For anyone building a gaming computer, the most fun comes with upgrading the graphics card. An incredible visual experience will make your gameplay more immersive and have the most significant impact out of any of the components. Of course, there are the necessary upgrades like cooling fans, motherboards, and memory upgrades, but you won’t get the visual rewards.
You may be upgrading your computer, or possibly looking at purchasing a new one. Either way, there is no one size fits all for graphics cards. Every person has a different gaming style and enjoys playing alternate genres. Some people are willing to spend their life savings on a GPU, and others want something budget that will fulfill their basic needs. Regardless of your specific needs, there’s a GPU out there with your name on it.
That said, finding it can be a confusing process. If you’re not super tech-savvy, the specs may not make much sense. You may be inclined to grab something with a high price tag and hope it’s good quality. Quality GPUs don’t need to cost a fortune, and expensive ones are often not that much better than ones with a more reasonable price tag. Due to new and innovative GPU technology, the cost is starting to lower. Since the RTX GPUs have entered the scene, even slightly outdated cards are dramatically dropping in price.
Best Budget
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 OC 6G
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Best Overall
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
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Best Value
AMD Radeon RX 5700
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1. Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
Best Overall
“The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is the best graphics card for gaming if you’re an HD gamer who wants the top of the line.”
60 FPS for 4K gaming
Crazy expensive
Features best RT and Tensor Core Technology
Most powerful graphics card available
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Specs:
- Power Connectors: (2) 8-pin
- Memory: GDDR6 11GB
- Memory Speed: 14Gbps
- Core Clock: 1350MHz, 1635MGz boost
- Processors/Cores: 4352
- Outputs: (3) DisplayPort 1.4, (1) HDMI 2.0, (1) USB-C
We are starting the list with the best of the best. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is the best graphics card for gaming if you’re an HD gamer who wants the top of the line. As we spoke about in the buyer’s guide, ray-tracing technology is the future of gaming. Many games are beginning to support ray tracing, with more getting involved each day. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, and don’t mind spending more for it than this graphics card is a great choice.
Where performance is concerned, it is probably the best you can get. It can surpass 60 FPS in 4K with no issue at all. You’ll need a powerful monitor and CPU to support this graphics card, but if you’re a serious gamer, you’ve likely looked into this anyway. The person best suited for this graphics card are those that want the top-quality everything. For a heavy-duty build, add this to your shopping list.
The RT and Tensor cores in this graphics card allow it to produce insane in-game visuals, with more realistic lighting and shadows. The quality is unmatched by any other graphics cards, and AMD can’t even come close. The only issue is that we are waiting for more games to start supporting ray tracing so you can experience the benefits. It’s happening slowly, but for now, your options are limited.
It operates with a dual-fan cooling system. You’d assume that double the fans mean double the cooling power. While it’s true, they can move a lot of hot air away from the component; they can also leave more hot air trapped inside your computer case itself. The repercussions of this are debatable. Realistically, it doesn’t have a substantial negative impact.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is the best graphics card for gaming. It is more powerful than any other graphics card on the market. The price is insane, but if you want to be at the forefront of the newest technology, then it’s the best choice. Over time, as more graphics cards come out with ray tracing, the price should come down. But for now, you’re not going to find a more epic graphics card. Now, we need to wait for more games to be released to support its incredible power.
2. AMD Radeon RX 5700
Best Value
“The AMD Radeon RX 5700 is a beast. It offers a 1440p gaming experience at its highest settings.”
Highest performing of all AMD graphics cards
No ray tracing
Great value for money
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Specs:
- Power Connectors: (1) 8-pin
- Memory: GDDR6 8GB
- Memory Speed: 14Gbps
- Core Clock: 1465MHz, 1725MGz boost
- Processors/Cores: 2304
- Outputs: (1) DisplayPort 1.4 w DSC, (1) HDMI w 4K60 Support
Next on our list is Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Tis closest competitor from AMD. It doesn’t have ray tracing, as none of AMD’s graphics cards have this technology yet. But if you aren’t too concerned about the future technology bit yet, then this is the best graphics card for gaming today. It offers everything the modern gamer needs for an epic gaming experience at a price that most can afford.
The AMD Radeon RX 5700 is a beast. It offers a 1440p gaming experience at its highest settings. The price makes it a feasible option for gamers, and even though it’s not perfect, it’s good enough. If you’re looking for a graphics card with ray-tracing capabilities at a price this low, you’re not going to get it. At least not yet. Its biggest competition is the Nvidia RTX 2060 Super, which it claims to outperform. It may, it some aspects, but it doesn’t have the ray tracing. So, going forward, it may fall behind.
It’s incredibly power-efficient, with its RDNA architecture and 7-nanometer process. This model also supports AMD Radeon Image Sharpening. It will dramatically sharpen up the image quality in games, with little effect on the performance. AMD uses this feature as a way to set them apart from Nvidia. They may fall behind on the ray tracing technology, but Radeons Image Sharpening may help consumers overlook that factor.
For the best graphics card for gaming, without breaking the bank, the obvious choice is the AMD RX 5700. While many gamers lean towards Nvidia for their progressive technologies, AMD produces high performing options for the game market today. For the price, most gamers will get everything they need from these graphics cards. Even those who game in HD will experience a great performance from this card.
3. Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 OC 6G
Best Budget
“The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 OC 6G is the best graphics card for gaming you can get on a low budget.”
Cheapest graphics card of this quality
FPS rate drops at 1440p and gets slow at 4K
Great 1080p performance
Only has GDDR5 memory
Turing architecture
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Specs:
- Power Connectors: (1) 8-pin
- Memory: GDDR5 6GB
- Memory Speed: 8Gbps
- Core Clock: 1530MHz
- Processors/Cores: 1408
- Outputs: (3) DisplayPort 1.4, (1) HDMI 2.0
For those who want amazing visuals at an affordable price, we’ve got you covered. The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 OC 6G is the best graphics card for gaming you can get on a low budget. Models like this one sometimes get forgotten about in the sea of huge price tags. That’s unfortunate because this one offers a great 1080p gaming performance. It also has a decent factory overlock, as well. For anyone building a gaming computer who wants a basic, yet, quality graphics card, this is the one for you.
It comes with 3 DisplayPort outputs, so you can have multiple monitors plugged in while you’re gaming. That many outputs aren’t even available on some of the more expensive options. Nvidia implements its Turing style architecture, which they use in their RTX series, but with GDDR5 VRAM. Since it’s readily available on graphics cards, it’s cheaper. It gives Nvidia a chance to market to gamers on a budget, which contrasts with many of their other graphics cards.
If you’re planning on sticking to 1080p gameplay, then you’ll get great results with up to 100fps. Even at QHD resolution, you can still get around 70 fps. The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 OC 6G can run 4K, but only at about 30 fps, so it’s not perfect. Still, if you’re not playing in 4K, then it’s not any concern. It comes with a dual-fan cooling system and chunky heatsink, which is more than you’d expect from a model this inexpensive.
For the gamer building a basic gaming computer, the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 OC 6 is the best graphics card for gaming that you can get at this price. It offers great basic features to get you started. Though there are higher performers available if you’re not planning to run at 4K anyway than they aren’t essential. For running 1080p, the quality is great, and we recommend it.
4. Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060
Best Mid Range Graphics Card
“It’s a mid-range graphics card that can also keep up with 1440p and 4K gaming, with only slight loss of frame rate.”
Ray tracing capabilities
Performance drops in 4K
Excellent smooth quality at 1080p
Still on the pricier side, though less than others in the range
Runs cool
Good overclocking potential
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Specs:
- Power Connectors: (1) 8-pin
- Memory: GDDR6 6GB
- Memory Speed: 14Gbps
- Core Clock: 1365MHz, 1680MHz boost
- Processors/Cores: 1920
- Outputs: (2) DisplayPort, (1) HDMI, (1) USB Type-C, (1) DVI-DL
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060, though followed by the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super, still offers amazing 1080p gaming. It’s a mid-range graphics card that can also keep up with 1440p and 4K gaming, with only slight loss of frame rate. It is the latest addition to Nvidia’s RTX series, which means it’s got the ray-tracing capabilities that have got everyone talking. Ray tracing is the future of graphics cards, so though not many games take full advantage yet, the technology is going that way.
The RTX series features their signature, Turing architecture. It offers enhanced graphics through AI technology, which is meant to provide an extra layer of realism. Perks include more realistic lighting, with accurate shadowing. It has 6GB of RAM with 1920 CUDA core. Out of all the RTX models, this one is the most reasonable in price. The previous models in the series, including the top one on our list, are quite a bit more expensive. Nvidia has saved itself a bit in the eyes of consumers with this more affordable option.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 will offer about 60 fps or more at 1440p. You should be able to play most games with their highest settings and still get a great visual experience. That said, the frame rates do drop a bit at 4K, so if you’re planning on 4K gaming, it’s something to keep in mind. Its also good to note that this graphics card has some decent overclocking potential, meaning you can push the performance a bit more than its labeled specs.
For a mid-range option that also has ray tracing, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 is the best graphics card for gaming. It will have you prepped for future technology and doesn’t cost as much as others in this series. Though it does struggle a bit with 4K if you’re gaming in 1080p than it will perform beautifully.
5. AMD Radeon VII
Best RAM
“It has a whopping 16GB of HBM2 memory, which means it that it can hold its own in the expensive market of competitors.”
Tons of RAM
Sucks a lot of power
Good heat dissipation
Not many features
1st 7nm lithography
Decent performance, even at 4K
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Specs:
- Power Connectors: (2) 8-pin
- Memory: HBM2 16GB
- Memory Speed: 2Gbps
- Core Clock: 1400MHz, 1800MHz boost
- Processors/Cores: 3840
- Outputs: (3) DisplayPort, (1) HDMI 2.0
Packing a serious punch with a huge amount of RAM is the AMD Radeon VII. It’s AMD’s way of catering to those who are in the market for a top-end graphics card. As part of their Vega II series, AMD was looking to attract some of the high-end clientele, and it worked pretty well. It does pretty well in 4K, but it’s in the memory department that it stands apart.
It has a whopping 16GB of HBM2 memory, which means it that it can hold its own in the expensive market of competitors. If you’re a content creator, you’ll need all the RAM you can get in your graphics card. If this sounds like you, then it’s the best you’re likely to find for that purpose.
AMD does have a good following. Many gamers would swear by their GPUs and do not want to make the shift to the ray-tracing Nvidia. With the advance in technology, AMD needs to give those customers a reason to stick with them. And the reason is this graphics card. Its performance at 1440p is smooth. Even at 4K, it offers a decent frame rate. It’s got a ton of power considering its modest price. And with all that power, it runs much cooler than many of the other graphics cards on the market. So, you don’t need to worry about overheating. The AMD Radeon VII also is the first GPU ever made with 7nm lithography. What this means is that more cores can fit on the more concentrated chip, 3840, to be exact. To compare, Nvidia’s Turing models have 12nm lithography.
The AMD Radeon VII is the best graphics card for gaming for those who are content creators. Its huge amount of VRAM puts it above the rest in terms of video memory. Also, the bonus of 7nm lithography and extra processors means that this card performs well at HD, even into 4K. AMD wanted to create a GPU that kept their fans dedicated, and they did it with this one.
6. Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super
Best for VR
“If you’re gamer with love for VR than you’ll need a graphics card that offers a high level of support for the technology.”
Great for VR
No useful extra benefits than the RTX 2080
Decent framerates at 4K
Still expensive
FrameView software is awesome for overclockers
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Specs:
- Power Connectors: (1) 8-pin, (1) 6-pin
- Memory: GDDR6 8GB
- Memory Speed: 15.5Gbps
- Core Clock: 1650MHz, 1815MHz boost
- Processors/Cores: 3072
- Outputs: (3) DisplayPort, (1) HDMI 2.0b, (1) DVI-DL
If you’re gamer with love for VR than you’ll need a graphics card that offers a high level of support for the technology. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super will not only support VR but offer a seamless and more immersive experience than its competitors. Jumpy and choppy graphics in VR can ruin gameplay, making you dizzy and frustrated. For VR gaming, this is the best graphics card for gaming. Beyond just VR, it can support 1440p and 4K gaming, as well. All for substantially less cost than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti.
They’ve improved on the original Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 design. It offers the same Turing architecture but with more CUDA cores and better VRAM. The high price of other models turned many gamers off, so they’ve introduced the ‘Super’ series that offers similar features at a better price point. The Turing features ray tracing technology, so like others in the RTX series, you will be prepped for future advancements. That said, it’s not super useful yet since most games don’t support it.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super has new software called FrameView. FrameView is super easy to use and gives you a ton of useful information. It means you don’t have to purchase third-party software or additional hardware to provide you with reading on your graphics card. FrameView will show you frame times, frame rates, the temperature of your card, and GPU Usage. It will also let you know the amount of power your card is absorbing. For regular gamers, it may seem a bit pointless. But if you’re planning on overclocking your GPU, then these features will be advantageous.
Pros:
- Great for VR
- Decent framerates at 4K
- FrameView software is awesome for overclockers
Cons:
- No useful extra benefits than the RTX 2080
- Still expensive
If you liked the sound of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, but it’s way out of range, then this model is a decent substitution. For VR gaming, it’s top of the pack. Even if you’re not using it for VR, its performance at 1440p and 4K is outstanding. The FrameView software offers some great insight into the performance of your graphics card, which is especially useful if you plan on overclocking.
7. Zotac GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Mini
Best fro Mini Computers
“If you’re building a mini gaming computer, it doesn’t mean you’re stuck with a low performing GPU.”
The smallest 1080 GPU on the market
Really choppy at 4K
Doesn’t take up space in your case
Can run quite loud and hot
Multiple monitor slots
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Specs:
- Power Connectors: (2) 8-pin
- Memory: GDDR5X 11GB
- Memory Speed: 10Gbps
- Core Clock: 1506MHz
- Processors/Cores: 3584
- Outputs: (3) DisplayPort 1.4, (1) HDMI 2.0b, (1) DL-DVI-D
If you’re building a mini gaming computer, it doesn’t mean you’re stuck with a low performing GPU. There are some great graphics cards available that will give you a great level of performance in a smaller package. The Zotac GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Mini is the best graphics card for gaming when you’ve got a microATX or mini-ITX computer.
That said, there are better performers out there with updated technology. But for its size, it has a lot of power, especially at 1080p. The small and compact size means that it will fit any system possible. It is incredibly versatile and will take up hardly any space inside your case, leaving room for extra upgrades elsewhere. It does take up two slots but isn’t bulky, so it will still save you a ton of space.
Even at its size, it has a ton of ports so that you can plug in multiple monitors. Though the clock speed is lower than average, you still get a decent amount of CUDA cores and VRAM. That means that you’re still going to get great gaming at 1080p. Unfortunately, if you plan on gaming in 4K, then you’re going to get about one fps, which is almost unplayable.
The Zotac GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Mini proves that you can still get amazing graphics on a small build gaming computer. It’s small but mighty and delivers 1080p performance that rivals many larger GPUs. It does suffer at 1440p and 4K, but if you’re not gaming in those resolutions anyway it won’t matter. It’s the smallest in the world, so you’ll have lots of space in your case for other components.
8. Radeon RX 550
Best Budget Micro sized Graphics Card
“t may not be the highest performer on our list, but for an entry-level graphics card, it’s a quality option.”
Performs well at 1080p
Not anything special to look at
Super cheap
Only one fan
Small in size. Won’t take up much room in your case.
May become outdated quickly
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Specs:
- Power Connectors: (2) 8-pin
- Memory: GDDR5 2GB
- Memory Speed: 10Gbps
- Core Clock: 1203MHz
- Processors/Cores: 512
- Outputs: (1) DisplayPort 1.4, (1) HDMI 2.0, (1) DL-DVI-D
We wanted to throw another graphics card on the list from AMD to represent their range of great options. The Radeon RX 550 is both affordable and functional. It may not be the highest performer on our list, but for an entry-level graphics card, it’s a quality option.
It’s compact so that it won’t take up much room inside your case. The low-bulk design features a single fan, so be careful with overclocking. Pushing this card too far may cause it to overheat. It will get pretty loud if it’s struggling, so you’ll know you’ve gone too far. If you’re planning on standard gaming, then it will keep up without issue.
There is nothing fancy about the design, but then again, it will be inside your case, so it doesn’t need to be too pretty. It’s got a sturdy and durable design, so the card itself should last many years, though the technology may soon be outdated. With the entry of Nvidia’s ray tracing technology, AMD will need to step up their game. The gaming market is still a bit behind, but they are following the curve, with more advancements each year. For now, this card will do everything you need to it and support great 1080p resolution gaming.
For an entry-level graphics card that will do the trick, for now, the Radeon RX 550 is the best graphics card for gaming. Since it’s so reasonable in price, we can overlook the fact that new technology may surpass it sooner rather than later. If you purchase this card, be aware that you may want to update it in a few years.
9. Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super
Best 1440p Graphics Card
“If you’re gaming at 1440p resolution, you’ll be impressed by this graphics card.”
Less expensive than the RTX 2070
The card is a bit bulky and heavy
Amazing performance at 1440p resolution, even with ray tracing
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Specs:
- Power Connectors: (1) 8-pin, (1) 6-pin
- Memory: GDDR6 8GB
- Memory Speed: 14Gbps
- Core Clock: 1605MHz
- Processors/Cores: 2560
- Outputs: (1) DisplayPort, (1) HDMI, (1) DVI-DL
The third Nvidia GeForce RTX to hit our list is the 2070 Super. The reason we’ve got so many in our top 10 is their future-proof, high-quality performance. They are the best of the best. This one specifically sits about mid-range compared to the rest of the series. When you compare the cost with the high-frame-rate, it’s the best graphics card for gaming. It performs just under the RTX 2080, but at a much more modest price.
If you’re gaming at 1440p resolution, you’ll be impressed by this graphics card. Even if you’ve ventured into games that allow ray tracing, the quality doesn’t dip in 1440p. It stills delivers smooth and seamless visuals, which is incredibly impressive. If you’re gaming at 4K resolution, with ray tracing, you may notice a slight stagger in performance, but not much. It can even support DLSS in compatible games. DLSS allows game rendering at a resolution that is beyond what the monitor can support. So, this is a cool bonus for this graphics card. DLSS can sometimes put a strain on a GPU, but the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super can easily handle it.
It is still part of the RTX range, so the price is on the higher side of the spectrum, but not as high as some of the others. If you can manage it, then you’ll be prepped for future technologies without giving up your life savings for it.
If you want to get on the ray-tracing train, without paying the extortionate price, then the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super will be great. Its 1440p performance is outstanding, and you’ll be impressed by the quality. It is still more expensive than graphics cards outside of the RTX series. Bear in mind that you’ll likely want to upgrade to a ray-tracing model eventually anyway. Purchasing this mid-range option will mean that you’re good to go when the changeover to the new technology inevitably happens.
10. PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC
Best 1080p Graphics Card
“If you’re an eSports gamer, you’ll love the buttery 1080p performance.”
Easy on the wallet
No ray tracing
Up-to-date technology
Not a massive amount of memory bandwidth
1080p resolution performance is smooth
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Specs:
- Power Connectors: (1) 8-pin
- Memory: GDDR6 6GB
- Memory Speed: 12Gbps
- Core Clock: 1500MHz
- Processors/Cores: 1536
- Outputs: (1) DisplayPort 1.4, (1) HDMI 2.0, (1) DVI
The last graphics card on our list is from Nvidia, but it’s not part of the RTX series! The PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC is the best graphics card for gaming for those who game in full HD. It offers incredible performance at 1440p resolution with even the most recent games on the market. Although it doesn’t have the ray tracing of the RTX series, it’s barely noticeable in today’s gaming world.
Esports gamers especially have fallen in love with this graphics card. It can handle any esports games you can throw at it at 60fps or more. It almost makes you forget about the RTX series at all. It’s crafted based on the Turing architecture design, so it’s still a progressive and future-ready product. Of course, it lacks the ray tracing, so maybe in a couple of years, it will fall behind. But for the price, we’re ok with that.
The body itself is relatively compact and can easily slide into any computer case, leaving additional room for other components.
If you’re an Nvidia fan, but don’t need the bells and whistles of the RTX series than the PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC is the best graphics card for gaming. Especially if you’re an eSports gamer, you’ll love the buttery 1080p performance and its future-prepping Turing architecture. Even though there is no ray tracing, it’s not necessary yet. For incredible esports gaming at 60 fps or above, you can’t beat the PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC.
Things to Consider When Purchasing a GPU
There are multiple factors to consider when choosing which graphics card to purchase for your gaming computer. Below, we will go through a few things to look out for when you’re shopping.
Memory: Memory is one of the most important aspects to consider when choosing the best graphics card for gaming. If you’re gaming at 1080p, you should get a graphics card with between 3 and 4GB of memory. The high-resolution you plan on gaming in, the more memory you’ll want. Downloading texture packs or turning up your settings will all require additional memory. If you’re playing in 4K, then you’ll need at least 8GB of memory.
Physical Size: Another critical factor is that the graphics card fits into your computer case. Check all the specs, including thickness, height, and length of the card. Also, you’ll want to check how many slots they take up. Graphics can run the gamut from half-height up to triple-slot models, so you want to make sure you’ve got the room for them. Generally, you’ll find that standard graphics cards will take up two slots and be at full height. That said, even if it only fills a slot or two, it may have bulky features that take up space within your case. If the heatsink or fan shroud is on the larger side, they can block other slots. The size of your motherboard will also be an indicator of how large your graphics card should be. If you have a mini motherboard, you’ll want a mini card. The best graphics card for gaming, in this case, would be under 8 inches in length.
TDP: TDP stands for Thermal Design Power. Its purpose is to measure how much heat dissipation the component requires. It can let you know the approximate wattage needed to run the GPU with its stock settings. It’s imperative to keep this in mind when purchasing a graphics card as you want to ensure the rest of your components can keep up. Otherwise, they may end up overheating.
Power Connectors: Pretty much any gaming graphics card will require more wattage than what the standard PCIe slots provide. Typically, the stock PCIe slot will only supply about 75 watts maximum. For this reason, you’ll need extra PCIe power connectors to support the graphics card. They are available in either six or eight-pin models. You’ll want to make sure that your graphics card comes with the pin ports so it can get the power it needs to run. If it doesn’t, you may find yourself needing to get an adapter.
Ports: Your graphics card must have the ports necessary to support your monitor. Depending on which monitor you have, you may need an HDMI, DisplayPort, or even DVI if you’ve got an older monitor. Some adapters are available, but you’re best off to get a graphics card with the necessary port from the beginning. If you plan to upgrade your monitor, then do the research to see which port is needed.
Clock Speed: Especially if you plan to do any overclocking, you’ll want to check the clock speed. Individual graphics cards will already come slightly overclocked, which will give you somewhat boosted frame rates.
Memory Bit Rate: The bit rate is how much information your graphics cards can move between itself and the RAM in one clock cycle. Having a higher memory bit rate may make one graphics card quicker than the other.
Stream Processors/CUDA Cores: AMD uses stream processors, and Nvidia uses CUDA cores. The number of processing units that are in your graphics card is also significant. It may not give you a ton of information about the overall performance of the GPU on its own. More data can be processed when you have a higher processor count. So, the more processors your graphics card has, the more powerful it will be.
RT / Tensor Cores: Ray tracing and tensor cores are new to the graphics card scene. Nvidia has been bigging up ray tracing with its RTX, which offers real-time ray tracing. These core types have lots of future potentials but currently, come with a high price tag. They have a long way to go to make it worth dropping that much money on them. Also, many games have trouble supporting them currently. The technology is going this way, so it’s not a bad idea to grab a GPU with ray tracing, but it’s not essential. If anything, it shouldn’t be the only reason you purchase a particular graphics card.
Can It Support VR?
If you plan on gaming in VR, you will need a graphics card that supports that. There are two leading virtual reality platforms for PC. They are the HTC Viva and Oculus Rift. You’ll need to have a mid-range card at the very least but, ideally, have a high performer. If you’ve got an older headset, you may be able to get away with a lower-end card. But the newer your headset, the higher the level of graphics card you’ll need.
Some Extra Tips for Purchasing a Graphics Card
– Don’t always assume you can overclock your graphics card for better performance. Most graphics cards don’t have a massive amount of overclocking potential anyway. You should opt to purchase a GPU that has the power to perform as you need it to from the beginning.
– Make sure your graphics card matches the resolution of your monitor. Most standard graphics cards will be excellent for 1080p gaming. If you plan to game in 4K, then you’ll need to have a graphics card that can keep up with that.
– Check the manufacturer’s suggested retail price before you purchase. That way, you can ensure you’re getting a reasonable price on the GPU you’re buying.
– Don’t get multiple graphics cards. Dual setups are not ideal, and support for them is diminishing. Try to get everything you need from a graphics card in a single model.
– Think about your monitors refresh rate. It’s pointless to invest in a super expensive card if your monitor has a low refresh rate anyway. Alternatively, if your monitor is pushing triple digits, then you need a more powerful card.
– Don’t spend your whole budget on a graphics card. Though it may be tempting to drop a ton of money on the best graphics card for gaming, hold out. Other components deserve a piece of that budget as well, like your CPU. If you’ve got a crap CPU, then your frame rates are going to suffer, even if you’ve got an amazing graphics card.
Freesync Vs. G-Sync
Both Freesync and G-sync are a type of refresh rate technology. They allow the frame rate of your graphics card to sync up with your monitors refresh rate. Freesync is from AMD, and G-Sync is from Nvidia. If you don’t have a preference for a specific company, then you should choose the one that is supported by your monitor. That said, many FreeSync monitors can now run G-Sync, which makes your decision a bit more complicated. They both do mainly the same job. The difference is how they deal with GPUs that produce higher frame rates than what the monitor can support. The G-Sync will lock the framerates off once they hit the capacity limit of the monitor. Free-Sync lets the GPU overclock and produce higher framerates than what the monitor supports.
AMD Vs. Nvidia
There are a ton of graphics cards on the market from a variety of different manufacturers. The processing units are all made by either Nvidia or AMD. There is the talk of Intel jumping on the scene as well, but that hasn’t happened yet. Nvidia has the most power-efficient options and outperforms AMD with its high-end RTX cards. If you are looking for something more mid-range, AMD and Nvidia are about equal.
Conclusion
The excitement of purchasing a graphics card is coupled with the realization that the market is vast. It’s quite an investment piece, and you want to start your shopping armed with a bank of knowledge about the component. Knowing what features to look for based on your gaming style is essential and will make the experience much more straightforward. You’ve got 10 of the best graphics cards for gaming to get you started, and likely there’s one on our list that will take your gaming experience to the next level.
