I'm building a system around a Ryzen 5 5600X and can't decide on a graphics card for 1080p gaming. I can get an RTX 3070 for $250, an RTX 2080 Super for a similar price, or spend about $100 more on an RX 9060 XT 8GB. Which option offers the best value and longevity?
4 Answers
The RX 9060 XT 8GB is worth considering if you care more about newer drivers, lower power use, and longer-term support. Its performance is in the same general range as the RTX 3070, so the extra $100 is mainly paying for a newer platform rather than a huge performance jump. Eight gigabytes should be fine for most 1080p games, though some newer titles may require reduced settings.
You could also look for a used RX 6700 XT or a 12GB RTX 3080 if you find one at a good price. The extra VRAM can help with newer games, but make sure a used card is fully functional and factor in the higher power requirements. For straightforward 1080p gaming, though, the $250 RTX 3070 is probably the best deal here.
The RTX 3070 is the clear choice over the RTX 2080 Super. It’s generally faster, and at $250 it offers much better value. The 2080 Super is an older card and doesn’t make much sense unless it’s substantially cheaper.
The RTX 3070 is roughly around RTX 2080 Ti performance, while the 2080 Super is closer to an RTX 3060 Ti.
If you plan to keep the card for several years and want to play demanding new releases, saving for a newer card with more than 8GB of VRAM may be safer. Some recent games already push 8GB cards hard. Between your current choices, however, the RTX 3070 is the better bargain, while the RX 9060 XT is the better long-term-oriented purchase.
A 12GB RTX 3080 or 3080 Ti can be excellent value on the used market, but it’s probably overkill for 1080p and costs more than the options listed.