Best graphics card for money: Best Graphics Cards 2022 — Top Gaming GPUs for the Money

the top graphics cards for gaming

(Credit: Jackie Thomas / The Shortcut)

The best GPUs are making PC gaming better, but also more expensive. But, with that rising price tag, you get access to visuals that the best PS5 games couldn’t even dream of achieving. And, if you’re not after one of the best gaming laptops, the best way to get access to the wonders of PC gaming is with a dedicated GPU.

Right now, we’re fresh off the heels of the launch of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 and the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX. The latter of which finally sees AMD trading blows with Team Green in the high-end graphics space – and for $200 less. Basically, the world of the best graphics cards is heating up.

Luckily, I’ve been reviewing graphics cards for years now, and can help you make this admittedly huge decision. Whether you have a little 1080p screen or one of the best gaming monitors on the market, picking the right GPU for the job will only enhance your gaming experience. And I’m here to help.

  • ? Think about what games you actually play

  • ? The monitor you play PC games is a huge factor

  • ? Budget! There are graphics cards at many different price points

  • ? Measure your PC case

  • ⚡ Note your PSU wattage, you can often find it printed on the side of your Power Supply

AMD’s return to high-end value GPUs

Newegg: AMD RX 7900 XTX (out of stock)

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX specs:

Shader cores: 6,144 | VRAM: 24GB GDDR6 | GPU power: 355W | Clock speed: 2,300 MHz (Game Clock)

For the longest time, Nvidia had a stranglehold on top-end graphics cards. Team Green’s technology was just so far ahead that every time AMD tried to compete with a premium-tier GPU, it fell on its face. However, AMD has made some incredible waves with the new AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX.

The RDNA 3-based GPU is so much more powerful than the Radeon RX 6950X that preceded it, and is competent enough at ray tracing that you can justifiably leave the feature on at high resolutions. That’s a good thing, too, because this is a 4K graphics card through and through.

One of my biggest complaints about the Radeon 6800 XT was that while it could handle many games at 4K, performance fell apart as soon as you even suggested turning on ray tracing. That simply does not happen this time around.

In fact, this GPU is so fast, that it is a universally better deal than the RTX 4080, as it trades blows in performance, while costing a whopping $200 less. A price cut from Nvidia might endanger this graphics card’s number one slot, but right now, this is the best GPU on the market if you’re after a premium experience.

(Credit: Jackie Thomas / The Shortcut)

Nvidia’s 1440p masterpiece

  • ? Solid price to performance

  • ? Excellent 1440p gaming

  • ? Still a little expensive

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti was announced at CES 2023, and took the show by storm, bringing an excellent mainstream 1440p gaming experience. The graphics card is built on the same architecture as the powerhouse RTX 4090, and is easily able to play all the best PC games at a high frame rate.

It does carry a higher price tag than cards that have shared a similar name in the past, but it’s a worthy successor to the RTX 3080 at the same price point.

Going with this Nvidia graphics card also gets you access to features like DLSS 3.0, which is a huge boon when playing games at very high frame rates. However, the RTX 4070 Ti doesn’t exactly blow the Radeon RX 7900 XT out of the water and instead trades blows in a variety of tests. As always, picking the best GPU is going to come down to which games you play and how you play them. But if ray tracing and DLSS are on your list of priorities the RTX 4070 Ti might be the best GPU for you.

(Credit: Best Buy)

The no-compromises GPU

  • ⚡ The fastest graphics card out there

  • ? No holds barred 4K gaming

  • ??? Ludicrously expensive

Best Buy: RTX 4090

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 specs:

Shader cores: 16,384| VRAM: 24GB GDDR6X | GPU power: 450W | Clock speed: 2.52 GHz

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is incredibly expensive, starting at an eye-watering $1,599, which is more than I pay for rent. But, there are plenty of gamers out there that want the absolute best gaming experience, no matter the cost, and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is for those people.

If you only care about the speed of the graphics card and the price isn’t a concern, this is technically the best graphics card on the market, and it’s not even a close race. Even Nvidia’s second fastest graphics card, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, doesn’t even come close to the RTX 4090’s stratospheric performance.

The only real downside here is that the graphics card consumes a ton of power, reaching up to 434W in my Gizmodo review.

(Credit: Best Buy)

A budget graphics card that doesn’t suck

Best Buy: RTX 3050

Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 specs:

Shader cores: 2,560 | VRAM: 8GB GDDR6 | GPU power: 130W | Clock speed: 1.76 GHz

If you saw some of the high prices in this list and winced in pain, I feel you. But, you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on a graphics card just to get a great modern gaming experience. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 proves it.

When I reviewed this graphics card back at TechRadar, I went in expecting a throwaway product, given that it was released at the tail-end of the RTX 3000 series lifespan. But what I got was a graphics card that holds its own in the best games on the market, at a pretty decent entry price of $249.

Budget graphics cards used to be cheaper, though, but it seems like the days when you could buy an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 for $139 are over. C’est la vie.

(Credit: Jackie Thomas / The Shortcut)

A great 4K graphics card if you can’t quite afford the RTX 4090

  • ? Excellent 4K gaming performance

  • ? Cheaper than the RTX 4090

  • ? RTX 4090 provides better bang for the buck

Best Buy: RTX 4080

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 specs:

Shader cores: 9,728 | VRAM: 16GB GDDR6 | GPU power: 320W | Clock speed: 2.51 GHz

If you want in on the latest generation of PC gaming, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 is technically the cheapest way to do it. At $1,199 to start, it’s about $400 cheaper than the flagship Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090. So, if you have a hard budget limit around $1,200, this graphics card will absolutely get you an incredible 4K gaming experience – ray tracing and all.

But hear me out. You can spend just 33% more for the RTX 4090 and get up to 50% more performance. That’s a price/performance difference that’s absolutely worth the extra cash. Because when you’re spending this much money, you’re going to want the product that will last you as long as possible before needing to upgrade.

The RTX 4080 does get you there, but the RTX 4090 is worth the higher up-front cost.

I’ve been reviewing graphics cards as a full-time job for two GPU generations now, starting with the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT in June 2019. But even before that, I’ve been building and testing PCs for everyone I know since I was 13 years old. Graphics cards are basically my life at this point, and I know exactly how to pick out the perfect GPU, and I know which ones to avoid spending money on.

If you have any questions about graphics cards, or really anything else about your PC adventures, leave a comment or reach out on Twitter. I’ll do my best to reply in a timely manner to help you find the perfect GPU for your gaming (or work) needs.

The Shortcut is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

8 Best Graphics Card Under 100 Dollars [2022]

The Gaming rigs are nothing without their graphics cards. PC gaming requires a graphics card, which is one of the main components of a PC. A slow GPU can drive you crazy, but a powerful GPU can take your gaming experience to the next level. However, the main factor determining what type of GPU you get is ‘Money!’. For the best graphics card under $100, we had to dig through all benchmarks, 3D tests, and a wide range of games to ensure you don’t break the bank or pawn shops for money. We reviewed several GPUs from AMD and Nvidia to find the best budget graphics card. This article will find all the information you need to find the best GPU for gaming at a fair price. We will review the 8 Best Graphics Card Under 100 Dollars.

Purchasing a great GPU can cost you hundreds of dollars. In the tech industry, it’s just natural to spend more to get a better item. It may surprise you that you can find some competent graphics cards for less than $100. The latest tech might not be jammed into them, but they can typically get the job done well in gaming. Many of them can even compete with more expensive options when it comes to rendering. You will read reviews about the best 100-dollar graphics card in this article

Our Top 3 Recommendations

Best Pick

ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030

Prices start at $70

Low TDP of 30W

Low profile/single slot

Check Price

Most Popular

XFX RX 550 2GB

Future-Proof Features

No additional power connector required

Cool and quiet

Check Price

Budget Pick

EVGA GeForce GT 710 1GB

GeForce GT 710 1GB GDDR5 fully supports DX12 on Windows 10

Designed to dissipate heat silently with a 0dB thermal design

Up to three monitors can be connected with the integrated alloy power II component for enhanced multitasking

Check Price

8 Best Graphics Card Under 100 Dollars Summary

Award Image Model Price
Best Video Card for under 100 Dollars ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030

See On Amazon

Best GPU under 100 XFX RX 550 2GB

See On Amazon

Best Budget Graphics Card under 100$ EVGA GeForce GT 710 1GB

See On Amazon

Best Video Card for under 100 ZOTAC GeForce GT 730

See On Amazon

Good Video Card for 100 Dollars Asus AMD Radeon R7 250

See On Amazon

Best GPU under 100 Dollars GeForce GT 740 OC

See On Amazon

Best Graphics Card around 100 Dollars Nvidia GeForce GTX 750Ti

See On Amazon

Best ASUS GPU Under 100$ Asus GeForce GTX 650Ti

See On Amazon

8 Best Graphics Card Under 100 Dollars At a Glance:

  • ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030
  • XFX RX 550 2GB
  • EVGA GeForce GT 710 1GB
  • ZOTAC GeForce GT 730
  • Asus AMD Radeon R7 250
  • GeForce GT 740 OC
  • Nvidia GeForce GTX 750Ti
  • Asus GeForce GTX 650Ti

8 Best Graphics Card Under 100 Dollars Reviews

ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030
(Image credit: Amazon)

ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030

Best Video Card for under 100 Dollars

SPECIFICATIONS

GPU: GeForce® GT 1030 | Video Memory: 2GB GDDR5 | Memory Clock: 6. 0 GHz | DirectX: 12 | Memory Bus: 64-bit |

REASONS TO BUY


Prices start at $70


Low TDP of 30W


Low profile/single slot

REASONS TO AVOID


It’s not good for AAA games

View on Amazon
Read Customer Reviews

The ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB is a low-end graphics card from Zotac. In October 2017, it was released, making it almost three years old. Zotac GT 1030 is based on the NVIDIA Pascal architecture, and it has 1024 stream processors, 64 texture units, and 32 ROPs. Using the new Pascal GP107 GPU, it has 2048 shaders clocked at 1417MHz (effectively). This board has one DVI-D and one DVI-I port. This is one of the Best Graphics Card Under 100 Dollars.

The outstanding example of a low-profile GPU provided by ZOTAC is just one in a long list of GPUs suitable for budget-friendly computers. GeForce GT 1030 does not require the installation of two PCI slots since it can be installed in the minor ITX case, even if there are no PCI expansion slots.

XFX RX 550 2GB
(Image credit: Amazon)

XFX RX 550 2GB

Best GPU under 100

SPECIFICATIONS

GPU: Radeon™ RX 550 2GT LP OC | Video Memory: 2GB GDDR5 | Memory Clock: 6.0 GHz | DirectX: 12 | Memory Bus: 128-bit |

REASONS TO BUY


Future-Proof Features


No additional power connector required


Cool and quiet

REASONS TO AVOID


Notably slower than slightly more expensive Radeon RX 460

View on Amazon
Read Customer Reviews

Similar to the NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030, the XFX RX 550 is low-profile and perfect for budget gaming builds. This card has only one PCI expansion slot, and the XFX RX 550 is a great budget card for those on a tight budget. Like the GT 1030, its performance isn’t terrible, but it will not blow you away.

It should be able to run at the lowest settings if the game isn’t particularly hardware intensive. The RX 550 does not produce much heat, so it will not need a powerful and loud GPU cooler since it produces almost no heat.

XFX Double Dissipation Cooling allows you to enjoy the benefits of GDDR5 memory technology. A dual-fan cooling solution is employed to dissipate heat from the CPU and graphics card. This graphics card will provide outstanding performance for gamers on an average budget, so it is an excellent option for them. However, this is one of the Best Graphics Card Under 100 Dollars.

EVGA GeForce GT 710 1GB
(Image credit: Amazon)

EVGA GeForce GT 710 1GB

Best Budget Graphics Card under 100$

SPECIFICATIONS

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 | Video Memory: 1GB GDDR5 | Memory Speed: 5012 MHZ | DirectX: 12 | Memory Bus: 64 Bits |

REASONS TO BUY


GeForce GT 710 1GB GDDR5 fully supports DX12 on Windows 10


Designed to dissipate heat silently with a 0dB thermal design


Up to three monitors can be connected with the integrated alloy power II component for enhanced multitasking

REASONS TO AVOID


May cause random blackouts

View on Amazon
Read Customer Reviews

The EVGA GeForce GT 710 1GB graphics card is an excellent choice for those who want to play games at the average frame rate. This graphics card is perfect for those with a low budget for graphics cards. With its 1GB memory interface, the EVGA GT 710 will deliver an average performance in both 3D and 2D applications.

The graphics card cost is quite affordable compared to other more expensive graphics cards, like the RTX 2080 Ti GPU from NVIDIA, which costs thousands of dollars. On top of that, it costs almost half of our budget amount, which is even better than offering a higher value for a lower cost. If you intend to play a few games on your work computer (or one with a Ryzen CPU), you may consider the EVGA GT 710.

There is a downside to the RAM, though; it is slow, as well as the graphics processor. Therefore, both of the components perform about average. Despite this, the card has 1GB of RAM so that you can run some 3D applications and games, and it runs pretty coolly. Despite its quietness, this device only needs to be connected to a single PCI expansion slot on your computer so that you can fit it in the smallest of ITX cases.

ZOTAC GeForce GT 730
(Image credit: Amazon)

ZOTAC GeForce GT 730

Best Video Card for under 100

SPECIFICATIONS

GPU: GeForce GT 730 | Video Memory: 2/4 GB GDDR5 | Memory Clock: 1600 MHz | DirectX: 12 | Memory Bus: 64 Bits |

REASONS TO BUY


Silent


Power Efficient

REASONS TO AVOID


Can’t give good FPS in high graphics

View on Amazon
Read Customer Reviews

For those who want to take their gaming experience to the next level, the ZOTAC GeForce GT 730 is the ideal solution. This smaller form factor card is perfect for HTPC systems and first-time gamers. It is also a good choice for applications requiring low power. The GT 730 has 4GB of GDDR3 memory and a 64-bit memory bus to handle up to 64-bit applications. Despite its wide range of resolutions, this graphics card supports a maximum of 2040p.

It is an excellent choice for gamers looking for a graphics card that can be had for under 100 dollars. At the time of its release, the GT 730 was an impressive machine and is still just as impressive today. The card provides several advantages over other budget graphics cards, even though it cannot handle the latest games at the highest settings.

This graphics card comes with 4GB of RAM, which gives it twice as much RAM as any other graphics card we have reviewed so far. Because the GT 730 is equipped with more RAM than any other card on this list, it can render complex models and images faster.

Asus AMD Radeon R7 250
(Image credit: Amazon)

Asus AMD Radeon R7 250

Good Video Card for 100 Dollars

SPECIFICATIONS

GPU: R7250-1GD5 | Video Memory: 1 GB GDDR5 | **Memory Clock:**1150 MHz | DirectX: 12 (11_1) | Memory Bus: 128 Bits |

REASONS TO BUY


Capable of handling 1080p gaming at medium settings


Compact

REASONS TO AVOID


Performs significantly better under load than Nvidia’s latest cards


Requires a six-pin power connector

View on Amazon
Read Customer Reviews

The Asus Radeon R7 250 1GB from ASUS is an impressive graphics card. It fully supports DX12 and can provide you with an experience that rivals the best on the market in this budget. An extended warranty of up to 3 years is provided with this card for a great gaming experience. Its 1GB of GDDR5 memory can run demanding games at low to medium details and resolutions. 

Asus has done a great job using AMD’s Radeon 7 chipset here, but we would not recommend this for gamers. As you can see, the unit only has 1GB of GDDR5 VRAM, which significantly impacts its gaming capabilities.

Overall, this graphics card performs pretty well. Dust is kept off the GPU by its dust-proof fan, so its lifespan has increased drastically. Despite its quietness, its use of AUTO-EXTREME technology allows the entire system to operate automatically.

In addition to its lack of V-RAM, it has no other features that set it apart from other budget options. It has more than enough power to quickly play games from around 2012, and it’ll work admirably for people who are into 3D modeling and video editing. Videos are rendered quickly, and the computer remains excellent for an extended period.

GeForce GT 740 OC
(Image credit: Amazon)

GeForce GT 740 OC

Best GPU under 100 Dollars

SPECIFICATIONS

GPU: GV-N740D5OC-2GI | Video Memory: 2 GB GDDR5 | Memory Clock: 1350 MHz | DirectX: 12 (11_0) | Memory Bus: 128 Bits |

REASONS TO BUY


3K Output over DVI


Supports dual display


Lossless audio

REASONS TO AVOID


Slightly more expensive

View on Amazon
Read Customer Reviews

In a price range of closer to 100 dollars, the Asus GeForce GT 740 OC gives you more performance for the same amount of money as the Radeon R7 240 and GeForce GT 730. Based on a glance at the specs, it looks like the memory sub-system will be the most impressive. The ultra-fast GDDR5 has replaced GDDR3 RAM. These memory chips allow for faster speeds, giving gamers the chance to get more performance from the cards. 

The GPU is a mid-range non-gaming GPU. As usual, Nvidia names their cards like this 740 GT: the 7 indicates the generation, and the 40 indicates the performance. You should aim high for both numbers if you want a better card. The 740 was released more than seven years ago, and it would not be able to handle current games at a reasonable frame rate. 

I would not recommend this card for gaming. You can use this card for low-end gaming and video work. You should choose the GTX series if you want to game.

Nvidia GeForce GTX 750Ti
(Image credit: Amazon)

Nvidia GeForce GTX 750Ti

Best Graphics Card around 100 Dollars

SPECIFICATIONS

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti | Video Memory: 2 GB GDDR5 | Memory Clock: 1350 MHz | DirectX: 12 (11_0) | Memory Bus: 128 Bits |

REASONS TO BUY


Excellent power consumption


Cool and very quiet

REASONS TO AVOID


No SLI support

View on Amazon
Read Customer Reviews

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti is a mid-range desktop graphics card announced in early 2014. It is based on the first generation of Maxwell architecture, the GM107 chip. Maxwell outperformed Kepler and AMD chips in similar performance areas by focusing on energy efficiency. GTX 750 Ti does support DirectX 11.2 but only feature level 11_0. GeForce GTX 750Ti is one of the best budget graphics cards for under 100$.

It is comparable in performance to the GeForce GTX 860M, an equivalent chip for laptops that has a slightly slower clock rate and a slightly lower clock rate. However, AMD’s Radeon R7 260X and Nvidia’s GTX 750 and GTX 660 offer similar performance.

A strong suit of the GTX 750 Ti is its low power consumption, which is superior to the less powerful Radeon R7 260X (gaming) by a wide margin.

Asus GeForce GTX 650Ti
(Image credit: Amazon)

Asus GeForce GTX 650Ti

Best ASUS GPU Under 100$

The Asus GeForce GTX 650Ti GPU outperforms the overclocked Sapphire Vapor-X HD 7770 in almost every regard, even in terms of performance. The Overclockability is good, and scaling is excellent for this card. As a result, NVIDIA’s GTX 650 Ti is a perfectly acceptable performance card at 1680×1055, which is where you’d expect a 650 series part to be. Performance is suitable for that segment, and the power consumption is impressive considering the AMD HD 7850.

The GeForce GTX 650Ti is best for games released in 2012-2014. This card is good for you if you want to buy the best graphics card for under 100 dollars. 

The GeForce GTX 650 Ti is a good product overall, though. It may not be the highest-performing solution throughout its entire price range. Aside from its small form factor, the card’s power consumption characteristics are friendly, and it operate cool and quietly.

Factors to consider while buying the Best Graphics Card under 100 Dollars

The market offers a wide range of graphics cards with various specifications. You must consider a few factors before purchasing a graphics card. Before buying the best graphics card for under 100 dollars, here are a few things to consider.

Cooling: Graphics cards generate a lot of heat. A GPU’s TDP value provides information on its heat output, which is an important consideration when selecting a GPU. As your TDP value increases, you’ll need more fans to distribute heat effectively. The TDP value makes a difference because fans require additional space and power.

Power: Besides considering the TDP value for space reasons, you should also consider whether the power supply has enough 8-pin or 6-pin connectors to support your graphics card. The easiest way to ensure this is to purchase a power supply of at least 80 Plus Bronze.

Memory: It is the video memory on the graphics card. It’s just like the main system ram, except it’s specifically used and reserved for graphics. Graphics cards with 2GB and 4GB of RAM are used for games. In a game, you can maximize detail with more VRAM.

Graphics cards usually have 2 to 12 gigabytes of video RAM. Yet, there is much debate about how much memory a computer needs for optimal performance. According to some forums, the amount of memory does not matter, but others state it is an important consideration when purchasing a graphics card.

Bandwidth: It is debatable how vital GPU memory is to some, but bandwidth is essential to all. A GPU’s bandwidth is how much memory it can access at any moment. A GPU with more bandwidth can feed data to its shader cores faster. Hence, games and video graphics run smoothly. An external bandwidth refers to the connection between a GPU and its associated system. It represents the speed of data transfers over a bus (for example, PCIe or Thunderbolt).  

Shader Cores: Shader cores are extremely flexible mathematics pipelines that execute shader programs to manipulate pixels and polygon vertices within a scene. Shaders also allow you to utilize the processing power of the graphics card processing unit (GPU) instead of solely relying on the system CPU. In addition, the GPU can handle multiple data streams at once.  

Conclusion

The best video card for under 100 dollars is ZOTAC GeForce GT 1030 2GB. It is the best card for its price that provides the best performance. However, this graphics card is if you want to enjoy the best gaming experience for under $100. With this card, you can run all the old games on maximum settings and all the new games at medium settings at 720p.

You should choose this card if you’re buying a card under 100 dollars! Photo and Video Editors will benefit from it as it makes the editing process blazing fast and good.

You should consider more expensive cards if you want a top-notch gaming experience. There is no way that $100 will cut it in the gaming world, and new games are released almost every week, making it challenging to keep up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 1030 good for gaming?

With this video card, virtually any game available today can be played at 30-60 frames per second at a low to medium setting, and even at a high setting if it is a little old, like GTA 5 in 1080p.  Despite its reputation as an entry-level card, this is generally a good card

Is a 2GB graphics card Enough?

No, 2 GB isn’t enough memory for most modern games. The last time a high-end graphics card had only 2 GB of memory was many years ago. You can still play older games.

Can I play GTA 5 on a 1GB graphics card?

Yes, you can play GTA 5 on a 1GB graphics card at medium settings.

Asad Malik

My name is Asad Malik, and I have done my intermediate in Computer Science, and I really enjoy finding out about the newest tech products, buying them, and writing reviews on them.

Best Graphics Card for Gaming 2018 | Gaming video cards | Video card for streaming | Nvidia or Radeon | PROCompy.ru

What is the best video card for gaming on the market today and which budget video card can be bought inexpensively in 2018. And also which video card to choose for games? Nvidia or Radeon? Let’s find out!

If you don’t want to go into details and specifications of video cards, then here is a list of the best ones for your specific needs:

Best Budget Graphics Card: MSI GTX 1050 2G OC
Best 1080p Gaming Graphics Card: Gigabyte Aorus Radeon RX 570
Best 1440p Gaming Graphics Card: GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition; AMD Radeon RX Vega 56
Best Enthusiast Gaming Graphics Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1080
Best 4K Gaming Graphics Card (GPU): GeForce GTX 1080 Ti

The choice can be a little harder than it sounds. Initial performance plays a major role, but factors such as noise, additional software, etc. also play a role in choosing which graphics card to buy. nine0003

We have tested a large number of GPUs ranging from $100 to $1200, from basic models to high-end ones. We have presented the results of these tests in this article — a guide and recommendations for buying a video card depending on your needs.

Read our article: How to clean your computer of dust.

Some news

Nvidia recently introduced new RTX series graphics cards, specifically the RTX 2070, 2080 and 2080 Ti . The cards have improved performance compared to their older counterparts from the 10th series. New video cards allow ray tracing in real time, which is reflected in the output image in the form of the most realistic and dynamic lighting. read more in our: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 and RTX 2080 Ti release date, price, specifications. nine0003

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best budget graphics card
Best 1080p graphics card
Best 1440p graphics card
Best enthusiast graphics card
Best 4K graphics card
How to choose a gaming graphics card?
Cryptocurrencies, prices for video cards — what is the relationship between them?

Best budget video card

MSI GTX 1050 2G OC

Citylink price Oldie price

The best budget video card for gaming right now is GeForce GTX 1050 from MSI, it outperforms the AMD competitor with a better low price and overclocking potential. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 is an excellent low cost upgrade option for eSports enthusiasts. You can get up to 100 FPS (frames per second) in Dota 2 , Overwatch , Counter-Strike: Global Offensive .

The GTX 1050 will run 60 fps in most high-end, resource-hungry games (like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or Assassin’s Creed Unity, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Assassin’s Creed Origins) at medium graphics settings at 1080p and 30 FPS at ultra settings. nine0003

EVGA GTX 1050 Ti SC Gaming and MSI GTX 1050 2G OC. Small and Sub-75 Watt Specs The GeForce GTX 1050 is small and doesn’t require any additional power, allowing you to fit a new graphics card into your old, small case. The GTX 1050 has HDMI 2.0b and HD video support, making it an attractive home theater prospect.

EVGA GTX 1050 Ti SC Gaming

BiCompact Price

EVGA GTX 1050 Ti SC Gaming can easily upgrade your old PC into a gaming PC.

The

GTX 1050 Ti doubles the RAM to 4GB and offers more power under the hood than the GTX 1050. The GTX 1050 Ti can hit 60fps at high graphics settings in most modern games, and its 4GB of memory is way better than a simple GTX 1050 (2GB).

nine0002 Radeon RX 550

Nvidia’s competitor is the $140 AMD Radeon RX 560, however Radeon graphics cards are slower, run hotter and more power hungry than the GeForce GTX 1050. GeForce cards are the best choice if you don’t need to pair the Radeon RX 560 with a FreeSync monitor.

Best 1080p graphics card

RX 570 Radeon RX 570

Price on Walmart Price on Citylink

Gigabyte Aorus is a great, well-performing graphics card. The Radeon RX 570 is a better alternative for $200 gaming, but it’s not much more than the RX 470.

We have several contenders for the title of «Best 1080p Graphics Card»: the Radeon RX 570, Radeon RX 580 and GeForce GTX 1060, which also differ from each other in terms of video memory size.

You can’t go wrong with any of these cards. All of them are great options for games. Using the Radeon RX 580 (4GB) is a good option. The RX 570 and 3GB GTX 1060 perform slightly worse, but run cooler. The more powerful 6 GB GeForce GTX 1060 performs better than any of the options listed. nine0003

Gigabyte Aorus RX 570 Radeon RX 570 is the card to get if you’re only interested in 1080p gaming. It can deliver 60 frames per second, with all graphics settings at the maximum level in most games, providing uncompromising performance in this price range. The most affordable models sell for $240 and are the best 1080p gaming option on the market (unless you can find a more powerful 4GB RX 580 or 6GB GTX 1060 for the same price). nine0003

6GB GTX 1060 OR RX 580

6GB GTX 1060

Price on Citylink Price on Oldie

RX 580

Price on the Player Price on Citylink Price on 123. ru

But if you have an extra $30 to $40 we recommend choosing 4GB Radeon RX 580 or 6GB GTX 1060 . Both deliver even better 1080p gameplay at FPS 60. Consider spending extra for more memory capacity 6GB GTX 1060 or 8GB Radeon RX 580, if you plan to play at 1440p or in VR.

Best 1440p Graphics Card

Meet the Champions! The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 and Radeon RX Vega 56 provide more performance and max FPS.

GeForce GTX 1070

Price on 123.ru Price on Player Price on Oldie Price on Citylink

AMD’s

Radeon RX Vega 56 may be slightly more powerful than the GeForce GTX 1070, but the GTX generates less heat. This is a great option for all games except 4K. nine0003

As we said in the previous section, the Radeon RX 580 and 6GB GTX 1060 are great options for decent 1440p/High gaming, but you need top-end cards to get the highest settings with the highest FPS.

These cards are much more expensive, but the performance difference is just as huge.

Radeon RX Vega 56

Price on Player Price on Walmart Price on 123.ru Price on Citylink

However, you get a huge amount of performance for your money. Both of these graphics cards can handle 60 frames per second steadily and calmly, with all settings set to Ultra at 1440p. You will also be able to play many games at 4K resolution at high settings, but the FPS will be slightly lower. nine0003

One of the strengths of the Radeon RX Vega 56 is access to inexpensive FreeSync monitors. On the other hand, the Radeon RX 56 requires significantly more power than the GTX 1070 and good cooling, as it gets quite hot.

Best Enthusiast Graphics Card

This is the GeForce GTX 1080 you’ve been waiting for. The EVGA GTX 1080 FTW has high base frequencies and an additional 8-pin power connector.

There are three options: Nvidia cost $450 GeForce GTX 1070 Ti , $500 GeForce GTX 1080 and AMD $500 Radeon RX Vega 64 . As with the Vega 56, the Radeon card runs quite hot.

Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition.

These graphics cards allow you to use 144Hz monitors at 1440p. In this case, you will always have 60 fps with a resolution of 4K.

These cards also have good overclocking potential.

The extreme overclocking capabilities of the GTX 1080 Nvidia Pascal GPU can’t be beat. We were able to overclock this card to 2.1 GHz with a hefty custom cooling system and an additional 8-pin power connector. Incredible! nine0003

AMD Radeon RX Vega cards. The

AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 is faster than the GTX 1080 in some games — mostly games using Vulkan and DirectX 12 — but slower in others.

However, Vega requires a borderline ridiculous amount of power. The Radeon RX Vega 64 is also loud as hell and gets incredibly hot. The only compelling reason to pick an AMD card is to pair it with a more affordable FreeSync monitor, but most of the initial stock of the Vega 64 was limited to expensive Radeon Packs that added $100 to the card’s price in exchange for a couple of games and coupons for highly specialized, expensive hardware from AMD ecosystems. nine0003

GeForce GTX 1070 Ti
Walmart Price

$450 The GeForce GTX 1070 Ti serves as a spoiler for the GTX 1080 if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and overclock the card. Its GPU is nearly on par with the GTX 1080 in raw hardware, and Nvidia is effectively limiting third-party board makers in terms of overclocking the GTX 1070 Ti graphics cards to keep them from overtaking the bigger sibling. You can manually overclock the GTX 1070 Ti to match or exceed the performance of the GTX 1080. Despite the GTX 1070 Ti dropping in price to the entry level GTX 1080s. Out of the box, the GTX 1070 Ti often offers slightly better performance than the $400 Vega 56, but is a little slower than the GTX 1080.

So, the GTX 1070 Ti is a great option for people who don’t mind tinkering for maximum performance. (Overclock Graphics Card) Vendors such as EVGA and Asus provide automatic overclocking tools for the GTX 1070 Ti in their graphics software to make the process easier, but in our manual overclocking tests, the EVGA Precision XOC managed to achieve significantly better results.

Best 4K video card, video card for streaming. nine0021

The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti from Nvidia is the most powerful graphics card that can run everything, absolutely everything in 4K, at ultra settings without compromise, and will also be a great choice for streamers.
Read also: how to stream on Twitch, as well as how to choose the best processors of 2018.
In 2018, Nvidia released a new generation of gaming graphics cards. About this event and presentation of GeForce RTX 2070 , GeForce RTX 2080 and yes, GeForce RTX 2080 Ti we wrote in this article. Read!

If you need absolute PC gaming performance and don’t care how much it costs, then Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti — is your choice!

Oldie price Citylink price

With performance 25 to 35 percent faster than a vanilla GTX 1080, this beast will easily deliver sacred 60fps per second in all modern PC games 0025 in 4K resolution on Ultra settings . And if you disable v-sync in games, you can easily get 120 FPS in games like World Of Tanks, Dota 2 , Overwatch , Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

EVGA GTX 1080 Ti SC2.

Best for 4K gaming — EVGA GTX 1080 Ti SC2, multi-channel setup of any complexity for UltraHD or 144Hz 1440p gaming.

While original models were limited to Founders Edition reference cards that get hot and noisy when overclocked, custom GTX 1080 Ti models are starting to hit the market. We tested EVGA GTX 1080 Ti SC2 ($770) is faster, much quieter and much cooler than the Founders Edition, justifying its premium status. Gigabyte Aorus ($770) is another great option.

After the launch of the GTX 1080 Ti, Nvidia launched the new Titan Xp ($1,200 on the Nvidia website). It has a full version of the GP102 GPU rather than a slightly reduced version like the GTX 1080 Ti and the original Titan X running Pascal. Sure, it’s more powerful than the GTX 1080 Ti, but the price difference is $500. nine0003

How to choose a gaming graphics card?

Various manufacturers offer individual versions of each GPU: for example, you can buy different Radeon RX 570 models from Sapphire, XFX, Asus, MSI, and PowerColor.

To narrow down your options and find the right card for you, you should consider the following things:

Overclocks : More expensive custom models are often overclocked to varying degrees resulting in improved performance. nine0003

Cooling: Many graphics cards are available with custom coolers that lower temperatures and noise. Video cards with liquid cooling heat up much less, but require additional space inside the system unit for tubes and a radiator.

Dimensions : Many graphics cards are the same size, but there are longer and shorter models of many GPUs. Be sure to check that the graphics card you choose will fit in your system unit before buying it. nine0003

Compatibility: Not all hardware supports a wide range of connectivity options. Higher end graphics cards may not have DVI ports, while lower end monitors may not support DisplayPort. Make sure your graphics card and monitor can connect to each other. Also, make sure your power supply matches the recommended power for the graphics card you choose. And also make sure that you have a powerful enough processor that can unleash the full potential of the video card. nine0009 How to choose a processor and which processor is the best at the moment, read in this article.

Cryptocurrencies, prices for video cards — what is the relationship between them?

Due to the hype in 2017 on cryptocurrency and mining, there was a shortage of top (powerful) video cards on the market, which miners bought to build farms and mine bitcoin and altcoins. As a result, the prices for these video cards jumped quite seriously.
It is especially offensive if you are just a gamer and have nothing to do with the world of cryptocurrencies. nine0003

Video card manufacturers have even started releasing specialized graphics cards for mining, such as the Sapphire Nitro, which does not even have a DVI or HDMI monitor output. But this did not help jade in the fight against all-consuming miners.

Read also our articles about choosing:
— How to choose the best processor
— How to choose a monitor
— How to choose a TV

And of course, take care of choosing the best antivirus.

Best 1080p graphics card for ray tracing

Verdict

The Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti isn’t the cheapest card on the market, but it’s the most affordable option if you want a current-gen GPU and the best choice for ray tracing for any gamer who doesn’t want to make the expensive jump to 4K.

Pros

  • High performance 1080p ray tracing
  • Lowest power consumption of any Ampere card
  • Cheapest current generation card on the market

Lessine

  • still does not massively accelerate
  • by only 20% cheaper RTX 3070

The main characteristics

  • VISISTICTION price: £ 369
  • 8 GDDRITITIONAL MG mg. 1665MHz
  • 152 tensor cores
  • 38 RT cores
  • 200W TDP

The Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti is the cheapest current generation graphics card in Nvidia’s portfolio. It aims to offer buyers on a budget a more affordable way to enjoy ray tracing at playable 1080p frame rates, with Nvidia citing it as offering an RTX 2080 Super-level performance. nine0026

This makes it quite an important release for Nvidia as it is currently the LOWEST next generation graphics card and the most affordable way to enjoy stellar Ampere Ray Tracing performance.

But given that Nvidia’s performance claims have been so bold throughout a generation, you might rightly wonder if this holds true in real world use. We thoroughly tested the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti against every other current generation card we could put on in the Trusted Reviews test lab. nine0003

Here’s what you need to know.

Related: Best Graphics Cards 2020

Features and Design Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

The Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti has the same dual fan design as the RTX 3070. This means it uses a dedicated 12-pin power connector, like all new 30-series cards. An adapter is included so you don’t have to change the power supply when you upgrade.

In terms of ports, it has the same updated HDMI 2.1 connectivity as its other 30-series siblings and three display ports. The main means that the card can theoretically play 4K content at 120Hz and has a wider total bandwidth of 48Gbps. The older HDMI 2.0b standard delivered 18Gbps. nine0003

It also sees the same 8GB GDDR6 video memory as the more expensive RTX 3070, but doesn’t have the faster, more expensive GDDR6x option seen on the RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 cards. Still, at this price, it’s not surprising , and it’s far from a deal-breaker given its focus on 1080/1440p performance.

The big downgrade you get compared to the RTX 3070 and AMD RX 6800 (which are the closest current-gen cards to it in terms of price) is slower acceleration and core clocks, and fewer Tensor and RT cores. nine0003

For those new to the use of Nvidia cards, Tensor cards are specialty hardware that is commonly used to improve performance and perform complex AI functions such as DLSS. Deep Learning Super Sampling is a smart solution that helps the GPU increase frame rates by magically using AI to better predict and pre-render images, dramatically improving key things like ray tracing performance. RT cores are special accelerators that run ray tracing. nine0003

Related: What is DLSS?

Like all 30-series cards, the RTX 3060 Ti uses Gen 3 Tensor cores and Gen 2 RT cores. That’s a key reason why, according to Nvidia, it can outperform older and significantly more expensive 20-series cards that use previous generation technologies.

The benefit of the lower specs is that the 3060 Ti is significantly less demanding in performance than its more expensive 200W TDP siblings. This means you’ll be able to run it on lower power supplies, making it a great choice for more affordable or microATX builds. Unfortunately, the dual-fan design means you’ll likely still struggle to fit it into a mini ITX case without some very clever cable management or modification. nine0003

Control
Control is regarded as one of the best indicators of how a graphics card will handle ray tracing and DLSS. It’s a beautiful game full of complex physics and challenging, highly reflective environments. The game does not have a built-in performance test, so we tested the performance by taking the average frame rate in a demanding section of the game, set in an office environment full of reflective windows and advanced lighting effects. nine0003

Here, the performance of the 3060 Ti is exactly what Nvidia claims. The card delivered stable, playable frame rates with ray tracing and DLSS enabled at all resolutions except 4K. This is largely due to the fact that the game settings automatically significantly reduce the rendering resolution when DLSS is enabled.

However, performance drops quickly when DLSS is disabled. With ray tracing disabled, the card ran at over 60fps in everything but 4K. nine0003

Battlefield V
Battlefield V was one of the first games to support ray tracing, and it remains an excellent benchmark for judging how a graphics card can handle this technology. This is a great multiplayer game full of moving parts, powerful explosions and lighting effects.

Like Control, it doesn’t have a built-in benchmark, so we measured performance by taking the average frame rate while playing through a particular section of the Nordalis War Story. nine0003

Here again, the 3060 Ti offers solid frame rates beyond 60fps with ray tracing and DLSS enabled in all but 4K. The game also surpassed the sacred milestone of 60fps at any resolution with ray tracing turned off.

Borderlands 3
Borderlands 3 is a game optimized for AMD hardware. It does not support ray tracing or DLSS, but remains a demanding title. It requires a GPU to render a large open world full of AI enemies, high quality textures, and the required animations/explosion and light effects. nine0003

Running the in-game test, the 3060 Ti was again able to run the game at 60fps in all but 4K.

Division 2
The Division 2 is an open world shooter set in a huge city. It’s not the most demanding game in our test suite, but its internal benchmark is a good indication of how the GPU will run most current games with live services.

Here, the 3060 Ti offers excellent performance at all resolutions, delivering 60fps results in all but 4K. nine0003

Doom Eternal
Doom Eternal is one of the few games in our test suite that forces you to run it in Vulkan rather than the Direct X API. This means it does not support ray tracing or DLSS. It doesn’t have an internal benchmark, so we measure performance by taking the average frame rate as we go through the initial part of its first tier. The 3060 Ti was powerful enough to run the game at a super-fast 60fps at any resolution, including 4K. nine0003

Horizon: Zero Dawn
Horizon: Zero Dawn does not support ray tracing or DLSS. But it remains a terribly demanding game due to the fact that it appeared on PS4, where it originated as an exclusive.

Its internal benchmark challenges GPUs to render everything from busy city scenes to thunderous snowstorms. The 3060 Ti delivered playable frame rates in all tests, falling short of 60fps in 4K. nine0003

3DMark
3DMark is a benchmark suite that tests GPU performance using a variety of synthetic benchmarks. Time Spy Extreme is designed to test Direct X 12 performance in 4K. Port Royal is looking to evaluate its ray tracing capabilities.

In both tests, the higher the score, the better. Here, the 3060 Ti’s results were in line with Nvidia’s claim, falling short of the 3070.

Power consumption, heat and overclocking
High power consumption and little headroom for overclocking are two of the key issues I ran into while testing the RTX 3080 and 3070. Fortunately, the main issue has generally been fixed on the 3060 Ti, which is the least demanding card in the current generation of Nvidia.

Running Time Spy Extreme, I found a peak system power consumption of 291.