If you are a professional gamer or even a casual one, you must know how important graphics cards are. Most games are incompatible with PCs that don’t have a graphics card. So, if you want to really immerse yourself in the game’s graphic quality, you have to invest in one. However, building gaming PCs can get expensive. And graphics cards might be the most expensive component for them.
You don’t have to give up your gaming dreams, though. It can be well within your budget if you get an affordable internet plan like the Cox cable deals and research PC component options. There are many graphics cards that can give you the same experience and still don’t cost an arm and a leg.
Best Graphics Card on a Budget
A good graphics card should be able to accelerate the rendering of video pixels on your computer screen. As a result, the GPU does most of the work and your CPU is free to perform other actions. You can enjoy amazing quality videos and animations on your screen. So, it can be necessary to get one if you want to enjoy your PC games to their full potential.
Here are some of the best graphics cards that will go easy on your pocket.
| Nvidia GEFORCE GTX 1080 Ti |
EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Gaming |
ASUS GeForce GTX 1080 TI |
Gigabyte AORUS GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Xtreme |
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1080 Ti AMP |
MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1080 Ti |
| Improves cooling |
Has iCX technology |
Comes with a display port and HDMI |
RGB illumination on the backplate |
Comes with a display port, HDMI, and DVI |
DVI and HDMI available |
| 11GB VRAM |
11 GB frame buffer |
11 GB VRAM |
11 GB VRAM |
11 GB VRAM |
11 GB RAM |
| GDDR5 Graphics RAM Type |
GDDR5 Graphics RAM Type |
GDDR5X Graphics RAM type |
GDDR5 Graphics RAM type |
GDDR5 Graphics RAM type |
GDDR5X Graphics RAM type |
| Comes with a backplate |
High-quality components with longer life |
Areospace-grade component quality |
Turns the fan off when not in use |
VR ready with new Pascal architecture |
Anti-bending strip |
| Can overclock because of the massive room |
Comes in 1556 MHz and 1670 MHz |
GPU Tweak II makes it easy to monitor performance |
Built-in OC and Gaming modes |
4 different editions |
5 different editions |
| At par with other GTX 1080 cards |
Heatsink fin design for increased surface area |
FREE 1-year premium license for XSplit Gamecaster |
4-year warranty and SLI support |
Boost clock 1721 MHz |
PCB that supports high-performance rates |
So, to get the best graphics from all the new AAA games, you need a good graphics card. The list can narrow down your research as it has some of the best cards in the market right now. They can crank up the breathtaking visuals of the latest games and provide exceptional quality 4K details.
But before you decide which one is right for you, there are a few things you should know. Price is a major factor for buying a powerful GPU, but that isn’t all. You should do your thorough research and compare the attributes of a few different companies.
Tips for Buying a Graphics Card
Not all graphics cards are the same and they have different speeds and video output attributes. Some are built-in while others can be plug-in models. Here are a few important tips that everyone should know before they splurge money on a video card.
#1: Don’t Forget the CPU
A good GPU is important, but it doesn’t supersede a powerful CPU. So, you should budget for both before you buy even one. The right graphics card can improve the synthetic benchmarks of your system. So, you might get the best 4K quality video and animations. But if you don’t have the right CPU to match it, your actual gameplay will lag. For optimum gameplay, you should also have a higher frame rate per second.
#2: Check Monitor Resolution
You should also make sure that your GPU resolution matches that of the gaming monitor you are using. For instance, you will need a 4K card to get higher resolutions. Most cards usually have 1080p and 30-60 fps, but if your monitor resolution is above that, you should get a matching card.
#3: Match Refresh Rates
Similar to the monitor resolution, you should also match your monitor’s refresh rate with your GPU. You will need a much more powerful GPU if your monitor has a triple-digit refresh rate. Otherwise, you won’t reach the full potential and it might be a waste of your powerful gaming monitor.
#4: Make Room for the GPU
You should also make sure that your PC case has enough room to fit your GPU. Moreover, the power supply is also important for the GPU you are considering. You don’t want to invest in a powerful graphics card only to find out that you don’t have anywhere to put it or can’t handle the power requirements.
#5: Don’t Rely Completely on Overclocking
If you want to boost performance, you should consider getting a more powerful GPU. Relying on overclocking as a sole performance booster isn’t ideal. Most GPUs only have a 5-10% overclocking room.
Final Words
Buying a graphics card can be a major decision because they are a long-term investment. So, even if you are considering an affordable GPU, you should know exactly what you are getting. Matching compatibility with your gaming PC should be a top priority before you make a decision.
