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4 Best CPU-GPU Combos for Gaming & Workstations

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Matching a processor and a graphics card may seem easy, but when you want to maximize your performance at a certain budget, there are ideal pairings to be made. For example, a demanding gamer won’t need a high number of cores, but someone working on video editing or 3D content creation might.

We’ve compiled 4 pairings to match most peoples needs and budget, but note that new CPU lineups from AMD are coming (Ryzen 5000 series), along with new GPUs from Nvidia (RTX 3070, RTX 3060) and AMD (Radeon 6000 series). So if you’re not in a hurry, it can be smarter to wait for them, whether it’s for the generational performance boost or the consequential price drop of the current generation.

Best – CPUs/ GPUs combinations our selections

Entry-level Gaming: Ryzen 3 3100 + Radeon RX 5500 XT

Want a desktop PC that doesn’t break the bank and still holds his ground in e-sports titles and other not too demanding games? Pairing a Ryzen 3 3100 ($99) – a 4 cores/8 threads CPU that rivals with Intel’s i3 lineup—with a RX 5500XT will give you great performance for 1080p gaming

Why not Intel’s own i3-10100 or i3-9100f you ask? While they have similar performance and can often be found for less money, going with AMD Ryzen gives you access to a more future-proof platform: the AM4 socket will support Ryzen 5000 CPUs and an upgrade to those will be more beneficial than Intel’s offerings.

I would have ideally recommended a Ryzen 3 3300X, more powerful for only $20-30 more, but it’s often out of stock and impossible to find at the moment. If you ever find one though, it is totally worth the price increase.

The Radeon RX 5500XT ($199), while not as known as Nvidia GPUs, dominates the low-end like AMD usually do. It offers awesome performance for 1080p gaming, only matched at this price point by the usually more expensive GTX 1660. Be sure to get a 8GB VRAM model though, as games are becoming more and more demanding on memory.

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Mid-range Gaming: Ryzen 5 3600 -RTX 2070 Super

AMD Ryzen 5 3600

A pairing that can satisfy most gamers: the Ryzen 5 3600 is simply the best value CPU out there, offering great gaming performance and even 6 cores/12 threads to please streamers and content creators. For a while gamers wanting to maximize performance had to get CPUs over $400 to max their GPU, but now this $199 value-king won’t limit yourself even at 1440p 144Hz, so that’s more money to put towards a better GPU.

Want more? It only has a TDP of 65W, and includes a Wraith Stealth aircooler, good enough to match most $30 coolers on the market. It’s not the most silent, but unlike Intel’s default cooler it’s actually good.

User considering heavy content creation can opt for the Ryzen 7 3700X ($329). With 8 cores/16 threads, it won’t offer more gaming performance until games get optimized for more cores, but multi-thread workloads will run faster, and its TDP is still 65W.

With a price around $400, the RTX 2070 Super still holds the crown of best mid-range GPUs. For 1080p 144Hz gaming, it’s simple, you don’t need more than that at the moment. If you’re tempted to play at 1440p 144Hz, you might want to upgrade to a RX 5700XT or a RTX 2080 , or wait for the upcoming series from Nvidia and AMD. But with a bit of compromise, a 2060 Super can get you running even at that resolution.

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High-end Gaming: i5-10600k + RTX 3080

Users playing e-sports titles at more than 200Hz or heavy AAA titles might be the only ones limited by Ryzen’s current lineup, but Intel has them covered: the i5-10600k ($262) will offer them more single thread performance than a R5-3600, which is enough not to limit the beefiest graphics cards on the market and squeeze every frame out of them.

Intel sadly don’t provide a CPU cooler with this one, so you have to get your own. Make sure it’s good enough to handle its 125W TDP or you could find yourself in throttle territory.

If you’re targeting 4K gaming, even a Ryzen 5 3600 ($199) might actually do the trick. That resolution put less stress on the CPU, and every CPU on the market ends up having similar performance. However if you play on 1440p or 1080p, the gap increases on single-core performance, so Intel’s current lineup is best fitted until we see some Ryzen 5000 CPUs on the market.

The RTX 3080 ($599), if you can get your hands on one, is THE best GPU on the market right now, and will easily handle every game you throw at it at 1440p or 4K with high refresh rates and even provide a decent RayTracing experience (finally) if you’re into that. It has given gamers a once-in-a-decade performance increase over previous generation and makes every previous high-end GPUs irrelevant.

Its 10 GB VRAM are enough for every games on the market in 2020, and there’s a good chance it will be for a long time. It however has a 320W power draw, so make sure your PSU can handle that.

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High-end Gaming Workstation: Intel i9-10900kf + RTX 3080

Intel Core i9-10900k

If you want a no compromise machine that allows you to both edit 4K videos and play at high refresh rates, look no further. The Intel i9-10900kf ($472) is a 10 core, 20 threads CPU, or should I say a workstation beast, that will not flinch on the most demanding workloads. While it’s overkill for gaming, it offers a significant gain in most content creation software like the Adobe CS suite or Solidworks.

Intel’s 14nm process, while not as efficient as AMD’s 7nm, is refined to near excellency and provide an appreciated gaming performance boost over AMD’s Ryzen 3900X. It’s hard to cool down though, so make sure you have a proper aircooler or AIO cooler to match.

I however highly recommend waiting for the Ryzen 9 5900X or 5950X, which should release on November 5, to maximize your performance especially if you deal with heavy multi-threaded workloads. But if you need a PC right now that’s extremely powerful in gaming AND content creation, the i9-10900kf is your best bet.

As for the GPU, we again find the RTX 3080 ($599), which has no real competition at the moment. For gaming it has unmatched performance, and for work it outperforms both the Titan RTX and 2080Ti on every rendering benchmark there is. Only the RTX 3090 is more powerful, with roughly a 15 to 20% overhead on rendering (and 140% more VRAM with 24GB), but its price is significantly higher and gaming performance between the two is similar.

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RTX 3080 Aftermarket Card List (22+ Models Compared)

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rtx 3080 aftermarket card comparison

Great news for the world of PC gaming enthusiasts has recently been announced, as Nvidia has unveiled their GeForce RTX Ampere 30 Series GPUs. The best part of this announcement is that these graphics cards have proven to be much more powerful (in terms of specifications) that what was initially speculated via rumors and leaks. Out of the three announced Ampere models, the most value-for-price option appears to be the RTX Ampere 3080. With a CUDA Core count of 8,704, a boost clock speed of 1.71 GHz, 8 GB of newly updated GDDR6X VRAM, 2nd generation Ray Tracing cores, 3rd generation Tensor cores, and an impressive 30 TFLOPs of FP32 compute performance, the RTX 3080 is a powerhouse of graphical processing that simply dwarfs the specifications of current-generation, equivalently priced, GPUs. In fact, even comparing the RTX 3080 to the RTX 2080 Ti makes the RTX 2080 Ti seem outdated. The RTX 3080 has an improved 8 nm processing node, PCIe 4.0 compatibility, 123% more FP32 processing power, and 100% more CUDA cores than the RTX 2080 Ti; all while being $500 cheaper. If you, too, are excited for the release of the RTX 3080, then you won’t have to wait long, as it is set to release on September the 17th in North America and Europe. To help you choose the best aftermarket card in regards to cooling, boost clock speeds, software, and pricing, we’ve compiled a list of all recently announced RTX 3080 AIB graphics cards. Do note, that there are still some manufacturers that have yet to release the full list of specifications (like boost clock speed and price) for their GPU models.

RTX 3080 Aftermarket Card List – All Announced Models (A-Z)

ASUS GeForce RTX 3080 ROG STRIX Gaming OC

ASUS RTX 3080 ROG STRIX Gaming OC

The list may be in alphabetical order, but what better way to start than with the tech manufacturing giant ASUS, who is ready to release three different RTX Ampere 3080 models; one of which being the higher end: ROG STRIX Gaming OC. Living up to the OC in its name, this graphics card will feature an overclocking mode with an increased boost clock speed of 1,740 MHz (up from the 1,710 MHz of the reference card). Additionally, an RGB display will light up the side of the GPU, as well as underneath the fans, so it can be mounted any way you please. ASUS will include Armor Crate software for RGB customization – colors and effects – while the overclocking can be tuned via GPU Tweak II. Additional software that will be included: A 6-month subscription for WTFast, a gaming network optimization software, a free X-Split subscription, professional streaming software, and QuantumCloud, which uses your GPU’s processing power and in return provides you with an insignificant sum of money via PayPal. In terms of cooling, the ROG STRIX will feature three, upgraded, axial-tech fans with 13 blades on the center fan (which spins in an alternate direction, for less turbulence), and 11 blades on the two side fans. These will be PWM controlled, so they will not spin when the GPU’s temperature is below 55 degrees C. The heatsink is quite large, at 2.9 slots in height, and it is situated n a polished-surface heat spreader for maximum contact with the GPU’s die. The backplate is also ventilated for better airflow. Finally, five ports will be available: two HDMI 2.1, and three DisplayPort 1.4a. Only thing left to learn is the price, which ASUS should announce as the launch date approaches.

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ASUS GeForce RTX 3080 TUF Gaming / OC 

ASUS RTX 3080 TUF Gaming

The other two models ASUS will be unveiling, come September the 17th, are the RTX Ampere 3080 TUF Gaming and TUF Gaming OC. These two GPUs will be identical in most aspects, except for the fact that the TUF Gaming OC will have a boost clock speed of 1,740 MHz (similar to the ROG STRIX) while the other will have the baseline boost clock speed of 1,710 MHz. In terms of RGB lighting, there is a thin strip and a small ASUS TUF logo on the side of the GPU, which can be customized via Armor Crate. In fact, all included software will be identical to those of the previously mentioned ROG STRIX. The cooling is also almost identical to the ROG STRIX: three PWM controlled fans, a ventilated backplate, and a max-contact heat spreader. Only difference here will be the heatsink, which is slightly smaller (2.7 Slots), though a separate VRAM dedicated heatsink is also included with the TUF Gaming models. The connectivity will also be identical to the ROG STRIX. Currently the only thing we don’t know about these models is their price, but if we had to guess, the TUF Gaming should cost close to the reference card price of $699, and the TUF Gaming OC should cost only slightly above that.

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EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 ICX3

EVGA has a long list of Nvidia 30 Series models ready to release on September the 17th, four of which belong to the RTX Ampere 3080 GPU. These models will differ mainly in their method of cooling, which is definitely unique for some.

EVGA RTX 3080 Hybrid

The EVGA Hybrid, for example, utilizes a single fan attached to the graphics card and liquid AIO cooling provided by a 120mm radiator.

EVGA RTX 3080 Hydrocopper

The Hydro Copper will cool the GPU and VRAM with the use of a waterblock, for silent and efficient liquid cooling. The other two models, the FTW3 and XC3, will use more conventional, tri-fan cooling.

The FTW3 differs mostly due to its ARGB displays, which it has plenty of. These displays are included on the front plate (an EVGA logo) on the side plate (the model of the GPU a smaller FTW3 logo), opposite to the I/O ports (EVGA logo), and on the backplate (EVGA logo). This ARGB lighting, and any overclocking capabilities (boost clock speed still unannounced) will be tuned via EVGA’s new Precision X1 Software.

EVGA RTX 3080 XC3

The XC3 will lack the ARGB of the FTW3, but it does have similar cooling: Three, premium, hydro-dynamic bearing fans that are independently controlled and asynchronous, a heatsink with through-hole fins, a GPU and VRAM encompassing copper block with semi-circular heatpipes, an air-through PCB, and a ventilated backplate which makes use of micro-thin copper heatpipes for better heat dissipation. Price for each model is yet to be determined. 

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Galax KFA2 GeForce RTX 3080 SG & EX Gaming

Galax : KFA2 RTX 3080 SG

Galax will also be offering two Nvidia RTX Ampere 3080 GPUs: The RTX 3080 SG and the recently announced KFA2 EX Gaming. The KFA2 SG will have a boost clock speed of 1,710 MHz, with a 1-Click overclock feature that boosts the frequency to 1,725 MHz. The KFA EX Gaming, on the other hand, has the highest boost clock speed of any announced aftermarket RTX Ampere 3080 model: 1,755 MHz, and a 1-Click overclock speed of 1,770 MHz. These speeds can be reached by using Galax’s Xtreme Tuner Plus software, which is also used to tweak the RGB lighting. Both these models make use of RGB displays on the outer ring of their three fans, as the fan-blades are translucent. There is also a “What is your game?” quote on the side that utilizes RGB, if you’d prefer to mount the GPU conventionally. The EX Gaming also has a bulkier exterior, and comes in three different colors: white, pink, and black. The tri-fan cooling system is also similar, with three 11-bladed “Wings” designed fan-blades for both variants – though the SG has three 92mm fans, whereas the EX Gaming has a 102mm middle fan. Where the SG has a slight edge is its use of an oddly unique clip on 80mm fan which can be attached to its ventilated backplate to assist in removing hot air from the heatsink. For connectivity, both models include four ports in total: three DP 1.4a and one HDMI 2.1. Prices are yet to be announced, but if rumors are true that the KFA2 SG will cost the baseline $699 price, then it is definitely a value option to consider. 

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GIGABYTE AORUS GeForce RTX 3080 Master & Xtreme 

GIGABYTE-AORUS-RTX-3080-Master

GIGABYTE couldn’t be absent from the AIB market of the Nvidia 30 Series Ampere GPUs, and thus they will also be releasing four models, two of those being the RTX 3080 Master and Xtreme. GIGABYTE has not yet released much info regarding what makes each of the two unique, but if we were to guess it, would probably have to do with boost clock speeds. Both these models appear to have RGB accents on the side and on the backplate, including an OLED screen which will provide the GPU’s temperature, and perhaps even more system metrics. The AORUS Engine will be the software for tweaking both RGB and GPU or fan controls. When it comes to cooling, once again the info we have for both models is identical. Both will use a three-fan design, two fans being 115mm in diameter, while the third (side) fan will be 100mm. The fans will have double ball-bearings, PWM controls, and they will spin in alternate directions in order to avoid turbulence. These fans will also be mounted on, what GIGABYTE named as, Wind Claw mounts, which reinforce and channel the airflow toward the heatsink. The heatsink itself will have an angular and unequal fin design, to better channel the airflow, while the copper plate heat spreader will have composite heatpipes to more efficiently move the heat toward the enlarged heatsink. The backplate will also be ventilated for better airflow. Price and boost clock speeds are yet to be confirmed.

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Inno3D GeForce RTX 3080 iChill X3 / X4

Inno3D-RTX-3080-iChill-X3-X4

Inno3D will join the RTX Ampere 3080 AIB market battle with three of their own models, two of which include the iChill X3 and iChill X4. These GPUs have nearly identical exteriors and RGB lighting, as well as cooling solutions. Firstly, both models have an extravagant RGB display on the side of the GPU, which is not only customizable through Inno3D’s TunelIT, but also with Aura Sync, Mystic Light, and RGB Fusion. The iChill X3 allows you to add additional flare with the use of an acrylic RGB tail fin that can be attached right above the RGB display. Two tail fins are included, and one is blank so you can customize it to your style. The iChill X4 trades these acrylic tail fins for a small, 45mm, rotary fan attached to the side of the GPU, intended for cooling the MOSFETs. Other than that, both GPUs will include a triple, 90mm, fan setup; using Inno3D’s Scythe blades, 8 heatpipes, and a 1,881mm lengthwise heatsink that incorporates ultra-thin cooling fins and a copper base for better MOSFET and VRAM heat transfer. The studded surface backplate will also be ventilated. Price and boost clock speeds have not yet been released, but we do know that the iChill X4 will be slightly more expensive than the X3.

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Inno3D GeForce RTX 3080 Twin X2 OC

Inno3D RTX 3080 TWIN X2 OC

The third graphics card that Inno3D is working on is the Twin X2 OC. This barebones model lacks any and all RGB lighting, and makes use of only two fans – rather than the triple-fan design of the two iChill models. It will most likely have an increased boost clock speed, but the exact metric is still unknown. The fans included are of similar quality to the iChill models: 90mm, identical blade design, and PWM controls. The heatsink is somewhat smaller, being 1,517mm in length, and the heatpipes have been reduced to seven. TunnelIT will be available for GPU monitoring and tweaking of the clock speeds. Though the Inno3D Twin X2 OC’s price has not yet been released, it should be priced similarly to the reference card at $699.

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MSI GeForce RTX 3080 VENTUS 3X OC

MSI RTX 3080 VENTUS 3X OC

MSI could also not be absent from the RTX 3080 graphics card competition, hence why they are releasing two graphics card models, one being the VENTUS 3X OC. Because the VENTUS 3X is the least expensive option MSI will feature, this GPU is devoid of any RGB displays. It does come with their Dragon Center and Afterburner software, for GPU monitoring and overclocking, though MSI is yet to confirm what the boost clock speeds will be for this model. The thermal solution of the VENTUS 3X features a three-fan design that makes use of TORX Fan 3.0: combining traditional and dispersion blades in an alternating pattern. The cooling system also includes MSI’s Zero Froze, so the fans will not operate when the GPU is below a certain temperature, while thermal pads are placed on components known to get hot. MSI has also placed emphasis on preventing bending when the GPU is mounted, and have done so by adding reinforcement to the graphene backplate, as well as by providing an optional support bracket that you can screw to the bottom of the GPU to help it remain straight. Once again, an exact has not yet been confirmed by MSI for this model, though it shouldn’t cost much more than the reference card. 

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MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Gaming X TRIO 

MSI RTX 3080 Gaming X TRIO

MSI’s higher end option will be the Gaming X TRIO. It is very similar to the VENTUS 3X, though it does have two RGB displays – including RGB accents in the front plate, as well as an MSI logo and thick RGB lit strip running across two thirds of the side plate. To sync the RGB lighting with other MSI hardware, this model will include MSI’s Mystic Light software. When it comes to the cooling solution, the Gaming X TRIO will utilize MSI’s new generation TORX FAN 4.0 design, which binds fan-blades in pairs by connecting them in the outer ring, in order to provide better static pressure and better cool the heatsink. The heatsink itself will be optimized for silent operation, using Wave-Curved 2.0 fins which have angled edges that eliminate any acoustics that result from the air passing through. Boost clock speed and price are TBC.

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Palit GeForce RTX 3080 Gaming PRO & Gaming PRO OC

Palit RTX 3080 Gaming PRO

The fine folks at Palit are also looking to make a statement with their Ampere 30 Series RTX GPUs, as they are ready to release a total of four models. Two of these will be the Gaming PRO and Gaming PRO OC, while the other two will be the GameRock and GameRock Pro – though nothing has been announced for the latter two other than a picture showing that they will utilize a 3-fan design and a flashy front-plate RGB display. The Gaming PRO and Gaming PRO OC are also nearly identical, with the latter have an increased boost clock speed of 1,740 MHz.  The two Gaming PRO models will have an ARGB display which will run across the middle of the three fans, mostly being visible from the front, and customizable via Palit’s ThunderMaster software. These three fans will have double ball bearings, TurboFan 3.0 (so they operate only when necessary), and an IP5X dust resistance rating. The heatpipes will be double-U shaped, and will be situated on a triple-A (aluminum alloy armor) die casted plate. Like most RTX 3080 models, the backplate will be ventilated, with a honeycomb bracket design. Price is yet to be confirmed, though the Gaming PRO should be priced around the $699 mark.

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PNY GeForce RTX 3080 XLR8 Gaming Epic-X RGB

PNY GeForce RTX 3090 XLR8 Gaming Epic-X RGB

Hailing from the United States, the hardware manufacturer PNY is primed to release their XLR8 Gaming Epic-X RGB RTX Ampere 3080. This GPU will have the GeForce RTX logo lit with an RGB display on the side, as well as some slight RGB accents on the front plate. The OC clock speed appears to be the standard 1,710 MHz, so no extra boost there. In terms of cooling, the XLR8 Gaming Epic-X will make use of three fan design and a 2.7-slot heatsink. The overall length of the GPU will be 294mm, meaning it should fit in many full-sized GPU SFF cases. No other details have been confirmed by PNY yet, including the actual retail price.

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ZOTAC GeForce RTX 3080 Trinity 

ZOTAC RTX 3080 Trinity

Finally, we have ZOTAC, with the triple fanned Ampere RTX 3080 Trinity. This graphics card will feature two ARGB displays: one on the side plate (accents and the ZOTAC Gaming logo) as well as on the backplate (ZOTAC logo), which can be synced via ZOTAC’s FireStorm software. For cooling, the Trinity will use three, eleven-bladed, fans with an IceStorm 2.0 design, so they will not work under low loads. Also utilized is ZOTAC’s Active Fan feature, where two of the three fans can be controlled independently of the third. Three groups of aluminum, fin stack array heatsinks are included, which will receive heat from the GPU via seven copper heatpipes that are arranged in a custom layout. The Trinity also has a metal, die-casted and ventilated, backplate to boot. Once again, price is unknown, though we do know that the boost clock speed will be the same as the reference card (1,710 MHz); therefore, chances are the price won’t be too far off from the baseline price-tag of $699.

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5 Best Graphics Cards for 1080p 144hz Gaming

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best graphics cards for 1080p 144hz gaming

Easily argued to be the best-valued mode of enjoying PC gaming applications, the 1080p 144 Hz monitor allows for a respectable HD definition, an almost uncanny smoothness of frame processions, and low input-to-display latencies – all being qualities which are optimal for gaming.

A small opposition would argue that a 1440p 144 Hz monitor would be better for gaming than the 1080p counterpart, though the amount of value that the increased resolution provides is hardly worth the increased cost of the monitor, and the necessary GPU necessary to run games at that resolution and frame rate. Take for example the popular battle royale Call of Duty: Warzone. According to benchmarks of ComputerBase, we can see that the only GPU reaching even slightly above the 120 FPS mark is the $1200 Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. Lowering the graphical settings to allow for less expensive GPUs to run the game at over 120 FPS will simply defeat the purpose of the increased resolution.

Now, of course, all games are not created equal. Some may prefer competitive gaming with popular “e-sports” titles, while others may prefer triple-A single player options. Choosing the right GPU, among other necessary hardware, must take into account the type of gaming applications that are to be ran on the machine. General guidelines for the accompanying hardware would include: 16 GB of RAM, preferably 3000-3200 MHz at CAS 14 to CAS 15, a four to six core processor for online multiplayers or eight core 16 thread processor for AAA titles, a motherboard with a respectable VRM and cooling solution to allow for proper, stable, overclocking, and, of course, a solid state ROM drive. Lest we forget, proper cooling for the setup, which is recommended to take the form of an airflow optimized case, with static pressure optimized fans for heatsinks, and airflow optimized case fans throughout. PSU recommendations will depend on the TDP of the GPU and overall build.

When all the above is decided upon, next comes perhaps the most important choice, the graphics card. To assist you in finding the most optimal GPU option for your setup to handle 1080p 144 Hz gaming, we’ve provided the best selections for the two different styles of gaming that were previously mentioned. We will also provide an additional option for those looking to futureproof their setup for the new generation of games that will accompany the imminent release of the Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X, coming later this year (2020).  

Best GPUs for 1080p 144hz Competitive Gaming – My Recommendations

Due to the decreased hardware requirements of the most popular online competitive multiplayer games, certain less expensive options for GPUs that can handle 144 Hz refresh rates open up.

1. AMD Radeon RX 5700

AMD-RX-5700

The AMD option for such demands:  The Radeon RX 5700. This RDNA powered GPU features a base frequency of 1465 MHz, and a boost frequency of up to 1725 MHz; with a 14000 MHz memory clock and 6,751 GFLOPS of FP32 computing power. It has 2304 CUDA cores, 1244 TMUs, and 64 ROPS, 8GB of GDDR6 V-RAM, and a 256-bit memory bud width that can handle 448 GB/s. The Radeon RX 5700 has a TDP of 175, so 650-700W PSUs are recommended, depending on the build. Feature-wise, this GPU includes AMD’s Radeon Image Sharpening: contrast-adaptive sharpening with GPU upscaling, Fidelity FX: high-quality post-process effects, and FreeSync: anti-stutter and screen tearing software for compatible monitors.

User benchmarks for the Radeon RX 5700 show us that it can reach well over 120 effective FPS for certain popular competitive gaming titles. For Counter Strike: Global Offensive it reaches 220 FPS, while for Fortnite and Overwatch 2 it reaches 143 and 133 EFPS respectively. That being said, it will struggle to maintain an FPS of above 100 for certain triple-A titles, though for its $349 price it is still a great deal for those that care more about reaching that 120+ FPS on competitive multiplayers, in order to match the 144 Hz refresh rate of the 1080p monitor.

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2. Nvidia RTX 2060 Super

Nvidia-RTX-2060-Super

Nvidia’s counter to AMD’s Radeon RX 5700 is the GeForce RTX 2060 Super. This ray tracing GPU has a base clock frequency of 1470 MHz, and a boost clock of 1650 – depending on the aftermarket model. Its FP32 computing power is 6,397 GFLOPS, and its CUDA Cores, TMUs, and ROPs are 2176, 136, and 64. Like the AMD counterpart, the 2060 Super also has 8GB of GDDR6 V-RAM, a 256-bit memory bud width, and a 448 GB/s bandwidth. It has a slightly less demanding TDP of 175W, though the 650-700W recommendation will still stand for a build featuring this GPU.  Some of its included features are G-Sync: Nvidia’s equivalent of the AMD FreeSync, DLSS 2.0: an AI powered frame rate boost, and GeForce Experience: software which keeps drivers up to date, optimizes game settings, and allows for video capturing and streaming.

Much like the AMD Radeon RX 5700, the RTX 2060 Super displays similar effective FPS rates for online multiplayers, reaching 138 FPS for Overwatch 2, 133 FPS for Fortnite, and an impressive 280 FPS for Counter Strike: GO. For the more hardware intensive Call of Duty: Warzone, this GPU manages 118.8 FPS, versus the slightly higher 119.4 FPS of the RX 5700. The reference RTX 2060S has a price of $399, being slightly more expensive than the equivalent AMD option – though it is by far the more popular choice among the two GPUs.

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Best GPUs for 1080p 144Hz Triple-A Gaming

Current generation triple-A titles that offer a more cinematic experience with their remarkable visuals, are also significantly more hardware-demanding, and will require much more powerful GPUs to match their requirements. Reaching over 120 FPS on these titles is no easy undertaking. The two recommended GPUs below are what are deemed to be the minimum required for the task.

1. Nvidia RTX 2080 Super

Nvidia RTX 2080 Super Founders Edition

The RTX 2080 Super features significant upgrades to its hypo-predecessor. It has a base clock of 1650 MHz and a boost clock of 1815 MHz, with 10,138 GFLOPS of computing power. It has 3072 CUDA Cores, 192 TMUs, and 64 ROPs; while also featuring 8GB of VRAM with 256-bit memory bus width and 495.62 GB/s bandwidth. It has an increased TDP of 250W, so it is not the most energy efficient GPU. These are, of course, the reference card specifications, as the boost clock can reach upwards of 1890 MHz depending on the aftermarket model. It features much of the same software previously mentioned with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super GPU.

The benchmarks for the RTX 2080 Super, measured by AnandTech, show us that even this upper-mid end GPU will struggle reaching above 120 FPS for certain triple A titles. A good example is Assassins Creed Odyssey, which, at the highest settings, the RTX 2080S can only reach an 89.7 framerate. That being said, for most current generation single-player games it does reach, and exceed, the 120 FPS mark at 1080p resolutions. The reference card for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super currently costs $699, which is a price that can be found for aftermarket models as well.

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2. AMD RX 5700 XT

XFX RX 5700 XT

AMD’s RX 5700 XT is what would be appropriately called: the budget GPU for high FPS gaming, though not reliably so. This GPU has a base clock of 1605 MHz, a boost clock of 1755 MHz, 8,218 GFLOPs, 2560 CUDA cores, 160 TMUs, 64 ROPs, and a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s. Aftermarket models feature boost clocks that reach up to 2000 MHz. It has a slightly better TDP, in comparison to the previously mentioned Nvidia GPU, of 225W.

For games like Call of Duty: Warzone, this GPU was able to reach 135.9 FPS (scoring even higher than AMD’s own double-priced Radeon VII), which makes it a respectable option, especially for its cost. Surprisingly enough, for Assassins Creed Odyssey it (ever so slightly) outperforms the RTX 2080 Super, scoring 90.8 FPS at 1080p on the highest quality settings. Of course, there are other games where it is outperformed by the RTX 2080 Super, like the recently Epic-Store-gifted Grand Theft Auto V, where the RTX 2080S reached 142.9 FPS versus the 115.2 of the RX 5700 XT. The main issue with the RX 5700 XT is its overheating under high loads. If this can be avoided via an excess of cooling, this GPU can reach 144 FPS for Shadow of the Tomb Raider, or 206 FPS for Rainbow Six Siege for only a $399 price tag.

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Best Futureproof GPU for 1080p 144hz Gaming

If you are looking to futureproof your build for the next generation of single-player games set to release with the new generation of consoles coming later this year, then you are going to need a significantly more powerful GPU than the aforementioned bunch if you look to reach an excess of 120 frames per second. Though Nvidia is rumored to be announcing their new series of RTX 3000 GPUs in August 2020, it is difficult to tell whether these GPUs can live up to the task – and at what price. If rumors and leaks are to go by, then it is indeed near-certain that they have the necessary power, though the price is still in contention. If you dislike the wait, or the uncertainty, then there is one GPU that has the best chances to accomplish this feat. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti.

Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti

Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition

This flagship Nvidia GPU, the RTX 2080 Ti, has a base clock of 1350 MHz, a boost clock of 1545 MHz, 11,750 GFLOPS, 11265 MB of GDDR6 VRAM, a 352-bit memory bus width with 616 GB/s bandwidth, 4352 CUDA cores, 272 TMUs, 88 ROPs, and a 250W TDP. Though it is quite a pricy GPU ($999 reference card), it is the most powerful gaming GPU currently available in the market… by far.

TweakTown benchmarks show us that there is not a single game they tested in which this GPU fell below 140 FPS. Will it continue to do so when the newer generation games begin rolling out? It is difficult to tell, though it most likely will – at least for the next few years to come. It may be a costly GPU, but it is currently the only one that has a promising future for 144 Hz compatible graphical processing power.

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3 Best RTX 2080 Super Aftermarket Cards for 2020

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best rtx 2080 super aftermarket cards

Following the release of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2060 Super and 2070 Super, we received the new iteration of the ever so popular, upper-mid end, GeForce RTX 2080 Super. As the newer wave of Nvidia 3000 series GPUs approaches, now is a good time to make an excellent deal on an aftermarket RTX 2080 Super, as prices are inevitably dropping.

The reference card of the RTX 2080 Super features a base clock frequency of 1650 MHz and a boost clock speed of 1815 MHz – versus the 1515 and 1710 MHz specifications of the previous RTX 2080. The memory clock speed would also increase to 1936 MHz from 1750, with a computing power of 10,138 GFLOPS (up from 8,920). The VRAM specifications would stay mostly the same, except for the memory bandwidth which slightly increased to 495.62 GB/s. CUDA Cores, and TMUs would increase from 2944 and 184 to 3072 and 192 respectively; warranting an increase of TDP from 215 to 250 W.

These specifications are impressive in and of themselves, though GPU manufacturing companies would elevate this reference card by increasing boost clock speeds, providing sufficient cooling, and adding RGB lighting to give it additional visual flare.

After making the decision that the Nvidia RTX GeForce 2080 Super is the right GPU for your build, you will then find yourself wondering which aftermarket option will best suit your needs. Given that there are currently 109 (!) different aftermarket RTX 2080 Super GPUs to choose from, this task is easier said than done. But, worry not, for we have filtered through these available variations and have listed the most optimal selections for three distinct types of preferences: The best boost clock speeds for overclocking enthusiasts, the best budget option for those parsimonious, and the best/most-capable overall aftermarket Nvidia RTX GeForce 2080 Super for practicalists.

It must be noted that these choices are GPUs that are still currently available in the market, are some models have been discontinued.

Best RTX 2080 Super Cards – My Recommendations

Best Budget RTX 2080 Super Card

Zotac RTX 2080 Super Triple Fan

It is quite a common sentiment, that one should refrain from paying too much above the price of the reference card, as the differences are usually minimal in terms of performance. If you agree to this school of GPU shopping, then the ZOTAC RTX 2080 Super Triple Fan is GPU the best low-price option currently available.

The ZOTAC version of Nvidia’s 2080 Super is compliant, in fact identical, to the specifications of the reference card, including the 1815 MHz boost clock frequency. Cooling wise, this GPU offers ZOTAC’s IceStorm 2.0, utilizing an aluminum fin-stack heatsink, a die-cast metal jacket brace which covers the entire board, and a metal wraparound backplate. Despite its low price, this GPU has a three-fan setup which features “Active Fan Control” – the fans have two separate fan controllers, one controlling the two left fans covering the GPU and VRAM, and the other controlling the fan over the MOSFETs. These controllers work automatically, so with the third fan running on less RPM, the noise output is decreased while the cooling remains sufficient. In terms of ports, it offers a modest three DisplayPort 1.4 and one HDMI 2.0b sockets.

In terms of style, the logo on the side of the GPU lights up, and the brightness and color can be customized via ZOTAC’s Spectra software.

The system metrics can be viewed via Firestorm: software which also allows for the tweaking of clock and fan speeds. The GPU is also equipped with an OC scanner, which automatically finds the best clock-speeds for your GPU according to your system’s build.

The best feature of the ZOTAC Gaming RTX 2080 Super Triple Fan is its price: $699: The cheapest 2080 Super currently in the market, and a great deal to make.

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Best RTX 2080 Super for Overclocking

Asus ROG Strix RTX 2080 Super OC Edition

Overclocking enthusiasts are going to want to get the most out of their Nvidia RTX 2080 Super, and to cater to this consumer – as well as to attain the marketing bragging rights of the highest boost clock speed on paper – ASUS developed the ASUS ROG Strix RTX 2080 Super Advanced OC edition.

With a base frequency of 1650 MHz, and boost frequency of 1860 MHz, the ASUS ROG Strix RTX 2080S OC can be overclocked further to a base speed of 1680 MHz and a boost frequency of 1890 MHz – the highest boost frequency of all aftermarket Nvidia RTX 2080 Super GPUs – and it has a 10+2 power phase VRM solution for the power supply. To cool the GPU during the overclocking procedure, ASUS uses three “Axial-tech” fans, which feature smaller hubs with long blades in order to concentrate the airflow and provide more intense static pressure. In addition, the heatsink is one of 2.7-slot design, increasing the surface area with the hotter areas for better heat dispersion. To amplify this effect, ASUS also uses “MaxContact” technology, which utilizes precision machining in order to create a surface for the heat-spreader that has twice the more contact with the GPU chip. Finally, to reinforce the overall structure, the model also has an all metal lighting backplate, and a reinforced frame connecting the heatsink to the circuit board.

The top and bottom of the model have RGB lighting displays, synchronized via ASUS’s Aura Sync software. These displays can be turned off via a handy “Stealth Mode” button. This software is accompanied by GPU Tweak II, which allows for system monitoring and parameter tweaking, as well as a free XSplit license, for those that fancy streaming, and a 6-month subscription to wtfast: a program that refines network connections specifically for gaming. It also comes with a fishy Quantumcloud application, which makes use of the GPU power of the 2080 Super and, in turn, provides you with minuscule earnings for the power supplied – one would argue that avoiding it would be recommended. Currently, the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2080 Super OC Edition can be purchased for $789 – not cheap, but definitely not too costly for the overclocking and additional software it has to offer.

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Best Overall RTX 2080 Super Card

Gigabyte AORUS RTX 2080 Super Waterforce WB

Many factors were taken into account, in order to make this decision: overclocking speeds, adequate cooling, aesthetics, connectivity, and low noise output; this model, the Gigabyte AORUS RTX 2080 Super Waterforce WB, has it all.

Let’s begin with the overclocking capabilities. The AORUS RTX 2080 Super Waterforce WB has 12+2 power phases, and has a core clock frequency of 1860 MHz; up from the versus the 8+2 power phases and 1815 MHz boost clock of the reference card. Of course, given that the cooling suffices, it can be stably overclocked to up to 2160 MHz – and cooling is where this GPU model excels. It makes use of a water-cooling solution via a water-block which chills not only the GPU, but also the VRAM and MOSFETs. This waterflow rapidly dissipates heat from the front copper base plate which is in direct contact with the aforementioned components; and does so silently, without the excessive buzzing noise of one-to-three fans. For increased durability, the AORUS RTX 2080S Waterforce WB also has an all metal backplate, and dust, moisture, and corrosion resistant materials for the circuit board.

Connectivity wise, it has an almost excessive amount of outputs. With three HDMI ports, three display ports, and one USB-C port, this GPU has a total of seven sockets; six of which can be used for displays.

Aesthetically, the AORUS RTX 2080S Waterforce WB makes quite the impact. It makes full use of RGB illumination with Gigabytes RGB Fusion 2.0, allowing you to customize through the 16.7M available colors and numerous lighting effects, synchronizing all products Gigabyte harmoniously. Additional software is included, such as the AORUS engine, which allows for clock speed, voltage, and fan performance adjustments.

The downsides one may find for this GPU are twofold: (1) The fact that optional cleaning of the water-block is almost impossible, due to the logo blocking the screws, and (2) the price. Currently, the Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 2080 Super Waterforce RB sells for $829, nearly $130 above the reference card, but for what it has to offer it is arguably still a great deal to make, as water-blocks are definitely not cheap.  

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3 Best Aftermarket RTX 2060 Super Cards for 2020

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best rtx 2060 super aftermarket cards

In an attempt to contest AMD’s Radeon RX 5700 XT, Nvidia upgraded their GeForce RTX 2060, by adding to its name, as Capcom would a new iteration of Street Fighter, a “Super” suffix. Together with this suffix do come some considerable hardware upgrades.

Firstly, the base clock speed increased from 1365 MHz to 1470 MHz, with the boost clock going down slightly from 1680 MHz to 1650 MHz, while the computing power of the GPU increased from 5,242 to 6,397 GFLOPS. The CUDA Cores will also grow, from 1920 to 2176, as do the TMUs, from 120 to 136, and the ROPs, from 48 to 64. In addition, the VRAM went from 6GB to 8GB, the memory bus width changes from 192-bit to 256-bit, and a memory bandwidth change from 336 GB/s to 448 GB/s.

These upgrades translate to a 15-20% overall effective speed increase from the previous 2060 model, but would also result in a slight TDP increase as well, going up from 160W to 175W.

These, of course, are the specifications of the reference card, which are given to the GPU manufacturing companies by Nvidia as a template from which they can later build upon to make their version of the RTX 2060 Super stand out from their competitors.

Given that the Nvidia RTX GeForce 2060 Super is one of the best affordable GPUs available in the market, allowing you to play games at over 100 FPS at 1080p resolutions and near 60 FPS at 4K resolutions, it’s worth the effort to search through the aftermarket GPUs that manufacturers have to offer, in order to find the best deals for the the best compact version, the most optimal price to value option, and the best overall version of the Nvidia RTX GeForce 2060 Super.

Best RTX 2060 Super Cards – Our Recommendations

Best Compact RTX 2060 Super for ITX Builds

Zotac RTX 2060 Super Mini

If you are looking to purchase a Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super GPU for a small form factor case that cannot hold a full-sized CPU, then this compact option from ZOTAC, the RTX 2060 Super Mini, is the best option you will find.

ZOTAC is a hardware manufacturer based in Hong Kong (though their products are manufactured in China) and have been a competitive manufacturer, mostly due to their low prices, useful software, and great designs.

The RTX 2060 Super Mini has all the standard specifications of Nvidia’s RTX 2060 Super reference card, such as the 1650 MHz boost clock, for they instead focused on the physical specifications of the GPU. By doing so, they’ve made it only 8.3 inches (~210mm) in length, and 4.7 inches (~120mm) in height (dual slot), rendering it capable of fitting into 99% of systems, as mentioned by ZOTAC. In addition, this GPU has a wraparound metal backplate to provide better rigidity, and an Ice Storm 2.0 cooling solution (3 copper heatpipes, wide array aluminum heatsink) with a two-fan design – though it must be mentioned that the temperatures will rise rapidly if overclocking this GPU, a common issue with small form factor compatible hardware. In terms of connectivity, it has three 1.4 DisplayPorts, and an HDMI 2.0b port, allowing for up to four displays.

In terms of software, it includes ZOTAC’s Firestorm: for fine tuning of the GPUs speeds and metrics, as well as ZOTAC’s OC Scanner: a program that calculates optimal overclock speeds depending on the hardware configuration.

Currently, you can find the ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 2060 Super Mini for about $399; so, if you’re in the market for a GPU to situate in an SFF case, this is the way to go.

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Best Value RTX 2060 Super

Gigabyte RTX 2060 Super Gaming OC

Many times, the aftermarkets options have overblown prices, as companies will value their GPU at the cost of a higher-tiered Nvidia card; the best example being the COLORFUL 2060 Super Vulcan X OC which had an asking price of $759 – as much as an RTX 2080 Super. If you’re looking for a reasonably priced option that does not cut corners, the Gigabyte RTX 2060 Super Gaming OC is the way to go.

One of the leading manufacturers of computer hardware, the Taiwanese company, Gigabyte, is always a solid choice when looking for motherboards or Nvidia GPUs.

This Gigabyte RTX 2060 Super features boost core clock speeds of 1710 GHz and employs three 80mm, alternate spinning and 3D stripe curved, fans. The Windforce 3X Cooling system also features four direct touch, pure copper, composite heatpipes which cover the VRAM though a metal plate contact. Finally, it also features an all-metal backplate for enhanced durability. Connectivity wise, it has three DisplayPort 1.4 and one HDMI 2.0b.

The Gigabyte logo on the side of the GPU features RGB Fusion 2.0 with 16.7M customizable color options and various lighting effects, which can be synchronized with other Gigabyte hardware.

Additional software includes the AORUS engine, which allows you to adjust clock speed, voltage, and fan performance for your RTX 2060 Super.

Given that the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2060 Super Gaming OC is currently priced at $409, all the aforementioned features look twice as impressive. An overall smart buy if you’re looking to purchase the Nvidia RTX 2060 Super.

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Best Overall RTX 2060 Super for Gaming

EVGA RTX 2060 Super XC Ultra

EVGA’s XC Ultra version of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super has overall quality, reasonably high boost clock speeds, and EVGA’s excellent customer support, all in one.

EVGA is an American computer hardware company that creates GPUs and Intel chipset motherboards; now entering the market of gaming peripherals and laptops. They are well known for their generous warranty support and customer-oriented policies.

The EVGA RTX 2060 Super XC Ultra has an increased boost clock speed of 1695 MHz, and a dual fan setup. What makes these two fans unique – as compared to their competitors – is that these fans use hydraulic bearings, resulting in less noise output and increased longevity and durability.

In addition to these fans, this GPU features iCX2 Cooling, which includes a plate punched baseplate with a heatpipe in direct contact with the VRM area. It also includes a cross-drilled, and L-shape finned, heatsink with a direct-contact heat-spreader for better head dissipation. The EVGA RTX 2060 Super also has an all-metal backplate for increased rigidity. In terms of connectivity, like the two aforementioned GPUs, this EVGA model features three DisplayPorts, and one HDMI 2.0b; though it also has a USB Type-C port as well.

In terms of software, the package includes EVGA’s Precision X1 software, which features: stress testing utilities, an overclocking scanner, RGB lighting customizations (for the RGB lit EVGA logo), and GPU fan controls.

The EVGA GeForce RTX 2060 Super XC Ultra currently sells for $439 on EVGA’s official website, so if you’re looking for an all-around high-quality build with excellent customer support to back it up, do give it a look.

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3 Best Graphics Cards for Intel Core i7-9700K Builds

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Best graphics cards for 9700k

With the release of the i9 series of processors by Intel, the i7 was replaced as the most powerful CPU available in their lineup.

However, when it comes to gaming, you don’t always need the very best processor available; more often than not, it is your GPU’s power that serves as a gate to limit the performance of your games.

So, as long as you get a decently good GPU, you don’t have to pay huge amounts for an i9 processor; you can just get an i7 – with the latest version being the i7-9700K.

The i7 9700K has quickly become one of the mainstays for CPUs catering towards gamers, as it offers all of the power needed to run pretty much any game, but at far less cost than most other PCUs. In essence, the i7 has become the premier gaming CPU.

So, to help make your gaming build setup even easier, here is a list of the three very best GPUs for your i7-9700K build – depending on your particular needs.

Best GPUs for i7-9700K – My Recommendations

Best Overall Value GPU for i7-9700K

EVGA GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition

Figuring out the ‘best’ GPU for a specific CPU is a surprisingly large challenge because it isn’t just about raw power, but a careful balance of features, price, and usability.

You can pick up the most powerful GPU ever, but if your CPU can’t make the best use out of it, what’s the point?

With that in mind, perhaps the best option for GPU for the i7-9700k is the GTX 1080 Ti.

But wait, I hear you ask – the 1080 Ti? Isn’t that the ultra powerful, incredibly expensive GPU that was the hot ticket a few years ago?

Here’s the thing; the 1080 Ti used to be the very best thing since sliced bread. If you built your PC in 2017, the chances are that everyone you knew was desperately trying to convince you to get a 1080 Ti, as it was the very best thing on offer at the time, assuming you didn’t want to remortgage your house to get a Titan X.

However, the GPU market is constantly changing, with new and improved GPUs coming out all the time. While the 1080 Ti was the pinnacle of graphic card technology at the time, it really isn’t that expensive anymore.

But the thing is, the 1080 Ti is still massively powerful – it can run basically every modern game these days with no problems whatsoever, offering up incredible quality and clock speed for a super reasonable price. Also, according to PC-Builds.com, it is the GPU that best limits your bottleneck potential, ensuring you get decent use out of your GPU’s power.

If you buy a i7 9700K and want to still utilize its power to the fullest, then you shouldn’t really delve below the 1080 Ti in quality; it’s still incredible, but just not as incredible as some of the very best options available these days.

But what if you need to be a bit more conservative with your budget? What GPU should you go for if you are looking for something a bit cheaper?

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Best Budget GPU for i7-9700K

Nvidia-RTX-2060-Super

Looking for the budget option for your GPU can sometimes feel a bit disheartening because people’s definition of ‘budget’ varies hugely between different people.

While you could certainly get the cheapest GPU available, there is a certain cut off point where you are wasting your CPU’s potential in getting the cheapest GPU imaginable.

So, when looking for a budget GPU for the 9700K, you don’t want to go for the cheapest option, merely the cheapest best option.

With that in mind, consider the RTX 2060 Super.

This is the best GPU when it comes to combining price value and effective capability when gaming. While it might not be able to handle a huge amount of 1440p gaming, if you are fine to stick to 1080p, then you won’t find a better option.

While the base clock speed could be higher, at only a paltry 1470 MHz, the effective boost clock fo 1815 MHz makes it so that it can decently handle most high intensity gaming with minimal problems.

With a surprisingly decent allocation of memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s and 2176 CUDA cores, this GPU can also handle some CUDA rendering if you are interested in working with video editing using your new setup.

If you do have money to burn, however, you might as well get the most powerful thing imaginable. Something like…

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Best Enthusiast GPU for i7-9700K Gaming Builds

Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition

As the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti was considered the most powerful and viable option for new GPUs a few years ago, so too is its newest update considered the best option nowadays.

While there are more expensive and powerful options, sometimes even reaching into the realms of absurdity with monstrous price tags, it is the RTX 2080 Ti that is perhaps best considered as the enthusiast gaming option for the 9700k.

With a huge 4352 CUDA cores and a massive 78T RTX OPS, this is the card to get if you want to try and play with 4k resolution. The 2080 Ti also represents a huge leap forward in terms of base performance from the 2080, making this an even better investment than any of the other RTX line of cards.

With a new and improved Turing architecture and great Ray tracing capabilities, this GPU might cost a lot, but will certainly future proof you for a long time as well. If you end up getting this GPU, it is doubtful that will feel a need to upgrade it for several years at least.

Thankfully, it comes with a surprisingly decent thermal setup, as well as plentiful tensor cores for DLSS. Ultimately, this GPU is a beast and more than capable of achieving anything you want to achieve with your computer, providing you don’t mind the somewhat frightening price tag.

Just make sure that you ensure you have sufficient wattage to be able to properly run this GPU, as it is a behemoth in power requirement even compared to its predecessor the 1080 Ti.   

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Final Thoughts

While there are endless options for GPUs that will fit well with the i7 9700K, there really is only a few options properly worth considering when it comes to balancing price, effectiveness and usability.

People will recommend all sorts of different options for a GPU, but they will be entirely dependent on what they consider to be the most important qualities of their computer.

Whether you are looking for the most powerful option, or the cheapest one, or simply one that is the most efficient, make sure that you know what you are looking for and buy what fits properly for your ending setup.

While it does feel awesome to get the newest and greatest GPU imaginable, make sure you actually have a use for it as well.

3 Best Graphics Cards for Ryzen 9 3900X Builds

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best gpu for ryzen 9 3900x

The Ryzen 9 3900X is one of the most powerful CPUs available right now in 2020, and is perfect for those that want to start getting into proper multithreaded applications or enthusiast-level gaming.

However, getting a high-quality CPU is only the first step in building your perfect setup. To be able to utilize your CPU to its fullest extent, you need a suitably excellent GPU to go along with it – to prevent any potential bottlenecking.

It is no good just picking up any old GPU, or even the most expensive one, as they are all independently useful for different things. You might be looking for practical uses for your setups, such as video editing and rendering, or you just want to play gaming as hardcore as you.

Whatever your needs are, here is a helpful guide for what GPUs to get so that your final Ryzen 9 3900X setup is perfectly balanced for your needs.

Best Graphics Cards for Ryzen 9 3900X – My Recommendations

Best Workstation GPU for Ryzen 9 3900X Builds

Asus GTX 1660 Super ROG Strix Advanced

If you are planning on using your PC for primarily productive reasons, whether that be workflow or even some light video editing, you still need a decent quality GPU to be able to take advantage of your CPU’s power.

While you could certainly go for a more expensive option, one of the best things to get for yourself would be a GTX 1660 Super – with our AIB recommendation being the ASUS ROG Strix 1660 Super.

With cooler and quieter running with 0db technology and excellent overclocking capabilities, this 1875 MHz base clock card is an excellent compromise point between most other budget cards and still being able to run everything that you need.

While it might struggle a little bit with some of the more advanced graphical rendering, such as intense animations, it is perfectly suited to rendering, editing, and even some light gaming if you find yourself itching to put your GPU through its paces in tandem with the Ryzen 9 3900X.

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Best Light-Gaming GPU for Ryzen 9 3900X Builds

Sapphire RX 5700 XT Pulse GPU

Casual gaming might get spurned by some of the more diehard purists among the computer world, but it has a valid place. There are so many games and genres, like Grand Strategy or Puzzle games, that do not require incredibly powerful GPUs to be able to enjoy them properly.

For those with a preference for lighter games, then the Sapphire RX 5700 XT Pulse is perfect for the Ryzen 9 3900X – our favourite aftermarket RX 5700 XT card. This GPU has a very respectable base clock of 1770 MHz and a decent potential for boost. It is almost specifically designed to work well with AMD CPUs, and is capable of running even high-intensity games at 144HZ and 1440p without a struggle.

However, for those that want to game only lightly and casually, with only the occasional foray into more graphics-heavy games, then this is the GPU for you. It is not only still powerful enough to do almost anything you need with the Ryzen 9 3900X, but it manages to not break the bank at the same time.

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Best GPU for Ryzen 3900X Enthusiast Gaming PC Builds

Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition

To really get the most out of your Ryzen 3900X, you need to stretch your budget to include the RTX 2080 Ti. While it is unattainable for most, this new flagship GPU is absolutely mind blowing its performance.

With 11gb of incredibly fast GDDR6 memory and a clock speed of 1546 MHz, this insanely potent GPU is pricey for a reason.  The key evolution of this GPU from older RTX models is its massively increased memory bandwidth; 616 GB/s of bandwidth means that this GPU does anything and everything pretty much instantly – no more waiting for load times or struggling when under heavy load.

This same great Turing architecture and NVidia RTX design, unfortunately, does require a lot of power, needing 250W just to run, but if you can fit it onto your motherboard, there is no reason not to invest in your PC’s future with this behemoth of a GPU card.

In terms of AIB cards, most models all perform near identical so we would recommend to get hold of the cheapest one you can find, and you certainly won’t be disappointed with picking this for your Ryzen 9 3900X gaming PC build!

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4 Best CPUs for RTX 2070 Super Builds

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Best CPUs for RTX 2070 Super

Nvidia’s RTX 2070 Super is probably the best mid-range GPU currently in the market. It’s great for gaming, and for mid-range workstations alike, without being too much of a hinderance to your finances.

To enable the RTX 2070 Super to reach its graphical processing potential, it will need the power of a proper CPU – and depending on what type of build you’re making, the word “proper” has a different meaning. If you’re focusing on gaming, you need to ask: what kind of games are you looking forward to playing? Do you play single player games, or just multiplayer? Do you plan to stream, and perhaps edit said streams to increase your viewership on different platforms? These questions all play toward your potential budget, which, in-turn, will impact the end-result of your build.

To maximize your investment, and help you find the best value for your money when it comes to CPUs, we will take each of these scenarios and find the best matching processor for your build; both in regards to Intel, and AMD processors.

Best Budget CPUs for RTX 2070 Super

So, you don’t care too much about single player games, or next-gen consoles, but would rather make sure that when you’re playing online competitive games, such as DotA 2 or Counter Strike: Global Offensive, you don’t have frame-rates dropping under 120 FPS, especially when using a 1440p, 144Hz, monitor. In that case, there are several CPU’s that will do the job, at only a fraction of the cost of higher-end processors, which would only give you a 5-10% speed boost anyway. 

Best Budget Intel CPU for RTX 2070 Super

Intel Core i5-9600KF

The midrange, Intel Core i5-9600KF, currently has almost nothing to envy from its higher-priced competitors. In fact, when comparing it to AMD’s Ryzen 7 3700X (which is 50% more expensive) one can see the i5-9600KF outperforming it in regards to framerates, while using the Nvidia 2070 Super to run many of the most popular online competitive games.

The i5-9600KF comes with 6 cores and 6 threads (most games will only use up to 4 cores currently, and rarely make use of additional threads) while reaching base speeds of 3.7 GHz, and over-clocking speeds of 4.6 GHz. It also has DDR4 2666 memory types, and will support 64-bit operating systems. 

 In regards to its thermal design, it has a TDP of 95W, which is pretty high for a mid-range CPU, so make sure you invest in a CPU good cooler given that no fan or heatsink is included with its purchase. 

Given that the i5-9600KF currently only costs $198.65 (though you’d also have to account for a cooler), it is the best option for online competitive gaming, and makes an amazing pair with the Nvidia’s RTX 2070 Super, as it avoids any unnecessary bottlenecking unfortunately found in AMD CPUs. 

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Best Budget AMD CPU for RTX 2070 Super

AMD Ryzen 5 3600

If you love online competitive games, and want to show off your skills while playing them, then we recommend the AMD Ryzen 5 3600. 

In comparison to the aforementioned Intel processor, it will run most games at a 3-23% deficit in terms of effective FPS, when paired with the RTX 2070 Super, but since it can readily play any of these games at over 120 FPS, it hardly matters. What you gain in comparison to the i5-9600KF is the ability to multithread, and a 25-38% multi-core mixed speed boost. This means your processor will run your streaming software in unison with your game of choice much smoother, and with minimal-to-no frame drops.

A great value for its price, the Ryzen 5 3600 has 6-cores and 12 threads, operating at 3.6 GHz, and 4.2 GHz when overclocked. It has AMD’s 7nm structure, DDR4 3200 memory types, and, of course, it supports 64-bit operating systems. It has a significantly lower TDP compared to the i5-9600KF, of 65W, so it will run at cooler temperatures and is more energy efficient. It also includes a Wraith Stealth fan and heatsink, though, according Techspot’s benchmarks, it isn’t that great a cooling unit. Still, $12-$50 will get you a much better cooler, allowing you to be able to consistently overclock your CPU, without the worry of overheating it. 

At a $175 pricetag, AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600 is one of the smartest options you can get for playing current generation, perhaps early next-gen, as well as competitive online games; all while also having the ability to steam, edit, and multi-task, quickly and efficiently.

Related: Best motherboards for Ryzen 5 3600 builds

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Best Performance CPUs for RTX 2070 Super (& Futureproof)

The next generation of consoles and games are just around the corner, and the RTX 2070 Super has more than enough graphic processing power to run their games at the same (and probably higher) FPS rates, so you’re going to need to pair it with a CPU that can handle these more demanding specifications. 

Current-gen games may only use 4 cores, and 8 threads at best, but the upcoming Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X will include 8-core AMD Zen 2 processors, meaning that we can expect to see next-gen games make use of this improved hardware structure. Having an equivalently strong CPU means that you’ll be able to enjoy these games as they arrive, not just at launch, but also later on in the life-cycle of the new consoles. 

Also, if you plan on streaming, editing, or other general content creation, then octa-core multi-threading processors will make these tasks much smoother and quicker in 2020 and beyond.

Best Futureproof Intel CPU for RTX 2070 Super

Intel Core i7-9700KF

Similar to the i5-9600KF, the biggest brother – the i7-9700KF – when paired with the Nvidia RTX 2070 Super, will run games to the GPU’s full potential, without any bottlenecking issues. This means it can run current-generation games much faster than any equivalent AMD processor. In fact, the lost performance can be so significant, that using the similarly priced Ryzen 7 3700X will result in effective FPS rates that will make you feel like you just downgraded to a 2060 Super. Of course, this may differ come the next-generation (or improved VR) games, since this Intel processor does not have any hyperthreading capabilities.

With 8 cores, and 8 threads, it does run at a base 3.6 GHz operating frequency, and overclocks at up to an impressive 4.9 GHz. It has a 14nm structure, and a 12MB cache. Once again, as with the i5-9600KF, this CPU also has a TDP of 95W, and also does not include a fan or heatsink. For its $379.99 price range, it is a bit expensive for its lack of cooler and hyperthreading, but that is the price you pay in order to avoid CPU-bottlenecking your Nvidia RTX 2070 Super GPU.

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Best Futureproof AMD CPU for RTX 2070 Super

AMD Ryzen 7 3700X

The main selling points of the Ryzen 7 3700X to pair with the RTX 2070 Super lie within Ryzen’s higher thread count, paired with its lower price rate compared to the 9700KF.

In addition, the Ryzen 7 3700X has a 65W TDP, which means it will run at lower temperatures, and hence it is easier to overclock it more consistently. Again, even though it has a lower price point in comparison to its Intel counterpart, it still does come with a cooling unit: namely the Wraith Prism cooler. Though not the best, it is a respectable cooler which also features some of that popular RGB lighting pizzazz. 

It may not reach Intel i7-9600KF’s 4.9 GHz max turbo speed, but it does reach 4.4 GHz when overclocked and operates at the same 3.6 GHz range. It has a 32MB L3 cache, and Ryzen’s third-generation seven-nanometer structure. But what really separates it from the aforementioned Intel processor, is its 16-thread count. Current games may not use more than 6-8 threads max, but next-gen consoles have already announced a hyperthreading function for the Xbox Series X, as well as a 16-thread count for the Playstation 5’s CPU. How long it will take for games to make use of this hardware upgrade, of course, is a different question. 

Spec-wise versus Intel’s i7-9700KH, this is the superior CPU, but the fact that Intel’s CPUs will run today’s games more efficiently leaves one to wonder how this will change in the future. Will it be to AMD’s benefit, or will next-generation games only exacerbate current bottlenecking issues? The answer is yet to be seen. 

In regards to the use of your PC as a workstation, this would be the superior CPU. If you plan on streaming or editing, it is definitely the recommended option. It is also recommended in regards to finances, as AMD’s CPU is more energy-efficient, and will currently only cost you $290 (over $80 less than the i7-9700KF) – and if one were to include the price of the cooler and heatsink, given that you decide to keep the Wraith Prism, the AMD Ryzen R7 3700X is a much better deal to be made.

Related: Best RAM Timings for Ryzen 3000 Processors

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4 Best RTX 2070 Super Aftermarket Cards for 2020

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Best RTX 2070 Super Cards

The RTX 2070 Super is NVIDIAs latest mid-lineup graphics card based on its Turing architecture, positioned between the great value RTX 2060 Super and the enthusiast-grade RTX 2080 Super. The RTX 2070 Super offers close to RTX 2080 Super levels of performance but at a more attainable price – with MSRPs of reference cards at $500. This has made the RTX 2070 Super the most popular offering from NVIDIA, with many builders opting for the RTX 2070 Super rather than build with the RTX 2080 Super.

All of NVIDIAs latest ‘Super’ range of graphics cards all offer considerable improvements in performance and value over its previous generation line of Turing-based graphics cards, such as the RTX 2070 and RTX 2080. The release of the ‘Super’ line of RTX cards comes as a response to the release of AMD’s RX 5700 & RX 5700 XT – both cards aimed at mid-range market builds with fantastic performance for the money have both proven to be quite the success.

The RTX 2070 Super features 8GB of GDDR6 memory and a boost clock speed of 1770 MHz, resulting in an impressive 9.1 Teraflops – which gives a +1.6 TF improvement over its predecessor the RTX 2070, and comes close to the RTX 2080s performance at 10 TF.

In this guide, we are going to focus on what the best RTX 2070 Super cards are in 2019, now that users have been able to get their hands on these cards, as well as plenty of hardware tests, reviews & benchmarks are now available for the RTX 2070 Super.

You have two choices when picking for a RTX 2070 Super – you can either purhase a Founders Edition RTX 2070 Super with a reference design or instead purchase an aftermarket (also known as custom, AIB or partner) RTX 2070 Super card.

Benefits of aftermarket RTX 2070 Super cards vs Reference design

Opting for an aftermarket RTX 2070 Super from a manufacturer such as MSI, Gigabyte or EVGA, often presents a range of benefits compared to building with just a reference design RTX 2070 Super card.

The main benefits are listed below:

  • Some RTX 2070 Super partner cards feature a custom PCB design which allows manufacturers to improve the VRM design of the card and thus allow for greater power delivery and more stable overclocking. In addition, a custom PCB allows manufacturers to add features not present on reference 2070S cards such as RGB lighting, custom fan speeds, dual BIOS and an increase (normally) in power connectors (such as dual 8-pin, or 8-pin, 6-pin setups). The reference RTX 2070 Super features a 6-pin and 8-pin power connector, but some AIB 2070S cards such as the Palit 2070 Super Jetstream features dual 8-pin power connectors.
  • Beefier cooling designs such as dual or triple-fan cooling setups, such as the MSI Gaming X Trio, offer quieter operation and improved cooling performance. This, in turn, allows for manufacturers to raise the factory overclock speeds in comparison to the reference design, whilst often operating cooler and quieter at the same time. For example, the ASUS Strix Super OC features a beefy triple fan setup, and has a factory boost clock of 1935 MHz, a huge +165 MHz improvement over the stock 1770 MHz boost overclock of the 2070 Super Founders Edition!
  • Form factor – due to custom PCB designs from partner 2070S cards, this allows to manufacturers to alter the form factor of the RTX 2070 Super, such as increasing the size to accomodate for beefier VRM and cooling solutions, or smaller designs to allow for the 2070S to be more compact and be more suitable for ITX/small form factor RTX 2070S Super builds. The FE (Founders Edition) comes in at 267mm length, whilst the MSI Ventus OC is 12mm shorter at 257mm length, and the MSI Gaming X Trio is far larger at 328mm length!
  • Partner cards can typically command a price premium over the Founders Edition of the RTX 2070 Super, usually, when the partner card features an improved cooling solution, factory overclock gain or improved features over its reference version. For example, of the of the most expensive RTX 2070 Super cards, the EVGA FTW3 Ultra commands a $90 premium over the FE edition, at $590.
  • On the contrary, many partner/AIB 2070S cards retail for the same price as the Founders Edition, and these often have similar factory overclocks, feature-set PCB design – they just provide better value and often better availability.

Now we’ve gone over the various benefits there are when opting for an aftermarket version of the RTX 2070 Super, let’s get onto our favorite and best performing RTX 2070S cards on offer right now in 2019.

Best RTX 2070 Super Cards – Top Picks

Best RTX 2070 Super Aftermarket CardsDesignRecommendation
Best Performance RTX 2070 Super CardEVGA RTX 2070 Super FTW3 UltraEVGA RTX 2070 Super FTW3 Ultra
Quietest RTX 2070 SuperMSI 2070S Gaming X trioMSI RTX 2070 Super Gaming X Trio
Best Budget RTX 2070 Super CardGigabyte RTX 2070 Super Windforce OCGigabyte RTX 2070 Super Windforce OC
Best Water Cooled RTX 2070 SuperEVGA RTX 2070 Super XC Hybrid GamingEVGA RTX 2070 Super XC Hybrid Gaming

Best Performance RTX 2070 Super Card

EVGA RTX 2070 Super FTW3 Ultra

If all-out-performance is the driving factor in your RTX 2070 Super build, then you should go for the EVGA RTX 2070 Super FTW3 Ultra – the fastest RTX 2070 Super partner card with the highest power limit and best cooling setup. With the triple fan setup of the FTW3 Ultra, thermals are super low as well as the acoustics – also being one of the quietest 2070S cards out there. In addition, with EVGAs fantastic post-purchase customer support and warranty terms, should there be any problem with this card – EVGA will have your back and be proactive in sorting it.

Retailing at $590, the FTW3 Ultra has a 2.75-slot, triple cooling fan solution, resulting in an 1815 MHz boost clock speed. If you want the fastest RTX 2070 Super out of the box, then the EVGA RTX 2070 Super FTW3 Ultra is the card to go for.

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Quietest RTX 2070 Super

MSI 2070S Gaming X trio

Aftermarket RTX 2070S cards run as a general rule of thumb far quieter than the FE variant, but if you want the absolute quietest RTX 2070 Super partner card, then the MSI RTX 2070 Super Gaming X Trio is the AIB card for you.

The Gaming X Trio is based on a custom 8+2 phase VRM, cooled by a massive triple TORX 3.0 fan setup, generating huge amounts of airflow and making this a well-ventilated card – with the card at load maxing at just 66 degrees Celsius. Factory overclocks only result in this card in being a 2% improvement over the FE 2070S, although it is possible to tweak this card and get further performance out of it.

Acoustics wise, the Gaming X Trio is one of the quietest cards out there, with a super silent cooling solution, no audible coil whine, and will be unnoticeable when placed into a PC enclosure.

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Best Budget RTX 2070 Super Card

Gigabyte RTX 2070 Super Windforce OC

Sometimes you don’t care about having the absolute best if it means paying a huge premium. All the cards have the same chip anyways, aside from binning and factory overclocks. With the Gigabyte RTX 2070 Super Windforce OC, you can get the RGB, USB Type C connector and triple fan configuration of the AORUS, while only spending $500 compared to $590.

It’s smaller, too, with a width of 2 PCIe slots and a length of only 280mm. Still a large card, but it covers one less PCIe slot, which might be handy for a future upgrade like an NVMe SSD or a 10gb ethernet port. It even only requires an 8 + 6 power cable.

The only notable downside is that the boost clock is 120 MHz lower at 1785 MHz. However, that’s only a 6% reduction in clockspeed. For reference, if a game’s performance changed linearly with clockspeed (Which it usually doesn’t), you would be getting 135fps instead of 144fps. Some people may be able to feel this, but to a large majority of people it will be unnoticeable enough to not warrant spending an extra $90.

And of course, you can manually OC to get it on par or better with a stock AORUS. This one still works with Gigabyte RGB Fusion, too, so paying a lower price doesn’t mean you sacrifice glowy lights. It is the recommended RTX 2070 Super card for the majority of you.

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Best Water Cooled RTX 2070 Super

EVGA RTX 2070 Super XC Hybrid Gaming

There are non-Gigabyte cards worthy of mention too, such as the EVGA RTX 2070 Super XC Hybrid Gaming. It’s relatively expensive at $590, but it’s the only card that’s water cooled out of the box. It’s usually more complicated to install a water cooler on a GPU than a CPU, thus you will get all the benefits of water cooling without the effort of putting it on yourself. The size is smaller than the other two; 266mm long and 2 PCIe slots wide, making it better if you aren’t sure the others would fit in your case. It has USB Type C and RGB, but unfortunately no RGB sync. The boost clock is a respectable 1800 MHz and it only needs an 8 + 6 pin power cable. It’s a very solid card apart from the price, so those who feel strongly about having water cooling for performance or aesthetic reasons should consider this card. Just make sure your case has a space to mount the single fan radiator.

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Best RTX 2070 Super without RGB

Lastly, for those adamantly opposed to RGB, there are two recommended options: the EVGA RTX 2070 Super Black Gaming if you care about USB Type C on your GPU, and the MSI RTX 2070 Super Ventus if you don’t. Both are dual fan, have a boost clock of 1770 MHz, are 2 PCIe slots wide, are roughly the same length, and require 8 + 6 pin cables. The only real difference is the price, with the EVGA card being $520 and the MSI card being $500. The decision just comes down to whether you want to spend $20 more for USB Type C, which really means “do you want to spend an extra $20 to make VR easier to set up”?

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Choosing Your Own Model:

If you don’t agree with the recommended choices but don’t know enough about what to look for in a GPU model, look here (Link to general buying guide) for a general GPU model choosing guide. Then, you can search the full list of GPU choices below and pick the one most suited to your needs.

ModelMSRPBase ClockBoost ClockFan DesignLength (mm)Width (Slots)Warranty (Years)PSU RequirementsUSB-CRGB?
NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super Founder Edition$5001605 MHz1770 MHzDual Fan 267218 + 6 pin1
ASUS Turbo RTX 2070 Super EvoTBC1605 MHz1770 MHzBlower Fan268238 + 60
ASUS Dual RTX 2070 Super EvoTBC1635 MHz1800 MHzDual Fan 2672.738 + 60
ASUS Dual RTX 2070 Super Evo AdvancedTBC1605 MHz1815 MHzDual Fan 2672.738 + 60
ASUS Dual RTX 2070 Super Evo OC$5301635 MHz1845 MHzDual Fan 2672.738 + 60
ASUS ROG Strix RTX 2070 SuperTBC1635 MHz1800 MHzTriple Fan3002.738 + 81Yes
ASUS ROG Strix RTX 2070 Super Advanced$5851635 MHz1830 MHzTriple Fan3002.738 + 81Yes
ASUS ROG Strix RTX 2070 Super OCTBC1635 MHz1935 MHzTriple Fan3002.738 + 81Yes
EVGA RTX 2070 Super Black Gaming$520Not given1770 MHzDual Fan 270238 + 61
EVGA RTX 2070 Super Gaming$530Not given1770 MHzBlower Fan266238 + 61Yes
EVGA RTX 2070 Super XC Gaming$540Not given1800 MHzDual Fan 270238 + 61Yes
EVGA RTX 2070 Super XC Ultra Gaming$550Not given1800 MHzDual Fan 270238 + 61Yes
EVGA RTX 2070 Super FTW3 Ultra Gaming$590Not given1815 MHzTriple Fan3012.7538 + 81Yes
EVGA RTX 2070 Super XC Hybrid Gaming$590Not given1800 MHzWatercooler266238 + 61Yes
Gigabyte RTX 2070 Super Windforce OC$500Not given1785 MHzTriple Fan280238 + 61Yes
Gigabyte RTX 2070 Super Gaming OC$550Not given1815 MHzTriple Fan28750mm48 + 61Yes
Gigabyte AORUS RTX 2070 Super $590Not given1905 MHzTriple Fan29060mm48 + 81Yes
MSI RTX 2070 Super Ventus$500Not given1770 MHzDual Fan257238 + 60
MSI RTX 2070 Super Ventus OC$510Not given1785 MHzDual Fan257238 + 60
MSI RTX 2070 Super Gaming TrioTBCNot given1770 MHzTriple Fan32857mm38 + 80Yes
MSI RTX 2070 Super Gaming X Trio$515Not given1800 MHzTriple Fan32857mm38 + 80Yes
Zotac RTX 2070 Super Twin Fan$500Not given1770 MHzDual Fan268238 + 60Yes
Zotac RTX 2070 Super AMPTBCNot given1800 MHzDual Fan268238 + 60Yes
Zotac RTX 2070 Super AMP ExtremeTBCNot given1830 MHzTriple Fan3082.538 + 60Yes
Palit RTX 2070 Super XTBC1605 MHz1770 MHzBlower Fan269238 + 60
Palit RTX 2070 Super JSTBC1410 MHz1815 MHzDual Fan2922.738 + 80Yes
Palit RTX 2070 Super GRTBC1605 MHz1770 MHzDual Fan2922.738 + 81Yes
Palit RTX 2070 Super GRPTBC1605 MHz1830 MHzDual Fan2922.738 + 81Yes

Best RX 5700 XT Aftermarket Cards – 15 AIB Models Compared

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In early July, AMD launched their highly anticipated new range graphics cards, the Radeon RX 5700 and RX 5700 XT set to compete against the RTX 2060 Super and RTX 2070 Super. Priced at $349 and $399 respectively, these mid-range graphics cards built on the new 7nm process have been shown to outperform their Nvidia counterparts on paper, which are built instead on a 12nm process and were also released in July 2019.

Right now, you can buy the RX 5700 XT in a reference design, featuring a blower-style cooler and stock clock factory speeds, or alterntively you can pick an aftermarket/AIB/custom RX 5700 XT partner card from manufacturers such as ASUS, Powercolor, XFX and MSI. These cards hit the shelves from mid-august.

At BuildPicker we are excited to see the performance of these aftermarket RX 5700 XT cards which build on the reference design and can offer a number of benefits over the reference/founders edition RX 5700 XT. The main benefits can include:

  • Increase in factory base, boost and game clock speeds (vs reference)
  • Custom PCB
  • Custom fan/cooling design, such as dual fan, triple fan or even liquid cooled setups to drive down temperatures and increase performance
  • Reduced noise
  • Longer warranty
  • Different form factor, with some AIB RX 5700 XT cards being smaller in length or slot-width, which is great for SFF RX 5700 XT builds

Several RX 5700 XT aftermarket cards are already available to PC builders, and with hardware benchmarks, tests & reviews of these AIB 5700 XT cards, we are able to compare them and advise on which is the best RX 5700 XT aftermarket card in 2019 for various scenarios.

RX 5700 XT Aftermarket Card List

RX 5700 XT ModelBase ClockBoost ClockGame ClockFan DesignLengthWidth
AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (reference)1605 MHz1905 MHz1755 MHzBlower Fan272 mm2 Slot
ASRock RX 5700 XT Phantom GamingTBCTBCTBCTriple FanTBCTBC
ASRock RX 5700 XT TaichiTBCTBCTBCTriple FanTBCTBC
ASRock RX 5700 XT Challenger1650 MHz1905 MHz1795 MHzDual FanTBCTBC
ASUS RX 5700 XT ROG Strix GamingTBCTBCTBCTriple FanTBC2.7 Slot
ASUS RX 5700 XT TUF Gaming TBCTBCTBCTriple FanTBC2.7 Slot
Sapphire RX 5700 XT ToxicTBCTBCTBCDual FanTBCTBC
MSI RX 5700 XT Evoke OCTBCTBCTBCDual FanTBCTBC
MSI RX 5700 XT Mech OCTBCTBCTBCDual FanTBCTBC
MSI RX 5700 XT Air BoostTBCTBCTBCBlower FanTBCTBC
PowerColor RX 5700 XT Red DevilTBCTBCTBCTriple FanTBCTBC
PowerColor RX 5700 XT Red DragonTBCTBCTBCDual FanTBCTBC
Sapphire RX 5700 XT ToxicTBCTBCTBCAIOTBCTBC
XFX RX 5700 XT RAW2TBCTBCTBCDual FanTBCTBC
XFX RX 5700 XT THICC2TBCTBCTBCDual FanTBCTBC

Best RX 5700 XT Cards – Top Picks

Best RX 5700 XT CardsDesignRecommendation
Best Overall RX 5700 XT CardGigabyte RX 5700 XT Gaming OCGigabyte RX 5700 XT Gaming OC
Best Cooling Performance RX 5700 XT CardPowercolor RX 5700 XT Red Devil (1)Powercolor RX 5700 XT Red Devil
Best RX 5700 XT Card for ITX / SFF BuildsSapphire RX 5700 XT PulseSapphire RX 5700 XT Pulse
Cheapest RX 5700 XT CardXFX RX 5700 XTXFX RX 5700 XT Blower

Best Overall RX 5700 XT Card – Gigabyte RX 5700 XT Gaming OC

Gigabyte RX 5700 XT Gaming OC

For picking the best overall RX 5700 XT aftermarket card, we are looking for a card that offers great performance, cooling and doesn’t cost too much over the reference design MSRP. For the RX 5700 XT series, the Gigabyte RX 5700 XT Gaming OC narrowly wins our pick for the best RX 5700 XT (slightly edging the Sapphire RX 5700 XT Pulse), with a fantastic balance of performance for its price.

The Gaming OC hasn’t been designed to have all the bells and whistles of more expensive AIB cards, but instead, it is designed with functionality and versatility in mind – with a triple-fan cooler design, impressive thermal performance whilst retailing at just $420 MSRP.

Thanks to it’s BIOS and cooling performance – the Gaming OC had one of the most impressive thermals – stacking up and matching the performance of more expensive AIB 5700 XT cards, such as the Powercolor Red Devil (which offered the best cooling performance of any custom RX 5700 XT aftermarket card).

Another great thing about the Gigabyte RX 5700 XT lineup for this year is that it doesn’t have any void warranty stickers on the backplate screws, meaning that you would be able to attempt to maintain your own hardware without voiding the warranty. Our only gripe with this card is that lack of dual BIOS, something we would have hoped for Gigabyte to feature on this otherwise fantastic card.

Best Cooling Performance RX 5700 XT Card – Powercolor Red Devil

Powercolor RX 5700 XT Red Devil

If you’re looking for the best performing RX 5700 XT card in terms of cooling performance and thermals, then you should look no further than the Powercolor RX 5700 XT Red Devil. To consider the best cooling, it is important to take into account the cooling performance relative to its noise and acoustic levels for given cooling performance.

The Red Devil sports a beefy triple cooler design, and this really helps drive the 5700 XT temperatures down, with the default OC BIOS of the Red Devil being +115MHz over reference whilst running 9 degrees cooler and 10dBA quieter! The Red Devil also features dual BIOS which the Gigabyte Gaming OC does not have. Retailing at $439, we think PowerColor have hit it out of the park with this AIB RX 5700 XT card, giving the slightly more expensive RTX 2070 Super a run for its money!

GamersNexus‘ cooling test of aftermarket RX 5700 XT cards found that at a normalised test at 40dBA, they found that the Power Color RX 5700 XT Red Devil offered the lowest temperature (GPU Edge and GPU Junction temps) over other cards by at least a few degrees celcius, including the Sapphire Nitro+ and ASRock Taichi X aftermarket cards.

If you’re looking for a performance-orientated RX 5700 XT card and money is no object, then the PowerColor Red Devil 5700 XT card is the one to get.

Best RX 5700 XT Card for ITX / SFF Builds

Sapphire RX 5700 XT Pulse

For those ITX builders who want to build with the RX 5700 XT card, the best option, low profile RX 5700 XT aftermarket card to go for is the Sapphire RX 5700 XT Pulse – a 2.5 slot card that only comes in at 254mm. This is approximately a 13mm shorter than the reference design RX 5700 XT, yet improves significant performance (noise and thermal) improvements over the reference design.

With features including dual BIOS, zero-fan sped mode and high factory overclock speeds out of the box, this aftermarket RX 5700 XT has a large number of features making it great value commanding just a $10 premium over the MSRP of the reference design RX 5700 XT.

Cheapest RX 5700 XT Card

XFX RX 5700 XT

If you are purely focused on getting a Radeon RX 5700 XT card for the cheapest possible price, whilst being in stock at MSRP, then the best cheap RX 5700 XT card to go for is the XFX RX 5700 XT Blower model. This reference design RX 5700 XT card is found for just under $400, and the likes of Amazon and Newegg have them in-stock, too, at this price.

You don’t get the features found in some aftermarket RX 5700 XT designs such as custom fan designs, factory overclocks, dual BIOS or RGB – but what you do get is a capable RX 5700 XT card for under $400!