RTX 3090

Best Monitors for the Nvidia RTX Ampere 3090

October 7, 2020 by Alex Leave a Comment

Only a few days remain until the behemoth of a GPU, the Nvidia RTX Ampere 3090, is released. The Nvidia RTX 30 Series graphics card mark a new era of gaming that was, up until their release, simply not possible in the consumer market. But the RTX 3090, with 10,496 CUDA Cores, FP32 processing power of 36 TFLOPS, and 24 GB of GDDR6X VRAM, is more than simply a gaming GPU. The RTX 3090 is poised to be able to the most intensive of workstation tasks that neither the Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti nor the RTX Titan could accomplish.

When speaking of gaming applications, we know that the RTX 2080 Ti could achieve a resolution (at best) of 4K at 60 Hz; while the best framerate it could achieve would be 144 FPS at 1440p and below. Of course, this framerate would not always be achievable for many games, as proven with the RTX 2080 Ti falling short of the mark even for less graphical demanding games like Call of Duty: Warzone. On the other hand, the RTX 3090, with its 127% increase in CUDA Cores, 120% increase in computational power, upgraded GGDR6X VRAM, 2^nd and 3^rd generation Ray Tracing and Tensor Cores, is poised to be able to play games at a consistent framerate for resolutions of 1440p, and even 4K, according to benchmarks from GamersNexus. Of course, the 8K resolution that was advertised seems to have been simply a marketing ploy, since the GPU was unable to reach consistent framerates above 30 FPS at this resolution. However, for workstation its power can still be used for applications and video editing for 8K resolutions. But it is not just the GPU that influences workloads. The RTX 3090 needs to be situated in a system that can support it and not bottleneck its functionality. It will need a CPU of a similar level, like a 10^th generation Intel i9, or at the very least an i7; and, similarly, a Ryzen R9 3000 series, or even perhaps a Threadripper or R9 4000 series CPU – set to be announced in the beginning of October. Additionally, the RAM storage should be at the very least 16 GB to 32 GB, split in two channels, and with a speed and latency of either 3200 MHz CL14 or 3600 MHz CL16 (the latter being best if overclocking is not to be used).

But what is a killer PC, with its extremely powerful hardware components, without the monitor to display its power? The PC-monitor industry is constantly growing in synergy with the improvements in hardware capability, resulting in innovation that allows Nvidia to create a GPU, like the RTX 3090, that is capable of processing games (even at lesser framerates) for 8K resolutions.

The PC monitor is the means by which you can view the power that your PC is capable of, and the RTX Ampere 3090 it has plenty of power to show, so it must be held to a high standard. That is why we’ve compiled a list of the four best monitors to pair with the RTX 3090, depending on resolution and framerate. These monitors are chosen based on both performance, and price, as we’re aiming for the best overall value.

Best Monitors for the Nvidia RTX Ampere 3090

Best 1080P 360Hz Monitor for the RTX 3090

For those who love competitive multiplayers, like, for example, professional esports players, the new set of 1080P 360 Hz monitors set to release within 2020 will provide a significant competitive edge. This is due to Nvidia’s new Reflex option that includes the newly integrated Latency Analyzer that (for now) is only available with a 360 Hz monitor. This integrated hardware will allow you to reduce, and view in real time, your end-to-end input latency… and this latency reduction is actually quite significant. For 144 Hz monitors, the end-to-end input lag will usually range between 45-50 milliseconds, whereas for these 360 Hz monitors, which will inherently be paired with Nvidia Reflex designed for the RTX 30 Series GPUs, will have an end-to-end input lag as low as 14-16 milliseconds!

Of the four announced 360 Hz monitors, the one that appears to show the best price to value relationship is ASUS’s ROG Swift PG259QN. This 24.5-inch FHD monitor features a fast-IPS panel with a W-LED backlight display and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility. Due to the IPS panel, the monitor inherently has a wide 178-degree viewing angle. It also has an 8-bit depth, a 1,000 : 1 static contrast ratio, and the capability of displaying 99% of the sRGB color range (16.8 million colors). The brightness this screen can reach will peak at 400 nits, and the GtG response time sits at only 1 ms.

The exterior of the ROG Swift has thin borders, making it optimal for multi-monitor setups. It also has an anti-glare coating on the bezel, and a great amount of flexibility in terms of ergonomics. The height can be adjusted by up to 120 millimeters, the screen can pivot by 90 degrees to the right, swiveled by 25 degrees to the right or left, tilted forward or backward by 5 and 20 degrees respectively, can be pivoted to a portrait orientation, and finally has a removable stand so the monitor can be mounted on a wall or directly on the desk (the package includes a desk clamp).

The ASUS ROG Swift also comes with a host of ASUS’s exclusive software, like GamePlus, GameVisual, and ultra-low blue light technology. Connectivity-wise, it will have two USB 3.0 (type-A) ports, one HMDI 2.0 port, one DP 1.4 port, and an audio jack. The monitor will not include integrated speakers. The ROG Swift PG259QN is set to release toward the end of September and will have a price tag of $699 – which is actually a very reasonable price considering the price of the other 360 Hz monitors.

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Best 1440p 144Hz Monitor for the RTX 3090

One of the feats that the RTX Ampere 3090 will be able to accomplish better than any other GPU, is that it will be able to handle processing games at a 1440p resolution with a 144 Hz refresh rate consistently. This may not seem like such an impressive task now, but taking into account that even the RTX 2080 Ti has trouble processing games at this resolution and refresh rate – and the fact that games will inadvertently become more hardware demanding in the years to come – it is actually a purchase-worthy feat. Hence a 1440p 144 Hz monitor is a safe purchase to make, considering that you won’t have to downscale in-game quality settings or resolution in order to maintain the proper framerate. The best 1440p 144 Hz monitor for the task? The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ.

This 27-inch monitor has an AHVA IPS panel with an 8-bit depth, an LCD display, and G-Sync and ELMB (Extreme Low Motion Blur) Sync compatibility. It has an MPRT response time of only 1ms, and the framerate frequency can be overclocked to up to 165 Hz. Once again, the IPS panel allows for a wide viewing angle of 178 degrees in both vertical and horizontal viewing angles, and the monitor is able to show 99% of the sRGB color space, 71% of the Adobe RGB color space, 72% of the NTSC color space, and 77% of the DCI P3 color space. The brightness of the screen is normalized at 320 nits, but peaks at 350 nits. The VG27AQ also has HDR10 compatibility, an impressive static contrast ratio of 1,200 : 1, and an input lag of only 5.3 ms.

The physical exterior of this ASUS monitor is quite simplistic; with its thin – almost borderless – frame having an anti-glare/matte coating and plenty of ergonomic features. It is VESA compatible, has a removable stand, can be adjusted in height by up to 130mm, can pivot from landscape to portrait and from left to right (90 degrees), can swivel to both left and right directions by up to 90 degrees, and can be tilted between 5 and 33 degrees.

The ASUS TUF Gaming also comes with two integrated 2-Watt speakers, two HDMI 2.0 and 1 DisplayPort 1.2 ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and all the same software features included with the ASUS ROG Swift.

This 1440p 165 Hz monitor can currently be found for $429, though its price also does vary depending on availability. If you catch it while its available, rest assured that this product definitely holds a place in the top echelon of gaming monitors.

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Best 4k 144Hz Monitor for the RTX 3090

If there is any GPU that can handle the extreme task of processing games at a 4K resolution and 144 Hz, it’s the RTX 3090. Sure, for some games dropping the graphical settings and overclocking will be necessary, but it is definitely worth the effort for a crystal-clear resolution with a framerate that will give you a competitive edge when playing multiplayer titles. If you don’t mind paying the extra cost for a monitor that can exceed expectations, we recommend Acer’s Predator X27.

As its name suggests, the Predator has a 27-inch display with an AHVA IPS panel that has a 10-bit depth (8 bits + Frame Rate Control) and is Nvidia G-Sync and Nvidia ULMB (Ultra Low Motion Blur) compatible. Using a Direct LED (Full-Array Local Dimming) backlight with 384 individually-controllable LED zones, this monitor can display an astonishing amount of colors, covering the full sRGB spectrum, 99% of the Adobe RGB spectrum, 85% of the DCI P3 color space, and 75% of the Rec. 2020 color space. It has a brightness of 600 nits (that can peak at 1,000 nits) through its use of Quantum Dot technology. The Acer Predator also has HDR 10 and HDR 1,000 compatibility, with a minimal 4ms GtG response time. Of course, these amazing display specifications do come at a slight cost in regards to input lag, as the Predator X27 can take 13 milliseconds to respond to an input signal – though with the Nvidia Reflex feature that comes with the RTX 3090, this shouldn’t be much of an issue at all.

In terms of ergonomics, this display is slightly limited, as it cannot pivot between landscape and portrait orientations and its left and right swivel range is only 20 degrees. However, it still can be adjusted in terms of height by up to 130mm, and can tilt forward by 5 degrees and backwards by 25 degrees. If you would like to mount this monitor, it is VESA compatible and the stand is removable.

The ACER Predator X27 comes with two 7W speakers and four additional USB 3.0 ports (one of which is also upstream). In terms of other connectivity, is has an HDMI 2.0 slot, a DisplayPort 1.4 slot, and a standard 3.5mm audio out.

The price is the only aspect where the ACER Predator X27 suffers, as it currently costs $1,799; though it can be found on sale for as low as $1,299. Still, given its more than impressive display, brightness, color space, and of course its 4K resolution and 144 Hz framerate, the price is very reasonable.

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Best 8K 60Hz Monitor for the RTX 3090

Last, but not least, we have the highest resolution available for PC monitors: The 8K 60 Hz Dell UltraSharp UP3218K. Once again, do note that the RTX Ampere 3090 will not be able to handle 8K resolution gaming – despite being advertised as having the ability to do so. However, for professional video editors or other workstation related applications that need incredibly color-accurate displays at high resolutions, this monitor is one of the only available solutions.

The UltraSharp is a 31.5-inch monitor that makes use of an IPS panel with a 10-bit depth, capable of a 7680 x 4320 resolution at a 60 Hz refresh rate. This monitor is unfortunately not G-Sync compatible… but neither is any other 8K monitor. Where the Dell UltraSharp excels is its color display. It features over 1 billion colors at 30 bits, covering 100% of both the sRGB and Adobe RGB color spaces, and an impressive 98% of the DCI P3 color space. It has an high static contrast of 1,300 : 1, but a somewhat mediocre brightness of 400 nits. For a non-specialized gaming monitor, the UltraSharp has a great G2G response time of only 6ms, with 10ms of input lag. The viewing angles, both vertically and horizontally, have a maximum of 178 degrees.

The exterior of the UltraSharp features a glossy coating with a thin, aluminum, almost borderless bezel. It has a removable stand, it is VESA compatible, it can be heigh-adjusted by up to 120mm, it can pivot to the left and to the right up to 90 degrees (landscape/portrait orientation compatible), it can swivel in any direction by 30 degrees, and it can tilt forward by 5 degrees and backwards by 21 degrees.

The UltraSharp UP3218K also comes with four USB 3.0 ports (one of which is upstream), and two DisplayPort 1.4 slots. It has no integrated speakers, but it does have a 3.5mm audio jack. As is the trend with monitors featuring relatively new technology, this monitor does cost a pretty penny – but for $3.999 you can have it.

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Best Power Supplies for RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 builds in 2020

October 2, 2020 by BuildPicker Leave a Comment

If you’re looking to build a brand-new PC, there is no better time to do so than now. The latest CPUs have been released by Intel, AMD’s Ryzen Zen3 announcements are just around the corner, DDR4 RAM has reached its peak (both in performance and in price) and, of course, we have the release of the latest Nvidia GeForce Ampere RTX 3000 Series GPUs. Of the three announced graphics cards, the RTX Ampere 3080 is the only one that has been released… and it was sold out within eight seconds. So, whether you are one of the lucky few that was able to get their hands on an RTX 3080, whether you are waiting for more RTX 3080s to restock, or whether you’re looking forward to September the 26^th for the RTX Ampere 3090 to be released (and hopefully not sell out within seconds), then you are going to want to build a PC that can support the power of these beastly GPUs.

What’s important to note, is that every component of a new build is important – so it is not just the GPU, the CPU, and the RAM that you should worry about. Every hardware component is like a link in a chain: If one is weak, the entire chain can break. Let’s start off with the CPU. Anything in the range of a i7 or i9 10^th generation CPU from Intel, or a R7 to R9 CPU from AMD should suffice for pairing with these upper tier RTX Ampere GPUs. The RAM we would recommend would be either a 3600 MHz C16 or 3200 MHz C14, dual channel, memory sticks – with at least 16 GB of storage, depending on the intended use. The case and cooling within also need to be adequate to support overclocking the CPU, GPU and RAM, and, generally speaking, it is hard to go wrong with Noctua case-fans and CPU coolers, as well as Fractal noise cancelling or tempered glass paneled cases.

But one of the most neglected hardware components that is crucial to the overall smooth operation of a PC is the PSU. Having an insufficient power supply can make cause hardware components to not receive the necessary power they need, which translates to unwanted freezes, stuttering, and even shutdowns or startup inability. Additionally, if the efficiency of the PSU is not a good match for your build, that will translate to more money spent on electric bills, and more unnecessary heat emanating from the PSU that is transferred to your other hardware. Even the noise from a PSU at high loads can be infuriating, so the extra research necessary to make the right choice for a component that can last you several years to come is well worth the while. The key aspects to look for, and that we’ve taken into account for this list of PSUs, is having the power supplies be modular to some capacity, meaning you can remove cables that you don’t need instead of cramming them in the case, making sure that the fan included has premium bearings and PWM controls, so that it does not spin unnecessarily, that the wattage is appropriate for your build.

Best PSUs for RTX 3080 & 3090 – Our Selections

Best Budget PSU for RTX 3080 and 3090

Seasonic is one of the oldest and most consistent PSU manufacturers out there. They are in fact the first brand to manufacture an 80 PLUS Gold-rated PSU, which shows their commitment and innovation in the power supply industry. If you’re in the market for a PSU devoid of any fluff, that is still reliable and energy-efficient, then the Gold-rated Seasonic Focus GM-850 is the way to go.

Firstly, this power supply is semi-modular, meaning that only the necessary cables are fully integrated, while the peripheral cables can be removed and connected when necessary. The former cables feature web sleeves, while the latter are simply flat black cables. If you are worried that the PSU won’t output enough wattage in the +12V rail, then you’ll be happy to know that the Focus GM-850 actually outputs 70 amps, or 840W; therefore there is no need to worry.

Surprisingly enough, despite its price, the fan on this PSU actually has fluid dynamic bearings, which are the most silent and durable bearings – second only to magnetic levitation bearings that are non-existent in power supplies. This 120mm fan is also regulated by Seasonic’s Smart and Silent fan controls, which means that the fan will spin accordingly with the PSU’s load and temperature. This means silent operation is guaranteed for low loads, and that the fan itself will last longer. In fact, Seasonic backs the durability of the PSU with a seven-year warranty, while certifying the GM-850 with a mean time between failures (MTBF) of 100,000 hours of operation.

So how much will the Focus GM-850 cost you? Well, this PSU has sold for as low as $129.99, but do keep an eye out for it, since it can sell out quite quickly.

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Best Gaming PSU for RTX 3080 and 3090

What makes the ASUS ROG the PSU for a new gaming rig is not just its stylish exterior, but also its multitude of certifications. This 850W power supply has an 80 PLUS Platinum certification (so a guaranteed efficiency of at least 89%-92%) as well as LAMBDA A+ and ETA A energy ratings. In fact, its +12V rail can output even slightly above the 850 wattage of this PSU; for a maximum of 71 amps, or 852 Watts.

When it comes to looks, though, ASUS did not go with the conventional fan-lit RGB display. Instead, they opted for a more practical RGB-lit side-display (the PSU is usually situated sideways, so the RGB-lit fan is not always visible) as well as a stylish, and useful, OLED screen which displays how much power your hardware is currently drawing. Thus, with just a glance toward your PC case, you can see the load which the PSU is operating under, and adjust fan speeds accordingly.

The fan included is 135mm in diameter, has a patented Wing-Blade fan design which is optimized for longevity, and double ball bearings. These bearings are better than sleeve or regular ball bearings, but not as good as hydraulic bearings. That being said, to keep thermals in check, the PSU has integrated heatsinks that ASUS claims can drop the internal temperatures by up to 20% – which is a significant amount. Given that the fan operates at very low RPM during low to medium loads, having the heatsinks draw heat away also translates to a more silent PSU.

The internal components of the ROG Thor are of the highest quality, with all Japanese, 105 degrees C certified, capacitors. The cables themselves are all sleeved, and the ROG Thor 850 has a fully modular design. If the RGB and OLED display doesn’t entice you, the price certainly will, as you can currently find the ASUS ROG Thor 850 for only $219.99 – a great deal for a Platinum certified, 850W, PSU.

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Best Silent PSU for the RTX 3080

Many PC building enthusiasts, especially though that use their setup in a professional environment, would gladly trade RGB lighting displays for more peace and quiet. Having so many fans in a case – like those found in the CPU cooler, the GPU, the case fans, and of course, the PSU – means that noise emissions can quickly become irritating, especially at high loads. For a virtually inaudible PSU, we recommend be quiet!’s Straight Power 11.

This power supply may lack a fancy exterior and RGB lighting displays, but it makes up for it with the quality of its fan and fan motor. The fan has be quiet’s Silent Wings 3 technology, which features custom designed fan blades, advanced fluid dynamic bearings, and a 6-pole fan motor. Even without PWM controls, this fan will only reach audio levels of 7.7 to, a maximum of, 22 dB – meaning it is pretty much inaudible from a foot away. Additionally, due to both the wire-free internal configuration and its 80 PLUS Platinum, ErP, and Energy Star 7.0 ratings, the Straight Power 11 can maintain low temperatures within at all times; so the fan won’t have to spin at maximum RPM to keep it cool.

This PSU is quite different than the other listed units, as it features multiple +12V rails. Two of these rails can output 20 amps, while the other two can output 26 amps, for a total of 70.9 amps, or 849.6 watts, for its four +12V rails. The only difference between multiple and single +12V designs, is that with multiple rails the PSU can limit the current through each wire and therefore avoid high temperatures in any single one. In other words, having multiple rails is a design used purely as an additional safety measure.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this PSU is its current price, as the be quiet! Straight Power 11, with its Platinum rating and full modular design, currently costs only $174.90 – down from its $195.99 retail price. If you’re looking to make your setup as quite as possible, this is the PSU to go for.

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Best RGB PSU for RTX 3080 and 3090

If you’re excited for the release of the Nvidia RTX Ampere 3080/3090, then chances are you are a gaming enthusiast. And if you’re a gaming enthusiast, then chances are you like you some RGB lighting on your hardware components. If that’s the case, then Thermaltake has you covered with their Toughpower iRGB Plus PSU. This power supply has an RGB lit fan with 18 addressable LEDs, together with Thermaltake’s patented Riing Plus design, that is capable of displaying 16.8 million different colors, in multiple patterns and effects that you can choose from. This illuminated display can also be synced with Razer peripherals, via the Razer Chroma software.

The Toughpower iRGB Plus has an 80 PLUS Gold rating (and can also be found with a Platinum rating) so it isn’t all style and no substance. The RGB-lit fan itself is 140mm in diameter, equipped with concentrated compression fan blades, is situated onto an anti-vibration mount, and comes equipped with hydro-dynamic bearings for less noise emission and additionally durability. Its 850W power output can be fully utilized by the single +12V rail, for a total of 70.83 amps. Additionally, the PSU has all Japanese, 105-degree Celsius certified capacitors, and is fully modular – so all cables can be removed or attached as needed.

An aspect about the Toughpower iRGB Plus that has been either hit or miss with many users, is the included software. This software compiles statistics of the operation of the PSU and uploads them to a cloud, where a Smart Power Management program displays them either on one’s PC, or through a mobile application. Many reviewers report that this software actually uses significant CPU and RAM power, while the mobile application can be glitchy at times. A neat software feature that is included, is compatibility for Amazon’s Alexa, which you can use to change the color and effects of the RGB lighting; though it is difficult to imagine a scenario where this would be used regularly.

The Thermaltake Toughpower iRGB Plus can usually be found with a price around the $190-$210 mark; and it includes an impressive MTBF of 120,000 hours and a 10-year warranty.

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