are essentially even. Both cards are fast and faster with smooth gameplay. The overclock gained 4.7%.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 was released in December 2020 and uses the REDengine 4. We have the game patched to version 2.0 for our testing. We test using the built-in benchmark. Preset options for Ultra quality are used. Ray Tracing testing uses the “Ultra” presets. This game also supports DLSS and AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution FSR 2.1. We test FSR 2.1 Ultra Quality on AMD GPUs.
A very demanding game and a very fast FPS all around. The gameplay was very smooth and graphically beautiful. The GIGABYTE Radeon RX 7600 GAMING OC was fastest by 3 and 6%. Overclocking managed a 6% boost. We ran this game on version 1.63 and then 2.0 once it was released. We did not notice any advantage in plain raster gaming.