Buying a brand new graphics card is normally a giant funding. For this cause, you need to think twice upfront about which GPU is best for you. Here are seven errors you need to keep away from when shopping for a graphics card.
1. Is the graphics card the limiting issue in any respect?
If your PC doesn’t ship the specified efficiency in purposes or video games, the graphics card doesn’t essentially should be the limiting issue. The processor, the principle reminiscence, or inadequate cooling also can decelerate your PC. In these instances, putting in a stronger GPU will solely provide you with a small improve in efficiency, if any in any respect. So earlier than you resolve to purchase a brand new graphics card, you need to first test whether or not the GPU is definitely the issue. We clarify how you need to proceed on this article: How can I tell if the CPU or GPU is limiting my gaming?
2. Is a brand new graphics card price it in any respect or ought to I purchase a brand new PC?
Once you may have recognized the graphics card as a weak level, the following query is whether or not an improve is sensible in any respect or whether or not shopping for a brand new PC makes extra sense. Ultimately, this relies closely on whether or not you possibly can merely change the graphics card or whether or not you’ll then additionally want a stronger energy provide unit and/or a bigger housing. You can discover out which compatibilities you have to take into account within the subsequent paragraph.
Further studying: Upgrade your PC or buy a new one? A guide
3. Pay consideration to compatibility
In order to have the ability to set up the graphics card of your selection in your PC, a couple of circumstances have to be met:
- Does your energy provide ship ample energy and have the required energy connections? To reply this query, you have to evaluate the graphics card producer’s advice with the nominal values of your energy provide unit. Unfortunately, it’s not normally potential to learn out which energy provide unit is put in in your PC by way of software program; it’s a must to unscrew the PC and look. Before you do that, it’s essential to floor your self — e.g. on a radiator — and disconnect the PC from the facility provide. Then take away the rear aspect panel of the PC case and find the facility provide unit — normally on the again, put in on the backside of the case. As a rule, there’s writing or a sticker on the aspect of the facility provide unit that signifies the particular mannequin. Using the title, you will discover the specified data on the producer’s web site.
- Is there sufficient area within the case for the graphics card? If there’s not sufficient area in your PC case, you might not have the ability to set up the graphics card you need. For this cause, you need to undoubtedly test earlier than shopping for. If the mannequin designation of your enclosure and even have the handbook at hand, it’s straightforward to search out out from the producer’s specs. You must test the utmost potential size and top for putting in a graphics card in your enclosure in opposition to the GPU producer’s specs for the size of its product. If you don’t know which PC case you may have, you possibly can at all times measure it your self.
- The third level is elective, however it would have an effect on the efficiency of the graphics card in your PC. You also needs to test which PCIe era your processor and motherboard help. Although PCIe is backwards appropriate, which implies you could additionally use a graphics card with PCIe 4.0 in a PCIe 3.0 slot, this may lead to efficiency losses.
- Last however not least, you need to take into account whether or not the specified graphics card even gives the suitable connections in your monitor. The most typical requirements at the moment are HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C. For older connections comparable to DVI or VGA, you’ll have to resort to adapters. But that’s not all, as a result of there are additionally variations within the HDMI and DisplayPort requirements: HDMI vs. DisplayPort: Which display interface reigns supreme?
4. The proper graphics card for the aim
If precisely what you need to do with the graphics card and the way a lot efficiency you want, it can save you some huge cash. For instance, a devoted graphics card just isn’t needed for on a regular basis workplace duties, browsing the web, streaming content material, or easy browser video games. The graphics unit built-in in lots of CPUs is completely sufficient for this.
If you’re a informal gamer or need to edit a video at times, you possibly can’t keep away from a devoted graphics card, however you most likely don’t want a prime mannequin. If, however, you personal a 1440p or UHD monitor with 144Hz or much more and in addition need to play the newest video games with the absolute best particulars otherwise you recurrently edit 8K movies or create complicated 3D renderings, then a prime mannequin is the suitable selection for you. Our graphics card comparability will assist you to make the suitable selection:
Further studying: Best graphics cards for PC gaming
5. How a lot video reminiscence?
The matter “size of the video memory” additionally relies upon strongly in your subject of software. However, you shouldn’t make the error of evaluating a graphics card solely on the idea of the dimensions of the VRAM. As a rule, a bigger video reminiscence is a sign of higher efficiency, however you also needs to take into consideration the reminiscence bandwidth, the variety of computing models, the clock charges, and the characteristic set. The present entry-level graphics playing cards from AMD and Nvidia provide 8GB of video reminiscence on a 128-bit reminiscence interface.
This is ample for informal players who don’t at all times must play with the absolute best graphics settings. The entry-level fashions are extra problematic for artistic customers, because the comparatively small reminiscence interface limits the reminiscence bandwidth. Depending on the purposes, you might be higher off with a graphics card of the earlier era due to the 256-bit interface, even when these playing cards are additionally geared up with solely 8GB of video reminiscence.
If, however, you need to play the newest video games with the very best potential settings and activated ray tracing, then we’ve to advise in opposition to graphics playing cards with 8GB video reminiscence, even when gaming in 1080p decision. In our expertise, this dimension is not ample in increasingly more video games; we advocate 10 to 12GB VRAM as an alternative. In 1440p decision, that is once more our minimal advice; you’re higher geared up for the long run with 16GB. This quantity is normally ample for 4K gaming in the meanwhile, however extra VRAM can’t harm for upcoming video games.
Further studying: Pushing the Radeon RX 7600’s memory: Is 8GB enough?
6. Efficiency is mirrored within the electrical energy invoice
Especially in instances of rising electrical energy costs and international warming, you need to take into account energy consumption and the ensuing effectivity when shopping for a graphics card. If you play a variety of video games in your PC or usually use the GPU to full capability with artistic purposes, this may present up in your electrical energy invoice on the finish of the yr.
Here’s an instance of the comparative energy consumption amongst these Nvidia GPUs, taken from Nvidia’s web site.
Foundry
7. If you purchase low-cost, you purchase twice
The outdated adage “if you buy cheap, you buy twice” additionally applies to a sure extent to the acquisition of a brand new graphics card. Not as a result of low-cost graphics playing cards break rapidly, however as a result of you might discover out after a short while that you’d have been higher off shopping for a extra highly effective graphics card. So when shopping for a brand new graphics card, at all times take into account its future viability, in case your pockets permits it.
If your PC is simply too weak for the newly bought sport and also you resolve to purchase a brand new graphics card that solely meets the minimal necessities, it’s essential to firstly reckon with the truth that it would solely be sufficient for the bottom graphics settings. Secondly, it could possibly occur that solely a short while later one other sport comes in the marketplace that you simply completely need to play and that has even increased necessities, during which case you’ll have to improve once more. So it’s by no means mistaken to plan for slightly buffer within the GPU’s computing energy.
This article initially appeared on pcwelt.de and was translated from German to English.