RTX 4060 vs RX 7600 – Budget GPU Comparison 2025
Choosing a graphics card on a budget can be tough with so many options on the market. Two of the most popular budget GPUs in 2025 are NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4060 and AMD’s Radeon RX 7600. Both cards launched in the mid-$200 range and target gamers who want solid 1080p performance without spending a fortune. In this comparison, we’ll put the RTX 4060 vs RX 7600 head-to-head, looking at specs, gaming benchmarks, features, and value to help you decide which GPU is the better buy for your gaming rig.
Overview of Specs and Architecture
Before diving into performance, let’s compare the core specifications of the RTX 4060 and RX 7600:
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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060:
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Architecture: Ada Lovelace (NVIDIA’s 4th gen RTX series)
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CUDA Cores: 3,072
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Base/Boost Clock: ~1.8 GHz / 2.4 GHz (varies by model)
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Memory: 8GB GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus
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Memory Bandwidth: 272 GB/s (with additional L2 cache boosting effective bandwidth to ~453 GB/s)
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TDP (Power draw): ~115 Watts
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Launch MSRP: $299 USD
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AMD Radeon RX 7600:
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Architecture: RDNA 3 (AMD’s 3rd gen rDNA GPUs)
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Compute Units / Stream Processors: 32 CUs / 2,048 shaders
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Game/Boost Clock: ~2.25 GHz / 2.65 GHz (varies by model)
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Memory: 8GB GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus
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Memory Bandwidth: 288 GB/s (with 32MB Infinity Cache improving effective bandwidth to ~476 GB/s)
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TDP (Power draw): ~165 Watts
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Launch MSRP: $269 USD
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As we see, both cards have 8GB of VRAM on a 128-bit memory bus, relying on large caches to overcome bandwidth limitations. 8GB is sufficient for 1080p in most games as of 2025, but it can be a limiting factor in some new AAA titles at ultra settings (both cards might struggle if a game wants more than 8GB VRAM, requiring lowered texture quality). The RTX 4060 has more cores (NVIDIA’s cores count differently than AMD’s) and significantly lower power consumption, while the RX 7600 has higher clock speeds but draws more power.
From an architecture standpoint, the RTX 4060 benefits from NVIDIA’s DLSS 3 and 3rd-gen ray tracing cores, whereas the RX 7600 offers AMD’s latest ray accelerators and supports FSR upscaling technology. Power efficiency is clearly in NVIDIA’s favor – the 4060 can run on a smaller PSU and produce less heat, which is great for small builds. The RX 7600, meanwhile, typically requires a bit more cooling due to higher wattage (still, 165W is not too high for most midrange PC builds).
Gaming Performance Comparison
What really matters is how these GPUs perform in games. Both the RTX 4060 and RX 7600 are excellent for 1080p gaming and can handle many games at 1440p with adjusted settings. Here’s how they stack up:
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1080p Frame Rates: Across a wide range of games, the GeForce RTX 4060 tends to be about 10-12% faster on average than the Radeon RX 7600. In many esports and less demanding titles, both cards easily push well over 100 FPS at high settings. For example, in games like Fortnite or Valorant, either GPU can maximize a high refresh monitor at 1080p. In more graphically intensive games, you might see the RTX 4060 yielding, say, 85 FPS while the RX 7600 gets around 75 FPS at the same settings – a difference, but not a night-and-day gap.
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Game-by-Game Variance: Some games favor one card or the other. AMD has historically done well in titles optimized for their architecture. For instance, in Cyberpunk 2077 without ray tracing, the RX 7600 can match or slightly beat the RTX 4060 (some benchmarks show RX 7600 ahead by ~5-6% in raster performance there). Similarly, Red Dead Redemption 2 might run a tad better on AMD hardware at 1080p. On the other hand, many games built around DirectX 12 or older engines still favor NVIDIA – Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Forza Horizon 5, etc., often show a small lead (2-10%) for the RTX 4060. The differences aren’t huge in most cases, except when it comes to ray tracing (more on that next).
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Ray Tracing Performance: If you plan to enable ray tracing effects, the RTX 4060 has a clear advantage. NVIDIA’s 3rd-gen RT cores are more efficient, and it shows: in ray-traced games, the RTX 4060 can be 20-30% faster than the RX 7600 when ray tracing is maxed out. For example, in Resident Evil 4 Remake with ray tracing on, the 4060 might maintain 60 FPS while the 7600 struggles in the mid-40s. The RTX 4060 also supports DLSS 3 Frame Generation, which can massively boost frame rates in compatible games by generating extra frames with AI (the RX 7600 can’t do that, though it can use FSR upscaling).
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1440p Gaming: Pushing up to 1440p resolution, both GPUs start to feel the strain in the latest games. The 12% average gap often remains at 1440p – meaning if a game is borderline playable on one, it’s likely similar on the other. Both cards are really best suited for 1080p high/ultra gaming or 1440p medium settings. If 1440p@60+ FPS in ultra settings is your goal, you might need to consider the next tier of GPUs (like RTX 4070 or RX 7700 XT). But for casual 1440p gaming, the 4060 and 7600 can still manage many titles in the 50-60 FPS range at high settings, with the RTX typically a bit ahead.
Bottom Line: In pure rasterized (non-ray-traced) performance, the RTX 4060 and RX 7600 trade blows depending on the title, but the RTX 4060 generally comes out slightly ahead overall. The RX 7600 keeps pace well and even wins a couple of specific game tests, but any lead is small. When ray tracing is involved, NVIDIA’s card pulls definitively ahead. For a lot of gamers playing popular titles like Call of Duty Warzone, Apex Legends, GTA V, etc., both cards deliver a very similar experience.
Features and Technology
Beyond frame rates, consider the ecosystem and features each GPU offers:
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DLSS vs FSR: NVIDIA’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) has evolved by 2025 to version 3 (with Frame Generation). DLSS can significantly improve performance in supported games by rendering at a lower resolution and upscaling with AI, often with minimal loss in image quality. The RTX 4060 supports DLSS 2 (which improves image quality) and DLSS 3 (which adds frame generation for even higher FPS). AMD’s equivalent, FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), is supported on the RX 7600 (and actually works on any GPU, even NVIDIA’s). FSR 2 can also boost performance via upscaling, but generally DLSS 2 tends to produce slightly better image quality at similar performance gains when both are available. Crucially, DLSS 3’s frame generation is exclusive to RTX 40-series, giving the 4060 a unique advantage in games that implement it (e.g., Cyberpunk 2077, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Diablo IV, etc., where DLSS 3 can double frame rates).
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Ray Tracing Support: Both cards support real-time ray tracing, but as noted, NVIDIA performs better. Also, some ray-traced games include proprietary features like RTX Direct Illumination or Reflex that are optimized for NVIDIA. AMD’s ray tracing on RDNA 3 is improved over previous gen, but at this budget level, heavy ray tracing can be tough on the RX 7600. For light ray tracing or older titles with simple ray effects, the 7600 is fine, but for the latest ray-traced games, the 4060 will handle it more gracefully.
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VR and Content Creation: If you plan to use your PC for VR gaming, both GPUs can handle entry-level VR headsets, but the extra horsepower and features of the RTX 4060 (like DLSS) might provide a smoother experience. For content creation, NVIDIA has a big plus: the NVENC encoder. The RTX 4060 includes the latest NVENC, which is excellent for video encoding (streaming, recording gameplay, etc.) and even supports AV1 encode. AMD’s RX 7600 also supports AV1 encoding with its new media engine and has made strides with its encoder quality, but many streamers still prefer NVIDIA for its proven track record in streaming performance and software support.
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Drivers and Software: NVIDIA’s drivers and software suite (GeForce Experience, ShadowPlay, etc.) are robust. GeForce Experience can optimize game settings and easily capture gameplay. AMD’s drivers (Adrenalin software) offer a lot of customization and even in-driver streaming and recording tools as well. In 2025, both companies have fairly stable drivers; AMD had some earlier issues around the RX 7000 series launch that have since been ironed out. NVIDIA cards might get game-ready driver updates slightly faster for big releases, whereas AMD focuses on day-0 support for major titles too, but occasionally minor games have optimizations come a bit later. Overall, driver quality is good on both – not a major deciding factor for most users now.
Power, Heat, and Size
One often overlooked factor is the physical and power considerations:
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The RTX 4060 is extremely power-efficient. With a TDP around 115W, many models don’t even require an 8-pin PCIe power connector (some draw all power from the motherboard slot if under 75W, but most RTX 4060 do have a single 8-pin). It can comfortably run on a quality 500W power supply (even 450W could do in a pinch with a modest CPU). It also tends to run cooler; many RTX 4060 cards are compact dual-fan designs that stay quiet under load.
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The RX 7600, at ~165W, definitely requires a 8-pin PCIe power connection. AMD recommends a 550W or greater PSU for the RX 7600. It runs a bit hotter, so you’ll see cards with dual or even triple fans to keep it cool. Noise and temperatures are still well within safe ranges, but generally the 7600 might ramp its fans a bit higher under full load than an equivalent 4060 card due to that extra 50W or so of heat.
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In terms of size, both are available in compact models that fit in most cases. If you are building a very small form factor PC, the RTX 4060 has an edge as there are single-fan ITX variants thanks to its low heat output. The RX 7600 also comes in relatively short cards, but not quite as many ITX-specific options.
If you’re power-conscious or upgrading an OEM PC with a weaker PSU, the RTX 4060 is the safer pick. If you have a decent PSU already, the RX 7600’s higher draw isn’t a big issue, just something to be aware of (it might add ~$5-10 to your annual electric bill for a frequent gamer – pretty minor).
Pricing and Value in 2025
Originally, the RX 7600 launched ~$30 cheaper than the RTX 4060. As of 2025:
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Street prices for these GPUs have often dipped below MSRP, especially with occasional sales. You might find an RX 7600 for around $250 or less, and RTX 4060 cards around $280-300. Prices fluctuate, so check current deals.
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Consider bundle deals: sometimes AMD GPUs come with game bundles or rebates. NVIDIA cards might come with free months of GeForce Now or other perks.
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Used market: By 2025, some enthusiasts may have resold these cards to upgrade. A used RTX 4060 or RX 7600 could be even more affordable. Just ensure any used card wasn’t heavily abused (mining isn’t a big factor for these, but always buy from a reputable seller if going used).
In pure bang-for-buck, the RX 7600 often wins if you can find it significantly below MSRP. If it’s, say, $50 cheaper than the RTX 4060, that’s a considerable saving for a budget build. However, if the price gap is small (or if both are at MSRP), the RTX 4060’s extra performance and features justify the slight premium.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both the RTX 4060 and RX 7600 are solid GPUs for gamers on a budget. Here’s our recommendation:
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Go with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 if: you want the best overall performance between the two, especially if you value ray tracing or plan to use DLSS 3 in supported games. Also, if power efficiency, lower heat, and features like NVENC encoder matter to you (streamers take note), the RTX 4060 is the better choice. It’s a “safer” pick that will generally give a slightly smoother experience in more situations. Many gamers appreciate the NVIDIA ecosystem and driver polish as well. If your budget can stretch to an RTX 4060, it’s often worth it. You can check the current price of the RTX 4060 on Amazon – it might be on sale, making the decision easier.
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Go with AMD Radeon RX 7600 if: you are looking for the most affordable option and don’t mind giving up a bit of performance and ray tracing prowess. Purely for rasterized gaming at 1080p, the RX 7600 delivers nearly the same experience as the RTX 4060, for less money. It’s a fantastic card for eSports titles and single-player games alike at high settings, 1080p. If you’re okay tweaking a few settings here or there in the most demanding games (or using FSR upscaling), the RX 7600 will serve you very well. Also, if your build is AMD-focused (perhaps you have an AMD Freesync monitor and a Ryzen CPU, though G-Sync Compatible and mix-and-match works fine too), you might opt to stick with Team Red. You can view the AMD RX 7600 on Amazon to see if the price difference makes it a steal deal right now.
Internal Link: Whichever GPU you choose, make sure the rest of your system is up to par. A strong graphics card can be held back by a weak CPU – pairing these cards with something like a mid-range Ryzen 5 or Core i5 is ideal. For guidance on a full system build, see our Best Budget Build 2025 article, where we use these budget GPUs in example configurations.
Final Thoughts
The RTX 4060 vs RX 7600 debate shows that competition is great for us gamers. AMD and NVIDIA have each delivered a card that makes 1080p gaming affordable and enjoyable in 2025. Your choice might boil down to personal preference or brand loyalty, but rest assured that both GPUs will run modern games well at high settings, especially if you stick to 1080p resolution.
If ray tracing or future-proof features are high on your wish list, lean towards the GeForce RTX 4060. If you’re on a tight budget or play games that don’t use fancy effects, the Radeon RX 7600 will maximize your FPS-per-dollar.
Affiliate Links: Ready to upgrade your graphics? Grab your chosen card at a great price:
NVIDIA RTX 4060 – Buy on Amazon (get DLSS 3 and top-notch efficiency for under $300).
AMD RX 7600 – Buy on Amazon (incredible value, superb 1080p performance for the money).
Both links above will take you to the product page where you can check current pricing and reviews. Purchasing through our affiliate links supports our site.
Happy gaming, and enjoy your new GPU! With either the RTX 4060 or the RX 7600, you’ll be ready to dive into the latest titles with confidence that you got one of the best bang-for-buck GPUs of 2025.