Shopping for a brand new graphics card is usually a tough prospect, full of inauspicious selections for even probably the most skilled of PC builders and players. However in case you’re shopping for your very first GPU then it might probably really feel like an absolute minefield. By no means worry, although, as I am right here to try to take the sting off a few of these worries.
And also you should not let any such issues put you off, both, as a result of the perfect graphics card improve would be the single most impactful change you can also make to your current gaming PC. It is not arduous both. As an improve it’s going to doubtless be only a easy case of taking one huge lump of graphics card out and sticking one other one in, although there are some issues you are able to do to make it simpler for your self which I am going to cowl down the web page.
However after getting a shiny new GPU in your PC it’s going to really feel like an entire new rig the subsequent time you boot a brand new sport. In actual fact you may in all probability need to return and play all these video games the place you struggled to get 60 fps out of your previous card, over again. The massive finish of 12 months gross sales are nearly right here, and we’ll be choosing out the perfect Black Friday graphics card offers in case you want somewhat extra assist choosing the proper GPU for you.
So, with out additional useless waffle, listed below are the 5 issues I at all times inform individuals earlier than they purchase their first graphics card:
- It is all about your finances
- Purchase the graphics card not the model
- Erm… yeah, it is also all about your monitor, too
- You’ll be able to at all times await a brand new technology, however do not mechanically ignore the last-gen playing cards
- It is a straightforward improve
Dave James
I’ve personally examined just about each technology of graphics card of the final couple a long time. I’ve put them via their paces, seen what they’ll do, and seen the technological innovation they’ve delivered to the gaming scene. However I’ve additionally seen their costs rise past their efficiency, which is why I am at all times eager to ensure persons are getting the correct GPU for his or her system and their pockets.
1. Your finances
1. It is all about your finances
It in all probability sounds apparent, however the first and most essential consideration is how a lot you’ll be able to actually afford to spend in your graphics card. There may be such a ramification of GPU costs which you can spend nearly something, from $200 all the best way as much as $1,700 on a brand new graphics card, with a number of various choices and a fairly linear unfold of gaming efficiency as the costs ramp up.
So the very first thing you could do is be assured about what’s in your GPU conflict chest earlier than you even take into consideration wanting as a result of you’ll be able to at all times spend extra on a graphics card. The temptation to spend simply one other $50, or one other $80, or one other $100 while you’re already in deep can typically be an excessive amount of to bear. So make a finances you’ll be able to realistically stretch to with out placing your self in penury and persist with it.
Relative pricing can be an essential consideration, too, as shopping for a $500 graphics card from the earlier technology would not mechanically equate to the next performing $500 GPU within the subsequent technology. Living proof is the final couple of Nvidia GeForce graphics card generations; in case you purchased an RTX 3070 for $499 and have been hoping for a giant efficiency enhance with the equal $499 RTX 40-series card… properly, you have been in for a shocker. That $499 card was the 16 GB RTX 4060 Ti and represented an nearly full efficiency stagnation in contrast with the older RTX 3070 regardless of having twice the video reminiscence.
And that is the place we are available in, as skilled tech prodders, providing efficiency evaluation on all the most recent graphics playing cards to present you an concept of how they stack up in relation to one another. However there’s one other, extra fast and soiled method to see how your present GPU performs in relation to another you are seeking to purchase.
3DMark is an trade normal benchmark for graphics playing cards and, whereas it would not inform the entire efficiency story, can nonetheless be a very good common indicator of relative gaming efficiency. The 3DMark free model, which you will discover on Steam, will assist you to run the Time Spy take a look at, after which within the on-line database search you’ll be able to evaluate your personal rating to any potential GPU you are seeking to purchase. Simply take the common rating for that card in the identical Time Spy benchmark database and see the way it stacks up in opposition to your personal rig to present you an concept of the place all of it stands within the hierarchy of GPUs.
2. Neglect tribalism
2. Purchase the graphics card not the model
There may be numerous pointless tribalism on this planet of PC {hardware}, with some people claiming to be AMD ’til they die or bleeding inexperienced with Nvidia. However screw that. You have to be shopping for the {hardware} that is sensible for you and your gaming PC, not due to a way of misplaced loyalty to some multi-billion greenback firm.
Which is to say that you have to be shopping for both AMD or Nvidia the place it is sensible to take action. There are basic variations between the 2 present generations of Radeon and GeForce GPUs, and even the earlier technology confirmed the identical types of variations, and all of it comes all the way down to rasterized or ray traced gaming efficiency.
And people are two technical phrases the place you primarily do not really want to know what they’re, simply know that AMD’s playing cards are typically higher worth by way of efficiency per greenback with regards to how video games are historically rendered (rasterized rendering) and Nvidia’s are higher while you’re choosing high-end premium lighting settings that use ray tracing.
Realistically that interprets to AMD’s playing cards typically being higher worth for mid-range gaming, and Nvidia’s GPUs as those you need in case you’re on the lookout for high-end efficiency with all of the shiny results on. Simply know that you’ll have to pay a premium for premium options.
Down on the decrease finish of the GPU market you are not going to be enjoying your video games with all of the settings enabled and operating on the highest 4K resolutions. So, it follows that you just’re unlikely to allow ray tracing results anyhow, so the efficiency delta between AMD and Nvidia on that rely would not matter.
Mainly all of it swaps round on the $500 mark. There or beneath it is the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT or lower-spec AMD GPU, and above that worth level you go for an Nvidia GeForce GPU.
3. What’s your monitor?
3. Erm… yeah, it is also all about your monitor, too
The way you view your video games ought to have an enormous bearing on how a lot you spend in your graphics card, and which one you decide. If you happen to’re attempting to drive a 4K gaming monitor you are not going to get very far with an RX 7600, and likewise in case you’re sporting a 24-inch 1080p monitor you should not be spending $1,600 on an RTX 4090.
Even in case you’re a wannabe esports professional, on the lookout for mega body charges in some light-weight aggressive video games, you are prone to hit different efficiency bottlenecks that cease you getting probably the most from a flagship GPU on a low decision display screen.
1920 x 1080 continues to be the commonest gaming decision round, and realistically any fashionable graphics card ought to have the ability to ship excessive body charges at that stage. However if you wish to nail 60 fps+ at 2560 x 1440, the subsequent step up the decision ladder, then you are going to want one thing a bit extra highly effective, and certain a bit dearer.
To hit the highest body charges and graphics settings, you will have to begin with the Radeon RX 7700 XT. A part of the rationale you want the upper efficiency GPUs is partly all the way down to them being greater, extra highly effective chips, but additionally as a result of they’ve extra video reminiscence. The upper decision you play at, the extra information your GPU must take care of and having extra video reminiscence (or VRAM) permits your graphics card to work with that information a lot faster.
When you begin seeking to play at 4K—or, extra exactly, at 3840 x 2160—then you definitely want all of the VRAM you will discover and as greater GPU as you’ll be able to afford. Even then, heavy ray tracing results can convey even the mighty RTX 4090 to its knees in one thing like Cyberpunk 2077.
Which is the place upscaling is available in—referred to as Deep Studying Tremendous Sampling (DLSS) and FidelityFX Tremendous Decision (FSR) for Nvidia and AMD respectively. This lets you successfully run your sport at a decrease decision and use graphical wizardry to make the ultimate picture look nearer to the next decision.
It is a terrific sticking plaster for getting round a GPU’s failings at the next res, however it might probably result in picture artifacts and vague ultimate outcomes in case you run too low a decision via to a excessive decision display screen.
4. Do not simply wait
4. You’ll be able to at all times await a brand new technology, however do not mechanically ignore the present or last-gen playing cards
Such is the tempo of innovation in PC gaming {hardware}, while you’re seeking to purchase a brand new graphics card there’ll nearly at all times be the strain of whether or not you can purchase now or await the brand new shiny factor.
However here is the factor: There’ll at all times be one thing new simply over the horizon. There are at all times rumours in regards to the subsequent technology of graphics playing cards and simply how a lot they will make the present gen GPUs appear like mere pocket calculator stuff.
So, if you could purchase a brand new graphics card at the moment—except a brand new launch which you realistically would possibly truly purchase is formally confirmed to be lower than a pair months away—then I’d say simply purchase your new graphics card at the moment.
However what about last-gen GPUs? That is a trickier query, to be trustworthy. In some cases an older graphics card can nonetheless be a related gaming element in a contemporary machine, however I’d solely ever contemplate going one technology again, in any other case you actually run the chance of spending an excessive amount of and getting too little efficiency again.
The important thing factor right here is worth and relative efficiency. There is not any level paying the identical amount of cash on an older card to get the identical efficiency as a more moderen one. All issues being equal you need to go along with the extra fashionable card as that can be supported longer, and will doubtlessly have options that can go on to mature higher.
If an older card is sufficiently cheaper, nonetheless, then there’s an argument to be made. Once more, examine the relative 3DMark efficiency of your card versus a potential buy, and possibly equally priced fashionable GPUs and see how they stack up. If it is all nonetheless beneficial, then by all means make that last-gen decide.
The problem is, that is uncommon. Older playing cards are much less prone to be in manufacturing, so the one inventory left round can be restricted, much less prone to be on sale, and if it hasn’t already been purchased prior to now, it is doubtless not a very fascinating mannequin anyhow.
5. Simple improve
5. It is a straightforward improve
If you wish to make the most important distinction to your ageing gaming PC, then dropping a brand new graphics card in can have probably the most influence of any improve you can also make. And it is tremendous simple, too. The graphics card is among the largest parts, so it is simple to identify, will doubtless solely be held in place by some screws and a retaining clip on the PCIe slot, after which it is out. Reverse that course of and your new card is in place.
That is the tremendous primary rundown, however there are issues you are able to do to assist ensure that there are not any lingering issues while you do flip it again on. The very first thing is to ensure that your energy provide (PSU) is of a excessive sufficient wattage to have the ability to cope together with your graphics card. You’ll be able to examine on any potential GPU’s specs web page to see the really helpful wattage and it’ll say on the aspect of your present PSU what wattage it’s.
Additionally, you will have to ensure that any new GPU will truly match inside your PC. They positive are getting huge lately… It is possible for you to to see what graphics card your chassis helps on its on-line specs sheet in case you go to the producer’s web site, however you possibly can additionally simply get a tape measure out, too.
The opposite factor I’d do earlier than eradicating your previous graphics card is to uninstall all of the GPU drivers within the system. Would that it have been so simple as simply uninstalling the AMD Radeon or Nvidia GeForce drivers, however there are at all times little recordsdata that linger on and go away little gremlins within the machine. We have had many a difficulty swapping round graphics playing cards within the PC Gamer take a look at rig when going between AMD and Nvidia, in order that state of affairs makes the next suggestion extra essential.
We advocate at all times utilizing Show Driver Uninstaller (DDU) when swapping graphics playing cards. It is a free obtain and makes the entire course of a lot easier. Simply run it earlier than you uninstall your previous GPU, after which while you come to put in your new one you should not run into any driver conflicts getting it up and operating.
Then that is it, shiny new GPU in your gaming rig, and an entire new lease of life.