Graphics cards: Preview RTX 3070 Ti and 3080 Ti and more
Graphics cards
New graphics cards and current situation
Once again, there are apparently new graphics cards for gamers, namely the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti and RTX 3080 Ti. The two new cars have not yet been confirmed, but the rumors also come from well-informed people There are so many circles that the only question that arises is when the release will be. We are currently talking about the month of May. If this were the case, the gaming graphics card series number 10 and 11 have been on the market since September 2020.Table of contents
Page 1 Graphics cards: Lage as well as RTX 3070 Ti and 3080 Ti 1.1 New graphics cards and current situation 1.1.1 Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti and RTX 3080 Ti in May? Page 2 Graphics cards: View of the RTX 3070 Ti and 3080 Ti 2.1 Possible technology of the RXT 3070 Ti and RTX 3080 Ti Page 3 Graphics cards: Current market situation and tips 3.1 Current graphics card market and buying tips 3.1.1 Current buying tips Page 4 Image gallery for "Graphics cards: Preview RTX 3070 Ti and 3080 Ti and more "From September to December 2020 the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, 3070, 3080 and 3090 as well as AMD Radeon RX 6800, 6800 XT and 6900 XT came out, in the current year the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 came out and AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT too. Unfortunately, all of the models mentioned and also older, gaming-ready graphics cards are virtually unavailable and, if they are available anywhere, usually cost at least 50 percent more than in autumn 2020 or 50 percent more than what was mentioned as the recommended price at the time of release . In most cases there is a 100 percent or more surcharge.EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 FTW Ultra Source: PC Games Hardware If AMD and Nvidia were just as diligent in terms of production as they were in releasing new graphics cards, then the image calculators would be available in sufficient quantities and thus inevitably at reasonable prices . But unfortunately it is not foreseeable when we can expect a normal market situation. Nevertheless, in the exercise of our task as an information medium on the subject of PC gaming after the release of the graphics cards, we report on the respective new models and classify them - since there is no other way - according to their price recommendation. This was most recently the case with our specials on AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti and RTX 3080 Ti in May?
In addition to reviews, we also don't want to miss a preview - this is exactly our topic at this point. Because we look what we can expect from the two new Nvidia bolides and what the technical differences are to the non-Ti models of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 and RXT 3080. However, we emphasize that it is currently still assumptions that Nvidia has not yet confirmed. We will also look again to see whether something is currently happening on the graphics card market and give purchase tips for gamers who absolutely want to buy a new PC or for whatever reasons can no longer wait to buy a new graphics card.Our colleagues at PC Games Hardware also reported that the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti and RTX 3080 Ti are pending. There is still talk of a possible release of the stronger graphics cards in April - in a newer article it becomes clear that it could be May earlier - as for the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti in particular makes in the portfolio Things price structure sense. Because - if we ignore the current moon prices and assume the normal price recommendations - there is a large price gap between the GeForce RTX 3080 and RTX 3090. A price recommendation of 999 euros for a possible RTX 3080 Ti seems realistic when you consider that the RTX 3080 is here at 719 euros and the RTX 3090 at 1549 euros. We come to the possible performance and rumored technology of the RTX 3080 Ti on the next page, where we also look at information about the RTX 3070 Ti.
Best Graphics Card: Top 8 AMD and Nvidia GPUs for every build and budget
What’s the best graphics card?The graphics card is the beating heart of any gaming PC, so it’s imperative you pick the right one for your specific needs.
But with there being so many on the market, each with spec sheets that make VCR manuals look like compelling reading, determining which is the best graphics card for your money is a tricky task, even for seasoned buyers.
This is particularly true in 2021, where ongoing supply chain issues resulting from the global pandemic have caused a global shortage of current generation GPUs. This in turn has led to a surge in scalpers, eager to take advantage of desperate PC builders in need of the cards.
Here to help make sure you pick the right GPU for your specific needs and budget we’ve created this guide detailing the best graphics cards we’ve tested. Every card on this list has been thoroughly benchmarked and tested by an expert in Trusted Reviews Lab, ensuring our advice is accurate.
Editor’s note: Select graphics cards may be missing from this list as the unexpected Covid 19 lockdown has cut off access to our test samples. We’ll also be updating this list frequently in the next few months as review samples come our way.
1. Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080The best value graphics card for 4K gaming
The Nvidia RTX 3080 is the first card to feature Nvidia’s new Ampere architecture. It brings with it a number of improvements that make it THE best value graphics card on the market for 4K gaming.
Highlights include an improved, more efficient 8nm manufacturing process, new RT Cores, third-gen Tensor cores and Micron G6X video memory (VRAM).
The combination of factors make the RTX 3080 the first card we’ve ever tested to consistently offer 4K ray tracing at frame rates over or around 60fps and some of the best performance per watt stats we’ve ever seen.
Costing nearly half what as much as an RTX 2080 Ti, this makes it the RTX 3080 a no-brainer choice for any serious gamer looking to build a top-notch, no-compromise rig in today’s market. The only slight downside is that it’s not massively overclockable, and there are more powerful cards available.
Read the full reviewLatest live deals2. Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070The best value graphics card for 1440p gaming
If you’re after a current-gen, ray tracing card that won’t require a re-mortgage then the RTX 3070 is a more affordable alternative that excels at Full HD and Quad HD gaming.
While it’s not exactly cheap, retailing for £469, it offers fantastic performance for your money. The card matches and, at times, beats the older RTX 2080 Ti’s performance across the board. This makes it a perfect choice for 1080p and 1440p buyers looking to enjoy high-end ray tracing graphics.
Featuring a dual-fan design, it’s also a lot smaller than the RTX 3080, making it a better choice for small builds. There are even cheaper options now available in Nvidia’s new Ampere generation, but we reckon this card hits the performance and pricing sweet spot better than any other card on the market.
Read the full reviewLatest live deals3. Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 TiThe best entry point to Ray Tracing
Pros:The RTX 3060 Ti is the cheapest current-generation Ampere card on the market. Without a direct rival from AMD, this makes it the most affordable new graphics card you can buy. However, the Ti labelling means that it is still a mid-range level GPU.
Nvidia’s marketing it as offering 2080 Super-level performance, which means it should blitz through 1080p and 1440p gaming with ray tracing turned off, while offering a solid FHD performance with it turned on when supported by DLSS.
With real-world testing, we found the performance claims rang true, which is a serious achievement. This coupled with the 3060 Ti’s lower TDP (power consumption) makes it the best card for buyers looking to enjoy entry level 1080p ray tracing.
The only downside is that, like all RTX cards, there’s not an awful lot of room for overclocking. It’s also only 20% cheaper than the RTX 3070, which remains Trusted Reviews’ recommended card for the majority.
Read the full reviewLatest live deals4. AMD Radeon RX 6800Best alternative to RTX 3070
The Radeon RX 6800 is AMD’s answer to the RTX 3070. This means it’s the second cheapest card on the market featuring AMD’s swish new RDNA2 architecture, which adds a number of cool new features.
Highlights include things like ray tracing support, AMD’s custom Infinity Cache and Smart Access Memory. As cards go, it gives great value 4K performance. During testing, it blitzed through every game we threw at it, running them at 60fps with their graphics maxed hassle free. If that wasn’t enough to tempt you, it’s also much more overclockable than the Nvidia RTX 3070.
The only minor issue is that, with AMD being new to the race, the RX 6800 can’t match Nvidia RTX 3070 when it comes to ray tracing performance. This is in part because AMD doesn’t have a DLSS solution. But if you’re not too fussed about ray tracing right now, this card is every bit as good as Nvidia’s RTX 3070, albeit a little bit more pricey.
Read the full reviewLatest live deals5. AMD Radeon RX 6700 XTThe best for AMD ATX mini builds
The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is AMD’s newest RDNA 2 graphics card. It’s being pitched as the ultimate option for gamers looking for blisteringly fast 1440p performance.
During testing we found that it can’t match the ray tracing performance of its Nvidia RTX 3070 and RTX 3060 Ti rivals due the ongoing lack of an AMD rival to DLSS. But its small twin-fan design makes it one of the only current generation AMD cards suitable for smaller ATX mini builds.
It is also a generally impressive card for 1440p gaming with ray tracing turned off. During testing it delivered post-60fps speeds in every test and game we threw at it. As an added treat, it supports the same Infinity Cache and Smart Access Memory features as AMD’s more expensive RX graphics cards, maximising the performance when used with a Ryzen 5000 processor.
Read the full reviewLatest live deals6. AMD Radeon RX 6900 XTBest graphics card for overclockers
Pros:The Radeon RX 6900 XT is AMD’s flagship graphics card at the moment. It comes with a hefty $999 price tag and is being marketed as the ultimate option for “enthusiasts”. It aims to specifically entice buyers away from the more expensive GeForce RTX 3090 and slightly cheaper RTX 3080 by offering tweakers a lot of headroom for overclocking – a key feature missing on all the current Ampere architecture cards we’ve tested from Nvidia.
Having benchmarked the card, we can confirm it delivers on this promise and is currently the best option for tweakers that like to overclock their components to the absolute limit. During testing, it offered over 10% improvements in clock speeds and 5% VRAM boosts. This netted up to 5-10 jumps in FPS counts running games like Borderlands 3 in 4K. With it offering roughly 5% more graphical grunt in 4K than the Nvidia RTX 3080 in most of the titles we tested, this isn’t to be sniffed at.
But like with all of AMD’s current cards, the lack of a DLSS solution means it can’t compete with Nvidia’s top GPUs when it comes to ray tracing performance, which is a major issue considering its high price and target market. It’s also facing stiff competition from the RTX 3090, which we’ll be reviewing shortly.
Read the full reviewLatest live deals7. Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060Cheapest ray tracing graphics card
The Nvidia RTX 2060 was championed as the cheapest graphics card option for ray tracing last generation. That accolade still holds up, but its value isn’t quite as impressive since the RTX 3060 Ti turned up.
The RTX 3060 Ti arguably offers better value since it features a significantly superior performance for 1080p gaming, but if you want to save as much money as possible, the RTX 2060 remains a worthwhile option, hitting around 60fps for the majority of AAA games.
That said, if you want to run the likes of CyberPunk 2077 with ray tracing activated, you’re best off looking elsewhere as this card doesn’t quite have the performance chops for such intensive workloads.
Read the full reviewLatest live deals7. Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660The best GPU for buyers on a very strict budget
Pros:If you have basic gaming needs, then the GTX 1660 is the most affordable card on the market we can recommend. The card is aimed at MOBA and battle royale gamers who don’t want to break the bank.
Our tests prove the GTX 1660 is capable of running modern AAA games in 1080p, such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider, at a +60fps performance. But it’s battle royale games where this card really shines, hitting an impressive 100fps for Apex Legends at the same resolution.
The GTX 1660 admittedly doesn’t match the performance of its Super sibling, but with it costing £100 less there’s no denying it’s still cracking value.
Read the full reviewLatest live dealsBest Graphics Card Round UpWhenever you buy a GPU, consider which manufacturer you want to opt for since the the specs will differ accordingly. Nvidia’s cards include so-called ‘Founders Edition’ designs, which are the models we review. Third-party models tend to be more expensive and perform slightly better. Common brand names include EVGA, Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, XFX, Zotac and many more.
With prices constantly shifting and special offers appearing daily, recommending a specific model purely on its price is difficult. As such, this guide will offer each card’s usual price range and the sort of performance you can expect.
A manufacturer’s cooler designs will also affect performance, but only by single-digit percentage points – this is especially true of cheaper cards. With more expensive GPUs card manufacturers push the boat out, throwing clever fans and software into the mix and offering up higher clock speeds, which can make a difference.
Ray tracing:Ray tracing is a recent graphics card feature that enables video game developers to create more realistic reflections and light simulation. Traditionally a very processor intensive operation, the new cards ensure reflections in puddles and light shining through a window will look far more impressive than with traditional rendering methods.
DLSS:DLSS is an RTX exclusive feature that uses artificial intelligence to help the GPU render frames more efficiently, resulting in a juicy frame rate boost. This feature is very important for offsetting the performance loss caused by ray tracing.
AMD currently does not offer its own take on DLSS, which gives Nvidia a huge advantage when it comes to ray tracing performance.
Editor
Alastair is in charge of Trusted Reviews’ and Recombu’s editorial output. He has over a decade’s experience as a journalist working in both B2C and B2B press. In his spare time he runs a webcomic.
