Christmas is approaching at full speed, and with it come some very interesting deals, especially in the hardware market. It's an excellent time to build a computer from scratch, courtesy of SSDs with rock-bottom prices, processors that maintain an impressive price-to-performance ratio, and of course, the movements in the territory of graphics cards. Today we're going to share a list aimed at reaching as many users as possible. From the 'sub-100 euros' models that are worth it to four-digit technical festivals, it's likely you'll find something attractive here.
The graphics card (or video card if you prefer) is the component that makes or breaks any strategy when building a gaming PC. Everything you invest now will extend its lifespan one way or another, but that doesn't mean the low end is deserted. Some 'budget' models are very appealing, as long as you've identified your requirements, including technical details like the resolution you want to play at and what kind of titles you like. Logically, the last big filter is the budget: there are cards that demand a significant amount of money, but these days, some categories are separated by just 40 or 50 euros.
https://old.neoteo.com/como-armar-un-ordenador-ecologicoThe best graphics cards you can buy right now
The list we'll share below tries to cover those variables, but inevitably we will fail. Why? Because prices are volatile, and a model that's uninteresting today can completely change tomorrow with the right cut. We must also add the ever-present rumors. For example, Nvidia is supposedly going to announce the new 2050 and 2060 cards in January. That will affect the price and availability of the 10-series, while also moving pieces in the second-hand market. Anyway, if you need a graphics card before Christmas hits us with its excess of food and seasonal brews, this list won't disappoint you.
Ultra-budget: GeForce GT 1030 GDDR5
This graphics card's role is very well defined: escape the terrible Intel integrated video and enable access to titles with an 'e-sport' profile like Rocket League, Dota 2, League of Legends, Fortnite and/or Overwatch without burning your wallet. Almost any low-profile HP or Dell machine with a Core i3 or i5 processor can accommodate the GT 1030 and provide a decent experience at 720p, 768p, or 1080p on 'low' depending on the game. For under 90 euros, the only way to beat the GT 1030 is to buy used, or get lucky with a GTX 750 Ti. The Radeon RX 550 sits slightly above, but its price isn't as friendly right now, and if you can reach that level, we have something better.
(Ed. note: DO NOT BUY THE DDR4 VERSION. It's a disaster.)
Low cost: GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
Yes, I decided to skip the Radeon RX 560 and the two variants of the 'standard' GTX 1050 to fall into the hands of the GTX 1050 Ti. I'll admit it: its price isn't the most convincing (only the EVGA version with a single fan and no factory overclock is 'reasonable'), but among its hypothetical direct competitors we don't see things improving either. Still, the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti held the line for a long time while the cryptomadness was hitting the market, and it deserves our respect. Plus, it's a great candidate to be found at a reduced cost on the used market. In short, don't pay more than 160 euros for it. Do you have extra money at your disposal? Then step up a notch.
Mid-range: GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB or Radeon RX 570 4 GB
This is the part of the market that interests me the most. With the cryptodelirium dead and buried, several models fully dedicated to mining returned to general consumption seeking revenge, and the most striking example is here. Once we pit the GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB against the Radeon RX 570 4 GB, benchmarks reveal that both cards beat each other up. Those games that rely heavily on video memory benefit from the extra gigabyte of the RX 570, but there are also titles that the GTX 1060 3 GB devours like candy at 1080p. Another point in favor of the AMD card is the price, about 15 or 20 euros below its rival. On the other hand, the 1060 3 GB is on average 4 percent faster over 27 games and consumes less power.
Mid-high range: Radeon RX 580 8 GB or GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB
Crossing the 200 euro threshold, we discover the other battle that pits Nvidia against AMD. Just like with its little sister, the Radeon RX 580 escaped the deep cryptocurrency mines, but its classic opponent, the GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB, didn't go anywhere. The result is a true clash of titans in the mid-high range, with benchmarks that in some cases are virtually tied. Without a doubt, both cards are the best for chewing through 1080p above 60 FPS. The rest will depend on which card favors your favorite games more (graphics engine, DX11 vs. DX12, etc.), secondary factors like G-Sync vs. FreeSync, and how cheaply you can get one or the other. In theory, the RX 580 is better positioned 'for the future' due to the extra 2 GB of buffer, but if the priority is 1080p, both will serve you well.
High-end: GeForce RTX 2070 (or GTX 1080, or Vega 64)
A complicated section, for multiple reasons. Several portals and YouTubers insist that it's better to look for a standard GTX 1080 instead of an RTX 2070. There's only one barrier to that suggestion: the RTX 2070 has better prices than the GTX 1080 on Amazon Spain, and its availability is wider. If you can find a new and cheap GTX 1080, great. But if you want another alternative to the RTX 2070... it's Vega 64. As noisy, voracious, hot and hard to find as it is, AMD's option defends itself very well against the RTX 2070, and even defeats it in specific cases (Battlefield V and Black Ops 4, to be more precise). On a personal note, I'd still look for the RTX 2070, but remember: I don't have the final say here. Study your options.
Ultra-high-end: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
Forget ray tracing. Forget Nvidia's CEO making a fool of himself during the keynote presentation. Forget DirectX 12, G-Sync, NVLink, everything. There's only one reason you want a GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, and that's its raw power. Basically, breaking the spine of 4K at more than 100 frames per second, and squeezing the most out of high refresh rate monitors (plural). It's the graphics card that turns the price-to-performance ratio into toilet paper. With an average of 1,350 euros, I'm convinced you could build two decent computers for that price... but the RTX 2080 Ti is the top of the mountain. Do you want the best? This is it, or the RTX Titan that costs double.
That's all for now. I hope this guide serves as a reference, and if you've been wondering about the cards that don't appear here, don't worry, I haven't forgotten about them. They simply aren't part of the selection due to unfavorable prices or availability issues. A case to highlight is the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, a formidable card no matter how you look at it... but Nvidia confirmed in early November that it won't manufacture more chips, and the few units left on shelves have inflated prices. Study, compare, take notes and attack. Don't be left without a graphics card for Christmas; I'm sure you deserve it. Good luck!
