Forza Horizon 6 - 34 GPU Performance Review

Product reviewed

Forza Horizon 6 (open-world racing game by Playground Games, “Forza Tech” engine). The video focuses on GPU performance, especially how VRAM usage, graphics settings, ray tracing, and upscaling/frame generation affect results.

Key features affecting GPU performance

• DLSS, FSR, XeSS support
• Ray tracing
• Frame generation (noted as Nvidia-only in this game per the video)
• Multiple quality presets ranging from very low through extreme and extreme + ray tracing

VRAM / memory usage findings (approx.)

• 1080p very low: ~5 GB
• 4K: pushes to ~6 GB
• Extreme: can exceed 9 GB
• Crossing ~10 GB at 4K: could limit 8 GB cards
• Ray tracing: adds about +2 GB to the above
• Extreme + ray tracing + frame generation: mentioned as topping out around ~14.5 GB (approx)

Main takeaway: VRAM pressure is a big limiter at higher resolutions/settings, especially for 8 GB GPUs.

Performance results by settings / resolutions

1080p (no ray tracing emphasis)

The game is described as well optimized:

• All tested GPUs (except RX 7600) achieve 60 FPS at extreme.
• For ~100 FPS:
  • Needs faster cards such as RX 960 XT or RTX 560 Ti (16 GB versions)
  • 8 GB variants miss the 100 FPS target (fall slightly short).
• For high-refresh:
  • RX 970 XT: ~155 FPS (positioned between 5070 Ti and RTX 4080)
  • RTX 5090: only card hitting above 200 FPS
• Ultra vs Extreme vs other presets:
  • Ray tracing is the big performance hit
  • Extreme + ray tracing: about -48% FPS vs Extreme
  • Medium/High: about +50% performance (compared to the baseline referenced)
  • Very low: up to +92% performance, but may be limited by CPU bottlenecks
• CPU bottleneck note:
  • On a 4080, “very low” didn’t improve performance (CPU bound in that scene).

1440p (no ray tracing emphasis)

Much easier than 4K:

• RTX 5090: ~187 FPS
• RTX 4090: just under 150 FPS
• Last-gen remains competitive:
  • RTX 4070 Ti and RX 7900 XT: above 100 FPS
• 60 FPS line:
  • Held by Arc B580
• Ray tracing at 1440p:
  • RTX performance drops notably
  • RTX 5090: ~147 FPS
  • 100 FPS line held by RTX 5080

4K

• Big performance drop overall:
  • Most cards struggle to maintain even 60 FPS at the tested settings (the video suggests 30 FPS may be more realistic unless targeting upscaling).
• Without ray tracing:
  • 60 FPS line: held by RX 7800 XT and RTX 3080
  • AMD can perform slightly better:
    • RX 970 XT beats 5070 Ti/4080, but still not enough for 100 FPS
  • RTX 5080 is near the top of this group for ~4K performance
  • RTX 5090: ~143 FPS
• With ray tracing:
  • Nvidia regains advantage
  • Only RTX 5090: about 72 FPS
  • RTX 4090: about 54 FPS (short)

Upscaling and frame generation (major comparison point)

• The video says frame generation is supported only on Nvidia (Microsoft would need to expand support for other vendors).
• DLSS gains in 4K (RTX 5090):
  • Enabling DLSS performance gives about +17 FPS
  • Described as not very noteworthy
• Frame generation impact (RTX 5090, 4K test):
  • With frame generation, up to ~392 FPS
  • Portrayed as the big performance “needle mover.”
• 1440p RTX 5070 Ti:
  • DLSS performance gain: ~+18 FPS
  • Frame generation is again the only meaningful boost
• Non-Nvidia limitations:
  • RX 970 XT: can gain about +28 FPS at a performance setting, but no frame generation, making gains capped
  • RX 960 XT: about +6 FPS
  • Arc B580: about +12 FPS

Core issue noted: If you want the biggest FPS jump, you may need Nvidia + frame generation; otherwise, upscaling gains are smaller.

Pros / cons (as implied by the video)

Pros

• Good baseline optimization: many GPUs reach 60 FPS at 1080p extreme
• Many GPUs remain viable for 100 FPS at 1440p (even last-gen)
• Frame generation can massively boost FPS on supported Nvidia setups

Cons

• Ray tracing is very expensive, notably ~-48% at extreme
• VRAM limits at 4K/extreme: 8 GB cards likely capped
• Frame generation is Nvidia-only, and non-Nvidia upscaling gains are “mediocre”
• Some scenes can become CPU-bottlenecked, limiting benefits from very low settings

Overall verdict / recommendation

• Best experience: High-end Nvidia RTX cards, especially if you can use frame generation (biggest FPS jump).
• For 1080p extreme: Most modern midrange+ GPUs should be fine for 60 FPS.
• For 1440p: Target no/limited ray tracing for smooth performance; ray tracing pushes you toward higher-end Nvidia.
• For 4K: Realistic expectations are either lower FPS (~30/60 depending on settings and card) or using upscaling—and with ray tracing, only RTX 5090-class performance is close to playable in the tested scenario.

Unique points mentioned (consolidated list)

• Forza Horizon 6 supports DLSS, FSR, XeSS, ray tracing, and frame generation
• VRAM usage increases steeply with quality/resolution; 8 GB cards may be limited at higher settings/4K
• Ray tracing causes a major performance drop (~48% at extreme)
• 1080p extreme: most tested GPUs (except RX 7600) hit 60 FPS
• 100 FPS at 1080p extreme: requires 16 GB VRAM class GPUs (RX 960 XT / RTX 560 Ti 16 GB)
• 1440p without ray tracing is easier (RTX 5090 ~187, RTX 4090 just under 150)
• 4K: generally too heavy for most cards; 60 FPS possible on top/mid-top GPUs without ray tracing
• Ray tracing at 4K: playable performance largely restricted to RTX 5090
• Frame generation only on Nvidia: DLSS gains alone are modest, but frame gen can reach extremely high FPS (up to ~392 FPS on RTX 5090 in 4K test)
• Suggestion: non-Nvidia users need hope that Microsoft adds more frame generation technologies beyond Nvidia

Speakers / perspectives

• The subtitles do not clearly identify multiple speakers with distinct viewpoints; the content appears to be a single continuous reviewer narration.