MSI GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Gaming X TRIO review - Final words and conclusion

Analysis

The Gaming X Trio delivers decent gaming prowess at Full HD, pleasant aesthetics, and a quiet operation. Although it does not vastly outperform the reference model, its construction alone could warrant a slight price increase of $75 over the reference MSRP. The problem, however, as the product series already is too costly. That extra $75 really becomes a bothersome thing. Exhibiting a marginal 3% boost in overall performance compared to the reference model, the Gaming X Trio underscores MSI's aptitude for crafting high-quality graphics cards that operate quietly. A straightforward manual adjustment allows the MSI Gaming X TRIO to enhance performance by an additional 11%.

Performance 

The GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card are designed for gaming performance and proper rendering quality at Full HD (FHD) resolutions and can even function efficiently up to Quad HD (QHD) resolutions. However, starting at QHD, reliance on features such as Deep Learning Super Sampling 3 (DLSS 3 FG) becomes necessary even more so when enabling ray tracing. The inclusion of a new generation of Ray Tracing and Tensor cores, which are more potent, helps out in that choice. 8GB, however, remains to be on the shy side, especially with DLSS3 Frame generation in mind (eats VRAM). 12GB and a slightly wider memory bus would have been the way to go NVIDIA.

Cooling & noise levels

In terms of operation, the graphics card demonstrates a power consumption slightly below 155 watts at full load, averaging around 135W as per our measurements. This power intake corresponds directly to the heat produced by the GPU, which is housed within a self-contained structure. The card maintains a noise level of approximately 32~33 dBA, which can be classified as silent. During rigorous tasks, the card's temperature may rise to roughly 60°C. The fluctuation in this temperature can be attributed to the effectiveness of the airflow within the computer case. The thermal imaging analysis conducted via FLIR, demonstrates no substantial issues regarding heat dissipation. It should be acknowledged that custom-made cards from varied manufacturers may showcase elevated power consumption due to elements such as amplified total graphics power and the inclusion of extra features like RGB lighting and cooling.

Coil whine

Any graphics card can exhibit coil squeal. It's just a matter of how much exactly. For the card it's at a level you can barely hear when you hit high framerates. In a closed chassis, that noise would fade away in the background. For this particular card, we've hardly been able to notice it. 

Pricing

NVIDIA has introduced this new graphics card priced at $399, which does not bring affordability back to the market. This price point is reminiscent of the 3060 Ti, indicating a shift from the inflated prices seen during the cryptocurrency mining era. Although the prices have remained higher than expected for unknown reasons, the card offers enough performance for Full HD resolution. With the help of a DLSS assist, it can even deliver good results. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Founders Edition will include 8GB of memory, with an option for a 16GB model. As for the GeForce RTX 4060, Nvidia has not released any comments yet. However, it's confirmed that the entry-level Ada Lovelace graphics card for gaming enthusiasts will debut at $299 USD, exclusive of VAT.

• GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB: Will be available from May 24 for $399 USD
• GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB: Will be released in July for $499 USD
• GeForce RTX 4060 8GB: Will also be released in July for $299 USD

Tweaking

You can enhance your GPU's performance by fine-tuning the clock frequency and memory speed. A clock frequency increase of approximately +190 MHz is possible with a bit of added voltage. Consequently, you can anticipate your GPU boost clock frequency around the 3050~3100 MHz range, contingent on the dynamic frequencies of different game titles, furthermore, by modifying the memory speed to 21 Gbps. Add to that a power limiter increase of up-to %22 ... Accumulated, you can expect a 10% performance improvement in demanding GPU scenarios compared to the reference (baseline) performance.

Overall the TRIO is 3% faster than founders edition performance, but tweaked is 11% faster.

Conclusion

The Gaming X TRIO edition delivers a modest performance increase of 2-3% over NVIDIA's Founders Edition. Although it may not surpass the Founders Edition in performance by a lot, it shines in its silent operation and aesthetic appeal. The RTX 4060 Ti 8GB demonstrates a performance that meets Full HD and often QHD resolution needs. Its shader engine performance is okay, with the addition of DLSS3 and frame generation features enhancing its overall functionality. NVIDIA continues to dominate in raw Raytracing performance. The 32MB L3 cache of this graphics card proves to be efficient at the specified resolutions. Although cache misses could lead to the usage of a narrower 128-bit wide bus with a restricted 8GB of graphics memory, the card handles such instances effectively. Offering a robust build quality and attractive aesthetics, the RTX 4060 Ti 8GB graphics card delivers a commendable performance. However, its price point of $399 raises concerns as it exceeds the expected cost for mainstream products. With the declining trend in mining, a lower price, ideally below $300, or even $250, would be more appealing. The less expensive 4060 variants are anticipated to fulfil this price range. Nevertheless, the RTX 4060 Ti series continues to serve as a choice for PC gamers, offering adequate performance, particularly for FHD, while taking advantage of DLSS3 and frame generation features. The 8GB is on the shy side, especially if you'd use DLSS frame generation. 12GB on a wider memory bus would have been preferred.  This MSI series also allows for moderate overclocking. The Gaming X TRIO excels in its cooling efficiency and superior acoustics, establishing it as a well-designed graphics card. Despite its default performance improvement of 3%, it is still recommended, especially for those prioritising silent operation and an appealing look inside their PC chassis. The card also is very tweakable adding an extra 10% performance seen from reference performance. Considering its price tag, the Founders Edition is the more cost-effective option, as the Trio is expected to bear a price premium of at least $75, which accumulated doesn't make much sense in the mainstream domain. In conclusion, the product's quality isn't disputed. Instead, the issue lies in the overall price range, not justifying a mainstream product's additional $75 premium. But solely looming at this this product as to what it is, it is premium. 

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