350~375 USD Graphics Card

[VZX]

My current system (built April 2022):

OS: Win 10

MoBo: MSI PRO B660M WiFi DDR4

CPU: Intel i5-12500

Ram: Kingston KF3600C17D4 8GB x2

Graphics Card: Galax RTX 2060 6GB

Monitor: Dell U3415W (60 Hz, 3440x1440)

 

Since my graphics card is hitting 4 years mark May this year, I'm thinking it's a good time to look at the graphics card so I can grab them in next 1~2 months. 

 

This is my graphics card usage profile:

- I mostly play indie/ mobile games with PC client, so most of the time, I don't really need high GPU performance.

- However, sometimes I picked some AAA games —but not right on their release day/month/year—, but I'll pick them up 1~2 years after, with 40%~50% discount on Steam.

- Not sure if I will do video editing/streaming in the future. But if I ever do, I probably want a sufficiently powerful card to handle those. I don't want to upgrade a graphics card because I find them lacking in power.

 

Looking back over a decade ago, it seems my sweetspots has been ~300 USD graphics cards, but the performance of their kind have been increasing in price ever over the years:

Dec 2011 - GTX  560Ti - ~302 USD
Aug 2015 - GTX  970   - ~327 USD 
May 2020 - RTX 2060   - ~342 USD

 

So this time, I am planning to allocate about 350~375 USD on budget to get something similar to my old graphics card class. However, looking at the shelves on my local computer part shop, I can only found just some okay~ish card on this price range:

 

Here are my options that I've filtered around that range:

XFX        RX 6700XT 12GB Swift 309 - ~300 USD

XFX        RX 7600XT 16GB Swift 210 - ~352 USD
ASRock     RX 7600XT 16GB           - ~372 USD

Galax      RTX 4060   8GB           - ~345 USD
Galax      RTX 3060Ti 8GB           - ~354 USD
------------------------------------------------

 

But if I'm willing to go 50 USD overbudget, I can find these options:
Galax      RTX 4060Ti  8GB           - ~416 USD
XFX        RX 6800   16GB Swift 319 - ~425 USD
PowerColor RX 7700XT 12GB           - ~462 USD

 

Now, my worries on some of these options:

- NVidia graphics cards:

    - Is 8 GB enough when today's AAA games dropping in price in next 1~2 years and I wish to play it on my 3440x1440 screen? I've been hearing the 'ooohs' and 'aahhs' how the nvidia been so stingy with the VRAM given to their cards, but haven't really deeply looked at the arguments why it's good/not good. (don't have much time to look at those videos)

- Radeon graphics cards:

    - I haven't been using Radeon graphics card since... 2004, I think? I'm worried that that I'm blind with the potential problems getting Radeon cards nowadays, despite their superior FPS/price rating. Just simply from FPS per price, it seems RX6800 is the winner here. But again, I haven't weighted other factors like "issues with Radeon graphics cards" like back in those days. or how this card is already at 2 years old as of now, but still pulling ahead to 4060Ti at similar price point.

     - Is it worth it to pay extra 40 USD for RX7700 XT? What's the deal with RDNA2 vs RDNA3?

     - I'm less aware about brand difference for Radeon cards, Is XFX the lower-end choice? Should I pick different brand like PowerColor or ASRock?

[will0hlep]

40 minutes ago, VZX said:

My current system (built April 2022):

OS: Win 10

MoBo: MSI PRO B660M WiFi DDR4

CPU: Intel i5-12500

Ram: Kingston KF3600C17D4 8GB x2

Graphics Card: Galax RTX 2060 6GB

Monitor: Dell U3415W (60 Hz, 3440x1440)

 

Since my graphics card is hitting 4 years mark May this year, I'm thinking it's a good time to look at the graphics card so I can grab them in next 1~2 months. 

 

This is my graphics card usage profile:

- I mostly play indie/ mobile games with PC client, so most of the time, I don't really need high GPU performance.

- However, sometimes I picked some AAA games —but not right on their release day/month/year—, but I'll pick them up 1~2 years after, with 40%~50% discount on Steam.

- Not sure if I will do video editing/streaming in the future. But if I ever do, I probably want a sufficiently powerful card to handle those. I don't want to upgrade a graphics card because I find them lacking in power.

 

Looking back over a decade ago, it seems my sweetspots has been ~300 USD graphics cards, but the performance of their kind have been increasing in price ever over the years:

Dec 2011 - GTX  560Ti - ~302 USD
Aug 2015 - GTX  970   - ~327 USD 
May 2020 - RTX 2060   - ~342 USD

 

So this time, I am planning to allocate about 350~375 USD on budget to get something similar to my old graphics card class. However, looking at the shelves on my local computer part shop, I can only found just some okay~ish card on this price range:

 

Here are my options that I've filtered around that range:

XFX        RX 6700XT 12GB Swift 309 - ~300 USD

XFX        RX 7600XT 16GB Swift 210 - ~352 USD
ASRock     RX 7600XT 16GB           - ~372 USD

Galax      RTX 4060   8GB           - ~345 USD
Galax      RTX 3060Ti 8GB           - ~354 USD
------------------------------------------------

 

But if I'm willing to go 50 USD overbudget, I can find these options:
Galax      RTX 4060Ti  8GB           - ~416 USD
XFX        RX 6800   16GB Swift 319 - ~425 USD
PowerColor RX 7700XT 12GB           - ~462 USD

 

Now, my worries on some of these options:

- NVidia graphics cards:

    - Is 8 GB enough when today's AAA games dropping in price in next 1~2 years and I wish to play it on my 3440x1440 screen? I've been hearing the 'ooohs' and 'aahhs' how the nvidia been so stingy with the VRAM given to their cards, but haven't really deeply looked at the arguments why it's good/not good. (don't have much time to look at those videos)

- Radeon graphics cards:

    - I haven't been using Radeon graphics card since... 2004, I think? I'm worried that that I'm blind with the potential problems getting Radeon cards nowadays, despite their superior FPS/price rating. Just simply from FPS per price, it seems RX6800 is the winner here. But again, I haven't weighted other factors like "issues with Radeon graphics cards" like back in those days. or how this card is already at 2 years old as of now, but still pulling ahead to 4060Ti at similar price point.

     - Is it worth it to pay extra 40 USD for RX7700 XT? What's the deal with RDNA2 vs RDNA3?

     - I'm less aware about brand difference for Radeon cards, Is XFX the lower-end choice? Should I pick different brand like PowerColor or ASRock?

 

IMO, the 3060Ti, 4060, 4060Ti and 7600XT should be avoided as they represent an poor or awful value for money.

 

I recommend you choose the RX 6800 or RX 7700XT (the latter card is better if you care about ray tracing). If you want an Nvidia card you have to look at the 4070 or 4070 Super before you can find a decent value.

 

One big advantage of Nvidia cards is NVENC which helps with streaming. AMD doesn't have a competitor in this space and so the streaming performance of their cards is poor.

 

Most forum members no longer recommend 8GB cards as alot of games already exist for which 8GB just isn't enough.

 

Modern Radeon drivers are as reliable as Nvidia drivers are. Just make sure to run DDU before swapping out your old card.

 

With Modern GPUs the board partner really dosn't matter. All 7700XTs or 4070s or (insert other model of GPU here) will be within 1-2% of each other and there really isn't any point in buying anything other than the cheapest well reviewed board.

[PDifolco]

40 minutes ago, will0hlep said:

 

IMO, the 3060Ti, 4060, 4060Ti and 7600XT should be avoided as they represent an poor or awful value for money.

 

I recommend you choose the RX 6800 or RX 7700XT (the latter card is better if you care about ray tracing). If you want an Nvidia card you have to look at the 4070 or 4070 Super before you can find a decent value.

 

One big advantage of Nvidia cards is NVENC which helps with streaming. AMD doesn't have a competitor in this space and so the streaming performance of their cards is poor.

 

Most forum members no longer recommend 8GB cards as alot of games already exist for which 8GB just isn't enough.

 

Modern Radeon drivers are as reliable as Nvidia drivers are. Just make sure to run DDU before swapping out your old card.

 

With Modern GPUs the board partner really dosn't matter. All 7700XTs or 4070s or (insert other model of GPU here) will be within 1-2% of each other and there really isn't any point in buying anything other than the cheapest well reviewed board.

Also the 6750XT is a beefed up 6700XT for not much more money usually

 

[VZX]

15 minutes ago, PDifolco said:

Also the 6750XT is a beefed up 6700XT for not much more money usually

 

Unfortunately, ASRock 6750 XT is ~407 USD in that shop. Over 100 USD from 6700 XT.

 

Seems like I have to bump my budget to over 400 USD...

[PDifolco]

6 minutes ago, VZX said:

Unfortunately, ASRock 6750 XT is ~407 USD in that shop. Over 100 USD from 6700 XT.

 

Seems like I have to bump my budget to over 400 USD...

Stupid pricing, the 6800 is better and at same price...

Either go  $300 get a 6700XT, $400 6800 or $500 7800XT

[Salted Spinach]

Get an RX 6800. Has the raw performance and 16GB VRAM for your higher-than-WQHD display. Case closed. Spend within your means

[VZX]

17 hours ago, Salted Spinach said:

Get an RX 6800. Has the raw performance and 16GB VRAM for your higher-than-WQHD display. Case closed. Spend within your means

I actually found one with net price of 393 USD after rebate. What a deal huh.