If you’re willing to build or upgrade a gaming PC and be able to play games at 4K resolution with ray tracing, your most critical piece of hardware is your GPU. But there are just too many of them out there in the marketplace, which one provides you with the best FPS in 4K (frames per second) without lag and with no sacrifice whatsoever on quality?
In this guide, we’ll compare the top gaming GPUs available in 2025. We’ll focus on performance in 4K resolution with ray tracing turned on. We’ll also look at how they compare in real-world gaming, not just on paper specs.
Why FPS and Ray Tracing Matter at 4K
4K gaming packs four times the pixels of 1080p, and your GPU strains to provide silky smooth frame rates. Add it to ray tracing, which mimics real-world shadows and reflections, and it gets even more demanding
A decent GPU should:
- Have games with high frame rates (above 60 FPS).
- It should be capable of doing ray tracing without stutters.
- Be well-armed with VRAM and power to prevent bottlenecks.
- Have support for DLSS or FSR (AI upscaling technology) to boost performance.
Top 5 GPUs for Ray Tracing 4K Gaming (2025 Edition)
These are the most powerful GPUs tested for 4K + ray tracing in today’s AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake 2, and Baldur’s Gate 3.
1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
Best Overall Performance
VRAM: 24GB GDDR6X
Ray Tracing Cores: 3rd Gen
DLSS Support: DLSS 3.5 with Frame Generation
Average 4K with Ray Tracing (Ultra Settings) FPS: 85–120 FPS
The top GPU is the RTX 4090. It offers you unparalleled performance in gaming at 4K, even ray tracing at maximum. DLSS 3.5 with frame generation increases FPS, and Cyberpunk 2077 runs over 100 FPS at 4K. It’s too pricey, but if you need the best, this is it.
Best For: Gamers who require a no-compromise budget, content creators, and 4K 144Hz monitor owners.
2. AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
Best AMD 4K Solution
VRAM: 24GB GDDR6
Ray Tracing Cores: 2nd Gen
FSR Support: FSR 3
Average FPS in 4K with Ray Tracing (Ultra): 65–90 FPS
AMD’s best card is a solid value. It’s plenty good enough for most 4K games, but ray tracing isn’t quite as nice as NVIDIA’s. At its cost, however, the RX 7900 XTX is almost as fast as the RTX 4080 and outruns it in several rostered (non-ray-traced) titles.
Best For: NVIDIA fans looking for high-performance 4K at non-RTX 4090 prices.
3. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER
Best Price-to-Performance for NVIDIA Fans
VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
Ray Tracing Cores: 3rd Ge
DLSS Support: DLSS 3.5
Average FPS in 4K with Ray Tracing (Ultra): 70–95 FPS
The RTX 4080 SUPER is an incredible balance of price and performance.
It’s effectively just as fast as the 4090 in almost any game with DLSS active. It’s even slightly cooler-running and even slightly more power-efficient, making it perfect for high-end setups that don’t overdo.
Best For: Competitive gamers and streamers who desire the best performance without breaking the bank.
4. Intel Arc A770 (16GB)
Budget 4K Entry with Some Ray Tracing
VRAM: 16GB GDDR6
Ray Tracing Cores: Yes, but capping
XeSS Support (Intel’s Upscaling): Yes
Average FPS in 4K with Ray Tracing (Ultra): 35–50 FPS
Intel’s Arc A770 isn’t an NVIDIA or AMD flagship killer, but a good budget 4K card for upscaling and less ray-tracing-hardcore gamers. It still hasn’t increased in the driver support arena, but it has improved since then.
Best For: Budget gamers who desire a touch of 4K without max settings.
5. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER
Upper Mid-Range Champion
VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
Ray Tracing Cores: 3rd Gen
DLSS Support: DLSS 3.5
Average 4K with Ray Tracing (Ultra) FPS: 60–80 FPS
One of the upgrader choices is from legacy RTX 20 or 30-series GPUs. With DLSS 3, it will be better than paying for and performing most games in 4K with good enough FPS and image quality.
Best For: Upgraders to 4K at an affordable price and also first check what DDR i have on a GPU.
Speed vs. Specs: What Really Matters?
Dissecting what truly brings FPS punch in 4K with ray tracing:
- VRAM (Video Memory) 12GB or higher is better for 4K textures and ray tracing.
- Ray Tracing Cores Dedicated cores manage lighting and reflections.
- DLSS / FSR Ai upscaling brings additional performance with virtually zero reduction in quality.
- Thermals and Power Draw High-end cards require better cooling and power supply.
Real Game Benchmarks (2025 Titles)
1. Game RTX 4090 RX 7900 XTX RTX 4080 SUPER RTX 4070 Ti SUPER
2. Cyberpunk 2077 (RT Ultra, DLSS/FSR On) 110 FPS 80 FPS 90 FPS 72 FPS
3. Alan Wake 2 100 FPS 70 FPS 85 FPS 65 FPS
4. Hogwarts Legacy 115 FPS 88 FPS 95 FPS 78 FPS
Note: Benchmarks based on top tech reviewers’ average numbers in Q2 2025.
Final Verdict: Which is Best FPS in 4K GPU to Buy?
Best FPS + Futureproofing:
NVIDIA RTX 4090: Raw speed, ray tracing, and features such as DLSS 3.5’s best choice.
Best Value for 4K Gaming:
AMD RX 7900 XTX: Excellent 4K performance, particularly in games without ray tracing and money for value.
Best All-Rounder for Most Players:
RTX 4080 SUPER: Provides nearly 4090-level performance in most games with increased efficiency.
Last-Minute Tips Before You Buy
- Make sure your monitor refresh rate: pointless to spend money on a 120+ FPS graphics card if your monitor is just 60Hz.
- Make sure your power supply and case cooling will support an extreme card.
- Always check for the most recent driver updates: they can enhance performance and stability in the long term.
The top best FPS in 4K GPU to use for ray tracing 4K gaming depends on how much you have to spend, your gaming requirements, and if you want ultra-visuals or high frame rates. The RTX 4090 is expensive, but even the likes of the 4080 SUPER and RX 7900 XTX are great value for money.
Whatever you do, ensure it is compatible with your setup and your gaming purpose. Plugging in your GPU, your 4K gameplay will be good to look at Polaris Mobility Solutions and smooth as a dream to play.
