Summary
- Our selection of the best graphics cards
- Best Nvidia graphics card for 4K, QHD and 4K gaming
- Best AMD graphics card for 4K, QHD and 4K gaming
- ? What is the role of a graphics card?
- ? The characteristics of a graphics card: the criteria to be taken into account
- ? How do you choose the best graphics card?
- ? ♂️ AMD or Nvidia: which is the best brand of graphics card?
- ? Which brands offer the best graphics cards?
- ? Integrated and dedicated graphics card: what are the differences?
- Comments
What is the best graphics card in 2021? If you want to invest in a new graphics card, you have to know how to find the model that offers the perfect compromise between your requirements and your budget. Whether it is to build a new war machine for gaming or to manage demanding graphics tasks. Here's our buying guide to help you choose the best graphics card for your needs.
Our selection of the best graphics cards
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090
Best prices
- 1,799.90 € See Rue du commerce
- 4,247.95 € See Fnac
- 5,863.54 € View Darty
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT
Best prices
- 1,686.61 € See Amazon
- 1,800.51 € View Darty
- 1,815.24 € View Rakuten
- 1,999.99 € See Cdiscount
- 3,091.23 € See Fnac
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Best prices
- 799.90 € See Rue du commerce
- 1,089.00 € See Amazon
- 1,100.00 € View Rakuten
- 1,260.00 € See Cdiscount
In 2021, Nvidia continues to dominate the dedicated graphics card market. However, its competitor AMD has made strides in recent years in the mid-range and high-end segment. This progression is marked by the arrival of its new RDNA architecture with 7 nm engraving. The Radeon RX 6000 Series represent a solid offering for gamers looking for performance without breaking the bank.
The level of competition is stepped up in 2021 in the high-end GPU segment. After the GeForce RTX Series 2000 and 2000 Super, Nvidia launched its RTX Series 3000 graphics cards under the new Ampere architecture which changes to a fineness of engraving in 7 nm like the Navi GPUs from AMD. On the red side, the RDNA 2 microarchitecture allows performance gains and especially Ray Tracing support.
Best Nvidia graphics card for 4K, QHD and 4K gaming
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090: Nvidia's best graphics card
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A GEFORCE RTX 3090
We begin our buying guide to buy the best 2021 graphics card with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090. Monster of power, it is quite simply the most high-end consumer model offered by the American company. The ultimate in the 3000 series. This RTX 3090 could take over from the Titan range, as its performance is above the rest.
There is indeed a 6 GB GDDR24X VRAM, more than double of what was found on the RTX 2080 Ti which offers 11 GB. Performance level and raw power, it delivers no less than 36 TFLPOPS for Shader Cores, 69 TFLOPS for RT Cores and 385 TFLOPS for Tensor Cores.
What power play in 8K at 60 FPS coming years. In addition to its fairly high price, the Fondation Edition is still out of stock at all resellers. That said, you can turn to a custom model offered by the various brands Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, provided you have the budget large enough to buy it.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080/3080 Ti: an elite model for wealthy gamers
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A GEFORCE RTX 3080/3080 TI
A little less efficient than the RTX 3090, the RTX 3080 is nonetheless one of the best graphics card signed Nvidia in 2021. The RTX 3080 is equipped with 10 GB of GDDR6X RAM and offers a powerful raw of 30 TFLOPS for Shader Cores, 58 TFLOPS for RT Cores and 238 TFLOPS for Tensor Cores.
It is without a doubt the best 2021 graphics card for people who want to play in 4K at 60 FPS without a hitch, all with ray tracing enabled. This RTX 3080 released in September 2021 has been improved with the arrival in June 2021 of a so-called Ti version. Thus, the RTX 3080 Ti is more efficient but its consumption also higher (350 W against 320 W for the RTX 3080). On the latest RTX 3080 Ti model, Nvidia we find 12 GB of GDDR6X memory, or 2 GB more than the 10 GB present on the RTX 3080.
It notably embeds a higher number of CUDA cores (10 against 240 for the 8) and logically offers slightly higher graphics performance as well as more tensor cores and RT in order to be able to better manage DLSS and ray tracing. Finally, for these two graphics cards, Nvidia recommends a 750 W minimum power supply.
Nvidia GE Force RTX 3070/3070 Ti: an interesting alternative to the 2080 Ti
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A GEFORCE RTX 3070/3070 TI
We go to the RTX 3070 which represents a excellent alternative to the top-of-the-range model of the previous generation, namely the GTX 2080 Ti. For the technical part, we find on this RTX 3070 8 GB GDDR6 standard memory which delivers raw powers of 20 TLOPS for Shader Cores, 40 TFLOPS for RT Cores and 163 TFFLOPS for Tensor Cores.
Also offered in a Ti version, the performance gain compared to the standard model is in our opinion not justified by the fairly large price difference between the 3070 Ti and the standard 3070. Usually, Ti cards offer speeds close to those of higher cards, such as the RTX 3080, for example.
Regarding the RTX 3070 Ti, it is not at all that since it does not offer in any way the performances which one expects from a graphics card stamped Ti. For those who would like to buy one of the two models, when the shortage has passed, we therefore recommend the RTX 3070. Between the Ti version, this is clearly the best proposition for those looking for the best value for money.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060/3060 Ti: accessible entry level
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A GEFORCE RTX 3060/3060 TI
The RTX 3060/3060 Ti is the most affordable of Nvidia's 3000 line. Side technical characteristics, it embeds 3584 CUDA cores, 12 GB of memory on a 192-bit bus and a base frequency of 1,32 GHz which can go up to 1,78 GHz in boost. It has a TDP of only 170W, which is 10W more than the RTX 2060. We recommend that you use a power supply of at least 600 W to install it on your PC.
The RTX 3060 is compatible with the DLSS, RTX, Reflex and other NVIDIA proprietary technologies. Regarding the connectors, we find no surprise des ports HDMI 2.1 et DisplayPort 1.4a. Like the other models in the range, it also got its Ti variant. The latter embeds 8 GB of GDDR6 memory but on a 256-bit bus, a base frequency of 1,41 Ghz and 1,66 GHz in boost.
Even if the RTX 3060 embeds 4 GB of additional VRAM, this argument does not weigh heavily when comparing the difference in interface size of the two models (256-bit for the RTX 3070 Ti against 192-bit for the 3060) , especially when combined with the memory bandwidth of 448GB / s. Anyway, the RTX 3060 and 3060 Ti are two graphics cards that have the merit of offering one of the best value for money performance and that allow you to play in Full HD and QHD. That said, they are experiencing an increase of 18% to 25%, this because of the shortage of components that is not ready to see the end of the tunnel.
Best AMD graphics card for 4K, QHD and 4K gaming
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT: the best of the best from AMD without concessions
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A RADEON RX 6900 XT
The Radeon RX 6900 XT is the best AMD graphics card in 2021. Main competitor of Nvidia's RTX 3090, it is offered at a cheaper price. With this new GPU, AMD is catching up on Nvidia, especially with regard to the arrival of ray-tracing (DXR), made possible thanks to the RDNA 2 architecture.
As a reminder, this technology was found on the Nvidia cards of the RTX 20XX range released in 2021. Another interesting feature is the use of AMD Smart Access Memory (SAM) technology. The latter allows you to increase in-game performance if your RX 6000 is coupled with a latest generation Ryzen processor. Indeed, the exchanges between the CPU and the GPU are improved, since passing directly through the PCie 4.0 interface.
The performance of the RX 6900 XT is quite similar to that of the RX 6800 XT. However, we have 80 computing units here, which is more than the aforementioned card which has 72. For the rest, it is the same base, with 128 MB of “Infinity” cache and 16 GB of GDDR 6 memory. that the card offers a base frequency of 2021 MHz as well as a Boost frequency of 2250 MHz. Its power is 300 Watts and AMD recommends a power supply of 850 Watts to use it.
On paper, its price is very interesting, since it costs 500 euros less than its direct competitor, the RTX 3090 from Nvidia and almost 300 euros more than the RTX 3080, which it must logically surpass. Finally, if you do not have the means, you can turn to AMD's RX 6800, sold at a price of 589 euros or even to the RX 6800 XT version sold at 659 euros. That said, with the out-of-stock condition affecting AMD and Nvidia, demand has long exceeded supply and the prices listed above have quickly skyrocketed. If you are lucky enough to find some in stock, go for it, on this Radeon RX 6900 XT, it is definitely worth it.
AMD Radeon RX 6800/6800 XT: the ideal alternative for gaming in 4K
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A RADEON RX 6800/6800 XT
In the mid-range at AMD, we find the Radeon RX 6800/6800 XT. Launched in November 2021, they have the heavy task of bringing ray-tracing and gaming in 4K / 60 FPS for less than the competition, namely Nvidia. Price side, the RX 6800, is theoretically placed a little above the RTX 3070 (519 euros), since it is sold for 589 euros. The RX 6800 XT, the improved version of the card, competes with the RTX 3080 (719 euros) in terms of power.
On its RTX 30XX Founder's Edition, Nvidia had surprised with a neat design, pleasing to the eye. AMD takes the opposite view of its competitor by delivering a card with a design that is more practical than aesthetic, taking the broad lines of the Radeon VII. The cards obviously take two slots on your tower and at the back, we find a complete connection. Thus, the RX 6800 and 6800 XT have an HDMI 2.1 port, two DisplayPort 1.4 ports as well as a USB Type-C port.
Finally, we can conclude by affirming that the Radeon 6800 and 6800 XT logically have their place in this buyer's guide to the best graphics card 2021. Even if their performance does not (slightly) reach that of their direct competitors, they have serious assets. For example, they allow you to play smoothly, whether in 4K or Full HD with ray-tracing enabled. Also, their lower power consumption or the SAM option are solid arguments, especially if you plan to equip yourself with the latest Ryzen 5000 processors. That said, it still remains behind, especially in terms of ray tracing, better exploited on the side of Nvidia.
| Radeon RX 6800 | Radeon RX 6800 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Compute Units | 60 | 72 |
| Base frequency | 1815 MHz | 2021 MHz |
| Boost frequency | 2105 MHz | 2250 MHz |
| Cache "Infinity" | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| GDDR6 memory | Go 16 | Go 16 |
| Wattage (W) | 250 | 300 |
| Release date | November 18, 2021 | November 18, 2021 |
| Price | 579€ | 649€ |
AMD Radeon 6700 XT: the best graphics card for 1440p gaming
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A RADEON RX 6700 XT
Located just below the RX 6800, AMD offers with its RX 6700 XT a graphics card that is aimed at all players with a 1440p screen with a high refresh rate wishing to play games with maximum graphics settings. . In terms of specifications, the Radeon RX 6700 XT is intended to be more modest than the other cards in the series, the RX 6900 XT, 6800 XT and 6800.
That said, the graphics card still comes with 12GB of VRAM, which is more than the amount of video memory allocated on most cards in Nvidia's latest RTX 3000 family. This allows it to run some of the newer video games at 1440p with all graphics settings at maximum. The RX 6700 XT uses 40 compute units, which is half the size of the RX 6900 XT. It also has a smaller Infinity cache than its Big Navi predecessors, with 96MB here compared to 128MB on the other models.
Regarding the performance of the RX 6700 XT, the card greatly surpasses the RTX 3070 in games such as Dirt 5, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War or Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Nonetheless, Nvidia's RTX 3070 is proving to be more powerful than the 6700 XT in other games, including Cyberpunk 2077 and Watch Dogs: Legion.
AMD Radeon 6600/6600 XT: the best performance-to-consumption ratio in Full HD
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A RADEON RX 6600/6600 XT
The Radeon RX 6600/6600 XT is based on the RDNA2 architecture that appeared last year with the Radeon RX 6800, RX 6800 XT and RX 6900 XT. It is also found at the heart of the APU which equips the new generation Xbox Series S / X and PS5 game consoles. This graphics card uses and therefore benefits from the same technologies as those enjoyed by its big sisters.
So there is the Infinity Cache directly integrated into the GPU (the quantity is here limited to 32 MB, as on the RX 6600 XT), support for DirectX 12 Ultimate and Variable Rate Shading, hardware acceleration of ray-tracing or again the Smart Access Memory (the small name given by AMD to the Resize BAR).
A direct competitor of Nvidia's RTX 3060, the Radeon 6600 XT, like the latter, allows you to play in Full HD, all almost without compromise. We're a long way from 4K and high refresh rates with this mid-range graphics card, but let's not forget that many gamers play in Full HD. With the RX 6600 XT, you can achieve 60fps with more than decent level of detail.
Another good point is its consumption, quite reduced compared to the performance it offers. Once again, the RDNA 2 architecture proves its efficiency at this level, and the card is all the more very quiet in use. That said, Nvidia's RTX 3060 stands out from the RX 6000 XT since it also offers DLSS and much better optimized and exploited ray tracing.
? What is the role of a graphics card?
In graphics cards, there is a GPU (Graphic Processing Unit) or graphics processor which is a specific integrated circuit. Unlike a CPU which is capable of handling various general tasks, a GPU is designed to perform particular processing, in this case graphics calculations.
In PCs and video game consoles, the GPU is used to render 2D and 3D images, videos and animations by sending pixels to the screen. It is equipped with several thousand cores, each of which performs different calculations in parallel to improve processing efficiency. This is how the GPU renders complex 3D images in a matter of milliseconds.
? The characteristics of a graphics card: the criteria to be taken into account
In the graphics card data sheet, do you often see indicators without knowing what they mean? We explain all the characteristics that determine the performance of a GPU.
Number of cores : this unit is analogous to the number of cores in a processor. A GPU can have several thousand. They are also referred to as CUDA cores on NVIDIA or Stream Processor cards at AMD. The number of cores is one of the criteria that determines the overall power of a graphics card.
GPU frequency : it is the speed of calculation of the cores of the graphics processor. It is expressed in MHz or GHz. Two graphics cards with the same clock speed will not necessarily have the same performance. Several other factors come into play: the number of cores, the amount of dedicated video memory or the overall microarchitecture of the chip, etc.
Amount of memory : VRAM has no influence on the computing power of a GPU, but can impact performance. This is because the GPU uses a lot of memory to store data temporarily in order to access it more quickly.
Type of memory : The amount of memory matters, but so does the generation or type of memory. The newer it is, the better the performance for the same amount of RAM. Most modern graphics cards use GDDR5, but the latest generation, GDDR6, is starting to equip high-end models like the GeForce RTX 2070 and 2080 or the RX 5600 (XT) and 5700 (XT) from AMD.
Memory frequency : it is also indicated in MHz or GHz and corresponds to the speed at which the graphics card can access the data stored in the RAM. This criterion is equally important for better performance.
Memory bus width : Bus width is the amount of data that can flow between memory and the graphics processor at each clock cycle. It is expressed in bits (64 bits, 128 bits, 256 bits, etc.).
CPU bandwidth : it is expressed in GB / s and offers a more precise indication of the speed of a GPU. The bandwidth is obtained by multiplying three indicators: the frequency of the GPU, the number of transfers per cycle and the bus width. The number of transfers per cycle depends on the type of memory (generation).
For example, GDDR5 memory performs 4 transfers per cycle. On a graphics card with a frequency of 1500 MHz and a bus width of 256 bits (32 bytes), the bandwidth is therefore 1,5 GHz x 4 x 32 bytes, which gives 192 Gb / s.
TDP : or Thermal Design Power is the indicator of the thermal envelope of a GPU / CPU. This is the maximum amount of heat generated by the graphics card that the cooling system should dissipate under normal conditions. A high TDP requires a large cooler and results in more noise and higher power consumption.
? How do you choose the best graphics card?
Apart from the key characteristics listed above, other factors must be taken into account when choosing your graphics card.
What is the definition and refresh rate of your screen?
If you're not going to change your PC screen in the near future, there's no need to invest in a graphics card that won't be used to its full potential. Many cards allow full HD definition at 60 FPS to be played very easily, which matches the definition and framerate of most consumer screens.
If, on the other hand, you plan to invest for the future, do not hesitate to choose a graphics card that is comfortable with WQHD definition, or even 4K with a good framerate if your budget allows it. Ditto for the refresh rate. If the graphics card is powerful enough to deliver high framerate within a certain definition, you'll need a screen with a triple-digit refresh rate to enjoy it as it should.
Compatibility: PCIe port and number of line connectors
All recent graphics cards require a PCI-E port on your motherboard and almost always have 16 row connectors (x16). Enter the model of your motherboard or the platform used (Chipset) in Google to find out if the size of the PCIe port corresponds to that of the graphics card if you cannot recognize the format of the buses.
For newer motherboards, you shouldn't experience any problems regardless of the number of row connectors on the graphics card. The general dimensions of the cards are also to be taken into account. Because of the cooling system, some boards have a large size. Make sure you have enough space in the tower for trouble-free mounting.
Your power supply
Finally, food is another key criterion. Your computer's ac power adapter must have the correct cables and enough power to power the graphics card. Newer mid-to-high-end models typically require two 6 to 8 pin cables. Make sure you have enough on the case.
Ditto for the power expressed in Watts. The thermal envelope gives a general idea of the consumption of the graphics card, although technically the TDP and the consumption do not mean the same thing. Brands often provide information on the power required. You can also find the information easily on the Internet with the name of the graphics card. Example: an RTX 2080 Super or 2080 Ti requires 650 to 750 W to have a comfortable headroom.
FreeSync ou G-Sync ?
Another reason to choose one company over another is whether your monitor supports FreeSync (AMD) or G-Sync (Nvidia). These two technologies synchronize the refresh rate between the video card and the screen to eliminate tearing.
It is best to have a screen that supports both technologies, but these models are very expensive. However, Nvidia now offers a standard called "G-Sync Compatible" which works with FreeSync technology on a screen even with an Nvidia graphics card.
? ♂️ AMD or Nvidia: which is the best brand of graphics card?
Between the two main suppliers, everything will depend on your budget and the desired performance. AMD has competitive entry and midrange GPUs. The brand has made progress with its latest RDNA architecture on Navi GPUs which are engraved in 7nm. This allows them to achieve optimum energy efficiency, ie TDP and lower consumption.
If you're looking for the best without compromise, go for an NVIDIA graphics card. The GeForce RTX 2060 Super allows you to comfortably play at 1080p. For QHD (1044p), go for an RTX 2070 Super. The best for 2k or 4K gaming with a decent framerate is a GeForce RXT 2080 Ti or an RTX 2080 Super. In view of the stock shortage affecting the Series RTX 30xx, these are our recommendations.
AMD offers alternatives that hold the top of Nvidia in the mid-range segment, especially for those who bet on a good compromise between performance and price. The founder's flagship graphics cards right now are the Radeon RX 6xxx which are powerful enough to run all demanding games at 1080p and 1440p without a hitch.
? Which brands offer the best graphics cards?
Nvidia and AMD allow other companies to use their GPUs in custom graphics cards with their own branding. This is how companies like ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, Aorus, Sapphir, or even EVGA sell custom graphics cards with AMD or NVIDIA GPUs inside.
These brands generally differ on criteria such as cooling solutions, maximum clock frequency (overclocking) and the management software of their cards. Performance varies slightly from brand to brand and the user experience offered by management software is not the same.
? Integrated and dedicated graphics card: what are the differences?
We speak of an integrated graphics card when a GPU is engraved directly in the printed circuit of the processor or the motherboard (more rarely). The graphics chip in this case does not have its own video memory and will use some of the RAM. At AMD, the CPU / GPU pair is called the APU.
A dedicated graphics card is a separate component that comes in addition to the processor. It has its own video memory (vRAM) and offers more power to manage heavy graphics tasks (video games, design, 3D modeling, etc.).
If you use your computer for office automation, an HD Graphics chip directly integrated into Intel processors or an AMD APU is more than sufficient for all types of classic computer use. In other words, to surf the Internet, work in Word and Excel or watch videos locally or in streaming (Netflix, YouTube), etc. Gamers and graphic design professionals will naturally have to turn to a dedicated graphics card.
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