Are you someone who is craving to build a robust gaming rig? If so, you will need to acknowledge the importance of the graphics card. It is by far the most important element in a gaming PC. Apart from being a powerful graphics engine, GPU is a parallel programmable processor with great memory bandwidth that outstrips the CPU. Moreover, recent years have witnessed a boost in the performance and abilities of GPUs.
However, buying it can turn out to be an error-prone and challenging task. It is because there is a lot that a person needs to take into account, right from the model of your monitor to how big the chassis is. But you can gain considerable clarity over this process if you are well aware of your budget and PC performance objectives. This article will explain to you the intricacies surrounding graphics cards so that you can benefit from a wise purchase.
Should You Go for Nvidia or AMD?
Currently, there are a lot of graphics cards from various manufacturers. But only two companies, namely Nvidia and AMD, create GPUs that drive these components. At the moment, AMD is competitive with its Ampere cards in terms of performance, but Nvidia has introduced a new feature of real-time ray tracing (RT) in its previous-generation RTX 20-series cards.
More and more games are now adding RT support. Currently, 20 AAA games have RT support. If you are very inclined to the games that have RT support, then you should consider Nvidia.
Nvidia’s AI-supported resolution upscaling, the DLSS imparts improved performance. Still, support for this feature, like RT, is restricted to only a subset of games. To compete with it, AMD has its open-source Fidelity FX Super Resolution. But it has not been released yet.
So, to save you the trouble of finding the elements to gauge while looking for graphics cards, here are four things to look out for:
1. Compatibility
Determine the amount of physical space your case has before buying a graphics card. To ensure that it is compatible with your computer, take into account the power supply and the number of six and eight-pin PCIe connectors it has. This information should align with the card that you want to purchase. Otherwise, you will inevitably end up buying something that your computer won’t be able to handle.
2. Bandwidth
You might think that more graphics card memory means high performance. But it only matters when you are using it with extremely high resolutions. You need to focus on the bandwidth. The data to be processed by the GPU is generally kept on the unique memory of the card called GDDR3 and GDDR5. This memory offers double the bandwidth of GDDR3. Always go in for GDDR5 if you desire high-performance.
3. Platform
Do not forget about your system, as it governs the type of graphics card you should purchase. A high-end card will not work well on older systems. You will have to go in for a mid-range card. If you have a high resolution, you will also need to invest in a high-end card.
4. TDP Values
TDP values show the amount of power needed to preserve the GPU at an ideal temperature. If the GPU needs more power, it will produce more heat. Hence, select a GPU that has the lowest TDP value.
There you go! Keep these points in mind, and you will undoubtedly benefit from a GPU that will provide you with an immersive gaming experience.
