Graphics cards – which one should you buy?

by Brooke Hooks March 7, 2023 +Add comment

What is a graphics card?

Graphics cards are an essential piece to any computer being used for gaming. Deciding what one to go with can be overwhelming though, with prices, different manufacturers, and different models. You also have to be able to obtain one at good pricing as well, and in this market that can be tough. The pressure of what you need can be tough, as well. I am here to tell you that there needs to be no pressure when deciding what GPU to purchase when in that part of the process of building your first custom PC.

What is the best graphics card for my PC?

When it comes to purchasing a graphics card, whether for a new gaming PC build or an upgrade, you should look at what you truly need as you don’t want to pay for something you are not going to use to its max potential. In other words, purchasing a 4090 just to play League of Legends or Old School Runescape isn’t the best decision. If you are an enthusiast, then it can be justifiable.

30 Series Graphics Cards- Choosing the right RTX 30 Series PC for your Custom PC

Great options are still 30 series cards, primarily the 3060 and 3060ti cards. While they do pack a heck of a punch, they aren’t going to damage your wallet nearly as badly as a 4090 would. The 3060ti appeared first in 2020 and has had multiple re-releases since as recently as October 2022. The 3060 first appeared in 2021, shortly after the TI variant. Both cards were sought after due to them being ideal cards for mine on. Later on, AIB (add-in board) partners released the LHR (low hash rate) variants of these cards to help deter miners away from the so PC gamers could get their hands on them.

Here are some recommendations for the 30 series cards:

ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3060 Ti OC Edition

MSI GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GAMING X TRIO

MSI GeForce RTX 3060 GAMING X 12G

RTX 40 Series Graphics Cards and Gaming PCs

Being the newest series on the market, gamers and enthusiasts have been after 4090s to add to their builds as it is the hottest card on the market. 4080s not so much, but primarily due to the price point.

4070s, we aren’t going to talk about those. Just look on Youtube about 4070s and you will hear all you need to know. In this section, we are going to primarily look at the 4080 and 4090 for this section. 4080s are pretty much readily available, 4090s not so much. 3090s were sought after when they launched and the 4090s are no different. With that juicy 24 GB of VRAM and the ability to play 4K 240hz, yeah it is a banger to say the least. However, due to chip shortages and one of the biggest players not manufacturing these cards, they have been hard to obtain. Also, those darned scalpers don’t help. Here are some options for 40 series cards I would recommend, but remember that 4090s are a bit harder to obtain.

Asus ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition

MSI GeForce RTX 4090 SUPRIM X 24G

ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4080

All of the cards above are going to suit you well in any gaming venture you are setting out to do.

You can always look to older cards if you don’t need something that was stated above, however, they are probably going to be secondhand. Just be cautious. GPUs are glorious pieces of computer equipment, but pricey pieces.

If you are interested in building your first gaming PC or upgrading your current one completely, or even just a couple of components, we at AVADirect have you covered. Check out our configurator to piece together the build of your dreams or use our Instabuilder to have one configured for you.