- Nov 16, 2018 - Want the very best graphics card to make your PC games look glorious? We've rounded them all up, including the new Nvidia RTX 20 Series.
- In most cases, it isn't possible to upgrade a laptop's graphics card. If you want better gaming performance, the only sensible option is to buy a new laptop.
Subscribe Building a PC of your dream always presupposes hard work. It’s a time-consuming process which consists of several stages and requires a profound knowledge of specific notions, and graphics card is definitely one of them. That is why we’ve prepared some basic information you should take into account when choosing the graphics card for your computer. Besides, here you will also find the list of best graphics cards, which includes models suitable for both common users and zealous gamers. Preview Product What to consider when choosing a graphics card?
What do you need a graphics card for? Model, size, price – all this comes later. Your first step is to make a final decision concerning the aim of your purchase. What do you need a new graphics card for?
Nov 5, 2018 - We round up the best graphics cards for 1080p, 1440p and 4K. Up all of today's best graphics cards (including Nvidia's new Turing RTX.
If you are planning to play games round-the-clock then make sure your card is fast and has enough RAM. But if you are planning to work with 3D animation or video production, for example, then you have to pay more attention to the image quality than speed. In this case, you may choose either high-grade cards or even workstation-class graphics cards. Besides, if you are going to use your PC as a media center then check whether the output connector matches the device you want to connect the system to. Still, if you do not have such serious plans concerning your PC and all you will need it for involves net surfing and some casual games then you may choose a midrange graphics card or a hybrid system. Budget issues In fact, budget issue is often a starting point of any further research.
Your needs, requirements and dreams won’t play any role if your budget doesn’t coincide with them. The general principle here is simple – the more powerful a card is the higher price it has. Thus, if you belong to the category of gaming fans get ready to spend a pretty penny on your new graphics card. GPU: AMD or NVIDIA? Graphics Processing Unit (i.e. GPU) is a basis of any graphics card and determines its capabilities.
If you want to get a high-end piece then pay attention to the part number because the higher it is the better performance a card can offer. There are two providers of graphics cards you will have to choose between – AMD and NVIDIA. Which one is better? Well, it’s up to you to decide which graphics card will be the most suitable for your PC. The point is that both brands have pluses and minuses.
Your task is just to take them into account and select the best card namely for you. The most wide-spread fact about the difference between AMD and NVIDIA is their price. It is considered that AMD is cheaper than NVIDIA. In fact, we do have doubts concerning this idea. Prices are mostly of the same level and if you compare, for example, NVIDIA GeForce 980Ti and AMD R9 Fury X models you will be even surprised to find out that AMD product is a bit more expensive.
Its new Vega GPUs released in June, 2017 is a definite proof. Still, NVIDIA shows better performance. It has effective memory speed and a host of exclusive technologies. As to AMD, it offers more autonomy for its users – for instance, you can download its drivers anytime you want direct from AMD official website.
In a nutshell, AMD and NVIDIA seem to be participants of everlasting races, which motivate them to improve their products. And that’s their main benefit. Memory Whatever brand you will choose, NVIDIA or AMD, you will have to check the basic options their cards offer.
One of them is memory. Obviously, more memory in graphics card guarantees better speed and improves its general performance. Note that different types of graphics cards offer different RAM. This may be DDR3, GDDR3 or GDDR5. All of them differ in speed and, consequently, price. The best option here is GDDR5.
It offers high bandwidth and can open two memory pages at the same time. Such option simulates the dual-port nature of other VRAM technologies. By the by, always pay your attention to such feature of the graphics card as bandwidth. Poor bandwidth can turn to be a real pitfall for a PC user.
That is why don’t forget to check this characteristic in order to get a graphics card with excellent performance. On the whole, modern types of RAM have much better bandwidth than their forerunners. One more thing you need to know is that the amount of memory affects the type of resolution a graphics card can be compatible with.
For example, a PC with a display higher than 1680×1050 is compatible with 1GB of RAM. Monitors with lower resolution require just 512 MB of RAM. So, if you need PC for gaming and you’re planning to use several monitors then you will have to get at least 3GB of RAM.
You can read more about. GPU cooling system Cooling is another aspect which affects the card’s productivity greatly. The general principle is simple – if a graphic’s card has more ventilators then it is able to show better performance. First of all, you should know that there are reference and non-reference coolers. The point is that AMD and NVIDIA providers sell their cards not only directly to customers but also other companies that add some changes to the cards and sell their own versions of graphics cards which are already modified. Thus, cards which are sold directly to consumers get the reference title while those with modifications – non-reference. Consequently, original cards have somewhat different cooling systems.
Reference graphics cards have got a single fan offset to one side that sends hot air out of your PC case. As to non-reference cooling systems, they often have two fans which blow hot air away from the card but not from the computer case.
As a result, this can lead to overheating. Though, they do have their own benefits – non-reference coolers are quieter. Before choosing between these two types of cooling systems, you have to know the average temperature of your CPU during your usual activities.
If it gets higher than 55° C then it’s better to get a reference one as it will blow hot air out of your PC case. Still, if a cooling system of your PC is powerful enough then you can choose the other one. Graphics Card Compatibility Whatever card you will choose you must be sure that it will be compatible with the other elements of your PC. Usually, weak points are the size of a graphics card, PSU and PCI.
Your first step is to check whether a selected card can be connected to the system. Your PC can have an old type of connection called PCI (peripheral component interconnect) slot, its improved version – AGP (accelerated graphics port technology), or the newest PCIe slots (PCI Express), which are faster and more flexible. Therefore, before your purchase, you have to know what cards will be compatible with the expansion slots of your computer. Besides, if you’re building a serious gaming machine then probably your PC case can support from two to four cards. In this case, note that both slots and cards should be the same.
These technologies have got the following names – in NVIDIA cards and in AMD cards. As to the size issue, top-notch graphics cards are longer. Still, the best option here is to measure the card and space inside your PC case in order to be sure that the card will fit it. What is more, pay attention at the slots at the back of the computer case – they must be big enough to match the output. Of course, you can use adapters for card outputs but it’s always better to have the card which is originally compatible with your PC. Almost all budget cards get power directly from the PCIe slot. However, graphics cards of higher quality may require connection to PSU.
It is usually done by means of 6-pin or 8-pin connectors, though sometimes they may be used both. Thus, if you have such high-end gaming card you will need to for this purpose. In order to show you how the best graphics cards look like we have prepared the list which consists of 8 best NVIDIA and AMD cards. 9 Best Graphics Cards in 2018 EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Best NVIDIA graphics card The EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics card has a 1556 MHz/Real Boost Clock and 11264MB GDDR5X memory detail. EVGA iCX Cooling delivers industry-leading cooling with L-shaped contact fins to improve contact surface area for better heat dissipation lends high performance to your Graphics Card.
With a new vented heatsink fin design and pin fins for optimized airflow, this graphics card is an excellent addition to your gaming build. Pros:. New vented heatsink fin design and pin fins for optimized airflow. Great 4K performance.
Good choice for overclocking Cons:. Runs hot and loud.
Expensive MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1070 Ti Another great NVIDIA graphics card for gaming MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1070 Ti is the ultimate gaming graphics card with Twin Frozr VI. Featuring smooth heat pipes, a squared shape at bottom maximize heat transfer from the copper base plate, and the ability to stop the fan in low-load situations, this graphics card is a great addition to your gaming stack. The MSI GeForce GTX uses a TORX 2.0 FAN to be supremely silent, a dispersion fan blade Steeper curved blade accelerating the airflow, a traditional fan blade providing steady airflow to massive heat sink below, and a double ball bearing for a strong and lasting core for years of smooth gaming. Pros:. Military Class certified components.
Deflectors thrusts air onto heat pipes for lower temperatures and better gaming Cons:. Large.
Heavy. Fans might not run without MSI Afterburner software installed. Expensive ASUS ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1070 Ti 8GB Very Quiet and Powerful Graphics Card Powered by NVIDIA Pascal, the ROG Strix GTX 1070 Ti delivers a whack of power. MaxContact technology delivers increased cooling efficiency while Auto-extreme manufacturing with Super Alloy Power II components ensures premium quality and reliability. GPU Tweak II can push your performance up to 1759 MHz with just one click. All ASUS graphics cards are now produced using Auto-Extreme Technology, an industry-exclusive, 100% automated production process that incorporates premium materials to set a new standard of quality. Auto-Extreme Technology ensures consistent graphics card quality as well as improved performance and longevity.
Pros:. Extremely quiet. Runs at low temperatures. Automatic overclocking with GPU Tweaker II.
Only 1 8-pin aux power connector needed Cons:. Large in size. Lighting software can be glitchy at times XFX Radeon Rx Vega 64 8GB Decent Contender For GTX 1080 The XFX Radeon Rx Vega 64 has 8GB High Banwidth Cache, is Radeon VR Ready Premium, has Next-Gen Compute Units, and FreeSync 2 Technology.
The Radeon Rx Vega graphics is designed for extreme gaming. Radeon RX Vega graphics cards feature a High-Bandwidth Cache and Cache Controller that rise above regular GPU limitations by enabling faster access to much larger memory capacities. The new geometry engine hosts efficient load balancing, and the next-generation geometry path offers up to twice the peak geometry throughput per clock cycle. The GPU core has been redesigned to work smarter, and faster, with next-gen compute units2 and an optimized pixel engine designed to speed up the latest games. Pros:.
High-Bandwidth Cache. VR premium ready Cons:. Can run loud. Expensive ASUS Radeon RX 560 Great Cheap AMD Graphics Card ASUS Radeon RX 560 comes equipped with dual fan design for twice greater air flow and three times quieter performance. The fans are IP5X dust-resistant for improved reliability and a longer lifespan. While exclusive Auto-Extreme Technology with Super Alloy Power II components for superior stability.
GPU Tweak II with XSplit Gamecaster that provides intuitive performance tweaking and instant gameplay streaming. Redesigned with an intuitive, all-new UI, GPU Tweak II makes overclocking easier and more visual than ever, while still retaining advanced options for seasoned overclockers. The Gaming Booster function maximizes graphics performance by removing redundant processes and automatically allocating all available resources.
XSplit Gamecaster lets you easily stream or record your gameplay right from a convenient, in-game overlay. Pros:. Affordable despite the price spiking affecting some other graphics cards. Powerful for the price. Very quiet. Solid and well-made Cons:. Runs hot during use for long hours.
Only one DVI output ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 580 T8G Best AMD Graphics Card for the Money The ROG Strix RX 580 O8G Gaming graphics card outshines the competition with ASUS Aura Sync RGB lighting while MaxContact technology provides improved thermal transfer with twice the GPU contact. GPU Tweak II and FanConnect II enable effective system monitoring and cooling performance. Featuring Aura RGB Lighting on both the shroud and backplate, ROG Strix graphics cards are capable of displaying millions of colors and six different effects for a highly personalized gaming system.
ROG Strix graphics cards also feature ASUS Aura Sync, RGB LED synchronization technology that enables complete gaming system personalization when the graphics card is paired with an Aura-enabled gaming motherboard. Auto-Extreme manufacturing technology delivers premium quality and reliability with aerospace-grade Super Alloy Power II components. Pros:. Affordable. Quiet fans. Great for overclocking. Uses a single 8-pin power connector.
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Stays cool during high-power usage Cons:. Customer service are known to be unresponsive. Large in size and might not fit in some cases MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1080 Best NVIDIA graphics card for the money The MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card offers smooth heat pipes with a squared shape at the bottom to maximize heat transfer from the copper base plate.
By stopping the fan in low-load situations, the card keeps a noise-free environment. Airflow control technology keeps the card running cool by using its deflectors to thrust air onto heat pipes for lower temperatures and better gaming.
Double Ball Bearings give the unique MSI TORX 2.0 Fans a strong and lasting core for years of smooth gaming. They also remain virtually silent while spinning under load, keeping your graphics card cool during intense and lengthy gaming sessions. A powerful graphics card needs a strong build to harness its performance. MSI GAMING X graphics cards are fitted with a solid metal back plate to make it extra tough. The matte black finish completes the TWIN FROZR VI design to perfection. Pros:. Stays cool under duress.
Affordable for the features included Cons:. Loud under high pressure Gigabyte GTX 1050 Ti Great performance at a reasonable price The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GV-N105TD5-4GD Video Card is powered by NVIDIA Pascal architecture – the world’s most advanced GPU architecture, equipped with 4GB 128-Bit GDDR5 memory, and loaded with innovative NVIDIA technologies, delivering high power. With the AORUS graphics engine utility, the graphics card enables easy one-click super overclocking. In gaming mode, it’s able to be overclocked to 1392 MHz (base clock: 1290 MHz). In OC mode, it can operate at 1430 MHz (base clock: 1316 MHz). The Gigabyte cooling system, composed of a 90mm fan and a fan cooler, provides excellent heat dissipation for reliable performance.
The Ultra Durable 2 design takes stability and reliability to a new height. Experience incredible performance in high-definition games, powered by NVIDIA Pascal – the most advanced GPU architecture ever created. Experience incredible performance in high-definition games, powered by NVIDIA Pascal. Pros:. Derives power directly from the motherboard requiring fewer cables in system build Cons:.
Price fluctuates due to cryptocurrency mining ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1060 Mini Good Silent Graphics Card with Low Power Consumption The ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1060 mini graphics card might be small but comes loaded with innovative new gaming technologies and the NVIDIA Pascal architecture, making it the perfect choice for high-definition gaming in one of the smallest sizes at only 6.85” length. Its specially designed aluminum sunflower heatsink allows for direct GPU contact. And even distribution of heat from the center to outer edges. Discover next generation VR performance, low latency, and plug-and-play compatibility with leading headsets – driven by NVIDIA VRWorkss technology. VR audio, physics, and haptics let you hear and feel every moment with super compact solutions.
Pros:. Small size at only 6.85” in length. NVIDIA Pascal architecture. Low power consumption Cons:. Affected by price spiking and fluctuation. Plastic shroud is a little fragile.
Only one HDMI cable which doesn’t work with some Smart TVs. Runs hot under duress There is no doubt that powerful PC needs a. But the quality of graphics card you choose for your computer also plays a crucial part. Therefore, if you really want to get the best of the lot you should be aware of all pitfalls you may face when selecting the best graphics card for your PC. DISCLAIMER: TheTechLounge generates revenue through a number of affiliate relationships including but not limited to Amazon and Walmart.
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As we reach the halfway point of big blockbuster season, you may be starting to feel like your is in need of an upgrade. After all, when you’re chucking bigger, shinier and more demanding games at it, what was once a mighty card for 60fps at one resolution can suddenly start to feel a bit old and decrepit when it’s faced with something new, which is why we’ve gathered up all of today’s best graphics cards (including Nvidia’s new cards) to help you pick the one that’s right for you. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about buying your next graphics card, whether it’s for playing games at 1920×1080, 2560×1440 or 4K. What’s more, with just around the corner, the next couple of week’s is a great time to pick up a great graphics card on the cheap, so make sure you check our hub for all the latest prices. Whatever your budget is, we’ve got a card recommendation for you.
Best graphics card guide I’ve changed the rules slightly this time round, as you’ll now find two recommendations for each resolution category: the best graphics card for playing games at 60fps on max settings at said resolution, plus the card you should actually buy if you’re not that fussed about having the bestest best graphics. This way, the list caters for both the budget conscious among you, and those who’d rather spend a little extra to max out their current monitor setup. I’d recommend buying a graphics card from a third-party manufacturer like Asus, MSI, Zotac, Gigabyte or EVGA if you can possibly help it, as cards made by Nvidia and AMD often don’t benefit from the superior, custom cooling mechanisms or factory overclock speeds available elsewhere. Nvidia’s new RTX cards are the exception to this rule, but generally, Nvidia and AMD’s reference designs use noisy, less efficient ‘blower style’ coolers which aren’t nearly as efficient as the double, or even triple fan setups you get on third-party partner cards. This can often bump up the price certain cards, which is why you’ll see some models of the same graphics card costing a lot more than others. In terms of performance increase, you’re only really looking at a couple of frames per second at most – as my shows.
In the vast majority of cases, the cheapest third party card will do you just fine. You may also see ‘mini’ versions of some cards, too. These often have smaller fans or only one as opposed to two, making them slightly less efficient than a normal sized-model, but they’re a great alternative for smaller PC cases, or those looking to save a bit of money. Best graphics card for 1080p: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580 What you should actually buy: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti Prices: GTX 1050Ti – / GTX 1060 – / RX 580 – / If you want to play games at maximum settings at 1920×1080, the 6GB version of Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1060 or the 8GB AMD Radeon RX 580 is definitely the way to go. Sure, there are cheaper 3GB versions of the GTX 1060 and 4GB models of the RX 580 out there, but in terms of giving yourself a bit of future-proofing against the ever-increasing memory demands of today’s big blockbusters, 6GB / 8GB will put you in much better stead in the years to come. Both cards can capably handle almost every game available today at max or very high settings at this resolution, making them our top picks for flawless 1080p gaming.
However, for those who’d rather not spend the better part of 250 big ones on a graphics card, the 4GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti will do you just fine. This is as good as it gets under £200 / $200, and is about as close as you’ll get to a perfect budget graphics card. The card’s modest-sounding 768 cores put in a surprising amount of work, pushing the GTX 1050Ti to visibly better performance levels than you’d see from a regular GTX 1050 or AMD’s Radeon RX 560. As long as you stick to 1080p, many games will achieve a certain silkiness with maxed-out quality, while the tougher ones can usually be tamed with Medium settings.
It’s not just price or performance that makes the GTX 1050Ti so good, either. It’s also incredibly efficient, only requiring a 300W power supply to run (again, good news for cash-strapped budget builders), and unlike any of the other cards in this article, can go without any six- or eight-pin power cable. Instead, it simply drinks all the juice it needs directly from your motherboard’s PCIe slot. Read more in our. Best graphics card for 1440p: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070Ti What you should actually buy: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580 Prices: GTX 1060 – / RX 580 – / GTX 1070Ti – / For the best experience at 2560×1440, the is the card for you. You can pick one up for practically the same price as a regular at the moment (otherwise I’d be recommending the latter), and its 2432 CUDA cores will give you get a lot more oomph than the 1920 you’ll find on its non-Ti sibling.
The only problem, of course, is that it’s still so gosh-darned expensive. The GTX 1070Ti is probably a decent investment if you’re thinking about upgrading to a 4K monitor some time soon, as it can just about do the very tiniest bit of 4K gaming without falling over, but really, those of you who aren’t that fussed about having maxed out quality should just go for Nvidia’s 6GB GTX 1060 – or, if you can find it cheaper, the 8GB version of AMD’s Radeon RX 580 (you also get with the RX 580 right now, which may negate any difference in price).
Both of these cards make excellent companions for playing games at 1440p, as well as maxed out 1080p, and will only set you back half as much as a GTX 1070Ti. Disregarding price for a second, the RX 580 just edges ahead of the GTX 1060 in our books. It not only has an extra 2GB of memory that gives it a teeny performance boost and makes it better-equipped to deal with games like Middle-earth: Shadow of War that now require 8GB of memory for Ultra graphics settings, but other telltale signs of a struggling card like micro-stuttering are also slightly less prevalent on the RX 580 compared to the GTX 1060. The GTX 1060 wins out as the best card for VR, we’ve found, but both cards should serve you very well indeed. It’s just a matter of finding one for the least amount of money. Read more in our and our. Best graphics card for 4K: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080Ti What you should actually buy: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 or AMD Radeon Vega 64 Prices: GTX 1080 – / Vega 64 – / RTX 2080Ti – / It’s ludicrously expensive, but if you’ve got the cash and are after the best of the best that 4K has to offer, then the new is the only card around right now that can do a silky smooth 60fps at 4K on max settings without compromise.
New Graphics Card No Signal
You’ll also benefit from all of Nvidia’s as and when developers eventually patch in support for all the, and you probably won’t have to upgrade your graphics card again for a considerable number of years. The thing is, the GTX 1080 is still a perfectly decent 4K graphics card for less than half the cost of an RTX 2080Ti, and provides a significant leg-up over the GTX 1070Ti at this resolution to make it worth the extra cash. Some games might require settling for Medium to High settings at 4K, but there are still plenty of others that can hit 60fps on max quality with this card, making it much better value for money than its RTX cousin.
What’s more, AMD’s top graphics card, the Radeon Vega 64, has finally come down in price now as well, giving you another top-quality card that currently costs even less than the GTX 1080 (at least in the UK). The same three free games deal available with the RX 580 also applies to the Vega 64 for those buying in the UK, making it even better value for money. Yes, we know Final Fantasy XV recommends you get an for playing at 4K, but unless you’ve got a spare £700-800 / $700-800 lying under your mattress, then the GTX 1080 or Vega 64 are by far and away the best value options for 4K chasers right now. Read more in our.
And the rest The graphics cards I’ve listed above may be my top choices across our chosen three resolutions, but that’s not to say they’re the only graphics cards out there. As such, here’s a small bit on why, in my eyes, they don’t quite make the cut compared to the cards listed above. I’ve ordered them in rough resolution order, so you know which cards are capable of what kind of power as well. 1080p alternatives:: The slightly less powerful sibling of the RX 580, this card is a great all-round option for 1080p gaming that offers a little more horsepower than the GTX 1050Ti, but really, it’s just too expensive for what it is. When most cards will set you back somewhere in the region of /, you might as well go for the RX 580 or GTX 1060 instead. 1440p alternatives (and a teensy bit of 4K):: As powerful as AMD’s RX Vega 56 is, this is also far too expensive right now to consider as a viable alternative, whether it’s at 1440p or knocking on the door of 4K. Prices have come down a lot over the last few months, with the very cheapest cards now in the region of /, but at that price you’d be better off with the superior GTX 1070Ti.
4K alternatives:: Yet another card that’s far too expensive right now, the RTX 2080 may have all the same ray-tracing and clever performance boosting DLSS features as the RTX 2080Ti, but in terms of raw speed, you’re looking at pretty much identical frame rates to the GTX 1080Ti at the moment, the latter of which is just a smidge cheaper than the RTX 2080’s asking price of /. This may change, but right now the GTX 1080 or Vega 64 are much better uses of your money for gaming at 4K. Is now a good time to buy a new graphics card?
There are a few things to bear in mind for those buying graphics cards today. You needn’t worry if you’re shopping for a 1920×1080-capable graphics card – there are loads of options here and none of them are about to be replaced by something bigger and better any time soon. However, those after something higher up the resolution scale, such as a 2560×1440 or 4K graphics card, may want to wait a few weeks until I’ve seen what Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2070 card can do – a review of which is coming very shortly. Otherwise, you’re probably good to go, for while next gen cards are very much in production, it’s currently looking like they’ll take at least another year or two before they land on shop shelves, giving you plenty of time to enjoy what’s currently on offer without feeling like you’re wasting money. How we test: Whenever a new graphics card comes in for testing, I put it through a number of gaming tests using both in-game benchmarking tools and real-world gameplay, where the aid of frame rate counters help me determine what kind of average frame rate you can expect at various different quality settings.
Currently, wI test each graphics card with the following games:. In each case, I see what’s possible at the highest graphics setting at 1920×1080, 2560×1440 and, if it can handle it, 3840×2160 (4K). I then aim to get each game running at 60fps at each resolution, giving you the best case scenario for each one and an idea of what kind of compromises you’ll have to make.