Can a mid-range 40-series card outperform the PS5?
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It’s time to pit the RTX 4060 Ti & RTX 4060 vs PS5. 40-series GPU vs fan-favorite console. Nvidia’s RTX 4060 Ti 8GB has been out for a while now, long enough, in fact, for new Super-branded cards to appear in the 40 Series family. Still, with no Super versions of the 4060 / 4060Ti, these GPUs are not to be sniffed at, especially the 16GB variant. For those wanting to splash a bit less cash but have plenty of performance, the RTX 4060 is still a decent choice in 2024 – especially if you’re looking to build a gaming PC without breaking the bank. But how do they match up with Sony’s PS5?
Sony’s PS5 is a few years old now, arriving in November 2020. Nvidia’s 4060Ti arrived in May 2023, closley followed by its 4060 in June. But does newer mean better? Let’s take a closer look.
One of the first things to do is compare the specs. Of course, the PS5 offers more than just a graphics card, so we’re going to focus on the graphical power of each. The table below is a direct comparison, which should make key differences more immediately obvious.
| RTX 4060 Ti | RTX 4060 | PS5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPU | AD106 | AD107 | CXD90044GB |
| CUDA Cores/Shaders | 4,352 | 3,072 | 2,304 |
| TMUs | 128 | 96 | 144 |
| VRAM | 8GB/16GB GDDR6 | 8GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit | 128-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory Clock | 18 Gbps | 17 Gbps | 14 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 288 GB/s | 272 GB/s | 448 GB/s |
| GPU Clock | 2,310 MHz base / 2,525 MHz boost | 1,830 MHz base / 2,460 MHz boost | 2,233 MHz |
| TDP | 160/165W | 115W | 180W |
The PS5 does actually have some benefits over the RTX 4060 Ti, and in turn, the base 4060, when it comes to specs. It has the advantage on TMUs, memory bus size, and bandwidth. The 16GB VRAM of the PS5 is solid, while the 4060 Ti actually has 2 variants – 8GB and 16GB – it really depends on the model you go for here. More VRAM means more storage for textures and 3D polygon information, which can be critical when running at higher resolutions like 4K. Even though the 4060Ti 16GB might meet it, the bandwidth is still much lower and not as good at processing.
Other than those details, the RTX 4060 Ti really shines, with the RTX 4060 sitting in between the two. The base clock speed is already ahead of the PS5, and the boost clock takes it way above. Unsurprisingly, Nvidia’s offering has plenty more CUDA Cores compared to the AMD GPU in the PS5. All the while offering a lower TDP – meaning lower temperatures and more efficient power usage. We’d say the RTX 4060 Ti comes out as a clear winner, especially the 16GB variant. The RTX 4060 power efficiency is also fantastic at just 115W TDP.
Well done cooling solution capable of keeping the GPU under wraps and performing well
Overclocked model brings higher performance than the stnadard clocks
High quality and well built card to last
More expensive option than MSRP
Now let’s talk about performance. Probably something you’re keen to learn about when comparing the two. First of all, the PS5 is designed to reach a maximum of 60 FPS at 4K – which switches to 120 FPS at a 1440p resolution, especially in performance mode / low graphics settings. This is achieved by the fantastic optimization of console games for the PS5. Although 8K support is advertised for PS5, this is achieved with upscaling in actual gameplay and is incredibly rare.
Over on PC, release day performance for some modern AAA games has been a little rough recently, this is more on the game than the GPU itself. Thanks to the advancements in DLSS 3 and widespread support for it, both the RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 4060 perform fantastically. Nvidia’s own game benchmarks focus on 1080p, with ray tracing on and maxed-out graphics reaching 120 FPS in games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Cyberpunk 2077 – thanks to the frame-gen tech. The RTX 4060 will perform around 5% less than its better Ti variant, but the Ada Lovelace architecture they both share offers some fantastic features, not to mention better efficiency than the PS5.
You can also expect to reach 120 FPS at 1440p with settings a little more dialed down and DLSS 3.0 on the 4060 Ti, depending on the game. PC games tend to have more customization for graphics settings which helps you cater to your wishes. When it comes to 4K on the RTX 4060 Ti, the 8GB card isn’t exactly built with it in mind, the RTX 4060 is less so. The 16GB variant could offer a performance boost though, but we don’t expect too much difference. Nevertheless, you could reach 60 FPS in less demanding titles, especially without ray tracing or high settings. The RTX 4060 is instead more designed for 1080p gaming, but the frame generation and upscaling features can help both the new Nvidia cards push out as many frames as possible.
As a consumer, price is likely something on your mind from the start. Building a gaming PC requires much more than the graphics card, though the GPU is usually the most expensive component. A console like the PS5 on the other hand is a more complete package. Either way, here’s how the price compares (MSRP). As with most hardware, we are starting to see slight price drops, especially with the RTX 4060 – so keep your eyes open for a deal.
As you can see, there is a very close comparison to be made here. The PS5 Digital Edition does indeed have the same specs, just no disc drive available. The RTX 4060 is the cheapest of the lot, so it’s well worth considering as the budget option.
It’s hard to pick a winner on price – it all depends if you’re willing to fully invest in other PC parts (if needed), or if you simply want a gaming machine right away. Considering the specs at play, the RTX 4060 Ti technically has a price-to-performance advantage over the console since the price is the same. The PS5 seems like a bargain though if you don’t have the cash for a whole PC build.
After comparing all of the details for the we’d say it’s a tight call – especially considering these pieces of hardware aren’t exactly direct competitors. We’d have to say the RTX 4060 Ti comes out on top, as it will output better performance – especially with the frame generation and ray tracing capabilities included. On the other hand, the PS5 is a fantastic gaming machine for the same price and doesn’t require any additional components. For a great 1080p gaming GPU, the lightweight RTX 4060 is the best option for budget PC builders that want something that isn’t power-hungry.
When weighing up the two options, you should also be thinking of games. Exclusives such as God of War: Ragnarok, or Gran Turismo 7 require a PlayStation in order to enjoy. They may eventually be ported over to PC, however, which we have seen with the likes of God of War and the Horizon series. While you’re here, you may also want to check out what we think the PS5 GPU equivalent is.
Firstly, it’s important to note that more power does not always mean better. While the 4060Ti 8GB on paper is no match for the PS5, the card’s Ray Tracing ability – especally in the 16Gb version, puts up a real fight. It all comes down to the games you play – but as we’re starting to see, Sony ‘exclusives’ are making their way on to PC – often with boosts in performance and graphical fidelity.
The GPU in the PS5 is an AMD Oberon. This is based on RDNA 2 architecture, featuring a 2,223 MHz clock speed and 16GB of VRAM.
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