I'm on the hunt for a solid GPU that I can use for Blender and some single-player gaming. I've got a budget of $500, and I'm torn between getting an RTX 3060 Ti or an Intel Arc B580. Do you think I should consider a more affordable option, or is it worth it to stick to my budget for better performance?
4 Answers
If you're using Linux, there are some advantages to going with Intel for lighter tasks. But if you're gaming a lot or doing heavy rendering in Blender, I'd stick with Nvidia. I've had solid performance with the Nvidia GPU — it's compatible with Linux, and I ran Baldur's Gate 3 on max settings without any hiccups!
If you're aiming for the $500 mark, definitely consider going for the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB instead of the 3060 Ti. The newer card has way more VRAM and is generally better for your budget, especially for gaming and tasks like rendering in Blender. Skip the Intel options if you're all about performance!
Wait, isn't the RTX 5060 Ti still not out yet? What gives?
Honestly, saying $500 would get you a 5060 Ti or close to a 5070 isn’t even a reach. The 3060 Ti simply doesn’t compete; it’s from an older generation now and just lacks the power and VRAM for modern workloads.
For $500, you can snag a 5060 Ti 16GB pretty easily. If you're okay going a bit over your budget, you might even be able to grab an RTX 5070, which blows away both the 3060 Ti and the Intel option!
That's good to know! But I still feel like the Nvidia cards hold the edge for creativity and productivity tools like Blender.