7 Tips for Buying a GPU in 2024

 Choosing the best graphics card is the key component of building a gaming PC and getting the best gaming experience out of it.  For the less tech-savvy players, it may be somewhat intimidating to find the GPU that suits their needs, as the process is very technical, and there are a lot of features to consider.

This article will outline some of the best tips for choosing a good graphic card in 2024 and not having games like Diablo 4 killing your PC.  Our tips work for any kind of user and can cover most uses.

What Kind of Games Do You Plan to Play?

 The main thing to consider when choosing a GPU and building a PC is how it will be used.  Not all games require an expensive computer.  For instance, online Bitcoin Plinko sites allow players to try many fun and exciting betting games without an expensive graphics card.

However, to stay on top of the latest AAA players, they will have to invest in building a good gaming PC, and a GPU is usually the most important part of it.  If this is your goal, keeping an eye on the next generation of games rather than the ones popular when you're building the PC is best.

Don't Forget The CPU

 Graphic cards are one of the most important parts of the computer setup, and they can limit what the computer can do.  However, this doesn't mean the user should overlook the CPU.  In fact, it would be a big mistake to do so and may defeat the purpose of having a good graphics card.

For ideal results, a machine running an Intel® Core™ i7 processor or better with at least 8GB of RAM is sufficient for playing games and streaming at the same time.

Match Your Monitor Resolution

 It's equally important to match the GPU with the monitor resolution.  Many mainstream cards are sufficient for gaming at 1080p resolutions between 30-60 fps, but you'll need a high-end card for 4K resolution or 1440p monitors, including ultrawide options.  Ultrawide monitors are more expensive but provide a more immersive experience.

Many games have in-game settings that further improve the quality of the graphics.  For players who want to activate and use these settings, it's equally important to have a high-end monitor and a GPU that is suited to it.

Take Refresh Rate into Account

 Higher resolutions require more GPU power to maintain a high frame rate.  If you have a 1080p monitor, a mid-range GPU may be sufficient.  For 1440p or 4K, you might need a more powerful GPU.  It's best to future-proof your setup by choosing a GPU that will stand the test of time, as much as it's possible to do so with an ever-changing tech.

If you're interested in realistic lighting effects and improved visuals, consider a GPU with dedicated ray tracing and tensor cores.  Additionally, consider features such as DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) for enhanced graphics quality.

Power and Space

 A GPU with enough power to meet the demands of modern games requires both power and space within the setup.  It's important to make sure that the PC case has enough room to add the new GPU.  If the case is too tightly packed, it may cause overheating problems, especially if all the components use a lot of energy.

When choosing a power supply, it's important to consider its size as well as the ability to change it and upgrade it after a while.  Noise factor also plays a role when choosing a power supply to match your new setup.

Don't Get Dual Cards

 There was a push towards dual graphics cards for a while, and the concept seemed to have potential.  However, most modern GPUs have discontinued the support for dual cards.  No modern Nvidia GPUs even provide an NVLink connection for SLI, which indicates that the idea is now dead and an abandoned tech.

The performance increase you may get from using dual cards doesn't pay off when it comes to the price of dual cards and the technical issues that may come up from using them.

Overclocking Isn't Worth it

 Overclocking used to be something that a more tech-savvy user may do to improve the performance of their GPU.  It can still be done with modern GPUs but with very limited results.  For the most part, the cards can increase their performance by 10 percent if they are overclocked.

At the same time, the level of effort and knowledge needed to do it doesn't make the process worth it.  There's also a risk of making a mistake and ruining the card.  If you want a better card than the one you currently have, buying one is the best course of action.

The Top Three

 There are many different card manufacturers and hundreds of different GPUs to choose from.  However, there are three biggest names out there, and most players choose between them.

NVidia

 NVidia is the biggest name in the market and has made that name by pushing for the latest and most innovative technological advancements.  It's also expensive, but the price is probably worth it when it comes to the latest GPUs.

NVidia has introduced the most advanced new tech in graphic cards, such as DLSS 3 Frame Generation, DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction, AI and deep learning, and the original DLSS 2 upscaling.

AMD

 AMD's RX 7000-series GPUs perform best in rasterization games, with generally competitive pricing and more VRAM at similar price points compared to what Nvidia offers.  At the same time, AMD isn't improving as fast as its competitors.  The new series (so-called 7000 series) doesn't provide that much more than the older 6000 series.

Only the RX 7900 XT and RX 7900 XTX deliver new levels of performance, but the improvement isn't as fast or as noticeable as it is with NVidia.  This is to say that AMD is still one of the most essential brands out there, but its time is passing.

Intel

 Intel is usually considered to be the budget or at least the value option when it comes to choosing GPUs.  The performance of its cards is somewhat worse than that of the two other competitors, but they make up for it with price.

 The A750 matches the previous generation RTX 3060 — Intel has no real answer for the RTX 4060 and above.  It's, therefore, the option to consider if you're looking to get in under a set and somewhat lower budget.  It's the only card on our list that has some valuable options for less than $1000.

Conclusion

 GPU is one of the most important components when building a PC and one that will most affect what kind of games you can play.  However, this doesn't mean players should overlook the CPU's importance.  When choosing a GPU, it's equally important to take into account the power it uses and the size of the PC case.

There are three leading manufacturers to choose from despite many other smaller ones.  When choosing which one to use, it's always a matter of balance between the price and the performance you're getting. It’s also important to choose a GPU that’s at least somewhat future-proofed.