6 Best Graphics Cards (GPUs) for Gaming in 2024

When building your next gaming PC or upgrading your current rig, the component that affects your gaming performance is your graphics card (GPU). Picking the right graphics card is the key to getting the best FPS in your favorite games.

In the golden days (anything pre-2018), picking a graphics card was simple. Have your choice from any graphics card in your budget, and youโ€™re guaranteed good performance. Sure, there were a few differentiating factors between the two main GPU chip manufacturers, AMD and Nvidia, like G-Sync and Nvidiaโ€™s superior recording software Shadowplay. But, as for what youโ€™d see in-game, it was identical.

Real-time ray tracing has heightened the differences between graphics cards, complicating decision-making. Have no fear, as this list curated by TechEngage will assist you in selecting the best graphics cards of 2024.

1. MSI – Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 | $1,542.87

Msi Gaming Geforce Rtx 3080 10Gb Gdrr6X 320-Bit Hdmi/Dp Nvlink Tri-Frozr 2 Ampere Architecture Oc Graphics Card (Rtx 3080 Gaming X Trio 10G)
Details Information
Price $1,542.87
Discount
Rating on Amazon out of 5 stars – Out of reviews.
Brand MSI Store
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Last updated: 2024-10-13

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 features:

  • Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
  • TRI FROZR 2 Thermal Design
  • Video Memory: 10GB GDDR6X
  • Memory Interface: 320-bit
  • Output: DisplayPort x 3 (v1.4a) / HDMI 2.1 x 1

Nvidia caused a stir in the PC gaming community with the release of their latest RTX 3000 series graphics cards. While the RTX 3090 allows for 8K gaming, the mid-high tier 4K powerhouse is the standout in my opinion.

Bringing over 20-30% better performance than the previous genโ€™s highest-priced card, the RTX 3080Ti at $1200, the fact you can get true next-gen performance at only $699 makes the RTX 3080 an absolute steal.

The RTX 3080 is built on Nvidiaโ€™s brand new Ampere architecture with new ray-tracing cores delivering 2x throughput in performance.

Real-time raytracing is the cream of the crop when it comes to PC hardware, simulating the physical behavior of light to bring a realistic and cinematic gaming experience.

With dedicated tenor cores for AI deep learning, Nvidiaโ€™s propriety ai-accelerated super-sampler allows some insane leaps in FPS by using deep learning to upscale textures to higher resolutions to lighten the load on your GPU.

Graphics CardAverage Frame Rate1% Min FPS
GeForce RTX 3080 + DLSS140121
GeForce RTX 308012197
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti + DLSS11098
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti8375
GeForce RTX 2080 + DLSS9183
GeForce RTX 20806660
GeForce RTX 2070 + DLSS7265
GeForce RTX 20705348
This table lists various GeForce RTX graphics cards and their performance in the game “Death Stranding” at 4K resolution and very high quality, showing both the average frame rate and the minimum frame rate in the 1% lowest frames. DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) is an AI rendering technology that increases graphics performance using dedicated Tensor Core AI processors on GeForce RTX GPUs, which is why you see a separate entry for GPUs with DLSS enabled.

Below is the visual representation of the table above.

Ray Tracing &Amp; Dlss With The Geforce Rtx 3080

In Death Stranding, the use of DLSS sees a 37 FPS increase by switching on DLSS. This allows textures to be rendered at a lower resolution than native (for example, if youโ€™re running at 4K, some textures may be 1440p or 1080p textures), and DLSS 2.0 uses AI to artificially โ€œupโ€ the resolution so that itโ€™s imperceptible.

Control Dlss 2.0 On Vs. Off (Performance And Graphics Comparison) - Youtube

The main issue with the RTX 3080 is that, at least at the time of writing, which is early January 2021, it is virtually impossible to buy one of these coveted cards.

Itโ€™s a poor mixture of low supply caused by manufacturing shortages due to Covid-19 disruption and insanely high demand due to the true generational leap in performance over the RTX 2000 Turing cards.

But, when the RTX 3080 comes back into stock, get your hands on it and get it fast! This is truly the best card for gaming and is currently available for $1,542.87 on Amazon.

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2. MSI – Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 | $330.00

Msi Gaming Geforce Rtx 3070 8Gb Gdrr6 256-Bit Hdmi/Dp Torx Fan 3.0 Ampere Architecture Oc Graphics Card (Rtx 3070 Ventus 2X Oc), Geforce Rtx 3070 Ventus 2X Oc
Details Information
Price $330.00
Discount
Rating on Amazon out of 5 stars – Out of reviews.
Brand MSI Store
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Last updated: 2024-10-13

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 features:

  • Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
  • Video Memory: 8GB GDDR6
  • Memory Interface: 256-bit
  • Output: DisplayPort x 3 (v1.4a) / HDMI 2.1 x 1
  • Digital maximum resolution – 7680 x 4320

Iโ€™ve been covering graphics cards for 7 years now, ever since the GTX 700 series launch back in 2013, and I can wholeheartedly say Iโ€™ve never come across a graphics card that has a better bang for your buck than the RTX 3070. Exploding onto the scene in the latter half of 2020, Nvidia boasted performances matching, if not beating, the top-of-the-line RTX 2080ti and beating out the Titan RTX in FPS performance.

Graphics CardAverage Frame Rate1% Min FPS
GeForce RTX 3090160140
GeForce RTX 3080157139
GeForce RTX 3070134118
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti131117
GeForce RTX 2080 Super111105
GeForce RTX 2080108100
Radeon RX 5700 XT104101
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti10388
GeForce RTX 2070 Super9587
Radeon RX 57009587
Radeon VII9482
GeForce RTX 20708981
GeForce RTX 2060 Super8778
GeForce GTX 10808264
GeForce RTX 20608173
Radeon RX Vega 647766
GeForce GTX 10707052
GeForce GTX 980 Ti6450
This table shows how well different graphics cards perform when playing the game “Death Stranding” at 1440p resolution, using very high-quality settings, and with TAA (Temporal Anti-Aliasing) turned on. It includes both the average frame rate and the minimum 1% frame rate, which shows how often the frame rate drops to its lowest point.

Below is the visual representation of the table above.

Death Stranding Test In 1440P

Look! The RTX 3070 only trails the 3080 by a little bit when it comes to 1440p performance, and the RTX 3080 only breaks a sweat and pulls ahead when you crank up to 4K when it can flex the extra 2GB of VRAM out of the box.

Graphics CardAverage Frame Rate1% Min FPS
GeForce RTX 309011399
GeForce RTX 308010797
GeForce RTX 30708376
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti7563
GeForce RTX 2080 Super6966
GeForce RTX 20806460
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti6458
Radeon RX 5700 XT6258
GeForce RTX 2070 Super6257
Radeon RX 57005549
Radeon VII5444
GeForce RTX 20705348
GeForce RTX 2060 Super5045
GeForce GTX 10804843
Radeon RX Vega 644328
GeForce RTX 20604235
GeForce GTX 10704036
GeForce GTX 980 Ti3733
This table shows the performance data for various graphics cards in the game “Death Stranding” at 4K resolution with very high-quality settings and TAA (Temporal Anti-Aliasing) enabled. The Average Frame Rate and 1% Min FPS (Frame Per Second) are two metrics that give an indication of the overall smoothness and stability of the gameplay experience on each card.

Below is the visual representation of the table above.

Death Stranding 4K Test

The cardโ€™s ray tracing performance certainly matches, if not beats, the previous generation powerhorses, with Eurogamerโ€™s Control raytracing benchmark seeing an average of 43.9 FPS on ultra 1440p for the RTX 3070, versus 43.2 on the RTX 2080 Ti.

All this performance at an MSRP of $499! Itโ€™s nearly a third the price of the 2080Ti with matching performance. Holy smokes!

But, as with its older brother, good luck getting your hands on one of these bad boys. Theyโ€™re currently out of stock, but if you find any RTX 3070 on the market by any aftermarket reseller and youโ€™re looking for a bang-for-the-buck GPU, get it.

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3. Sapphire – AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT |

Sapphire 21304-01-20G Amd Radeon Rx 6800 Xt Gaming Graphics Card With 16Gb Gddr6, Amd Rdna 2
Details Information
Price
Discount
Rating on Amazon out of 5 stars – Out of reviews.
Brand Sapphire Technology
Buy Now Buy on Amazon
Last updated: 2024-10-13

Sapphire AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT features:

  • Game Clock: Up to 2015 MHz
  • Boost Clock: Up to 2250 MHz
  • 128 MB Infinity Cache
  • 72 Compute Units
  • 300 Watts Total Board Power

The mighty RTX 3080. This GPU is based on the Big Navi GPU architecture and represents a departure from AMD’s previous strategy of focusing on mid-tier budget graphics cards.

With an MSRP of $649, the RX 6800 XT has a $50 upper hand on the RTX 3080, and especially if you can’t get your hands on team green’s powerhorse, the RX 6800 XT is a compelling deal.

In some games, without ray-tracing, the AMD RX 6800 XT beats out even Nvidiaโ€™s highest-priced 3000 series offering the RTX 3090. For example, at 1440p, you can expect to see similar if not better performance.

Graphics CardAverage Frame Rate1% Min FPS
Radeon RX 6800 XT161140
GeForce RTX 3090160140
GeForce RTX 3080157139
GeForce RTX 3070134118
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti131117
GeForce RTX 2080 Super117105
GeForce RTX 2080111100
Radeon RX 5700 XT108101
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti10488
GeForce RTX 2070 Super10395
Radeon RX 57009587
Radeon VII9482
GeForce RTX 20708981
GeForce RTX 2060 Super8778
GeForce GTX 10808264
Radeon RX Vega 647766
GeForce GTX 10707052
GeForce GTX 980 Ti6450
This table lists different graphics cards along with their performance metrics in the game “Death Stranding” at 1440p resolution, very high-quality settings, and TAA enabled. It includes the average frame rate and the 1% minimum frame rate to give an overview of the general and worst-case scenario performance, respectively.

Below is the visual representation of the table above.

Death Stranding Test In 1440P

The RX 6800 XT falls behind at 4K, though, where the added VRAM and DLSS kick in for Nvidia to allow the RTX 3000 series cards to edge ever so ahead. In Death Stranding, the RTX 3080 beats out the 6800 by a mere 5fps. Not bad, AMD, not bad.

The RX 6800 XT, rather than moving to a 5nm process like Nvidia for 2020, has chosen to stick to its 7nm process and instead focus on efficiency improvements and extra features.

One of these grand new features includes Infinity Cache, a global cache that speeds up GPU memory access. This helps give AMD a ‘leg up’ in performance to make up for the lost headway against Nvidia due to the RX 6800 XT rocking the slower GDDR6 memory compared to the RTX 3000 series GPUs’ GDDR6X memory.

The biggest addition, however, is the inclusion of dedicated compute cores to act as ray-tracing acceleration. Whilst AMD’s real-time hardware accelerated ray-tracing doesn’t quite match RTX + DLSS, the Direct 12 Ultimate compliant offering from Team Red is more than enough for forays into the world of ray tracing.

Graphics CardAverage Frame Rate1% Min FPS
GeForce RTX 309011399
GeForce RTX 308010797
Radeon RX 6800 XT10289
GeForce RTX 30708376
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti8375
GeForce RTX 2080 Super6963
GeForce RTX 20806660
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti6458
Radeon RX 5700 XT6258
GeForce RTX 2070 Super5755
Radeon RX 57005549
Radeon VII5444
GeForce RTX 20705348
GeForce RTX 2060 Super5045
GeForce GTX 10804843
Radeon RX Vega 644328
GeForce RTX 20604235
GeForce GTX 10704036
GeForce GTX 980 Ti3733
This table presents the performance of different graphics cards when running “Death Stranding” at 4K resolution with very high quality settings and TAA. It shows both the average frame rate and the 1% minimum frame rate, which is a measure of how often the lowest frame rates are experienced during gameplay.

Below is the visual representation of the table above.

Death Stranding Test In 4K Test

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4. Gigabyte Radeon RX 5700 XT | $249.99

Gigabyte Radeon Rx 5700 Xt Gaming Oc 8G (Rev 2.0) Graphics Card, Pcie 4.0, 8Gb 256-Bit Gddr6, Gv-R57Xtgaming Oc-8Gd Rev2.0 Video Card
Details Information
Price $249.99
Discount
Rating on Amazon out of 5 stars – Out of reviews.
Brand Gigabyte Store
Buy Now Buy on Amazon
Last updated: 2024-10-13

Gigabyte Radeon RX 5700 XT features:

  • Powered by 7nm Radeon RDNA architecture
  • Accelerated Game Fidelity with Radeon Image Sharpening & FidelityFX
  • Immersive Gaming Experience with FreeSync & FreeSync 2 HDR technology
  • WINDFORCE 3X with Alternate Spinning Fans & Direct Touch Copper Heatpipes
  • Intuitive Controls with AORUS Engine

With the current GPU shortages, it may be very difficult to find any of the 2020 cards in stock on Amazon. I wouldn’t usually recommend last-gen hardware, as the leaps in generational performance warrant the added cost. However, if you need a GPU now, your best bet may be to look at older GPUs. This is where the last-gen AMD offering the AMD RX 5700 XT comes in.

Graphics CardAverage Frame Rate1% Low
GeForce RTX 3090 [24GB]11581
Radeon RX 6900 XT [16GB]11379
GeForce RTX 3080 [10GB]10373
Radeon RX 6800 XT [16GB]10373
Radeon RX 6800 [16GB]9369
GeForce RTX 3070 [8GB]8761
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti [11GB]7957
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti [8GB]7553
GeForce RTX 2080 Super [8GB]7250
GeForce RTX 2080 [8GB]6949
GeForce RTX 2070 Super [8GB]6546
Radeon VII [16GB]6445
Radeon RX 5700 XT [8GB]6344
GeForce RTX 2070 [8GB]6042
GeForce RTX 2060 Super [8GB]5639
Radeon RX 5700 [8GB]5337
GeForce RTX 2060 [6GB]4934
Radeon RX 5600 XT [6GB]4833
GeForce GTX 1660 Ti [6GB]4229
GeForce GTX 1660 Super [6GB]3927
GeForce GTX 1660 [6GB]3725
Radeon RX 5500 XT [8GB]3524
GeForce GTX 1650 Super [4GB]2920
GeForce GTX 1650 [4GB]2718
This table provides the performance of various graphics cards when running the game “Cyberpunk 2077” at 1080p resolution on ultra quality settings. The “Average Frame Rate” column indicates the typical frames per second one can expect, while the “1% Low” column shows the lower end of frame rates, representing what one might see in the most demanding scenarios or moments of gameplay.

Below is the visual representation of the table above.

Cyberpunk 2077 1080P Test On Amd Rx 5700 Xt

For example, Cyberpunk 2077, even at 1440p, makes even the most expensive GPUs sweat, but at Ultra 1080p, the RX 5700 XT delivers a perfectly playable experience. For most AAA games, you’ll expect to see at least a solid 60 FPS maxed out, though the card, with its limited VRAM and slower memory, will begin to struggle at 4K.

However, the biggest deficiency with the RX 5700 XT is the lack of any dedicated horsepower for real-time hardware accelerated raytracing. Unlike the comparable RTX offerings, there currently exists no raytracing support, and we’re unlikely to see any support for it as AMD has moved its focus to their RX 6000 series GPUs. If you’re looking for a last-gen ray tracing card, this isn’t your choice. But, if you’re instead looking for a solid 1440p ultra graphics card, the RX 5700 XT is worth checking out.

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5. ASUS GeForce RTX 2070 | $730.50

Asus Geforce Rtx 2070 Super Overclocked 8G Evo Gddr6 Dual-Fan Edition Vr Ready Hdmi Displayport Gaming Graphics Card (Dual-Rtx-2070S-O8G-Evo)
Details Information
Price $730.50
Discount
Rating on Amazon out of 5 stars – Out of reviews.
Brand ASUS Store
Buy Now Buy on Amazon
Last updated: 2024-10-13

ASUS GeForce RTX 2070 features:

  • Powered by NVIDIA Turing with 1845 MHz Boost Clock (OC Mode), 2560 CUDA Cores, and overclocked 8GB GDDR6 memory
  • Supports up to 4 Monitors with 3x DisplayPort 1. 4 and 1x HDMI 2. 0 port
  • Triple Axial-Tech 0db Fans increase airflow through the heatsink and boast IP5X dust resistance.
  • Protective Backplate features a durable aluminum construction to prevent PCB flex and trace damage
  • GPU Tweak II makes monitoring performance and streaming in real-time easier than ever, and includes additional software like Game Booster, XSplit Gamecaster, WTFast, and QuantumCloud

Moving on to the final generation product from team green, the RTX 2070 Super remains a powerful option despite its 2018 release. If you are unable to purchase the latest 2020 models, the RTX 2000 series is the only alternative for accessing ray-tracing technology.

Graphics CardAverage Frame Rate1% Min FPS
GeForce RTX 3090160140
GeForce RTX 3080157139
GeForce RTX 3070134118
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti131117
GeForce RTX 2080 Super111105
GeForce RTX 2080108100
Radeon RX 5700 XT104101
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti10388
GeForce RTX 2070 Super9587
Radeon RX 57009587
Radeon VII9482
GeForce RTX 20708981
GeForce RTX 2060 Super8778
GeForce GTX 10808264
GeForce RTX 20608173
Radeon RX Vega 647766
GeForce GTX 10707052
GeForce GTX 980 Ti6450
This table details the performance metrics of different graphics cards for the game “Death Stranding” at 1440p resolution, very high quality settings, and with TAA enabled. The two columns indicate the average frame rate and the 1% minimum frame rates, the latter of which represents the performance during the most graphically intensive scenes.

Below is the visual representation of the table above.

Death Stranding Of Nvidia Rtx 2070 Super

Using Nvidia’s 7nm Turing architecture, the utilization of more RT and Tensor Cores brings superior ray-tracing performance over the non-super RTX 2070. All this, with only a small increase in power consumption with a rated TDP of 250 watts.

All this only delivers a ~30 FPS deficit when compared to the next-gen RTX 3070, making the 2070 Super an attractive deal when it comes to RTX performance.

Nvidia Dlss 2.0: A Big Leap In Ai Rendering

The RTX 2070 Super may start to struggle when it comes to 4K performance, especially if you decide to crank RTX on. DLSS 1.0 isn’t as seamless as the RTX 3000 variant DLSS 2.0, so the upscaling can look a little janky compared to what you’d get on an RTX 3070 GPU. Therefore, this card positions itself as a stellar raytracing performer at 1440p and not 4K.

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6. ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 | $314.99

Zotac Gaming Geforce Rtx 3060 Twin Edge Oc 12Gb Gddr6 192-Bit 15 Gbps Pcie 4.0 Graphics Card, Icestorm 2.0 Cooling, Active Fan Control, Freeze Fan Stop Zt-A30600H-10M
Details Information
Price $314.99
Discount – 7%
Rating on Amazon out of 5 stars – Out of reviews.
Brand ZOTAC Store
Buy Now Buy on Amazon
Last updated: 2024-10-13

ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 features:

  • NVIDIA Ampere architecture, 2nd Gen Ray Tracing Cores, 3rd Gen Tensor Cores
  • 12GB 192-bit GDDR6, 15 Gbps, PCIE 4.0; Boost Clock 1807 MHz
  • IceStorm 2.0 Cooling, Active Fan Control, Freeze Fan Stop, Metal Backplate
  • 8K Ready, 4 Display Ready, HDCP 2.3, VR Ready. (Avoid using unofficial software)
  • 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1 x HDMI 2.1, DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan RT API, OpenGL 4.6

The ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 is a powerful graphics card that features the latest NVIDIA Ampere architecture. This architecture includes 2nd Gen Ray Tracing Cores and 3rd Gen Tensor Cores, which make it one of the most advanced GPUs on the market today.

With 12GB of 192-bit GDDR6 memory and a boost clock of 1807 MHz, this card is capable of delivering smooth performance even in demanding games and applications. The PCIE 4.0 interface ensures fast data transfer, while the 15 Gbps memory speed provides quick access to data.

ZOTAC has also incorporated its IceStorm 2.0 cooling system into the RTX 3060, which features Active Fan Control, Freeze Fan Stop, and a metal backplate for improved heat dissipation. These cooling features ensure stable performance and minimize the risk of thermal throttling, even during intense gaming sessions.

The RTX 3060 is also 8K ready and can drive up to 4 displays simultaneously, making it an ideal choice for gamers who want to create a multi-screen setup. It is also HDCP 2.3 compatible, VR-ready, and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan RT API, and OpenGL 4.6 for optimal compatibility with the latest games and applications.

It is important to note that the RTX 3060 is designed to work optimally with official software and drivers only. Using unofficial software and drivers may affect performance and stability. The RTX 3060 comes with three DisplayPort 1.4a ports and one HDMI 2.1 port, providing ample connectivity options for multiple displays.

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When constructing your next gaming PC or enhancing your existing setup, the element that will have the most impact on your gaming experience is your graphics card (GPU). Selecting the appropriate GPU is essential for ensuring the highest possible frames per second in your preferred titles.


Editor’s Picks:


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Jazib Zaman
Jazib Zamanhttps://techengage.com
CEO & Tech writer @TechEngage. Exploring Technology is my passion. I specialize in simplifying technologies for the betterment of humanity.

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