I'm putting together a budget ITX gaming PC for my wife so we can play together. We'll mainly be playing older co-op games and indie titles at 1080p, but I'd also like enough performance for newer games in the future if our son plays on it. I already have a GTX 1060 6GB from my first build and picked up a used Ryzen 5 3600X for $60. The GPU options I'm considering are a Sapphire Pulse RX 5600 XT for $100, a Sapphire Pulse RX 5700 XT for $140, or a Gigabyte Aorus RTX 2070 Super for $180. Is the RX 5600 XT a meaningful upgrade over the GTX 1060? Is the extra $40 for the RX 5700 XT worthwhile, or should I spend another $40 for the RTX 2070 Super and get features such as DLSS and ray tracing? Since this is going into an ITX case, temperatures and long-term usability also matter.
4 Answers
Before buying, compare the exact card dimensions, power requirements, and cooler design against the ITX case. Used GPUs can also have noisy fans or a history of heavy mining use, so test temperatures and stability if possible. At these prices, the 2070 Super is a reasonable long-term choice, but the 5700 XT is likely the more sensible budget option if it is clean and runs properly.
For your target of smooth 1080p gaming, the GTX 1060 is beginning to show its age. A 5600 XT would still be faster, but the improvement may not justify spending money when the 5700 XT is only $40 more. I’d choose between the 5700 XT and 2070 Super: get the 5700 XT for maximum performance per dollar, or pay for the 2070 Super if you specifically want DLSS, ray tracing, and stronger support for newer games.
The RX 5700 XT is probably the best value at $140. It offers a large performance jump over the 1060 and should handle 1080p gaming very well. The 2070 Super is attractive for DLSS and ray tracing, but those features may not matter much for mostly older and indie games. Just make sure the 5700 XT’s cooler fits the ITX case and that the case has enough airflow, since some models run fairly warm.
I’d skip the RX 5600 XT unless the budget is extremely tight. The RX 5700 XT and RTX 2070 Super are both roughly twice as fast as the GTX 1060 6GB, so either would be a substantial upgrade. The 2070 Super costs more, but it gives you DLSS and better ray-tracing support, which could help it remain useful in newer games. If the card is confirmed to be in good condition, I’d lean toward the 2070 Super for the extra features.
That’s what I’m weighing up. The 5700 XT seems like the better value, and I’m wondering whether it might also run cooler than the 2070 Super in a small case if it’s in good shape.