Hey folks! I'm looking to upgrade my setup from a GTX 1030 and I've been browsing GPU prices lately. It seems pretty reasonable, but I have a concern about VRAM. The GTX 3060 feels a bit outdated to me, and the only 30 series card that I find worth considering now is the 3080 variant (both regular and Ti), as long as it fits my budget. I'm not looking into the 40 series much because the only card I was interested in is the 4060 Ti 16GB, but I've heard quite a few negative things about it. The 50 series is also off the table due to its price and lack of Physex32 support. As for AMD cards, there's barely any supply where I live. My ultimate goal is to build a system that can handle most new releases smoothly, aiming for 60+ FPS on near max settings for the next four years. Would a 30 series card still be a smart choice?
5 Answers
The 30 series is still performing well, but just keep in mind their ray tracing capabilities don't compare to the 40 and 50 series, which do have improved AI and productivity features. While the 30 series is still getting decent support for DLSS, the lesser VRAM in models like the 3070 and 3080 could cause issues down the line, especially at higher resolutions.
What's your main concern around VRAM? What resolution are you gaming at? Are you okay with tweaking some settings? Most gamers still find the 3060 doesn't lag behind too much, and it's still the most used GPU according to hardware surveys.
If you're considering a purchase, I'd say a 4070 Super could actually be a better deal than the 3080 12GB. Not sure how the 3080 Ti stacks up though.
My wife has a 3070 and it's performing great at 1440p. Honestly, I've found that the combination of a 5600x3d and a 3070 does remarkably well compared to higher-end setups like the 9800x3d with a 5080. If you can get your hands on any of the Super cards from the 40 series, they'll be a solid investment for a while.
I can't vouch for all the 30 series cards, but if you're aiming for 1440p or higher, I'd steer clear of the 3080 10GB. It's been a headache for me since it doesn't manage modern titles well, often crashing due to maxed-out VRAM. I've been in the Nvidia camp since the 6600 GT, but this card has been the first disappointment for me.
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