This article will help you decide whether it's worth it to upgrade to an RTX graphics card and which one may be best for you.
What Is an RTX Card?
Nvidia's RTX graphics cards are some of the fastest and most capable GPUs you can buy for gaming or accelerating professional workloads. If your PC doesn't have a graphics card (or it's particularly old), and you want to play the latest games at higher resolutions and frame rates, then upgrading to an RTX graphics card will make a huge difference.
However, Nvidia's RTX graphics cards aren't the only options worth considering, and the specific GPU you upgrade to is almost worth considering more than whether you pick that brand or not.
RTX is distinct from the older (and now retired) GTX branding, which used to be Nvidia's main graphics card line. Nvidia hasn't used "GTX" since the GTX 16 series, which debuted in 2019, however. Today, all new Nvidia graphics cards are RTX-branded.
RTX originally designated the new Nvidia graphics cards fitted with RT and Tensor cores for accelerated ray tracing and AI calculations. Now, it's just the name for Nvidia's consumer graphics cards (and some of its professional ones, too).
Is an RTX Graphics Card Worth It?
If you need a new graphics card to play games, you should absolutely consider Nvidia's RTX graphics cards, especially if the titles you play support deep learning super sampling (DLSS) upscaling. DLSS is an exclusive feature of Nvidia's GPUs.
Nvidia's graphics cards also perform better in games with ray tracing, so that's also worth considering. Other brands of graphics cards, like AMD, can also handle ray tracing well, however, so keep that in mind.
For entry-level gaming, Nvidia's older RTX 3060 graphics card is worth considering if you can get it at a good price, although the more modern 4060 is a better buy since it supports DLSS 3 frame generation and is generally much faster.
For 1440p gaming, Nvidia's RTX 4070 Super is stellar, while the RTX 4080 Super is better for 4K gaming. If you have very deep pockets and want the best graphics card in the world, the RTX 4090 is the top of the line.
However, AMD's RX 6000 and 7000 graphics cards are worth considering, too; they tend to offer better value for money. They don't support DLSS, but they do have a similar upcaling technology: FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR).
These cards also support hardware-accelerated ray tracing, though enabling it tends to put more of a drag on overall game performance than it does on Nvidia cards because AMD's ray accelerators just aren't as capable as Nvidia's RT cores.
Standout AMD graphics cards include the affordable RX 7600, the excellent mid-range RX 7800 XT, and the fastest graphics card AMD has ever made, the RX 7900 XTX.
As with all PC upgrades, however, you shouldn't just upgrade your graphics card for the sake of it. Graphics cards, and Nvidia's RTX cards in particular, cost hundreds of dollars at the low end and close to $2,000 at the upper.
Only upgrade your graphics card if you want to really improve your gaming performance and if doing so will make a material difference to your gaming experience. Getting another 50 frames per second in a casual indie game isn't going to make much difference, but going from 1080p to 4K can be dramatic.
Can Your Computer Run an RTX Card?
One other factor to consider before upgrading to an RTX graphics card is whether your PC can support it. Most modern PCs are capable without too much trouble, but it's worth considering if you're running an older machine or your other hardware is incompatible.
Here's the checklist to consider:
Do you have the right PCIExpress port? You need a PCIExpress x16 slot on your motherboard to physically plug the graphics card in. Ideally, you want to match its PCIExpress generation, or it could affect your computer's performance. Most modern GPUs are designed with PCIExpress 4.0 in mind, though you can sometimes get away with a motherboard that supports PCIExpress 3.0 on more modest graphics cards.
Is your case big enough? Some of the best RTX graphics cards are very long and wide. Check that your PC has enough physical space to fit the extreme lengths of modern GPUs.
Is your power supply enough? The latest graphics cards draw a lot of energy, and if your PSU can't handle it, you'll have problems. Check the recommended power supply for the graphics card you're buying and compare it to the wattage of your existing unit before upgrading.
Is an RTX Graphics Card Worth It? If you need a new graphics card to play games, you should absolutely consider Nvidia's RTX graphics cards, especially if the titles you play support deep learning super sampling (DLSS) upscaling. DLSS is an exclusive feature of Nvidia's GPUs.
RTX cards shine in visually demanding games that utilize ray tracing technology, offering unparalleled graphical fidelity and realism. On the other hand, GTX cards are better suited for high-frame-rate gaming, making them ideal for competitive esports titles and fast-paced action games.
It depends on your graphics card. The RTX 40xx series can do Ray Tracing a lot better than previous generations and then add DLSS 3.0 to certain games. DLSS 3.0 allows AI generated frames between the real ones. So while your game might be dishing out 60 FPS, you end up with 120 FPS at no performance lost.
As always, if the RTX 3060 is providing the gaming experience you want, there's no reason to spend money on a new GPU. It's still a capable graphics card in 2024, fit with DLSS and ray tracing support, as well as 12GB of VRAM.
The RTX 4090 is where it's at. This is the graphics card that truly represents a genuinely next-generation experience, but it's also very expensive. However, if you're looking for the best graphics card in terms of performance, look no further.
Yes, most definitely. The RTX 2060 is very decent card to upgrade to from a GTX 1050. The RTX 2060 is around a whopping 130% better in performance! It has 6gb of VRAM which is more than enough to play modern titles at high settings.
The GeForce RTX 3060 has the power to dazzle you with immersive ray-traced effects in Control, Cyberpunk 2077, Fortnite, Minecraft with RTX For Windows 10, Watch Dogs: Legion, and many other titles. And of course, NVIDIA DLSS is included, too, greatly accelerating frame rates in over 40 RTX games.
You'll need one to provide the processing power the card needs for maximum performance — and luckily, you're spoiled for choice, with plenty of great processors available. Here are some of the best CPUs for the RTX 3070 that I recommend.
Yes, enabling ray tracing will reduce FPS. How much frame loss occurs is affected by the hardware capabilities of the console or PC you are playing on. You can improve this by using a GPU that supports ray tracing, as well as using the best hardware within your budget in your gaming PC.
In conclusion, we can say that the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 is still a solid choice in 2024 if you can get hold of a good custom design for under $300, especially if you prioritize Nvidia features and a large memory capacity.
Short-term (1-2 years): High settings, 1080p and 1440p: The RTX 3060 is still a very capable card and should handle most current and upcoming games at high settings on 1080p and 1440p resolutions for at least the next 1-2 years.
It's the go-to GPU for maxed-out 1080p gaming in 2024, but based on my testing, it probably shouldn't be. The RTX 3060 is a workhorse, and for a large range of games, it's one of the best graphics cards you can buy. When it comes to the latest, most demanding games, however, the RTX 3060 struggles to keep up.
While GTX GPUs can provide decent performance for certain data science tasks, RTX GPUs are better equipped to handle the demands of modern AI and deep learning workloads. Their enhanced compute capabilities, larger VRAM options, and improved compatibility make them the preferred choice for many data scientists.
If you want the best graphics card by price, then this is it, matching stellar 1080p performance with value. The Nvidia RTX 4080 Super offers performance second only to the mighty RTX 4090, and does so at a much cheaper price than the RTX 4080 that replaces it, making it the ideal 4K card for enthusiasts.
AMD's Radeon RX 6600 XT and Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3060 are both capable of running games at 4K with medium graphics settings. You could also consider the Intel Arc A770, which has the plus of having 16GB of RAM but can have inconsistent performance due to less mature drivers.
Performance. The RDX features a turbocharged 2L turbocharged engine with 10-speed quick-shift capabilities. Harness up to 272 horsepower in this compact sports crossover SUV. MDX offers more power, with a 3.5L V-6 engine that is capable of delivering up to 355 horsepower in the MDX Type S.
RT Cores on GeForce RTX GPUs provide dedicated hardware to accelerate BVH and ray / triangle intersection calculations, dramatically accelerating ray tracing. On GeForce GTX GPUs, these calculations are instead performed on the shader cores, a resource shared with many other graphics functions of the GPU.
Nvidia has reportedly stopped shipping GTX 16-series cards, focusing on RTX instead. Support for GTX 10 and 16-series cards will end by 2026 and 2029. Upgrading to RTX is recommended for better performance, or you can move to AMD for competitive pricing. But your GTX card will probably have a few more years of support.
The 1080 ti is by FAR the more competent card. The 2060 is cheaper and has better support for raytracing - but - the 1080 ti is a lot stronger and offers more bang for more buck. It costs a bit more, but the performance increase is worth it.
Introduction: My name is Van Hayes, I am a thankful, friendly, smiling, calm, powerful, fine, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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