Forza Horizon 6 takes racing visuals to the next level with its Extreme RT preset, packing full Ray-Traced Global Illumination (RTGI) and reflections across cars and the environment. But cranking up these settings comes at a cost: you need a strong GPU to hit smooth frame rates, especially at 4K. Here’s a clear look at which cards handle ray tracing best in FH6.

Flagship Performance: Native 4K, Full RT

If you want native 4K with all ray tracing features enabled, performance requirements skyrocket.

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 – The only card expected to maintain a stable 60 FPS at full Extreme RT 4K. Everything else may struggle.
• High-end alternatives like the RTX 5070 Ti can drop below 30 FPS at native 4K if you don’t use upscaling.

Upscaling is essential for high-end cards below the RTX 5090 to hit playable framerates with Extreme RT on.

Extreme RT at 4K Upscaled

For players using DLSS or FSR to maintain smooth performance:

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti – Hits 60+ FPS at 4K using DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation.
• AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT – Aims for 60 FPS with 4K upscaling, though AMD cards typically suffer a steeper hit from ray tracing workloads.

This is the sweet spot for 4K visuals without requiring the absolute top-of-the-line GPU.

Standard Extreme Settings (Native 4K, Limited RT)

If you want native 4K but don’t need full RT features:

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti – Can handle 60 FPS at native 4K with limited RT.
• AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT – AMD’s target for standard extreme settings, capable of good visuals with less stress from ray tracing.

Mid-Range Recommended (1440p High)

For 1440p racing with some RT enabled:

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti – Smooth 60+ FPS at 1440p High, may need upscaling for full RT.
• AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT – Good option for 1440p, balancing cost and performance.

Ray Tracing Feature Comparison: PC vs Xbox

PC users enjoy full RTGI and reflections, whereas consoles prioritize consistent framerate over full ray tracing.

Top GPUs for Sim Racing (April 2026)

Based on expert reviews and market availability:

• Best Overall: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 – Great for high-refresh 1440p or 4K, balancing performance and price.
• Best Maximum Performance: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 – Required for native 4K Extreme RT at 60 FPS.
• Best AMD Option: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX – Excellent rasterization performance, but weaker in ray tracing than NVIDIA.

Key Takeaways

1. DLSS 4 / FSR 4 is your friend – Even high-end cards struggle at full Extreme RT without upscaling.
2. RTX 5090 is the only true 4K Extreme RT native 60 FPS GPU.
3. 1440p or upscaled 4K gives most gamers smooth performance without the ultra-expensive flagship cards.
4. PC ray tracing exceeds consoles – expect more stunning reflections and global illumination if your GPU can handle it.

In short, if you want the full Forza Horizon 6 ray tracing experience, investing in NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 Ti or above, paired with DLSS 4, will give you a buttery-smooth 4K upscaled ride. AMD options are strong, but NVIDIA leads in raw ray-traced performance. For mid-range rigs, 1440p with limited RT is the sweet spot.