In this guide, we’ll summarize all the information you need to know about the current range of NVIDIA graphics cards, as well as tell you which models are best suited to your needs, be it gaming or video rendering.
Upgrading a computer is a fun activity, but it is not always possible to immediately determine which components are best suited for your tasks. When it comes to those same graphics cards, you are choosing not just between NVIDIA and AMD, but between the many devices built on top of their graphics chips.
And here everything becomes even more complicated, because there are a lot of video card manufacturers on the market: ASUS, Gigabyte, Zotac and others. In addition, they all offer several different variants of the same model with the same GPU on board, and also release overclocked versions of video cards.
At this stage, the CHIP edition is connected to solving your problems of choice. In this post, we’ll summarize all the information you need to know about the current range of NVIDIA graphics cards, as well as tell you which models are best suited to your needs, be it gaming or video rendering.
Why do you need a new graphics card?
Before deciding which NVIDIA GPU is right for you, let’s define: what are you going to use your new graphics card for ? The most obvious scenario is video games, but you may also need a video rendering solution and AI algorithms.
Which 3000 Series Graphics Card Should I Choose?
If you’re an avid gamer, the supported resolution and desired frame rate play a big role in deciding which graphics card to use. So, owners of monitors with a 1080p scan and a frequency of 60-75 Hz will have enough GeForce RTX 3060 with 8 gigabytes of video memory from any manufacturer. However, if you plan to play in 4K resolution and high frame rates (from 120 FPS and higher), you will have to spend money on a more powerful model with more capacious video memory.
A similar story with video editing: for unpretentious video editing and editing, most will be satisfied with the capabilities of most RTX 3060 or RTX 3060 Ti. These graphics cards give you 4K multithreaded editing without any performance hit. But when it comes to creating complex graphics or working with 3D animation, you will only benefit from the more powerful devices in the 3000 series.
You also need to consider the available space inside your PC case. The new graphics cards are quite large, and this is especially noticeable in the case of the top-end RTX 3090. Whichever model you choose, pay attention to its dimensions and make sure that it fits into the system unit. It’s good if the case is spacious to provide better cooling than when cramped with other components. Keep in mind that the 3000 Series has compact length options for mini PC formats.
Also, make sure your PSU has enough power to meet the needs of your new graphics card. NVIDIA recommends a 600W PSU for at least the RTX 3060 Ti and increases this to 750W for the RTX 3090, although the final figure will depend on other components installed in the PC case. We recommend not to lose sight of this point and take the time to correctly calculate the power requirements of the PSU.
GeForce RTX 3060 / RTX 3060 Ti
The most budgetary graphics card of the 3000th generation RTX series. Note that it has more VRAM than the slightly more expensive 3060 Ti. However, there are some nuances: despite the capacious video memory, there are fewer CUDA cores, tensor cores and RT cores, as well as a narrower 192-bit bus, which leads to a decrease in performance in general. All this makes the RTX 3060 ideal for entry-level gaming at 1080p at 60 FPS.
The RTX 3060 Ti solution offers a significant performance boost … It is ideal for 1080p and 1440p gaming at a stable 60fps, ray tracing and high-definition textures. This fact has been repeatedly proven by numerous tests, so here we are not exaggerating at all.
GeForce RTX 3070
The RTX 3070 is a step up from the RTX 3060 Ti. The video card offers the same 8GB GDDR6X video memory, but at a higher clock speed, which translates into increased performance. Manufacturers say the 3070 model outperforms the previous generation RTX 2080. It should also be powerful enough to run VR games with headsets like the Oculus Rift S at up to 90 frames per second.
Cards based on the GeForce RTX 3070 processor are capable of providing high FPS at resolutions from 1080p to 1440p. The graphics adapter can handle even 4K content, although tests show that this new product will not be able to maintain a stable 60 frames per second without the help of DLSS 2.0. This means that in games without DLSS 2.0 support, the frame rate will be in the range from 30 to 60 FPS.
GeForce RTX 3080
An ideal choice for many and at the same time a big blow to the budget. New products based on the 3080 offer great performance for gamers and creative professionals alike. The RTX 3080 comes standard with 10GB of GDDR6X video memory under the hood, which NVIDIA claims is more than enough for smooth 4K gaming at 60fps. And this is when ray tracing technology is activated.
GeForce RTX 3090
The RTX 3090 replaces the limited edition Titan found in previous generation graphics cards. This solution is ideal for the most demanding creative professionals. It offers an incredible 26GB of GDDR6X memory, which is more than overkill for gaming but will certainly be used by video editors.
NVIDIA says the RTX 3090 can handle 8K games at 60fps with ease, but…. Given that there aren’t many 8K monitors available at the moment, this shouldn’t be the main reason to buy this card. Basically, this video card is focused on professional use, which is reflected in the price tag without further ado.
“Chips” of manufacturers and not only
Despite the fact that NVIDIA offers its own line of video cards, it is not possible to find it on sale. Therefore, you will have to choose from solutions offered by third-party manufacturers: ASUS and Gigabyte are considered the favorites.
All manufacturers receive GPUs from NVIDIA, but to differentiate from the standard offering, many of them implement something unique in their graphics cards. This can be factory overclocking, an improved power subsystem, and an enhanced cooling system.
And such video cards are more attractive for modders, as they often have stylish LED backlighting of the case, which can be synchronized with the glow of the system unit components. Ultimately it all comes down to what exactly you want out of your graphics card besides performance.
