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The best Graphics Cards 2024

July 12, 2024

Alright, let's jump into the world of graphics cards and see what makes each one tick. Whether you're a hardcore gamer, a creative pro, or just someone looking to give your PC a boost, picking the right graphics card can be a game-changer. From budget-friendly picks to high-end beasts, there's something for everyone. In this guide, we'll break down some of the top graphics cards out there, highlighting their key features, pros and cons, and who they're best for.

GeForce RTX 3090 TI

GeForce RTX 3090 TI

What our experts say: The GeForce RTX 3090 TI is a powerhouse, thanks to Nvidia's second-gen RTX architecture, Ampere. It packs dedicated second-gen RT cores, third-gen tensor cores, streaming multi-processors, and a whopping 24 GB of G6X memory. This combo delivers top-notch performance for both gamers and creators.

Who Should Buy this Product: Perfect for gamers and content creators who want the best performance and are ready to invest in premium hardware.

Highlight: Best for ultimate gaming and content creation performance.

Pros:

  1. Major performance boost over its predecessor.
  2. Excellent for gaming and content creation.
  3. Supports Ray tracing and DLSS.

Cons:

  1. High power consumption (TDP of 450W).
  2. Large size may require a bigger case or system rebuild.
  3. High price tag.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti, launched on January 27, 2022, is built on the 8 nm process and based on the GA102 GPU architecture. It boasts a GPU Clock of 1560 MHz and a Boost Clock between 1860 MHz and 1965 MHz. With 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and a memory clock of 1313 MHz, this card is designed for demanding creators and gamers. Its power consumption can reach up to 510 W, and it typically includes 2x HDMI and 3x DisplayPort outputs.

The RTX 3090 Ti is available from various providers like ASUS, Colorful, EVGA, and others. Initially priced at $1,999, some models are available for around $1,846.96 on Amazon. This card is ideal for those who need top-tier performance for gaming and content creation, but its high power consumption, large size, and high price point may be drawbacks for some users.

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AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

What our experts say: AMD has been producing the 5800X3D for a while, and they've got a bunch of dies that didn't quite make the cut for the 5800X3D. Instead of tossing them, AMD offers a cheaper variant that doesn't hit the same clock speeds but keeps the latency advantage of the cache, which is key for gaming performance.

Who Should Buy this Product: Gamers with AM4 systems looking for a budget-friendly upgrade that delivers similar gaming performance to the original 5800X3D.

Highlight: Best for cost-effective gaming performance.

Pros:

  1. Affordable at $250.
  2. Retains the latency advantage of the cache.
  3. Compatible with a large install base of AM4 systems.

Cons:

  1. Doesn't hit the same clock speeds as the original 5800X3D.
  2. Not as good as the latest 7000 series or 14th gen CPUs.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is a desktop processor designed for gaming and other demanding applications. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a boost clock of up to 4.5 GHz and a 96MB L3 cache. The processor supports DDR4-3200, DDR4-2933, and DDR4-2667 memory, and is compatible with RHEL x86 64-Bit and Ubuntu x86 64-Bit operating systems. It also includes integrated graphics capabilities and 3D V-Cache Technology, which enhances its gaming performance by increasing the cache size.

The processor is designed to be power-efficient, making it suitable for gaming and other demanding applications. It has been well-received in the market, with users reporting significant performance improvements over previous generations. Priced around $299.99, it offers a cost-effective upgrade for those already on the AM4 platform, providing competitive performance with newer AM5 processors in certain applications.

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RX 6400

RX 6400

What our experts say: The RX 6400 is one of the most affordable discrete GPU options out there, making it a solid pick for budget-conscious buyers. It offers limited performance, so it's best for basic tasks and light gaming.

Who Should Buy this Product: Budget-conscious buyers looking for a basic graphics card for everyday tasks and light gaming.

Highlight: Best for budget-friendly basic tasks.

Pros:

  1. Very affordable.
  2. Suitable for basic tasks.
  3. Low power consumption.

Cons:

  1. Poor performance for modern games.
  2. Limited to 4 GB of VRAM.
  3. High temperatures and loud fan noise after extended use.

The AMD Radeon RX 6400 is a mid-range graphics card designed for budget gaming and media consumption. It features 4 GB of GDDR6 memory, a GPU clock speed of up to 2321 MHz, and a memory speed of 16 Gbps. The card supports DisplayPort and HDMI video output interfaces and has a power consumption of 50 watts. Its low profile, single-slot design makes it suitable for small form factor systems.

The RX 6400 is capable of achieving 120+ frames per second (fps) in games, providing smooth and high-quality visuals. It is suitable for 1080p gaming at medium settings, though it may struggle with more demanding games like "The Witcher 3" without additional performance enhancements like FSR. Some users have reported high temperatures around 105°C and loud fan noise after extended use, while others have noted that it is surprisingly quiet with minimal coil whine.

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Nvidia GTX 1660 Super

Nvidia GTX 1660 Super

What our experts say: The GTX 1660 Super offers excellent value for budget-conscious gamers, providing solid performance for Fortnite at 1080p resolution. It is a better value option compared to the RDX 2060, especially when bought used.

Who Should Buy this Product: Budget-conscious gamers looking for solid 1080p performance without breaking the bank.

Highlight: Best for budget-friendly 1080p gaming.

Pros:

  1. Affordable.
  2. Solid 1080p performance.
  3. Good value when bought used.

Cons:

  1. Not suitable for 1440p or 4K gaming.
  2. Difficult to maintain stable 200+ FPS.
  3. Limited future-proofing.

The Nvidia GTX 1660 Super is a performance-segment graphics card launched on October 29, 2019, based on the 12 nm process and Turing architecture. It is designed for high-fidelity 1920x1080 gaming and is up to 1.5x faster than a GeForce GTX 1060 6GB. The GTX 1660 Super features 14 Gbps GDDR6 VRAM, which boosts peak memory bandwidth to 336 GB/s, providing a 75% improvement over the GeForce GTX 1660's 8 Gbps GDDR5 VRAM. This accelerates frame rates by up to 20%, giving a smoother and more responsive gaming experience.

The GTX 1660 Super includes all Turing optimizations and enhancements, such as Concurrent FP+INT performance-accelerating Advanced Shaders, high-quality, low-impact NVENC broadcast encoding, and other unmatched tech that improves gameplay. It is available from various partners at an MSRP of $229 and is compatible with DirectX 9, 10, 11, and 12 games.

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AMD Radeon RX 6600

AMD Radeon RX 6600

What our experts say: The RX 6600 is a competitive option for budget gamers, providing good performance for Fortnite at 1080p. It is comparable to Nvidia GPUs in terms of performance and offers good value for its price.

Who Should Buy this Product: Budget gamers looking for good 1080p performance and a competitive alternative to Nvidia GPUs.

Highlight: Best for budget-friendly 1080p gaming.

Pros:

  1. Affordable.
  2. Good 1080p performance.
  3. Comparable to Nvidia GPUs.

Cons:

  1. Not suitable for 1440p or 4K gaming.
  2. Some misconceptions about its performance.
  3. Limited future-proofing.

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 is a graphics card that was released in 2021. It has 28 compute units, 32 MB of new AMD Infinity Cache, 8GB GDDR6, and a game clock of up to 2044 MHz. It is designed for high-fidelity gaming and streaming, with support for AV1 encoding and decoding, AMD Noise Suppression, and up to 24 GB of VRAM. It is compatible with the latest AMD Ryzen processors and is part of the AMD Advantage™ Systems, which offers advanced performance and features when combined with AMD Ryzen processors and AMD Software.

The RX 6600 is available for purchase on Amazon and Newegg, with prices ranging from $150 to $300. It is also available from other retailers, such as CeX. The RX 6600 is a solid choice for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with good performance in popular games such as The Division 2, Doom Eternal, Far Cry 6, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Wolfenstein: Young Blood, Apex Legends, Fortnite, and Valorant.

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Conclusion

So, picking the right graphics card really boils down to what you need and your budget. Whether you're after high frame rates and stunning visuals for gaming or reliable performance for demanding creative tasks, there's a card out there for you. The GeForce RTX 3090 TI is the ultimate choice for those who want the best performance, while the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D offers a cost-effective upgrade for gamers with AM4 systems. The RX 6400 and GTX 1660 Super are great budget-friendly options for everyday tasks and 1080p gaming, respectively. And the RX 6600 provides a solid alternative to Nvidia GPUs, delivering good performance for budget gamers.

Each of these graphics cards has its own strengths and weaknesses, so think about what matters most to you. Whether it's raw power, affordability, or specific features, knowing your priorities will help you make the best decision. We hope this guide has given you some valuable insights and helped you navigate the diverse world of graphics cards. Happy gaming and creating!

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