The Best GPU for 2020: Graphics Card Comparison
A graphics card is one of the more essential components of your computer. It usually determines the overall gaming and productivity capabilities of your system. This is particularly true if you rely on your computer for tasks like animation, video, and graphics editing, which need the extra power from your graphics card.
From the latest in rendering technology from Nvidia cards with their ray tracing and deep learning features to AMD’s focus on raw power and value, there is a lot of choices. Now is the best time to get a graphics card since there are a lot of options from affordable ones to high-end ones.
Getting the Best One for You
If you are a gamer or content creator, you are likely going to need a graphics card. Tasks like video editing, animation, and gaming are graphics-intensive, and you will probably suffer from performance issues if you are using an older model GPU, an iGPU, or one that is not the right fit.
Picking one can be overwhelming, which is why we are here to help you choose the right one, whether it is AMD or Nvidia.
Nvidia Graphics Cards
Nvidia has been the leader in graphics card technology over the past few years. Recently, with their latest generation of cards, they have included a feature that was supposed to be decades out, ray tracing.
If you are building either a gaming or productivity system in 2020 and want exceptional graphics quality, Nvidia’s RTX family of cards is probably what you are looking for. They also have mainstream options like their GTX 16 series, which performs remarkably well for the mainstream market.
Let’s take a look at Nvidia’s selection of graphics cards and see which ones fit your gaming and work needs for 2020. Whether you are looking to maximize frame rate for competitive games, push for 4K and VR performance on the latest games, or improve your graphics and video workflow, there is a GPU that will fit your budget and needs.
RTX 20 Series
The RTX 20 Series is Nvidia’s latest line of graphics cards and comes with their current flagship. If you are building a gaming or editing PC, you can consider any of these cards as they are going to offer you the best performance. These GPUs also support ray tracing, which renders light in a more natural way giving you vibrant illumination and shadow effects.
| RTX 2060 | RTX 2070 | RTX 2080 | RTX 2080 Ti | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUDA Cores | 1,920 | 2,304 | 2,944 | 4,352 |
| Base Clock | 1,365 Mhz | 1,410 Mhz | 1,515 Mhz | 1,350 Mhz |
| Boost Clock | 1,680 Mhz | 1,620 Mhz | 1,710 Mhz | 1,545 Mhz |
| Memory Size | 6 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB | 11 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 14 Gbps | 14 Gbps | 14 Gbps |
| Memory Bandwidth | 336 GB/s | 448 GB/s | 448 GB/s | 616 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 192-bit | 256-bit | 256-bit | 352-bit |
| GPU Power (TDP) | 160 W | 185 W | 215 W | 250 W |
| Ray Tracing Rays per Second | 5 Billion | 6 Billion | 8 Billion | 10 Billion |
| RTX Operations per Second | 37 Trillion | 42 Trillion | 57 Trillion | 76 Trillion |
| Retail Price | $349 CHECK PRICE | $529 CHECK PRICE | $739 CHECK PRICE | $1,299 CHECK PRICE |
Game Performance and Benchmarks
| RTX 2060 | RTX 2070 | RTX 2080 | RTX 2080 Ti | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average 1080p FPS | 112 | 125 | 142 | 165 |
| Average 1440p FPS | 78 | 91 | 106 | 126 |
| Average 4K FPS | 46 | 55 | 62 | 77 |
RTX 20 Super Series
The RTX 20 Super series are souped-up versions of their originals. Nvidia has unlocked their chips to give all these cards a significant boost in performance, sometimes up to 25% better than their original counterparts. If you are looking to get an RTX card in 2020, consider the Super series are they are usually similarly priced than their non-Super versions.
| RTX 2060 Super | RTX 2070 Super | RTX 2080 Super | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUDA Cores | 2,176 | 2,560 | 3,072 |
| Base Clock | 1,470 Mhz | 1,605 Mhz | 1,650 Mhz |
| Boost Clock | 1,650 Mhz | 1,770 Mhz | 1,815 Mhz |
| Memory Size | 8 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 14 Gbps | 15.5 Gbps |
| Memory Bandwidth | 448 GB/s | 448 GB/s | 496 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 256-bit | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| GPU Power (TDP) | 175 W | 215 W | 250 W |
| Ray Tracing Rays per Second | 6 Billion | 7 Billion | 8 Billion |
| RTX Operations per Second | 41 Trillion | 52 Trillion | 63 Trillion |
| Retail Price | $399 CHECK PRICE | $549 CHECK PRICE | $749 CHECK PRICE |
Game Performance and Benchmarks
| RTX 2060 Super | RTX 2070 Super | RTX 2080 Super | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average 1080p FPS | 119 | 132 | 150 |
| Average 1440p FPS | 85 | 98 | 113 |
| Average 4K FPS | 50 | 58 | 68 |
Titan RTX
If the RTX 2080 Ti is the ultimate graphics card for consumers, this is geared more towards professionals. Its power is put to good use in machine and deep learning together with productivity tasks like 3D graphics rendering. Gaming should be no issue for the Titan RTX, but it does pack a lot more power for it.
| Titan RTX | |
|---|---|
| CUDA Cores | 4,608 |
| Base Clock | 1,350 Mhz |
| Boost Clock | 1,770 Mhz |
| Memory Size | 24 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps |
| Memory Bandwidth | 672 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 384-bit |
| GPU Power (TDP) | 280 W |
| Ray Tracing Rays per Second | 11 Billion |
| RTX Operations per Second | 84 Trillion |
| Retail Price | $2,449 CHECK PRICE |
Game Performance and Benchmarks
| Titan RTX | |
|---|---|
| Average 1080p FPS | 170 |
| Average 1440p FPS | 130 |
| Average 4K FPS | 78 |
GTX 16 Series
Nvidia’s RTX series can get a bit expensive, even their entry-level one, the RTX 2060. However, the company has released a separate family of graphics cards without ray tracing support that is for mainstream users. You can play your favorite games with the GTX 16 series without any problems, as they come with the right amount of performance.
| GTX 1650 | GTX 1660 | GTX 1660 Ti | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUDA Cores | 896 | 1,408 | 1,536 |
| Base Clock | 1,485 Mhz | 1,530 Mhz | 1,500 Mhz |
| Boost Clock | 1,665 Mhz | 1,785 Mhz | 1,770 Mhz |
| Memory Size | 4 GB | 6 GB | 12 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Speed | 8 Gbps | 8 Gbps | 12 Gbps |
| Memory Bandwidth | 128 GB/s | 192 GB/s | 288 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 192-bit | 192-bit |
| GPU Power (TDP) | 75 W | 120 W | 120 W |
| Retail Price | $169 CHECK PRICE | $219 CHECK PRICE | $275 CHECK PRICE |
Game Performance and Benchmarks
| GTX 1650 | GTX 1660 | GTX 1660 Ti | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average 1080p FPS | 59 | 88 | 100 |
| Average 1440p FPS | 43 | 65 | 73 |
| Average 4K FPS | 25 | 38 | 43 |
GTX 16 Super Series
The GTX 16 family of graphics cards come with their own more powerful versions in their Super series. They are about 20% faster than their original versions, giving you better performance on the games that you love the most. These are the cards to get if you are looking to push your gaming experience to 144 fps with the help of a high refresh rate monitor.
| GTX 1650 Super | GTX 1660 Super | |
|---|---|---|
| CUDA Cores | 1,280 | 1,408 |
| Base Clock | 1,530 Mhz | 1,530 Mhz |
| Boost Clock | 1,725 Mhz | 1,785 Mhz |
| Memory Size | 4 GB | 6 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Speed | 12 Gbps | 14 Gbps |
| Memory Bandwidth | 192 GB/s | 336 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 192-bit |
| GPU Power (TDP) | 100 W | 125 W |
| Retail Price | $169 CHECK PRICE | $249 CHECK PRICE |
Game Performance and Benchmarks
| GTX 1650 Super | GTX 1660 Super | |
|---|---|---|
| Average 1080p FPS | 77 | 94 |
| Average 1440p FPS | 56 | 69 |
| Average 4K FPS | 33 | 40 |
AMD Graphics Cards
AMD has been catching up with Nvidia when it comes to their graphics cards. Although they are not there yet, they can be considered extremely close in terms of performance. They are still polishing up their ray tracing technology. Their latest release matches well with their price competitors.
AMD cards are all about being the value kings these past years. Their cards come with way better price to performance than their Nvidia counterparts. Although they might not be able to compete in the high-end and high-performance space, their entry-level and midrange selections are definitely something to consider.
Let’s take a look at the different selections that AMD has with their graphics cards and see which ones fit your graphics needs and budget.
Radeon RX 5000 Series
AMD’s Radeon RX 5000 series is one of the companies first forays into the high-end consumer graphics card market in a long time with the RX 5700 XT. With this family of GPUs, AMD’s primary focus is on raw power and pricing competitiveness. For sure, any of these cards offer excellent value for their price.
| RX 5500 | RX 5500 XT | RX 5600 | RX 5600 XT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compute Units | 22 | 22 | 32 | 36 |
| Stream Processors | 1,408 | 1,408 | 2,048 | 2,304 |
| Texture Mapping Units | 88 | 88 | 128 | 144 |
| Render Output Units | 32 | 32 | 64 | 64 |
| Base Clock | 1,670 Mhz | 1,717 Mhz | 1,375 Mhz | 1,375 Mhz |
| Boost Clock | 1,845 Mhz | 1,1845 Mhz | 1,560 Mhz | 1,750 Mhz |
| Memory Size | 4 GB | 8 GB | 6 GB | 6 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 14 Gbps | 12 Gbps | 12-14 Gbps |
| Memory Bandwidth | 224 GB/s | 224 GB/s | 288 GB/s | 288-336 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit | 192-bit | 192-bit |
| GPU Power (TDP) | 150 W | 130 W | 150 W | 160 W |
| Retail Price | N/A | $229 CHECK PRICE | N/A | $299 CHECK PRICE |
| RX 5700 | RX 5700 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Compute Units | 36 | 40 |
| Stream Processors | 2,304 | 2,560 |
| Texture Mapping Units | 144 | 60 |
| Render Output Units | 64 | 64 |
| Base Clock | 1,465 Mhz | 1,605 Mhz |
| Boost Clock | 1,725 Mhz | 1,905 Mhz |
| Memory Size | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 14 Gbps |
| Memory Bandwidth | 448 GB/s | 448 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| GPU Power (TDP) | 180 W | 225 W |
| Retail Price | $329 CHECK PRICE | $389 CHECK PRICE |
Game Performance and Benchmarks
| RX 5500 XT | RX 5600XT | RX 5700 | RX 5700 XT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average 1080p FPS | 76 | 110 | 116 | 127 |
| Average 1440p FPS | 55 | 81 | 86 | 94 |
| Average 4K FPS | 31 | 47 | 50 | 55 |
Radeon VII Series
The Radeon VII is AMD’s venture back into the high-performance graphics card segment. Equipped with 7nm transistors, this GPU easily goes head to head with the RTX 2080, just without the ray tracing feature.
However, it does pack a lot of power and memory, making it one of the best cards for gaming. It is also an excellent pick-up for creatives due to its high boost clock and insane amounts of memory. What makes the Radeon VII relevant compared to AMD’s previous high-end cards is that the gap between it and its price rival has become close enough that you can consider surely consider it over its Nvidia counterpart.
| Radeon VII (Vega 20) | |
|---|---|
| Compute Units | 60 |
| Stream Processors | 3,840 |
| Texture Mapping Units | 240 |
| Render Output Units | 64 |
| Base Clock | 1,400 Mhz |
| Boost Clock | 1,750 Mhz |
| Memory Size | 16 GB |
| Memory Type | HBM2 |
| Memory Speed | 20 Gbps |
| Memory Bandwidth | 1,028 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 4096-bit |
| GPU Power (TDP) | 300 W |
| Retail Price | $599 CHECK PRICE |
Game Performance and Benchmarks
| Radeon VII (Vega 20) | |
|---|---|
| Average 1080p FPS | 130 |
| Average 1440p FPS | 97 |
| Average 4K FPS | 57 |
Radeon RX 500 Series
The Radeon RX 500 series is admittedly older generation technology from AMD. However, they still provide quite a lot of value, especially their higher-end cards like the RX 580 and the RX 590. They are mostly designed for most esports titles since they are not as resource intensive as the latest Triple-A games. These cards are also for multimedia setups, like a living room streaming PC that connects to your TV.
| RX 550 | RX 550X | RX 560 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compute Units | 10 | 10 | 14 |
| Stream Processors | 640 | 640 | 896 |
| Texture Mapping Units | 40 | 40 | 56 |
| Render Output Units | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Base Clock | 1,100 Mhz | 1,287 Mhz | 1,090 Mhz |
| Boost Clock | 1,183 Mhz | 1,287 Mhz | 1,175 Mhz |
| Memory Size | 4 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Speed | 7 Gbps | 7 Gbps | 7 Gbps |
| Memory Bandwidth | 112 GB/s | 112 GB/s | 112 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| GPU Power (TDP) | 50 W | 50 W | 80 W |
| Retail Price | $79 CHECK PRICE | N/A | $109 CHECK PRICE |
| RX 570 | RX 580 | RX 590 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compute Units | 32 | 36 | 36 |
| Stream Processors | 2,408 | 2,304 | 2,304 |
| Texture Mapping Units | 128 | 144 | 144 |
| Render Output Units | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Base Clock | 1,168 Mhz | 1,257 Mhz | 1,469 Mhz |
| Boost Clock | 1,244 Mhz | 1,340 Mhz | 1,545 Mhz |
| Memory Size | 4 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Speed | 7 Gbps | 8 Gbps | 8 Gbps |
| Memory Bandwidth | 224 GB/s | 256 GB/s | 256 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 256-bit | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| GPU Power (TDP) | 150 W | 185 W | 225 W |
| Retail Price | $129 CHECK PRICE | $189 CHECK PRICE | $209 CHECK PRICE |
Game Performance and Benchmarks
| RX 560 | RX 570 | RX 580 | RX 590 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average 1080p FPS | 32 | 61 | 74 | 84 |
| Average 1440p FPS | 20 | 45 | 53 | 60 |
| Average 4K FPS | 12 | 26 | 30 | 34 |
Do You Need a Discrete Graphics Card?
For the most part, built-in graphics acceleration on the CPU is enough for general tasks. These “integrated graphics processors” are usually enough in a lot of different systems like business laptops and budget desktops. However, there are instances where a discrete or dedicated graphics card is necessary. There are generally three use cases where integrated graphics is not enough.
Professional Workstation Users
If you work with a lot of video, graphics, and photo editing software, you will likely benefit from using a dedicated graphics card. Rendering and encoding tasks are CPU intensive, but they also get resources from the GPU. Having a discrete and powerful one on your system will significantly lessen your processing times.
Productivity Users with Multiple Displays
If your workload requires you to use multiple displays since you need the screen real estate, having a discrete graphics card will surely help. Integrated GPUs of your processor can only handle so much, and once you start connecting more than two screens, it is going to take a performance hit.
You will not necessarily need the top of the line graphics card, but if you are connecting four to six displays at the same time, you might want to get a dedicated one to handle all of it. As long you do not use them for gaming, you will not necessarily need an RTX 2080 Super to get all your monitors up and running.
Gamers
The last group is the gaming market, where graphics cards are an essential part of your build. The better card you put in your system, the more improved graphics you will be able to enjoy. The smoother graphics also enhances your overall gameplay experience. If you fall into this category, you will need the most power that your budget can accommodate.
Nvidia vs AMD Graphics Card
These are the two major players in the graphics card department. In 2020, you will never go wrong if you get any of their latest generation cards. AMD is an excellent choice, especially if you are looking at mainstream to midrange performance. Nvidia is your choice if you are looking at high-end, high-performance cards with ray tracing for improved graphics.
Overall, there is very little that separates these two in terms of raw power and performance. AMD continues to be the value kings since their RX 5700 XT is priced lower than the RTX 2060 Super but has performance similar to that of the RTX 2070 Super.
So, if you are after the latest in graphics technology, go for Nvidia. However, if you are a bit budget conscious and want the most out of your hard-earned money, AMD cards are your best bet.
Best Entry Level Budget Graphics Card
RADEON RX 570
Retail Price: $129
The Radeon RX 570 is an extremely affordable budget card. Add to the fact that it is from an older generation, keeping its prices low. This card is perfect for those aiming to maximize their 1080p gaming experience. You can quickly push your games higher graphics settings while maintaining frame rates high for a much smoother experience.
The next card in line, the RX 580, is a much more powerful card but is a significant step up in terms of pricing. However, the RX 570 is in an excellent spot where it is affordable enough for budget users and comes with sufficient power so you can enjoy your favorite games at decent quality, frame rates, and resolution.
Best Mainstream Graphics Cards
GEFORCE GTX 1650 SUPER
Retail Price: $169
The GeForce GTX 1650 Super is absolutely a capable graphics card for your needs. It is not going to impress you with amazing graphics and silky smooth 4K gaming. However, it is definitely enough to power a multimedia PC that you can use in a variety of ways.
This card is more of a media graphics card, allowing you to watch your favorite 4K HDR movies, but it can surely handle some gaming tasks. If you are only after 1080p gaming at high graphics settings, this is the GPU for you. It can even run some games at 1440p at a playable 30 fps, even 60 fps for those that are not that graphic intensive.
For its price, you can even consider it as an entry-level card, but it does provide you a lot of mainstream features and can handle usual daily computing tasks from light photo and graphics editing to gaming.
RADEON RX 5500 XT
Retail Price: $229
If you are looking at another versatile graphics card that is in the budget mainstream category, AMD’s Radeon RX 5500 XT is one that you can consider. It is reliable and comes to close in terms of performance to the GTX 1650 Super.
It is a decent gaming card if you are not looking for the smoothest of gaming settings and should be able to handle a handful of titles, including the latest ones. As for productivity and daily computing tasks, this is a GPU that can do a lot of other types of work like light photo and video editing.
Where the RX 5500 XT excels, similar to the GTX 1650 Super is in multimedia playback. If you are looking to connect your PC to a widescreen TV, this is a graphics card that should be more than enough for your needs.
RADEON RX 580
Retail Price: $189
The Radeon RX 580 is admittedly not the fastest graphics card in the market. It is also previous generation technology, but it continues to offer excellent value for its price. This card can handle 1080p gaming with ease, even with the most demanding titles. Popular e-sports games like Dota 2, CS: Go, Fortnite, and others should enjoy above average performance.
In terms of pricing and performance, its closest competitor is Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1660. The RX 580 still packs some power making it a great pickup for your system this 2020. However, since it is from a previous generation, if your goal is to futureproof your build, then this is probably not the card for you.
Still, the RX 580 offers tremendous performance for its price. If you are looking for a decent card that can handle your favorite games at a discount, this is the GPU for you.
Best Midrange Graphics Cards
GEFORCE GTX 1660 SUPER
Retail Price: $249
The GTX 1660 Super is in the sweet spot between the GTX 1660 and the GTX 1660 Ti. It is not as expensive as the Ti version. Its performance comes so close that it offers a lot more value than other midrange graphics cards.
This is a GPU that is excellent for 1080p gaming and will not break the bank at a price point below $300. You can easily exceed 60 fps in a lot of Triple-A game titles at slightly reduced graphics settings. If your favorite games are not graphics-intensive, like some of the more popular esports titles, this is the GPU to get.
What you do not get with this card is the ray tracing features of the RTX family, but if you are on a budget, it should be fine. The GTX 1660 Super also outperforms AMD’s competitor cards that are in the same price range. If you are looking for a midrange card that offers the most value, this is the one to get.
GEFORCE RTX 2060 SUPER
Retail Price: $399
In Nvidia’s family of graphics card, the RTX 2060 Super is in the entry-level category. However, this GPU is one that you should consider if you are looking for something that is going to offer midrange-level performance at a reasonable price range.
This is not the card to push the latest games to 60 fps at 4K resolution. However, this is more than enough for 1080p gaming with the graphics settings turned up. For a lot of users, this is undoubtedly a lot and enough. You also get Nvidia’s latest ray tracing and deep learning technology. These features are definitely something to consider when you get the RTX 2060 Super.
You do get a bit of a price bump compared to the previous GTX 16 series, but you do get a massive performance jump, and the ray tracing extras is a big plus. The RTX 2060 Super is an impressive midrange card that will enable you to get a feel for the latest in graphics technology without getting you to spend a lot.
RADEON RX 5600 XT
Retail Price: $299
The Radeon RX 5600 XT is an impressive graphics card. It effortlessly outpaces the GTX 1660 Super and even matches the pricier RTX 2060 in terms of performance. There is definitely a lot of power in this card at only the fraction of the price.
Now, you will not get the ray tracing features of the RTX 2060, but if that is not your concern, the RX 5600 XT is the card for you. It is going to provide you with the best in 1080p gaming performance, easily hitting 60 fps at maximum graphics settings in a lot of games.
You can also use it for 1440p gaming as long as you are willing to compromise by dialing the graphics settings a few notches down. It is not going to be much of a sacrifice, but a higher resolution at 60 fps is going to provide you with some smooth overall gaming performance.
Best High End Graphics Cards
GEFORCE RTX 2070 SUPER
Retail Price: $549
The RTX 2070 Super is a high-end card that hits the spot if you are looking for one with a lot of extra power for VR gaming. It is a GPU with a lot of performance headroom to provide VR headsets with the juice they need to avoid artifacts. It is also fast enough to keep up with the 90 Hz refresh rates of the latest VR headsets giving you smooth performance that will not induce any headache.
Apart from its impressive VR performance, it also delivers in 1440p gaming. It allows you to run your favorite games at high frame rates at 1440p with graphics settings cranked up to eleven. The performance headroom on the RTX 2070 Super also allows you to make use of the ray tracing feature without a significant drop in terms of frame rates.
The GPU is also in a price to performance sweet spot since it offers a lot of power without spending a fortune. You can easily include this in a system that’s around $1,000, making it an excellent piece of hardware, allowing you to enjoy high-end graphics performance at a reasonable price.
The RTX 2070 Super is an excellent hardware choice for a lot of users. If you have the extra budget to spend on that bump in performance, this is something that you should consider.
RADEON RX 5700 XT
Retail Price: $389
AMD graphics cards are always the value kings, and the RX 5700 XT continues that trend. In terms of price, it is similar to the RTX 2060 Super, but performance-wise it comes close to the RTX 2070.
It is a card to get if you are looking to push extremely high frame rates to match your high refresh monitor at 1080p. It also offers stable 60 fps at 4K resolution for most of the latest games. If you are not after Nvidia’s ray tracing technology, the RX 5700 XT is a worthwhile alternative to the RTX 2060 Super. Yes, you will not get those features, but in terms of raw graphics and gaming performance, it is marginally better.
It is an excellent card to get if you are upgrading from an older generation, and want to enjoy high frame rates on a lot of your favorite games.
Best High Performance Graphics Cards
GEFORCE RTX 2080 TI
Retail Price: $1,299
If you are looking for a high-performance graphics card, and the best one at that, this is probably your only choice. It is at the top of the mountain when comparing graphics cards for 2020. It easily hits 60 fps at 4K resolutions on even the most demanding of games. As long as the price is not your concern, this is the GPU you want.
It is also the card to get if you are looking to take advantage of Nvidia’s ray tracing technology since it can easily sustain high frame rates at 4K resolution with the highest graphics settings even with it on. You will be able to enjoy immersive in-game lighting and reflection effects that add to your overall gaming experience.
So, if you are looking for the best graphics using the best technology at QHD 4K resolutions, this is the card to get. Its price may not be for everyone, but if money is no object, this is the graphics card to get.
GEFORCE RTX 2080 SUPER
Retail Price: $749
The RTX 2080 Super is a budget option for the RTX 2080 Ti. Budget in terms of price, but definitely not in performance. It may not be the RTX family’s flagship card, but its performance is still respectable that you will be able to enjoy 4K gaming at high resolutions. It is also capable of running your favorite Triple-A games at maximum without sacrificing frame rates.
Since it is part of the RTX family, it comes with Nvidia’s ray tracing and deep learning technology, but on fewer computing cores than the RTX 2080 Ti. Still, in this current generation of both Nvidia and AMD graphics cards, this card is the second best.
Its main advantage over the RTX 2080 Ti is the price difference. It is close to half the price and still comes with a high-level of performance that can handle the latest games with ease. If you do have the budget, but not willing to drop all of it on the RTX 2080 Ti, then this card is a viable alternative.
If you are after 1440p gaming at maximum graphics settings with ray tracing on, this is the hardware that is perfect for your build.
Graphics Cards that Offer the Best Bang for Your Buck
Best Value for Your Money – Radeon RX 5700 XT
| Radeon RX 5700 XT |
|---|
| ✔ Efficient architecture |
| ✔ Beats the Radeon VII in terms of performance |
| ✔ Superior price to performance |
| ✔ Outperforms RTX 2060 Super at the same price |
| $389 CHECK PRICE |
The Radeon RX 5700 XT is definitely not the most affordable graphics card in the market. However, it does offer an excellent price to performance numbers compared to other GPUs. It comes with a lot of power, and it easily outperforms the RTX 2060, and it is slightly more affordable price-wise. Benchmarks also show that it can go head to head with the RTX 2070 Super, but you get significant savings.
Yes, it may not have ray tracing capabilities, but its raw power should be enough to give you top-notch 1440p gaming and workstation performance. If you are looking for a card that is worth your money, the RX 5700 XT is it.
Best Value Mainstream – GeForce GTX 1660 Super
| GeForce GTX 1660 Super |
|---|
| ✔ Excellent 1080p performance |
| ✔ Can push high to ultra graphics settings |
| ✔ Better value than the GTX 1660 Ti |
| ✔ Higher price to performance numbers |
| ✔ Nvidia’s new generation Turing architecture |
| $249 CHECK PRICE |
The GTX 1660 Super is one of those mainstream cards that you will want to take a closer look after you have seen what it is capable of. In terms of price, it is more affordable than the GTX 1660 Ti, but its performance comes close. It offers way better value and can perform reliably in a lot of different gaming situations.
It is the card to look out for when you are looking for a reliable mainstream GPU that can run just about any game you throw at it. You might need to lower some of your graphics settings on more recent games, but it will be more to maximize the frame rates rather than not able to enjoy it fully.
Best Value Mid-tier – GeForce RTX 2060 Super
| GeForce RTX 2060 Super |
|---|
| ✔ Excellent 1080p and 1440p gaming |
| ✔ Reasonably priced card with RTX features |
| ✔ Matches the performance of the RTX 2070 |
| $399 CHECK PRICE |
The RTX 2060 Super is not the fastest mid-tier graphics card in the market, as you could give that title to the Radeon RX 5600 XT. However, it is one that is going to get you to experience RTX features without breaking the bank. It is one of the primary reasons why we considered it as a value mid-tier graphics card.
Even without ray tracing, it still offers impressive performance, especially in both 1080p and 1440p gaming scenarios. The addition of the Super series also allowed it to inch its way closer to the original RTX 2070, at a much lower price point.
Best Value High Performance – GeForce RTX 2070 Super
| GeForce RTX 2070 Super |
|---|
| ✔ Performance awfully close to the RTX 2080 |
| ✔ No significant price increase from the RTX 2070 |
| ✔ Excellent GPU for VR |
| ✔ Can handle 4K gaming at high graphics settings |
| $549 CHECK PRICE |
The RTX 2070 Super is an excellent alternative if you cannot afford an RTX 2080 Super or an RTX 2080 Ti. Its performance comes close to the original 2080, which gives you a lot of value. It is right smack in the middle of the RTX family, but its pricing and performance tell a different story. If you are looking to play games in 4K but do not have the budget, this is the card for you.
Pairing it with high frame rate displays is also possible as it comes with a lot of power to handle such loads. You can take more advantage of your monitor by running games at either 1080p or 1440p, even at higher graphics settings.
The RTX 2070 Super is definitely an excellent value pick if you are after high-performance without breaking the bank.
The Perfect Graphics Card for You
In a perfect world, you will want the most powerful graphics card for your build. However, in a lot of cases, it is not always the case. Depending on your computing needs and budget, there is a GPU to fulfill all of that perfectly. If you are using your PC as more of a multimedia device, then getting a higher end graphics card is not one of your choices.
As with a lot of consumer electronics, there are levels of performance that you have to take into account. Graphics cards also follow the unwritten rule that if you want better performance, you will need to pay more.
All of the graphics cards that we have reviewed are excellent in their way. Some come with the power to run games in 4K at the highest graphics settings possible, if that is what you are looking for, then get the card that is capable of providing you that experience. However, if you are looking to play competitively with the most popular esports titles, then you might not need an ultra-powerful card.
Understand what your needs are, then figure out your budget, and you will surely find the card that is perfect for you, whether it is an RTX 2080 Ti, an RX 5700XT, or a GTX 1650 Super.
Wrap Up
The race is just heating up, and it’s a welcome sight that AMD has finally caught up in terms of performance. They still do lack the extra features like ray tracing, but they should have them real soon, and we are definitely going to see a battle.
If you find your current setup is not keeping up well with the latest games, or it feels like it is taking too long to finish rendering or encoding your content, then maybe its time for a graphics card update. There are a lot of choices out there, and one of them is going to fit your needs and budget perfectly.
