{"id":9052,"date":"2023-09-15T19:37:43","date_gmt":"2023-09-15T19:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.realgear.net\/?p=9052"},"modified":"2023-09-15T19:38:09","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T19:38:09","slug":"how-to-choose-graphics-card-for-gaming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realgear.net\/how-to-choose-graphics-card-for-gaming\/","title":{"rendered":"Pixels to Performance: How to Choose the Right Graphic Card for Your Gaming Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>To choose the right graphics card, consider your gaming requirements, preferred resolution, desired frame rate for running games, image quality preferences, and whether you&#8217;re open to dealing with minor artifacts introduced by temporal upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s a combination of all these crucial factors that you should consider when choosing the best graphics card that suits your requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, now you might be wondering: What graphics card do I need for gaming?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, read on as we take an in-depth, closer look at all the factors you need to keep in mind before selecting the right graphics card for gaming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-table-of-content ultp-block-018655\"><div class=\"ultp-block-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-block-toc\"><div class=\"ultp-toc-header\"><div class=\"ultp-toc-heading\">Table of Contents<\/div><div class=\"ultp-collapsible-toggle  ultp-collapsible-right\"><a class=\"ultp-collapsible-text ultp-collapsible-open\" href=\"javascript:;\">[Open]<\/a><a class=\"ultp-collapsible-text ultp-collapsible-hide\" href=\"javascript:;\">[Close]<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ultp-block-toc-style4 ultp-block-toc-body\" style=\"display:block;\"><ul class=\"ultp-toc-lists\"><li><a href=\"#Is_GPU_and_Graphics_Card_the_Same_Thing?\">Is GPU and Graphics Card the Same Thing?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Factors_to_Consider_When_Buying_a_Graphic_Card_for_Gaming\">14 Factors to Consider When Buying a Graphic Card for Gaming<\/a><ul class=\"ultp-toc-lists\"><li><a href=\"#Gaming_Performance\">Gaming Performance<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Compatibility_with_the_Gaming_System\">Compatibility with the Gaming System<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Right_GPU_Model\">Right GPU Model<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Sufficient_VRAM_Video_Memory\">Sufficient VRAM (Video Memory)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Cooling_and_Noise_Regimen\">Cooling and Noise Regimen<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Power_Requirements\">Power Requirements<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Ray_Tracing_and_DLSS_Support\">Ray Tracing and DLSS Support<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Connectivity_Options\">Connectivity Options<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Overclocking_Potential\">Overclocking Potential<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Brand_and_Warranty_Details\">Brand and Warranty Details<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Pricing\">Pricing<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Future-Proofing\">Future-Proofing<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Reviews_and_Recommendations\">Reviews and Recommendations<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Software_and_Driver_Support\">Software and Driver Support<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_to_Know_What_Graphics_Card_You_Can_Upgrade_to?\">How to Know What Graphics Card You Can Upgrade to?<\/a><ul class=\"ultp-toc-lists\"><li><a href=\"#_GPU_Bottleneck\">1. GPU Bottleneck<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_New_Game_Releases\">2. New Game Releases<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Higher_Resolution_or_Refresh_Rate\">3. Higher Resolution or Refresh Rate<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Ray_Tracing_and_DLSS\">4. Ray Tracing and DLSS<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Power_Consumption\">5. Power Consumption<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Top_Graphic_Cards_for_Gaming-_A_Quick_Review\">Top Graphic Cards for Gaming- A Quick Review<\/a><ul class=\"ultp-toc-lists\"><li><a href=\"#Nvidia_GeForce_RTX__\u2013_Best_Overall_Gaming_Graphic_Card_for_Gaming\">Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 \u2013 Best Overall Gaming Graphic Card for Gaming<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#AMD_Radeon_RX__XT_\u2013_Best_Graphic_Card_for_Gaming_under_\">AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT \u2013 Best Graphic Card for Gaming under $500<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#AMD_Radeon_RX__XT_\u2013_Best_Graphic_Card_for_p_Gaming\">AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT \u2013 Best Graphic Card for 1080p Gaming<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#AMD_Radeon_RX__XT_\u2013_Best_Graphic_Card_for_p_Gaming\">AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT \u2013 Best Graphic Card for 1440p Gaming<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#NVIDIA_GeForce_RTX__\u2013_Best_Graphic_Card_for_K_Gaming\">NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 \u2013 Best Graphic Card for 4K Gaming<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Frequently_Asked_Questions-_Graphic_Card_for_Gaming\">10 Frequently Asked Questions- Graphic Card for Gaming<\/a><ul class=\"ultp-toc-lists\"><li><a href=\"#How_Do_You_Know_What_GPU_You_Need_for_Gaming?\">How Do You Know What GPU You Need for Gaming?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Is_RAM_or_Graphics_Card_More_Important_for_Gaming?\">Is RAM or Graphics Card More Important for Gaming?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#How_Many_GB_Should_a_Graphics_Card_Have_for_Gaming?\">How Many GB Should a Graphics Card Have for Gaming?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#What_Graphics_Card_Do_Most_Games_Need?\">What Graphics Card Do Most Games Need?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#What_Is_the_Best_Budget_GPU_for_Gaming?\">What Is the Best Budget GPU for Gaming?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Which_Brand_GPU_Is_the_Best?\">Which Brand GPU Is the Best?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Is_Nvidia_GTX_or_RTX_Better_for_Gaming?\">Is Nvidia GTX or RTX Better for Gaming?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Which_Graphics_Card_Can_Run_All_Games?\">Which Graphics Card Can Run All Games?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Do_You_Need__Graphics_Cards_for_Gaming?\">Do You Need 2 Graphics Cards for Gaming?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Is_GB_Graphics_Card_Overkill?\">Is 16GB Graphics Card Overkill?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><a href=\"#\" class=\"ultp-toc-backtotop tocshow\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 34.1 19.95\"><path d=\"M32.05 19.949a2.041 2.041 0 0 1-1.45-.6L17.05 5.8 3.498 19.349a2.05 2.05 0 0 1-2.9-2.9l16.45-16.45 16.448 16.45a2.05 2.05 0 0 1-1.448 3.5\"><\/path><\/svg><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Is_GPU_and_Graphics_Card_the_Same_Thing?\"><strong>Is GPU and Graphics Card the Same Thing?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The terms \u2018GPU\u2019 and \u2018Graphics Card\u2019 are often used interchangeably, but from a technical perspective, there\u2019s a slight variation between the two. The \u2018GPU\u2019 is the main silicon chip that possesses all the necessary hardware to process textures, vector graphics, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A \u2018Graphics Card,\u2019 on the other hand, includes not only the GPU but also video memory (VRAM), voltage regulators (VRM), power phases, PCIe interface, as well as necessary output \u2013 such as VGA, DVI, DisplayPort, etc. \u2013 to display the front buffer on the monitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To make things easier to understand, take the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3PPTNXP\">RTX 4090<\/a><\/strong> as an example. The RTX 4090 itself is considered the \u2018Graphics Card\u2019 whereas the AD102 ASIC that powers it is technically recognized as the \u2018GPU.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Factors_to_Consider_When_Buying_a_Graphic_Card_for_Gaming\"><strong>14 Factors to Consider When Buying a Graphic Card for Gaming<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are all the factors that you should consider before buying a new graphics card for gaming:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Gaming_Performance\"><strong>Gaming Performance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing to look for is the gaming performance. And for that, you\u2019ve to consider the games you\u2019re interested in playing. For example, esports games \u2013 namely CS:GO, Fortnite, Dota 2, Starcraft 2, etc. \u2013 are very light on GPU resources, so if you\u2019re mainly an esports player, then you can get away with a low-end GPU. The same can be said about low-budget indie games, which rely on storyline and narrative instead of cutting-edge graphics and action set pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, Blockbuster AAA titles can push hardware to its absolute limits with newly released AAA games such as Starfield, The Last of Us, and Ratchet &amp; Clank punishing even high-end graphics cards. So, always watch benchmarks of all the games you\u2019re interested in and see which GPU checks most of the boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Compatibility_with_the_Gaming_System\"><strong>Compatibility with Your Gaming System<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, you must ensure the card you\u2019re interested in goes well with your PC and won\u2019t get bottlenecked. For example, if you have a low-end CPU, like the popular Ryzen 5 3600 or its rival Core i5-10400, then it won\u2019t be a good idea to install anything other than low-end GPUs, like the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Lo4n5z\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Lo4n5z\">Radeon RX 7600<\/a><\/strong> or <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3PFhfGN\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3PFhfGN\">GeForce RTX 4060<\/a><\/strong> in your system. While a high-end GPU would still be compatible with your PC, it likely won\u2019t be able to deliver its peak performance due to CPU-related bottlenecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, you\u2019ve to consider the PCIe generation of your hardware. Current (RDNA 3, Lovelace) and previous gen. (RDNA 2, Ampere) GPUs use the latest PCIe Gen. 4.0 and may get bottlenecked on older Gen. 3.0 systems. This is especially true for low-end graphics cards from previous generations, such as the Radeon RX 6400 and 6500, which are limited to just 4x PCIe 4.0 lanes and get heavily bandwidth starved on Gen. 3.0 systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last but not least, you\u2019ve to consider actual physical constraints, which is especially true for users with Mini ITX and Micro ATX machines where space is at a premium. So, measure the available GPU clearance inside your chassis and pick a GPU that can be easily installed within that space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Right_GPU_Model\"><strong>Right GPU Model<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A GPU\u2019s model or SKU is another very good indicator of its performance. Top-end cards like the RTX4090 can comfortably give you a nice 4K 120Hz experience in most games. You can run them with most \u2013 if not all \u2013 graphical settings cranked to the max without using temporal upscaling (DLSS, FSR 2.0+) or interpolation techniques like Nvidia\u2019s Frame Generation or the forthcoming FSR 3.0 Fluid Motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the opposite side of the spectrum, we have low-end GPUs like the RX 7600 and RTX 4060, which are only really meant for 1080p gaming and can deliver around 60FPS in most newly released titles, especially if you use medium to high settings with temporal upscaling enabled. However, at native 1080p resolution, these cards may struggle to provide decent performance, especially in demanding games such as Starfield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below is a quick chart to help you pick the right GPU model for your target frame rate and resolution. However, the expected performance is only for reference, as the result may vary depending on the game, graphical settings, and other PC specs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td rowspan=\"2\"><strong>Graphics Card<\/strong><\/td><td colspan=\"3\"><strong>Frame Rate<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>1080p<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>1440p<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2160p (4K)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>RX 7600 \/ RTX 4060<\/strong><\/td><td>60 FPS<\/td><td>30 FPS<\/td><td>Unplayable<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>RX 7700 XT \/ RTX 4060 Ti<\/strong><\/td><td>90 FPS<\/td><td>60 FPS<\/td><td>30 FPS<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>RX 7800 XT \/ RTX 4070<\/strong><\/td><td>120 FPS<\/td><td>90 FPS<\/td><td>60 FPS<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>RX 7900 XT \/ RTX 4070 Ti<\/strong><\/td><td>160 FPS<\/td><td>120 FPS<\/td><td>90 FPS<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>RX 7900 XTX \/ RTX 4080<\/strong><\/td><td>180 FPS<\/td><td>160 FPS<\/td><td>120 FPS<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>RTX 4090<\/strong><\/td><td>200+ FPS<\/td><td>180 FPS<\/td><td>160 FPS<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Sufficient_VRAM_Video_Memory\"><strong>Sufficient VRAM (Video Memory)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The next thing to consider is a graphics card&#8217;s amount of VRAM \u2013 or video memory. VRAM is responsible for storing textures, shaders, meshes, frame buffers, and math calculations for real-time ray tracing. VRAM tends to be much faster than system RAM. For example, 64-bit GDDR6 (Graphics Double Data Rate 6) can keep up with the fastest DDR5 system RAM modules in dual-channel and even low-end GPUs such as the RX 7600 or the RTX 4060 feature 128-bit GDDR6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the raw bandwidth, VRAM offers much lower latency due to its proximity to the GPU\u2019s on-die memory controllers. System RAM, on the other hand, is accessed via the PCIe interconnect, which adds a fair bit of latency, impacting performance, resulting in hitches and stutters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How much VRAM you need largely depends on your gaming requirements. Below is a quick chart to guide you through how much VRAM you should aim for to not only run modern games but also future-proof your GPU for more demanding upcoming games:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Resolution<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Recommended VRAM<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>720p<\/td><td>4GB<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>900p<\/td><td>6GB to 8GB<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1080p<\/td><td>8GB to 12GB<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1440p<\/td><td>12GB to 16GB<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2160p<\/td><td>16GB to 24GB<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Cooling_and_Noise_Regimen\"><strong>Cooling and Noise Regimen<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, you\u2019ve to consider the cooling and noise of the GPU. Modern-day GPUs are more power-hungry than ever, with even low-end cards, such as the RX 7600, having a peak TDP (Thermal Design Power) of over 150W. To effectively dissipate all that heat, GPU HSF (HeatSink and Fans) are getting larger than ever, and in this case, bigger is always better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A larger HSF provides more surface area to dissipate the heat and can soak up more heat in general. A good indicator of an HSF\u2019s cooling potential is the number of heat pipes and the inclusion of a vapor chamber. The more heat pipes a GPU has, the more efficiently it transfers heat from the die to the heatsink, leading to lower temperatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, you\u2019ve to consider noise. If you have a small case with limited clearance for the GPU, then you\u2019ll have to go with a compact GPU with a dual or even a single fan HSF. The less surface area the HSF has, the faster the fan(s) will have to spin to dissipate all the heat, and the noisier the graphics card will get. So, if you\u2019re looking for the lowest temperatures and noise, then consider buying a GPU with a dual or even tri-fan HSF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Power_Requirements\"><strong>Power Requirements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With rising energy prices across the globe, it\u2019s now more important than ever to consider the power requirements of your GPU. With the current generation, Nvidia RTX 4000 series GPUs are noticeably more power efficient than AMD\u2019s competing RX 7000 series merely because Nvidia is using monolithic dies fabbed on TSMC N5 (5 nm) process whereas AMD is using chiplets with a combination of N5 GCDs and N6 (6 nm) MCDs with a high-bandwidth 5.3 TB\/s interconnect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The interconnect, unfortunately, requires quite a bit of power, so if you\u2019re concerned about power consumption, then Nvidia is the obvious choice for this generation. But to power the GPU, you also need a powerful PSU (PowerSupply Unit) with the right amount of connectors to keep the GPU well-fed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nvidia is finally using the all-new 12-pin PCIe 5.0 12VHPWR connector with this generation, which is rated for up to 600W worth of power. This is in stark contrast to the older 8-pin PCIe connector, which is rated up to a maximum of 150W. So, if you\u2019re interested in a high-end RTX4000 series GPU, then it\u2019s best to buy a PSU that\u2019s PCIe Gen. 5 ready with the 12VHPWR connector included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The AMD RX7000 Series, on the other hand, is still using the older 8-pin PCIe connector. Their top-end GPU, the 7700 XTX, requires dual 8-pin PCIe connectors, making it compatible with a vast majority of power supplies out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Ray_Tracing_and_DLSS_Support\"><strong>Ray Tracing and DLSS Support<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Next up, you\u2019ve to consider Ray Tracing (RT) and temporal upscaling techniques such as Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) and its recent competitor, FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) from AMD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nvidia GPUs began supporting Ray Tracing in their RTX Series of GPUs, which was introduced in 2018 with the launch of Turing, known as the RTX 2000 Series. Unfortunately, AMD was late to join the party. It was only in 2020, with the release of RDNA2 (RX 6000 Series), that they started supporting Ray Tracing with dedicated hardware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re interested in ray tracing, Nvidia is the obvious choice. When it comes to temporal upscaling technologies, DLSS is exclusive to Nvidia RTX GPUs as it needs dedicated Tensor Cores for deep learning and optical flow acceleration (RTX 4000 GPUs only). In contrast, AMD&#8217;s competing FSR technology is hardware agnostic since it utilizes the standard single-precision (FP32) and half-precision (FP16) float point units, making it compatible even with a decade-old GPUs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While FSR works on practically all GPUs, the reconstruction technique is not as good as Nvidia\u2019s DLSS, with supported games often showing signs of texture shimmering and ghosting, impacting the gaming experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Connectivity_Options\"><strong>Connectivity Options<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To make the most out of a powerful GPU, you also need a monitor that can keep up with it. While you can technically run a game at 120 FPS on a 60 Hz monitor, you won\u2019t be able to \u2018see\u2019 the extra frames and the viewing experience will remain largely unaffected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To connect a high-refresh gaming monitor, you need to ensure that the GPU has the required output to communicate with the monitor. You have two options for this: HDMI and DisplayPort. The most recent versions of these are HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a. Both versions can handle 4K at 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz and are supported by all current-generation GPUs from both AMD and Nvidia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need even higher bandwidth, like for powering a 4K 240Hz or 8K 120Hz monitor, both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a also provide support for Display Stream Compression (DSC), which is a lossless compression standard developed by VESA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Overclocking_Potential\"><strong>Overclocking Potential<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For most gamers, overclocking is half the fun of owning a GPU. While all modern GPUs by AMD and Nvidia offer voltage tweaking and can be undervolted to maximize power efficiency, not all GPUs support overvoltage to push the GPU beyond its capabilities. So, if you\u2019re interested in overclocking, then make sure you buy a GPU that\u2019s been factory-overclocked and is targeted at enthusiasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s because regular GPUs don&#8217;t have enough Voltage Regulator Modules (VRMs) needed to run the GPU at an overvolt. On the other hand, factory-overclocked GPUs feature larger HSFs, more robust VRMs, aggressive fan curves to handle the extra heat, and better-quality silicon chips that can maintain higher clock speeds at a specific voltage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, factory-overclocked GPUs require more power connectors and may have significantly greater power requirements than stock GPUs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Brand_and_Warranty_Details\"><strong>Brand and Warranty Details<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another crucial factor to think about is the brand of the GPU. Bigger, more established GPU brands usually provide better warranties and after-sales services than smaller, less-known brands. However, premium brands also command a price premium, so there\u2019s a potential drawback to selecting a more upscale brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For reference, some of the more popular GPU brands include Asus, MSI, Gigabyte, Zotac, EVGA, Sapphire, and XFX.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Pricing\"><strong>Pricing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You also have to consider your budget while picking a GPU. While you may be tempted to buy the least expensive GPU that\u2019s capable of running the games you want to play, it\u2019s also important to consider the GPU\u2019s price-to-performance ratio. A lot of the time, low-end GPUs make several drastic cuts to meet their aggressive price point, and users on the hunt for the best bang for the buck GPU may be better served with a slightly more expensive GPU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next are the high-end GPUs, which often come with a premium price tag as they are considered the \u2018halo products\u2019 of their generation. A good example of this is the RTX 4090, which surpasses the 7900 XTX (AMD&#8217;s fastest GPU) by 25% in raw performance. However, it also comes with a 60% higher MSRP and consumes an additional 100W of power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Future-Proofing\"><strong>Future-Proofing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Future-proofing refers to how well the GPU you purchase today can handle games in the future while maintaining good performance and image quality. If you&#8217;re aiming for a GPU that will serve you well over the long term, opting for at least an upper mid-range GPU, like the RTX 4070 or the RX 7800 XT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These GPUs not only come equipped with ample amounts of VRAM for 1080p gaming, especially the 7800 XT with its 16GB of vRAM, but they also deliver strong enough performance to comfortably handle future games at a smooth 60FPS with high-resolution textures and medium to high graphical settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Reviews_and_Recommendations\"><strong>Reviews and Recommendations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure to choose your GPU gaming benchmark sources carefully since there are many reviewers out there who can be misleading. It&#8217;s best to rely on highly reputable and well-respected reviewing sources. Some of the most well-respected sources for GPU benchmarks include Gamer Nexus, TechPowerUp, AnandTech, Tom\u2019s Hardware, and Guru3D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, you can also visit various subreddits such as r\/PCMasterRace, r\/BuildaPC, r\/Nvidia, r\/AMD, and r\/PCBuild, among others, and seek guidance from these subreddit\u2019s communities for tech-related advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Software_and_Driver_Support\"><strong>Software and Driver Support<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Last but not least, you\u2019ve to consider driver support. Both Nvidia and AMD have very good track records when it comes to long-term GPU support. Nvidia supported their Kepler line of GPUs (GTX600 and 700 Series, excluding 750 and 750 Ti) for a little over ten years. Similarly, AMD supported their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Generation of GCN GPUs (HD 7000, RX 200, and RX 300) for nine years, just a year behind Nvidia Kepler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, there&#8217;s a big question mark hanging over Intel&#8217;s Ark line of discrete GPUs. These GPUs are relatively new and haven&#8217;t yet enjoyed widespread adoption. Therefore, the future of their software and driver support remains uncertain for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"How_to_Know_What_Graphics_Card_You_Can_Upgrade_to?\"><strong>How to Know What Graphics Card You Can Upgrade to?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Take these five checks into account to decide whether you need to upgrade your gaming graphic card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_GPU_Bottleneck\"><strong>1. GPU Bottleneck<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;ve recently upgraded your entire system, or at the very least, your CPU, and you find that the GPU is consistently running at 100% usage in most or all of the games you play, then it&#8217;s a clear sign that it&#8217;s time to upgrade the graphic card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_New_Game_Releases\"><strong>2. New Game Releases<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re attempting to run a modern game, and it&#8217;s stuttering and struggling to maintain even 30 FPS, even with graphics settings set to the lowest, then it&#8217;s a clear indication that it&#8217;s time to upgrade the graphic card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Higher_Resolution_or_Refresh_Rate\"><strong>3. Higher Resolution or Refresh Rate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;ve recently upgraded your monitor, then you will definitely need a faster GPU to deliver those additional pixels and frames to the monitor. There\u2019s just no way around it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Ray_Tracing_and_DLSS\"><strong>4. Ray Tracing and DLSS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ray Tracing is a relatively new technology that demands graphic cards equipped with dedicated ray-tracing hardware. The same can be said for DLSS, which was introduced alongside it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, if you want to experience real-time lighting effects or make use of temporal image upscaling techniques such as DLSS and FSR, it&#8217;s best to upgrade to a graphic card that supports these technologies. These temporal techniques work by combining multiple frames together to reconstruct a more detailed image with minimal loss in performance and perceived image quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Power_Consumption\"><strong>5. Power Consumption<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have an older flagship graphic card and are feeling the impact of the global increase in energy costs, you&#8217;ll be better off with a modern graphic card that features more power-efficient hardware. For instance, the RTX 4060 delivers equivalent performance to the 1080Ti while using less than half the power and also providing support for Ray Tracing and DLSS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Top_Graphic_Cards_for_Gaming-_A_Quick_Review\"><strong>Top Graphic Cards for Gaming- A Quick Review<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s our brief look at the best graphic cards available in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Nvidia_GeForce_RTX__\u2013_Best_Overall_Gaming_Graphic_Card_for_Gaming\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3LpOzPU\"><strong>Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090<\/strong><\/a><strong> \u2013 Best Overall Gaming Graphic Card for Gaming<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The RTX 4090 is the flagship product in Nvidia&#8217;s current Ada Lovelace lineup and stands as the best gaming graphics card available. At its core, the 4090 features the massive AD102 GPU manufactured on the TSMC N5 (5nm) process, with a die size of 609mm\u00b2. The AD102 boasts 144 SMs (Stream Multiprocessors), of which 125 are enabled on the RTX 4090, resulting in a total of 16,384 CUDA cores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feeding this monster of a GPU are 12 x 32-bit memory controllers, which are paired with 21 Gbps GDDR6X DRAMs that provide a little over 1TB\/s of combined bandwidth and 24GB of VRAM capacity. Additionally, the GPU also has a large 72MB L2 cache buffer, which further compliments the already impressive memory bandwidth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for the best of the best, it doesn\u2019t get any better than the RTX 4090.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"cg-tag\"><h3 class=\"cg-box-name\"><a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BG94PS2F?tag=realgear0b-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1' class='cg-aff-link' data-post-id='207281' data-post-type='box' data-aff-link='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BG94PS2F?tag=realgear0b-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1' data-post-title='MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 24GB GDRR6X 384-Bit' target='' rel='nofollow' >MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 24GB GDRR6X 384-Bit<\/a><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"cg-box-layout-four  cg-box-gb-active    cg-red \" ><div class=\"product-box-row product-full-view\"><div class=\"cg-tbl-rate-svg\"><div class=\"cb-tbl-value\">9.8<\/div><svg viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" data-percent=\"98\" style=\"stroke-dasharray:78.816276493261,999\"><circle cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"12.80\" \/><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"product-box-image\"><div class=\"product-image-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BG94PS2F?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"cg-aff-link \" data-post-title=\"MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 24GB GDRR6X 384-Bit\" data-aff-link=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BG94PS2F?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1\" data-post-type=\"box\" data-post-id=\"207281\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/51uhBIqv3-L._SL500_.jpg\" class=\"cg-img-1\" alt=\"MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 24GB GDRR6X 384-Bit\" style=\"\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-box-content\"><div class=\"cg-text\"><ul><li>Chipset: GeForce RTX 4090.Recommended PSU : 850 W.Recommended PSU : 850 W<\/li><li>Video Memory: 24GB GDDR6X<\/li><li>Memory Interface: 384-bit<\/li><li>Output: DisplayPort x 3 (v1.4a) \/ HDMI 2.1 x 1<\/li><li>Digital maximum resolution: 7680 x 4320<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-box-footer\"><span class='cta-copy'><a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BG94PS2F?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1' class='cg-one-button cg-btn   cg-aff-link ' data-post-id='207281' data-post-type='box' data-aff-link='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BG94PS2F?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1' data-style='default' data-post-title='MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 24GB GDRR6X 384-Bit' data-extra='' style='--cg-theme-color:#E81212' target='' rel='nofollow' >Check Price<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"AMD_Radeon_RX__XT_\u2013_Best_Graphic_Card_for_Gaming_under_\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3PDoyir\"><strong>AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT<\/strong><\/a><strong> \u2013 Best Graphic Card for Gaming under $500<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Radeon 7800 XT is considered the top graphics card priced below $500. It&#8217;s driven by the Navi 32 chiplet, which is a combination of a central GCD manufactured on the N5 process, measuring 200mm\u00b2, and four MCDs built on the older but more affordable N6 (6nm) process, with each MCD measuring 36.6mm\u00b2. There are 60 Compute Units (CUs), resulting in a grand total of 3,840 Stream Processors (SPs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being an upper mid-range GPU, the 7800 XT relies on 8 x 32-bit memory controllers with a 256-bit wide bus. Each memory controller is paired with a 19.4 Gbps GDDR6 DRAM for a grand total of 620.8 GB\/s of bandwidth with 16GB of VRAM. There\u2019s also a large 64MB L3 \u201cInfinity\u201d Cache to boost the overall effective bandwidth even further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 7800 XT currently holds the title of the price-to-performance champion under $500. So, if you&#8217;re looking for the best GPU in this price range, this one is hard to beat.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"cg-tag\"><h3 class=\"cg-box-name\"><a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0CFPSX77R?tag=realgear0b-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1' class='cg-aff-link' data-post-id='207282' data-post-type='box' data-aff-link='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0CFPSX77R?tag=realgear0b-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1' data-post-title='PowerColor Red Devil AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB GDDR6 Graphics Card' target='' rel='nofollow' >PowerColor Red Devil AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB GDDR6 Graphics Card<\/a><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"cg-box-layout-four  cg-box-gb-active    cg-red \" ><div class=\"product-box-row product-full-view\"><div class=\"cg-tbl-rate-svg\"><div class=\"cb-tbl-value\">8.6<\/div><svg viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" data-percent=\"86\" style=\"stroke-dasharray:69.165303861433,999\"><circle cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"12.80\" \/><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"product-box-image\"><div class=\"product-image-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0CFPSX77R?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"cg-aff-link \" data-post-title=\"PowerColor Red Devil AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB GDDR6 Graphics Card\" data-aff-link=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0CFPSX77R?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1\" data-post-type=\"box\" data-post-id=\"207282\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/41OkEHxeTbL._SL500_.jpg\" class=\"cg-img-1\" alt=\"PowerColor Red Devil AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB GDDR6 Graphics Card\" style=\"\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-box-content\"><div class=\"cg-text\"><ul><li>Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6<\/li><li>Stream Processor: 3840 Units<\/li><li>Game Clock: 2255 MHz (OC) \/ 2210 MHz (Silent)<\/li><li>Boost Clock: 2565 MHz (OC) \/ 2520 MHz (Silent)<\/li><li>Memory Clock: 19.5 Gbps<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-box-footer\"><span class='cta-copy'><a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0CFPSX77R?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1' class='cg-one-button cg-btn   cg-aff-link ' data-post-id='207282' data-post-type='box' data-aff-link='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0CFPSX77R?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1' data-style='default' data-post-title='PowerColor Red Devil AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB GDDR6 Graphics Card' data-extra='' style='--cg-theme-color:#E81212' target='' rel='nofollow' >Check Price<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"AMD_Radeon_RX__XT_\u2013_Best_Graphic_Card_for_p_Gaming\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3rcX0XP\"><strong>AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT<\/strong><\/a><strong> \u2013 Best Graphic Card for 1080p Gaming<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though it belongs to the previous generation, the 6700 XT remains the top choice for 1080p gamers looking for a dependable, reasonably priced, and future-proof gaming GPU. At the core of the RX 6700 XT lies the Navi 22, fabbed on 7nm N7 with a die area of 335mm\u00b2. It includes 40 CUs with 2,560 stream processors in total.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though it&#8217;s positioned as a low-end option by AMD in 2023, this GPU boasts a generous 192-bit bus with six memory controllers coupled with 16 Gbps GDDR6 memory, resulting in a substantial 384 GB\/s of bandwidth and a total of 12GB of VRAM. Additionally, it includes a sizable 96 MB L3 Cache, which helps alleviate potential bandwidth limitations by boosting cache hit rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, the 6700 XT is our top pick for users searching for a budget-friendly, low-end GPU that provides lasting performance.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"cg-tag\"><h3 class=\"cg-box-name\"><a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B08Y91QVG8?tag=realgear0b-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1' class='cg-aff-link' data-post-id='207283' data-post-type='box' data-aff-link='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B08Y91QVG8?tag=realgear0b-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1' data-post-title='PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT Gaming Graphics Card with 12GB GDDR6 Memory' target='' rel='nofollow' >PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT Gaming Graphics Card with 12GB GDDR6 Memory<\/a><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"cg-box-layout-four  cg-box-gb-active    cg-red \" ><div class=\"product-box-row product-full-view\"><div class=\"cg-tbl-rate-svg\"><div class=\"cb-tbl-value\">9.2<\/div><svg viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" data-percent=\"92\" style=\"stroke-dasharray:73.990790177347,999\"><circle cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"12.80\" \/><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"product-box-image\"><div class=\"product-image-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B08Y91QVG8?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"cg-aff-link \" data-post-title=\"PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT Gaming Graphics Card with 12GB GDDR6 Memory\" data-aff-link=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B08Y91QVG8?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1\" data-post-type=\"box\" data-post-id=\"207283\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/415pPvJEygL._SL500_.jpg\" class=\"cg-img-1\" alt=\"PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT Gaming Graphics Card with 12GB GDDR6 Memory\" style=\"\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-box-content\"><div class=\"cg-text\"><ul><li>Memory Speed:16.0 Gbps.Digital Max Resolution:7680&times;4320<\/li><li>Video Memory: 12GB GDDR6<\/li><li>Stream Processor: 2560<\/li><li>Game Clock: 2424MHz \/ Boost Clock: 2581MHz<\/li><li>Memory Clock: 16 Gbps<\/li><li>Memory Interface: 192-bit<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-box-footer\"><span class='cta-copy'><a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B08Y91QVG8?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1' class='cg-one-button cg-btn   cg-aff-link ' data-post-id='207283' data-post-type='box' data-aff-link='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B08Y91QVG8?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1' data-style='default' data-post-title='PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT Gaming Graphics Card with 12GB GDDR6 Memory' data-extra='' style='--cg-theme-color:#E81212' target='' rel='nofollow' >Check Price<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"AMD_Radeon_RX__XT_\u2013_Best_Graphic_Card_for_p_Gaming\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/44UmvuD\"><strong>AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT<\/strong><\/a><strong> \u2013 Best Graphic Card for 1440p Gaming<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Radeon RX 7900 XT stands as our top pick for users looking for a future-proof gaming GPU for 1440p gaming. At the heart of the 7900 XT is the Navi 31 chiplet fabbed on a combination of TSMC N5 (GCD) and N6 (MCDs) process nodes. It features 84 CUs for a total of 5,376 SPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 7900XT features a wide 320-bit for its price with ten memory controllers. Each controller is paired with 20 Gbps GDDR6 DRAM, resulting in a total bandwidth of 800 GB\/s and a large 20GB of VRAM. As expected from a modern-day GPU, it also features a sizable 80MB of L3 SRAM Cache, improving the overall bandwidth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We recommend it for 1440p gaming because of its large 20GB VRAM, ideal for 1440p gaming for several years to come, and there\u2019s enough raw rasterization muscle to run even the most demanding games at ultra settings.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"cg-tag\"><h3 class=\"cg-box-name\"><a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BNLSDRKB?tag=realgear0b-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1' class='cg-aff-link' data-post-id='207284' data-post-type='box' data-aff-link='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BNLSDRKB?tag=realgear0b-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1' data-post-title='XFX Radeon RX 7900XT Gaming Graphics Card with 20GB GDDR6' target='' rel='nofollow' >XFX Radeon RX 7900XT Gaming Graphics Card with 20GB GDDR6<\/a><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"cg-box-layout-four  cg-box-gb-active    cg-red \" ><div class=\"product-box-row product-full-view\"><div class=\"cg-tbl-rate-svg\"><div class=\"cb-tbl-value\">9<\/div><svg viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" data-percent=\"90\" style=\"stroke-dasharray:72.382294738709,999\"><circle cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"12.80\" \/><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"product-box-image\"><div class=\"product-image-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BNLSDRKB?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"cg-aff-link \" data-post-title=\"XFX Radeon RX 7900XT Gaming Graphics Card with 20GB GDDR6\" data-aff-link=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BNLSDRKB?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1\" data-post-type=\"box\" data-post-id=\"207284\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/31673nxfQDL._SL500_.jpg\" class=\"cg-img-1\" alt=\"XFX Radeon RX 7900XT Gaming Graphics Card with 20GB GDDR6\" style=\"\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-box-content\"><div class=\"cg-text\"><ul><li>Chipset: AMD RX 7900 XT<\/li><li>Memory: 20GB GDDR6<\/li><li>AMD Triple Fan Cooling Solution<\/li><li>Boost Clock: Up to 2400 MHz<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-box-footer\"><span class='cta-copy'><a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BNLSDRKB?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1' class='cg-one-button cg-btn   cg-aff-link ' data-post-id='207284' data-post-type='box' data-aff-link='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BNLSDRKB?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1' data-style='default' data-post-title='XFX Radeon RX 7900XT Gaming Graphics Card with 20GB GDDR6' data-extra='' style='--cg-theme-color:#E81212' target='' rel='nofollow' >Check Price<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"NVIDIA_GeForce_RTX__\u2013_Best_Graphic_Card_for_K_Gaming\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3t17F8i\"><strong>NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080<\/strong><\/a><strong> \u2013 Best Graphic Card for 4K Gaming<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The RTX 4080 is ideal for 4K gamers looking for a powerful GPU with support for DLSS and Frame Generation. Powering the RTX 4080 is the AD103 fabbed on N5 with a die area of 379 mm\u00b2 and a total of 76 SMs with 9,728 CUDA cores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 4080 features a 256-bit wide bus with 8 x 32-bit memory controllers, each paired with 22.4 Gbps GDDR6X, delivering a peak bandwidth of 716.8 GB\/s and a total VRAM capacity of 16GB. Additionally, there\u2019s also a 64MB L2 SRAM cache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, the RTX4080 is our top pick for 4K gaming, thanks to its support for DLSS 3 and Frame Generation, making even 4K 120FPS gaming an absolute breeze.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"cg-tag\"><h3 class=\"cg-box-name\"><a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BMZ9TGH1?tag=realgear0b-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1' class='cg-aff-link' data-post-id='207285' data-post-type='box' data-aff-link='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BMZ9TGH1?tag=realgear0b-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1' data-post-title='NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 4080 16GB GDDR6X Graphics Card' target='' rel='nofollow' >NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 4080 16GB GDDR6X Graphics Card<\/a><\/h3><\/div><div class=\"cg-box-layout-four  cg-box-gb-active    cg-red \" ><div class=\"product-box-row product-full-view\"><div class=\"cg-tbl-rate-svg\"><div class=\"cb-tbl-value\">9.6<\/div><svg viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" data-percent=\"96\" style=\"stroke-dasharray:77.207781054623,999\"><circle cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"12.80\" \/><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"product-box-image\"><div class=\"product-image-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BMZ9TGH1?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"cg-aff-link \" data-post-title=\"NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 4080 16GB GDDR6X Graphics Card\" data-aff-link=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BMZ9TGH1?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1\" data-post-type=\"box\" data-post-id=\"207285\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/41e1zP76o7L._SL500_.jpg\" class=\"cg-img-1\" alt=\"NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 4080 16GB GDDR6X Graphics Card\" style=\"\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-box-content\"><div class=\"cg-text\"><ul><li>Powered by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (16GB) graphics processing unit (GPU) with a 2.51 GHz boost clock speed<\/li><li>PCI Express 4.0 and earlier PCI Express 3.0. Offers compatibility with a range of systems<\/li><li>9,728 NVIDIA CUDA Cores, 2.51 GHz Boost Clock, Dedicated Ray Tracing Cores<\/li><li>Microsoft DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan RT APIs<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product-box-footer\"><span class='cta-copy'><a href='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BMZ9TGH1?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1' class='cg-one-button cg-btn   cg-aff-link ' data-post-id='207285' data-post-type='box' data-aff-link='https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0BMZ9TGH1?tag=realgear0b-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1' data-style='default' data-post-title='NVIDIA - GeForce RTX 4080 16GB GDDR6X Graphics Card' data-extra='' style='--cg-theme-color:#E81212' target='' rel='nofollow' >Check Price<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Frequently_Asked_Questions-_Graphic_Card_for_Gaming\"><strong>10 Frequently Asked Questions- Graphic Card for Gaming<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"How_Do_You_Know_What_GPU_You_Need_for_Gaming?\"><strong>How Do You Know What GPU You Need for Gaming?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To determine the GPU you require for gaming, look for the game&#8217;s system requirements. Nearly all games specify both their minimum and recommended system requirements. So, if you have a particular game in mind, make sure your GPU meets its minimum system requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Is_RAM_or_Graphics_Card_More_Important_for_Gaming?\"><strong>Is RAM or Graphics Card More Important for Gaming?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to gaming, the graphics card takes the cake as the more crucial component compared to system RAM. For example, if you only have integrated graphics, then you won\u2019t be able to run most modern games smoothly, even if your PC has 32 or 64GB of RAM. Needless to say, a discrete graphics card is a must-have for gaming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"How_Many_GB_Should_a_Graphics_Card_Have_for_Gaming?\"><strong>How Many GB Should a Graphics Card Have for Gaming?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For 1080p gaming, it&#8217;s highly recommended to have a GPU with 10GB to 12GB of VRAM. When gaming at 1440p, this requirement goes up to 12GB to 16GB. Lastly, if you&#8217;re targeting 4K resolution, then look for a GPU with a minimum of 16GB of VRAM, preferably 20GB or more, to prevent any potential VRAM-related bottlenecks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"What_Graphics_Card_Do_Most_Games_Need?\"><strong>What Graphics Card Do Most Games Need?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most, if not all, modern games require basic DirectX 12 support, and some even call for DirectX 12 Ultimate. Furthermore, certain games, notably Baldur&#8217;s Gate 3, Crysis (Remastered), and Doom &#8211; Eternal (to name a few), can also be run under Vulkan API which may provide better performance over DirectX 12. So, it\u2019s best to look for a GPU that offers both DirectX 12 Ultimate and the latest Vulkan 1.3 support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"What_Is_the_Best_Budget_GPU_for_Gaming?\"><strong>What Is the Best Budget GPU for Gaming?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3t4t1Sc\"><strong>AMD Radeon 6700 XT (12GB)<\/strong><\/a> is the best budget GPU you can buy right now. Even though it falls into AMD&#8217;s previous RDNA 2 lineup (RX6000 Series, a.k.a Navi II), it outperforms low-end current-gen. GPUs like the RTX 4060 and Radeon RX 7600 by a solid 10-15% while also offering 4GB more VRAM. This makes it a highly future-proof budget option for 1080p gaming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Which_Brand_GPU_Is_the_Best?\"><strong>Which Brand GPU Is the Best?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, Zotac, EVGA (for Nvidia), and Sapphire (for AMD) are the top GPU brands available in 2023. Moreover, both AMD and Nvidia also manufacture their own GPUs, often referred to as &#8220;reference models,\u201d which are also worth serious consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Is_Nvidia_GTX_or_RTX_Better_for_Gaming?\"><strong>Is Nvidia GTX or RTX Better for Gaming?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Nvidia RTX GPUs are the superior choice for gaming compared to GTX-branded GPUs. RTX GPUs include dedicated RT cores for real-time ray tracing effects and feature tensor cores specifically designed for dynamic calculations and mixed-precision computing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In gaming, Tensor cores are used to run DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), an AI-accelerated temporal upscaling technology. This technology upscales low-resolution visuals into high-resolution while maintaining image quality and overall visual fidelity. It also provides temporal stability, reducing flickering and shimmering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Which_Graphics_Card_Can_Run_All_Games?\"><strong>Which Graphics Card Can Run All Games?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3LpBupr\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3LpBupr\">AMD Radeon RX 7600<\/a><\/strong> and the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/48h9I8w\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/48h9I8w\">Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060<\/a><\/strong> are your basic graphics cards for 1080p gaming. These two cards can handle all games at 1080p with medium to high graphics settings, delivering 50 to 60 FPS performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the major downside of these two GPUs is their 8GB VRAM, which is becoming a limitation even at 1080p. So, if you&#8217;re looking for a future-proof graphics card, consider either the Radeon 7700 XT (12GB) or the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti (16GB).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Do_You_Need__Graphics_Cards_for_Gaming?\"><strong>Do You Need 2 Graphics Cards for Gaming?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Modern games no longer support multi-GPU technologies like SLI for Nvidia or Crossfire for AMD, so having dual GPUs in your gaming setup would provide next to no benefits. Additionally, newer GPUs lack SLI and Crossfire bridges, making it challenging for two GPUs to communicate without significant bandwidth constraints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Is_GB_Graphics_Card_Overkill?\"><strong>Is 16GB Graphics Card Overkill?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No, having 16GB of VRAM on a graphics card is no longer considered an \u2018overkill.\u2019 In fact, we recommend it as the minimum VRAM capacity for gamers who want to play at 4K with ultra-quality textures and ray tracing turned on. While you can manage with 12GB for now, it&#8217;s no longer considered future-proof and might become a limitation for 4K gaming later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Conclusion\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In conclusion, picking a graphics card might seem challenging when you consider all those specs you have to keep in mind, but in reality, it&#8217;s quite straightforward. You just need to ensure that your current hardware can handle the new GPU and that the GPU you&#8217;re considering has enough VRAM for your preferred resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, it&#8217;s essential to confirm that your power supply (PSU) has the necessary PCIe connectors required by the GPU and can meet its power demands. Also, take into account upscaling technologies like DLSS and FSR, as well as frame interpolation methods like Frame Generation and Fluid Motion. These technologies can significantly enhance your gaming performance but may introduce minor visual artifacts that some users might find distracting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lastly, don&#8217;t forget to check benchmarks for the games you want to play, and that&#8217;s all there is to selecting the right GPU for gaming! And if you\u2019re looking for a whole new gaming rig, then don\u2019t forget to check out some PC build guides.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unlock the full potential of your gaming experience by making an informed choice on the graphics card that best aligns with your needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":9054,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[57],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realgear.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9052"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realgear.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realgear.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realgear.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realgear.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9052"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.realgear.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9052\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9056,"href":"https:\/\/www.realgear.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9052\/revisions\/9056"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realgear.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9054"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realgear.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9052"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realgear.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9052"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realgear.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9052"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}