Elden Rig - $2,880

Why This Build

Acquired a used Asus Dual RTX 3060 12GB recently as extra VRAM for AI workloads (one day it’ll grow into a second 24GB card, right?), so I might as well check out LSFG too. I never thought I’d be rocking dual GPUs again since my 7970 CrossFire days - micro-stutter made it practically worthless, but this pairing works great so far. Playing on my LG CX at 4K 120Hz, and the combo of the 4090’s raw power with the 3060 handling frame gen lets me actually hit that 120Hz cap consistently. Thought I’d share my experiences for anyone thinking of using a 3060 for dual GPU frame gen.

Component Choices

CPU & Motherboard: The 7600X at $179 is plenty for 4K gaming since the GPU is doing all the heavy lifting, and the ASUS ROG Strix B650E-F for $169 has a PCIe 4.0 x4 slot through the chipset for the secondary GPU.

GPUs: The RTX 4090 crushes 4K gaming, while the RTX 3060 for $220 used handles frame generation surprisingly well with its extra VRAM helping stability.

RAM & Storage: 32GB of Kingston DDR5 for $136 is standard stuff, and the 990 EVO Plus keeps load times quick at 4K where asset streaming matters.

Cooling & Case: Thermalright Peerless Assassin for $38 is insane value and keeps the 7600X cool with zero noise, and the $80 case works fine though I’m planning to add more fans for better airflow.

PSU: 750W Corsair RM750e is cutting it close but works - I’ve undervolted both GPUs to 950mV so the 4090 stays under 350W and the 3060 maxes at 120W during frame gen.

Performance Notes

The RTX 3060 has enough compute to push 4K60 to 120 with 2xFG at 100% flowscale without breaking a sweat. Adaptive is just barely too taxing, so dropping the flowscale to 50% or using performance mode is needed for smooth results. With 50% flowscale it’s also possible to do 4x or 240 FPS Adaptive target from 4K60 base, but my LG CX only goes up to 120Hz anyway. The 3060 does seem to hit a PCIe/chipset bandwidth limit around 190 FPS at 4K, sitting at 90% bus interface load according to GPU-Z.

Both GPUs are undervolted to 950mV which keeps temps around 70C while gaming, though that can climb another 10C during longer sessions or with summer ambients. I do have higher OC modes available, but pushing max 450W+180W from the GPUs gets toasty and only nets a few extra FPS. All my testing is with HDR on since that’s how I always play.

Upgrade Path

The 4090 is basically endgame for now, but if you’re considering this setup, maybe grab a 4070 Ti Super or 4080 instead to save money - the 4090 is overkill for 4K60 base frames. The 3060 works surprisingly well for frame gen, though a 4060 Ti 16GB would give you more compute headroom for 3x/4x scaling if you ever upgrade to a higher refresh display.

The 7600X is fine for 4K but upgrading to a 7800X3D would help if you ever drop to 1440p or play CPU-heavy games. Definitely add more case fans if you go this route - dual high-power GPUs need serious airflow. A beefier PSU like 850W would give more headroom and let you run the GPUs without undervolting if you want maximum performance.

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