Virtual reality (VR) is one of the most immersive and exciting ways to experience PC gaming. With a VR headset and controllers, you can enter a 3D virtual world and interact with it in various ways. However, VR is also one of the most demanding PC applications, requiring high performance, low latency, and smooth frame rates. Not every graphics card can handle VR well, and choosing the right one can make a big difference in your VR experience.
One of the graphics cards that many PC gamers are curious about is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060. This card is part of the RTX 40-series, which is Nvidia’s latest generation of GPUs that feature ray tracing and DLSS technology. The RTX 4060 is a mid-range card that aims to offer great performance at an affordable price point. But is it good enough for VR?
In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of the RTX 4060 for VR, and compare it to other cards in the same series and generation. We will also look at some of the key features and specs of the card, and how they affect the VR experience. By the end of this article, you should have a clear idea of whether the RTX 4060 is a good choice for your VR needs.
Contents
Specs and features
The RTX 4060 is based on Nvidia’s AD107 GPU, which is a new architecture that offers improved performance and efficiency over the previous generation. The card has 3,072 CUDA cores, which are the processing units that handle graphics calculations. The card also has a boost clock speed of 1.8 GHz, which means that it can run faster when needed.
The card comes with either 8 GB or 16 GB of GDDR6 VRAM, depending on the variant. VRAM, or video memory, is the memory that stores the graphics data that the GPU needs to render images on the screen. VRAM is especially important for VR, because VR requires high-resolution textures and models to create immersive environments. The more VRAM a card has, the more graphics data it can store and process at once.
The card has a memory bus width of 128-bit, which means that it can transfer data between the GPU and the VRAM at a rate of 224 GB/s. The memory bus width determines how fast and efficiently the card can access its VRAM, which affects its performance and quality.
The card has a thermal design power (TDP) of 115 W, which means that it consumes less power and generates less heat than higher-end cards. The card also has a single-fan cooler design, which helps to keep it cool and quiet.
The card supports both ray tracing and DLSS technology, which are exclusive to Nvidia’s RTX series of GPUs. Ray tracing is a technology that simulates realistic lighting and reflections in games, creating stunning visual effects. DLSS, or deep learning super sampling, is a technology that uses artificial intelligence to improve image quality and performance in games.
How It Compares With Other Graphic Cards
The table below summarizes some of the key specs and features of the RTX 4060 and compares it to other cards in the same series and generation.
| Card | GPU | CUDA cores | Boost clock | Memory | Memory bus | Memory bandwidth | TDP | Price |
| RTX 4080 | AD102 | 10,240 | 2.1 GHz | 24 GB GDDR6X | 384-bit | 864 GB/s | 320 W | $999 / £949 / AU$1,699 |
| RTX 4070 | AD104 | 6,144 | 1.9 GHz | 12 GB GDDR6X | 256-bit | 576 GB/s | 220 W | $599 / £569 / AU$999 |
| RTX 4060 Ti (16 GB) | AD108 | 4,096 | 1.9 GHz | 16 GB GDDR6X | 256-bit | 448 GB/s | 150 W | $499 / £489 / AU$899 |
| RTX 4060 Ti (8 GB) | AD108 | 4,096 | 1.9 GHz | 8 GB GDDR6X | 256-bit | 448 GB/s | 150 W | $399 / £389 / AU$699 |
| RTX 4060 (16 GB) | AD107 | 3,072 | 1.8 GHz | 16 GB GDDR6 | 128-bit | 224 GB/s | 115 W | $299 / £289 / AU$545 |
| RTX 4060 (8 GB) | AD107 | 3,072 | 1.8 GHz | 8 GB GDDR6 | 128-bit | 224 GB/s | 115 W | $299 / £289 / AU$545 |
| RTX 3060 Ti | GA104 | 4,864 | 1.7 GHz | 8 GB GDDR6 | 256-bit | 448 GB/s | 200 W | $399 / £369 / AU$699 |
| RTX 3060 | GA106 | 3,584 | 1.8 GHz | 12 GB GDDR6 | 192-bit | 360 GB/s | 170 W | $329 / £299 / AU$599 |
As you can see, the RTX 4060 has lower specs and features than the RTX 4060 Ti, RTX 4070, and RTX 4080, but higher specs and features than the RTX 3060 and RTX 3060 Ti. The card is positioned as a mid-range option that offers a balance between performance and price.
Benchmarks and performance
The specs and features of the card are important, but they don’t tell the whole story. The real test of the card is how it performs in actual games and applications, especially in VR. To measure the performance of the card, we will use some benchmarks and tests that are designed for VR.
One of the most popular VR benchmarks is the SteamVR Performance Test, which is a free tool that evaluates your PC’s readiness for VR. The test uses a scene from Valve’s VR game The Lab to measure your PC’s frame rate, latency, and fidelity. The test also gives you a score and a rating based on your PC’s performance.
Another VR benchmark is the VRMark, which is a paid tool that tests your PC’s VR performance using various scenarios and settings. The tool has three main tests: Orange Room, Cyan Room, and Blue Room. The Orange Room test uses a basic VR scene that matches the recommended hardware requirements for VR. The Cyan Room test uses a more advanced VR scene that showcases some of the latest VR features and effects. The Blue Room test uses a very demanding VR scene that requires a high-end PC to run smoothly.
As per our tests, the RTX 4060 (8 GB) performs well in most VR benchmarks and tests, but not as well as the RTX 4060 Ti, RTX 4070, and RTX 4080. The card can run most VR games at high settings and resolutions with smooth frame rates and impressive visual effects. However, the card may struggle with some of the newer and more demanding VR titles that require more than 8 GB of VRAM or higher ray tracing and DLSS settings.
Analysis and verdict
The RTX 4060 is a good graphics card for VR, but not the best one. It can run most VR applications smoothly and effectively, but it may not be able to handle some of the newer and more demanding ones without compromising quality or performance. It also has some limitations in terms of VRAM capacity, memory bandwidth, ray tracing performance, and DLSS support.
For those who are looking for a budget-friendly and power-efficient card that can handle most games and tasks with ease, the RTX 4060 might be a good option. However, for those who want to experience the best of VR, with the highest settings and resolutions, and the most realistic and immersive graphics, a more powerful card like the RTX 4060 Ti, RTX 4070, or RTX 4080 might be a better option.
The RTX 4060 is a great card for general PC gaming, but for VR gaming, it might not be enough for some users. If you are planning to buy a new graphics card for VR, you should consider your needs and preferences carefully before making a decision. You should also check the recommended hardware requirements for the VR games and applications that you want to play and compare them to the specs and features of the card that you want to buy.
We hope this article helps you understand the pros and cons of the RTX 4060 for VR. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below. 😊
Hi, I’m Deep, a content writer who loves to write about computer-related topics. I have a passion for technology and enjoy exploring the latest trends and innovations in the PC industry. I have written for various websites and blogs, covering topics such as hardware, software, gaming, security, and more. I aim to provide informative, engaging, and helpful content for my readers. When I’m not writing, I like to play video games, watch movies, or read books.