Best Graphics Cards: Get Crystal Clear Gaming

Our Top 5 Graphics Cards for Gaming

1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060

VRAM

Video random-access memory (VRAM) is the amount of space your graphics card has for processing digital video information. Higher VRAM can deliver more efficient processing, which can translate into smoother animations and transitions on your video display.

TFLOPS

Floating operations per second (FLOPS) is the number of individual changes a GPU can process in a second. Because modern cards can handle trillions of FLOPS, the large numbers are often represented as teraFLOPS or trillions of FLOPS (TFLOPS). More FLOPS is a sign of a faster GPU, and faster processing translates into a more seamless gaming experience.

Memory Type

This is less relevant than it used to be since the proliferation of the graphics double data rate version five (GDDR5). Now most top-end cards use this as a baseline. Subsequent generations—GDDR 5x and GDDR6—are even better.

Compatibility

A great graphics card won’t do anything for you if it doesn’t work with the rest of your computer parts. Below we’ll discuss some of the specs to look for when trying to match up a GPU with your motherboard, but you can also use tools like PCPartPicker.com.

Motherboard Connection

Most modern motherboards have a 16-channel slot and use PCIe protocol, but some motherboards still use AGP protocol. You can’t use a PCIe GPU with an AGP motherboard.

The good news is that you can use PCIe 3.0 cards on motherboards with older PCIe versions, although they will be limited by the older technology.

Power Connection

Your GPU needs power, so check the power connections you have available from your computer’s power supply. The connections come in a variety of sizes and configurations, ranging from two pins up to 16 pins. Some of them are adjustable so you can configure them in different ways. The graphics cards we recommend all come with 8-pin connections.

Power Consumption

Plugging in the power is only half the battle; you also need your power supply to handle the extra wattage for your GPU. A good guideline is to have a power supply that is three times what your GPU draws.

The power requirements for the graphics cards we recommend vary from 150 W to 260 W. So, to use these cards, your power supply should pump out somewhere between 450–780 W.

Your video display will only be as good as your monitor or your graphics card, whichever one is worse. Price ranges on monitors and graphics cards are pretty similar, so spend the same amount on both. Otherwise, you’ll end up with one good piece of equipment that’s limited by a cheaper one. See our recommended gaming monitors.

Onboard

These are the cards that sometimes come with pre-packaged PCs. They’re called onboard because instead of plugging into one of the slots on the motherboard, these cards are affixed to the motherboard.

AGP

Accelerated graphics port (AGP) cards are aptly named because they plug into the AGP slots in the motherboard. These cards are compatible with many motherboards, but they aren’t as fast as the PCI or PCIe cards. The speed limitations of AGP cards will likely lead to a future decline in popularity.

PCI

Peripheral component interconnect (PCI) graphics cards are also named after the connection slot they use. PCI cards are largely being replaced by PCIe cards, but they can be perfect for upgrading your old computer.

PCIe

Most of the best new GPUs are peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) cards, including all that we recommend.

As technology advanced and better versions of PCIe cards came out, they’re now on version three. They are backward compatible but will only work as fast as the lowest version is capable.

Ready to play?

Armed with the tips in this article, you’re ready to find a GPU that fits your budget and your computer so you can lose yourself in the life-like animations of your favorite games.

A good graphics card won’t solve a bad internet connection.

Even the best graphics card won’t help your online gaming much if your internet connection is too slow.

Should I get two graphics cards for one computer?

It all depends on your setup. Multiple graphics cards (GPUs) can help with performance, but they’re usually expensive and need a decent amount of power. That trade-off might not be worth it for you.

If you have the space on your motherboard and enough power to handle a second card, it could be worth it. But if getting a second graphics card means upgrading your motherboard, your power supply, and possibly your case, you may find it more cost-efficient to simply upgrade your GPU.

What’s the best graphics card for gaming?

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition is a great choice for gaming. Not only does it run today’s AAA games with ease, but it also has the overhead to handle future games.

Is a GTX 1050 good for gaming?

• Yes, it is if you primarily play online, player-versus-player games. The GTX 1050 card series handles games like Dota 2 remarkably well for the price.
• No, it isn’t if you’re looking to run AAA games at the highest settings. Many top-end games, like Grand Theft Auto V, would push the GTX 1050 too hard.

Which graphics card is the most powerful?

As of the day this was written, the NVIDIA TITAN RTX, but you’ll have to pay big for that power. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition and EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti FTW3 Gaming we recommend still give you enough power for high-end games for about $1,000 less.