The video card is the most essential part of a computer when you think about gaming, or even need some extra power to run some heavy programs. An important example is a video or photo editor, which can take advantage of the GPU to accelerate everything within the app, from a small retouch to the final rendering of the file.
Thinking about it, the Technology Refugee listed the main video cards on the market for you to choose which one is most compatible with your pocket. It is worth remembering that each person has a different need, so it is also good to take this into account when choosing – after all, not always the most expensive model is ideal.
Read also
- Best Headsets: Check out our list of 22 picks!
- Best Bluetooth headphones: check out 29 options
- Best shooting games: check out the list of options for PC and mobile
What is a video card and how does it work?
A video card is nothing more than the division of work done by the processor, focusing only on the visual part. This definition applies both to integrated models and to dedicated GPUs that are directly plugged into a PCI Express connector.
In short, it receives the program's instructions on what should be displayed, be it a game, video player or image editor. The cores present inside the GPU do the work of elaborating the scene and it goes to the output, usually an HDMI port or, in older models, the VGA.
Looking at games, according to the complexity of the game, more or less video card is required. The most current demand is for higher resolutions and higher frame rates per second, all of which will charge a robust and powerful GPU, which necessarily generates an extra cost in the future.
The use of the board is so demanding that most of them need a dedicated power supply, thus the cooling system focused on its work. It is not the same used by the processor, whether in a console, notebook or PC.
What are the best graphics cards of 2022?
Okay, now that you know how a video card works and what your requirements are inside the puter, let's list the main models of the two brands present in the market: Nvidia and AMD.
Nvidia GeForce GT 710
If you have a very tight budget and are looking for the simplest solution to play graphics to a minimum, but still have a game running, the GeForce GT 710 can be a choice. It already works with DirectX 12 and even has Nvidia support for updated drivers – it is very old, it was created in 2014.
In fact, this video card is no longer considered a gaming GPU, as it manages to lose performance when compared to Intel's integrated solutions, the HD 630. Think of the GeForce GT 710 as the sole and exclusive option if you need something running. videos or games of the simplest, that your cell phone would run better.
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
Fast forward (far) to the GTX 1050 Ti. games already run easily, if you think about games in Full HD, or 1080p. This has been one of Nvidia's entry-level models in recent years and holds graphics titles at medium.
For those looking for 'League of Legends' games, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti manages to handle the performance acceptably. If the goal is to have extra power in programs, video and photo editors, this GPU already does a considerable job and will deliver extra power.
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650
The GTX 1650 is the advanced version of the 1050 Ti, extra instructions and also higher processing power. it is already possible to think of a game running in 4K, but graphics still between medium and high.
Think of the same 'League of Legends', but extra performance slack to ensure other programs running on the same PC, if the game is set to a Full HD monitor.
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660
A step beyond the GTX 1650, we have the 1660. In this model, the player will be able to have modern games running high graphics in Full HD, or extra frame rates per second in 4K. on this GPU it is already possible to put a competitive title 'Overwatch' and pass 60 fps.
An advantage of this video card is to be sure that it will continue to perform well for a few years, if you only think about Full HD games and graphics between high and medium settings.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super
Coming to the RTX line, many possibilities end up appearing that were impossible in the GTX models. The first of these is in ray tracing, which is the calculation of light rays in real time, generating much more realistic reflections and lighting. the RTX 2080 Super you have strong performance in 4K for a long time.
If you think of Full HD, the RTX 2080 Super will certainly deliver games at Ultra settings at frame rates above 60 fps, for a few years. The card is already more expensive, but it also allows for extra functions, eliminating noise in live transmissions and artificial intelligence.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
this card you already get in the current generation of GPUs, but in a simpler model. It has basically the same performance as an RTX 2080 Super, only using less energy. Think of it as a solution for ray tracing in games, 4K running smooth and that's fine for a few years.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070
If you want to guarantee an extra year or two of good performance when stuck at the 3060, put the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 on your cart. She, at this moment, offers greater strength in games, programs and even allows you to play something in 8K.
For system longevity, you can think of the RTX 3070 as the solution for somewhere between five or six years. On this GPU you already get more elaborate visuals than the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are capable of delivering.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090
If the sky's the limit on your budget, the RTX 3090 is one of the best options for any game, or program. it the game will run well in 8K, it will go very well in 4K and will be absurdly fast (in fps) if you stay in Full HD.
Looking at longevity, think the 3090 or 3070 will hold that performance for two or three extra years. The card is very expensive, but if you think about 60 fps and 4K, you can have it for five or six years.
AMD Radeon R5 230
Now in the world of AMD, we have the simplest model your money can buy. The idea here is something very similar to Nvidia's GT 710, but with some extra power. It will still be difficult to run a recent game in Full HD, but the basic work of a GPU is guaranteed if the title is much less elaborate.
This video card can be interesting for those who just need extra power to run Windows or Linux, along with some heavier programs. For you to be able to visualize how simple this board is, know that it doesn't even need a dedicated power supply or a cooling fan system.
AMD Radeon R7 240
Also simple and very old, the R7 240 can be understood as a replacement for the 230, if it is not found on the market – because it is also very old, almost 10 years of release. Performance in games will be the same, strength only for very light titles and graphics at the lowest possible quality.
The strength in programs will also be equivalent, giving an extra breath and very light in Windows or Linux.
PCYES AMD Radeon RX 550
A choice a few steps above, within AMD, is the RX 550. This model already allows you to run heavy games from 2018 graphics on medium, but in Full HD resolution and frame rates per second reaching 40 fps.
It will also be interesting to give the hardware extra life, when only Windows or Linux are running, or during video rendering.
AMD Radeon RX 570
Already looking at those who want modern games running well in Full HD, frame rates per second even exceeding 60 fps, in heavy graphics, the Radeon RX 570 can be a good choice.
4K may already be a reality, but at this point the game can and will certainly complain about framerates per second. The ideal is to keep the resolution in Full HD, either for a more beautiful look, or for extra features connected.
AMD Radeon RX 5600XT
If you want a good graphics card for 4K gaming that rivals the GTX 2060, the RX 5600 XT is an interesting choice. It allows recent games with high frame rates per second and a very beautiful look on the screen, even going for ray tracing.
If your goal is to have a GPU to hold extra performance while working with video and photo editors, know that the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT will hold this focus very well for many years.
AMD Radeon RX 6700XT
If your money is less tight, jumping to the 6700 XT is a focused choice for anyone who wants higher fps, games even higher graphics settings for 4K, or simply needs extra-high stamina for longer.
It will certainly offer performance very close to, or even superior to, that of a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.
AMD Radeon RX 6800XT
For top of the line AMD world performance to rival Nvidia's 3080, we have the Radeon RX 6800 XT. it has the same advantages as the previous model, but even more power to handle ray tracing and games running in 4K on the monitor.
on this GPU competitive games will deliver frame rates per second above 100 fps when the resolution is in Full HD, going close to that if you choose more details. It's big enough brute force for any video and photo editor.
If you plan on a graphics card capable of handling good games for years to come, the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is a good choice.
AMD Radeon RX 6900XT
If the sky is your financial limit, then take exactly what I said in the previous template, replicate it here, and add even more frames per second at all resolutions. on the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT it is possible to play 8K and without seeing the GPU power drop generously.
You can even turn on ray tracing to the maximum in 'Fortnite', without sudden drops in the overall performance of the computer – the game is heavy, however much it may not seem.
Galax Nvidia GeForce GTX 1030
Dropping the required GPU price quite a bit and going back four years in time, we have the GTX 1030. It's the simplest model you'll find from Nvidia for the 1000 series of graphics cards.
As less powerful as it is, playing in Full HD is still a reality for this card, even in newer games. Of course, graphics options need to be set to medium or low, but frame rates per second can still be high.
GALAX GeForce RTX 2060 26NRL7HPX7OC
The best value for money within Nvidia's lineup of graphics cards continues in those that end in "60". On the 2060 this is the case for those looking for ray tracing in games, but don't need to run everything in 8K or 4K. In Full HD the performance of this GPU is very strong and will remain so for some time.
It is also a very good choice for those who want extra power in heavy PC programs. In general, this video card can be used for three or four years without making a mess.
GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
If you've got the money to spare and want the best in GPU, but you're not yet in the "sky's the limit" for the 3090, the RTX 3080 Ti is the best choice. It is the graphics card for those looking for the best possible performance for graphics games at Ultra and 4K, even doing well at 8K.
Anyone who plays competitive games will be happy with the extremely high frame rates per second, exceeding 100 fps, in practically any game available on the market. It will go on like this for a few more years, maybe five or six.
Asrock Phantom Gaming D Radeon RX 570
Closing the list a very economical option from AMD, the RX 570 from Asrock Phantom Gaming D is a little changed version of the same performance I mentioned there in the 570, paragraphs above. These manufacturers usually increase some details, the clock and insert more robust solutions for cooling, which is the case here.
It allows a game in Full HD at acceptable frame rates, approaching 60 fps in some games released in the last three years. It is ideal for anyone who wants extra power on Windows or Linux, without necessarily thinking about games and not spending a large amount of money at the time of purchase.
What should you consider when choosing a graphics card?
The main factors you should take into account when choosing a video card are your budget and your desire. If you're looking to play in Full HD and don't intend to buy a monitor anytime soon, it's not necessary to choose an RTX 3080 or RX 6800. If you have some simpler competitive games in mind, 'Overwatch', an RTX 1060 will do the job well high frame rates per second.
If you want the best performance, there's no better choice than the most expensive possible model from AMD or Nvidia. They will deliver what was promised and will continue to do so for a few years, before becoming underperformed by most modern games. Spending more at that time can also mean paying less money in the long run, less recurring exchanges.
Now, if your need is just the extra power in rendering, an intermediate model already does this job well and will give the push that the CPU alone never can.
What is the best value graphics card?
Thinking about having a good video card today and that will remain at this level for a few years, as long as Full HD is your goal and ray tracing enabled, a feature in games released lately, an intermediate video card is always a good option .
On the Nvidia side, the GeForce GTX 1060 is still the model for those who don't need 4K power and don't even want ray tracing. Upgrading to the RTX 3060 adds those two points and will stay that way for a long time to come. For the AMD world, the Radeon RX 6600 XT is the ideal choice in this same thinking.
In both cases, the extra power for the putador when dealing with video and photo editors will be very good and will also remain that way for many years – somewhere between five or six.
The best video cards under R$ 1000
The graphics card market has been suffering a lot from cryptocurrency miners and also from the COVID-19 pandemic. Prices are really unrealistic, going up to twice the value suggested by the manufacturers. Anyway, budget at BRL 1 for the GPU, the best model found in April 2022 is the Nvidia GTX 1030.
It is the most entry-level card for those who want some strength in Full HD, before hitting the budget ceiling. On the AMD side, this position tends to appear the Radeon RX 550. It's always good to research diligently at the time of the stop to know the value at the exact moment, because they fluctuate in frequency.
What are the best video cards for mining?
This practice is less profitable than the electricity bill and it is the main responsible for the explosion and lack of control in the price of video cards, harming all players and the market as a whole.
If, even so, you still want to buy a video card just for mining cryptocurrencies, Nvidia has promised to create some versions of its GPUs for this purpose, but has not yet presented. Any very powerful model is best for this task and you have the GeForce RTX 3090, for example, or the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT.
What are the best video cards for gaming?
That question is always answered in the least pleasant way: the most expensive. Having a fuller and more robust video card will deliver the best results in any game, be it AMD or Nvidia. In the same way the GeForce RTX 3090 or the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT do well for mining cryptocurrencies, for games they follow the same rule.
this duo, or any more powerful model, the game will be great ray tracing, in 4K or 8K and at very high frame rates per second. Intermediate models look good, but they are never the best choices for those who want the best.
Nvidia graphics cards: which is better, RTX or GTX?
Simple and straightforward: RTX. As much as only the first letter changes from one to another, Nvidia's graphics cards within the RTX line deliver many extra features. The first and most visible is the ray tracing done directly on the hardware, a feature that is very demanding on the GTX and ends up dropping performance.
Another advantage is DLSS. he video card uses artificial intelligence to handle smaller resolutions and scale up, without losing quality, to what would be a monitor with more pixels. In other words: this tool manages to make hardware smaller, run as if it were bigger and stronger.
In addition, there are other tools exclusive to RTX, one responsible for improving the quality of transmissions, including one to remove any external noise from the voice of those who speak in the streaming.
The only advantage of the GTX is the lower price – since they are older and less powerful.
Conclusion
Choosing a video card is a complicated task. The rule in them is straightforward: the more expensive, the better. But in many moments you don't need the best model, so you don't need a Ferrari to drive around town.
It is very important to list your needs at the time of purchase and, for most players, an intermediate model will do very well and for a long time.
If you're still not going to buy a new video card, but want to keep playing, check out this list of the best light PC games.
Have you watched our new videos on YouTube? Subscribe to our channel!
