NVIDIA graphics cards are very reliable and depending on which series you want to focus on, 3000 or 4000 series, you could have an immediate upgrade for your current pc. Furthermore, if you’re attempting to build your pc from scratch, the graphics card is one of the most expensive parts. So, you might decide to stick with a less expensive (still powerful) 3000 series depending on your budget. For this list, the goal is to stay at $700 or lower. Everyone’s budgets are different so we will cover a wide variety but have options for every type of budget build! We will explore 7 different options of budget graphics cards to choose from. We will focus on a gaming/editing perspective and stay towards RTX graphics cards. RTX (Ray Tracing Texel eXtreme) are far better for gaming than GTX (Giga Texel Shader eXtreme). Most games nowadays are implementing ray tracing technology to improve quality.
1) ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC 12GB
Currently listed at $289.99 this is definitely a bang for your buck! The original retail price is $339.99 for a huge 15% off savings! This graphics card has 12GB worth of memory while the standard versions of most graphics cards are set at 8GB. GPU clock speeds of 1807 MHz and including a display port with an HDMI port are necessities for gaming! Personally, I don’t like dual fan graphics cards (3 fan cards are usually cooler), but if you don’t have a preference, this card could be just right for you!
2) ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX™ 4060 Ti OC Edition Gaming Graphics Card
Currently listed at $409.99 for a Cyber Monday deal while the original retail is $459.99. This is part of the 4000 series new generation graphics cards. The 16GB version of this card is set at $525.55 for Cyber Monday and is originally $569.99. The price difference for from the 8GB (picture shown) and the 16GB is purely based on the maximum memory/speed for the capabilities of the card. $110 is a hefty markup when talking about budget graphics cards but if you have the extra $$$, it’s well worth the upgrade. GPU clock speed is at 2715 MHz but only has Display Port capability when connecting to a monitor. So, if your monitor doesn’t have a display port, you need to buy an HDMI to Display Port adapter or this card isn’t the one for you.
This is also a TI graphics card meaning that in the future if you want to add a second card into your PC (most cases is overkill) it’s an option to tether 2 cards together to carry the workload at the same time. Something to think about for budget building. You can go “cheaper” for now then add another card later.
3) MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Gaming X Trio 8GB GDDR6X Graphics Card
The RTX 3070 is a step up from #1 on the list! However, with the step up comes a price. The price tag is set at $449 while the original retail price is $529.95. Being part of the 3000 series means it’s permanently marked down from the original retail due to it being part of the last generation models. Much like #2 this is also a TI card that allows a 2nd card if wanted (again mostly overkill and not needed). This card is clocked at 1.83 GHz and is equipped with a display port and HDMI port which will work with just about all 1080p or better monitors. The downside to this card is its 8GB of memory.
4) MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 Ventus 3X Plus 10G OC LHR – 10GB GDRR6X NVIDIA GPU Graphics Card
This card might just be the best card for budget PC builds or for a budget upgrade! However, this card is so cheap because it is a preowned card that is in “excellent condition”. Coming in at $499 when the original retail is $919 the price is a bargain! I would be skeptical buying a preowned card, especially without knowing the previous owner; but, you can always return it! This cards memory size is 10GB and has a clock of 1.74 GHz. It also is equipped with a display port and an HDMI port.
5) GIGABYTE GV-N406TGAMING OC-8GD GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Gaming OC 8G Graphics Card
This card matches up well with #2 on our listbut this one is cheaper because of performance standards. Coming in at $399.99 while on sale and the original retail price is at $429.99. Yes, it is a 4000 series graphics card but this is where you must pay attention to details to get the best bang for your buck! This card in the 8GB version only clocks in at 1800 MHz while #2 on our list came in at 2715 MHz. This card also has a 16GB version that is priced at $479.99 and would automatically be faster than the 8GB. Personally, I would spend the little extra and go with #2 on our list but this is still a solid option depending on how much you spend elsewhere on your PC build.
6) GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4070 Gaming OC 12G Graphics Card
This is the first 4070 graphics card to make the list coming in at $609 while on sale and has an original retail price of $649.99. This card is 12GB with a clock speed of 2100 MHz. This card is equipped with a display port and HDMI port as well so it will work with almost any monitor. Furthermore, if buying this card, you’d have assurance it will last and be able to support games for years to come.
7) ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 4070 OC Edition Gaming Graphics Card
The best card was saved for last! However, it comes with a price. This card is valued at $649.99. It’s a 12GB card with clock speed at 2580 MHz. It’s not quite as fast as #2 on our list but with the improved ray tracing technology that was implemented in the 4000 series, that puts it over the top! Yes, this is the most expensive but it’s the most future proof card you can buy on the list!
Final Rankings
1) Card 7: ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 4070 OC Edition Gaming Graphics Card
2) Card 2: ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX™ 4060 Ti OC Edition Gaming Graphics Card
3) Card 6: GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4070 Gaming OC 12G Graphics Card
4) Card 5: GIGABYTE GV-N406TGAMING OC-8GD GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Gaming OC 8G Graphics Card
5) Card 4: MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 Ventus 3X Plus 10G OC LHR – 10GB GDRR6X NVIDIA GPU Graphics Card
6) Card 3: MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Gaming X Trio 8GB GDDR6X Graphics Card
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