Which graphics card is the best to buy in 2024? That is an extremely common question among the PC building fraternity, but what is the correct answer? As with everything in PC building, the answer is “it depends.” That question is like asking which is faster, a blue car or a red car. There are many variables requiring consideration because you jump online and spend a couple of months’ salary on the latest graphics card.
What is the first question to ask yourself when buying a new graphics card? It is what you want to use your PC for. For example, there is no point in purchasing a top-of-the-range GPU if you only take part in online sports betting in Texas, but you will need one if you want to play the latest AAA on their highest settings. Why spend upwards of a couple of thousand dollars on the latest technology if you will never need or utilize the raw power it possesses?
The monitor you use with your PC plays a significant role in what graphics card to buy. It does not matter how many frames per second (FPS) your graphics card can put out if your monitor only refreshes at 60 FPS because you will only see 60 FPS. Likewise, you may think you are playing games at 4K resolution, but your screen only displays 1080p. Choose a graphics card that works perfectly in tandem with the rest of your components and peripherals.
Best Graphics Card For Most People
The Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti is probably the best graphics card for most people. It ticks an awful lot of boxes thanks to its affordability and fantastic price to performance ratio. The 3060 Ti has a recommended retail price of $399, but good luck finding one under double that amount; such is the demand right now.
The card performs amazingly well at 1080p and 1440p, but it offers only entry-level 4K performance, and enabling ray tracing on games brings the framerates down. However, the 3060 Ti is an excellent all-round graphics card for people on a budget who do not want to scrimp on performance.
Best Elite Graphics Card
If you have a top-of-the-range gaming rig and money is no object, you have to seriously consider trying to get your hands on one of the new Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti cards. Why? Because they are incredible.
The RTX 3080 has one of the biggest generational leaps in the history of graphics cards. It has substantial performance gains over its 2080 predecessor, yet it is cheaper to buy.
This is the card you want if you want to play games using their highest settings and at 4K. They are super expensive and power-hungry, but they are the best cards on the market. Nvidia also makes a 3090, but the increased performance you enjoy for the extra cost does not make it worthwhile.
Best Budget Graphics Card
The demand for graphics cards is massive right now, pushing prices up across the board. A 3060 Ti has a recommended retail price of $399, you will be very lucky to find one at under $750-800. Those inflated prices can also be seen in the previous generation of graphics cards, but there are some bargains to be had if you look hard enough.
A GTX 1660 Super will give you solid 1080p performance at an affordable price. However, it is incapable of ray tracing due to having no ray tracing core.
Those with slightly larger budgets but who are still watching the pennies may be able to find a 2060 Super for a bargain price. The card performs amazingly well up to 1440p and can handle ray tracing and lower resolutions.
