If you’re in the market for the best graphics card available, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of the best graphics cards that money can buy. We won’t waste your time talking about brands or price tags; instead, we’ll take an objective look at how these cards perform in real life and how they stack up against each other. We’ve looked at every single graphics card being sold on the market today and put together this list of our favorites, so you can rest assured that if you buy any one of these products, you won’t be disappointed.
What are the best GPUs?
In 2022, there are a number of top graphics cards that will be worth your money. The best graphics card in 2022 is Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. It is a flagship GPU that delivers unmatched performance and power efficiency, as well as next-generation artificial intelligence features like DLSS.
It also supports DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.5, which makes it perfect for games that don’t have Vulkan support. As you can see, there are many top GPUs to choose from in 2022. If you’re looking for something more affordable, the AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB offers an excellent price point with great performance. If you’re willing to spend more on a graphics card (and have a beefy enough rig), then consider Nvidia’s new Turing architecture: the RTX 2080 or RTX 2080 Ti. For those who want something at a lower price point but still want top performance, look no further than the GTX 1660 Ti. Whatever your budget and needs are, these top GPUs offer great performance in 2022.
Benchmark Tests
Gaming is a competitive field, and any gamer will tell you that having the best graphics card available can make a huge difference. However, it can be hard to know which GPU will give you the most bang for your buck. To help everyone get on top of this problem, we’ll be using benchmark tests from reputable sites like Tech Radar and Computer Shopper to determine what the top GPUs on the market are currently.
First up is Nvidia’s RTX 2080 Ti, one of their newest models released this year. It comes with 4352 CUDA cores, 11GBs of GDDR6 memory, and runs at 1350MHz. It offers an 8-pin power connector which means that even those with lower-powered systems should still be able to take advantage of its capabilities. With some incredible features such as Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), variable rate shading (VRS), and real-time ray tracing technology (RTX), this device has been well received by both gamers and industry professionals alike. If you’re looking for top performance without breaking the bank, then this might just be the perfect choice for you.
Next up is AMD’s Radeon RX 580. It comes with 2944 stream processors, 8GBs of GDDR5 RAM, and also requires an 8-pin power connector for operation. If you’re not sure about whether or not VRS or DLSS technologies are important to you then don’t worry! The more advanced your gaming setup, the more likely these will be beneficial to you so either way they could end up being a good buy. Regardless of where your gaming takes you though, there’s no denying that these two are among the top GPUs right now so if high quality graphics is something you’re interested in, then they would be worth considering as part of your research process.
At number 4 on our list of top GPUs for gaming we have NVIDIA’s GTX 1080 Ti. It comes with 3584 Cuda Cores, 11GBs of GDDR5X memory, and operates at 1442 MHz. A 6-pin power connector is all you need for this model, but keep in mind that this does mean your PC will need to have enough power behind it to actually run it properly.
Budget-Friendly Graphic Cards
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti – The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is a budget-friendly graphics card and great for 1080p gaming. It does not require external power and starts at $140. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 has 4 GB of dedicated memory. AMD Radeon RX 580 – The AMD Radeon RX 580 is an affordable option that’s great for 1440p and VR gaming, but it won’t play modern titles on maximum settings. It comes with 8GB GDDR5 memory and ranges from $150-$230. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GDDR5 – The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GDDR5 is ideal for 1080p gaming with high frame rates. Its starting price is around $220, but can be found for less if you’re willing to sacrifice some power or performance. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB GDDR6 – If you want one of the best graphics cards available right now then get this one! These will start out around $500 and go up from there depending on what other specs are needed.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 8GB GDDR6 – A little more expensive than the RTX 2070 but provides a good balance between cost and power/performance. These will start out around $700 and go up from there depending on what other specs are needed.
Luxury Graphic Cards
If you’re looking to future-proof your gaming computer and buy a top-of-the-line graphics card, now is the time. Prices are low and most cards have plenty of video memory, meaning that they can run high resolutions without any stuttering or lag. If you’re thinking about buying a GPU right now, we recommend waiting until later this year when there’s more information on what graphics cards will be available in 2020. However, if you know exactly which one you want and don’t care if it comes out in 2020 or 2021, go ahead and buy it! As an example, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti retails for $1,100. It has 10 GB of GDDR6 RAM and can handle 4K resolution with ease. The only issue is that it might not be released in 2020, so if you need a new graphics card soon then this one isn’t for you. The best option would be AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT, which runs at around $490. The only downside to this card is that it doesn’t come with 11GB of RAM like many other options do; however, 8GB should suffice for most people who are just using their machine for gaming. The two least expensive graphics cards on our list are the ASUS Dual GTX 1660 OC 6GB ($299) and the ASUS Dual GTX 1660 STRIX 6GB ($330). They both have 6 GB of DDR5 video memory. They also offer similar performance, but the STRIX offers overclocking capability as well as being quieter than its cheaper counterpart. We recommend choosing whichever one fits better into your budget.
How to Choose a GPU for Gaming
Graphics cards are a major factor in determining how well your computer can run high-end, graphics-intensive games. If you’re looking to buy a graphics card or want to upgrade your current one, there are a few things you should know before making a decision.
First and foremost, graphics cards come with two different types of memory: GDDR5 and HBM2. HBM2 is more expensive and more difficult to produce, but it has better performance. The second thing you should consider when deciding on a GPU is power consumption. Most modern GPUs will consume at least 150 watts from the power supply unit (PSU), so make sure that your power supply supports this much power output before purchasing any new GPU. Finally, what kind of monitor do you have? Different GPUs have different connectors depending on their generation and performance tier. For example, an NVIDIA GTX 1080ti would need three Display Port connections while an NVIDIA GTX 1070 would only require one DVI connection or two HDMI connections. When buying a GPU, be aware of which connectors you need to ensure compatibility with your monitor. Some graphics cards even come with multiple outputs such as HDMI, DVI, and VGA. Before making a final decision, always check the technical specifications of your monitor’s ports to make sure they match up with those of the graphics card you plan to purchase.
Finally, don’t forget that some higher-tier GPUs can overheat after prolonged use because they don’t have sufficient cooling systems built into them. In these cases, it’s important to pick up a good quality fan cooler along with your GPU if available. These small additions usually won’t affect the price too much, and you’ll thank yourself later! Now that we’ve covered all the important considerations, here are our picks for best graphics card in 2022.