Buy Video Cards Online
When selecting video devices and graphics cards, choose a screen resolution and desired performance specifications and select PC components that match those requirements. Modern PC games, like popular AAA titles, require capable graphics cards with more VRAM that can handle higher processing rates which helps increase rendering speeds and prevent latency. The cards have memory ranging from as little as 64MB, while 8GB, 12GB and 16GB remain good choices for mainstream and high-performance builds. Higher memory options also exist for premium systems. Desktop graphics cards with 2GB to 4GB of memory meet the needs of most creative professionals. Gamers require 8GB to 12GB of memory for less lag and latency during play, and top-end cards offer up to 24GB of memory and fast connectivity. Basic laptops for internet browsing and productivity applications only need up to 1GB. Finally, consider premium graphics cards that improve overall performance for serious gaming and running high-end video software.
buy video cards online
GDDR (Graphics Double Data Rate) is a specialized, fast-rendering memory for graphics cards. GDDR6 is the current iteration of this technology, with Samsung offering 24Gbps GDDR6 DRAM in next-generation graphics cards and mid-tier GDDR6 cards offering 16GB and 12GB DRAM. GDDR5 and GDDR5X are previous versions with reduced data rates of 13GBps, but identical 32-bit read/write access as GDDR6.
Ray Traced graphics are supported by current generations of NVIDIA GeForce RTX and AMD Radeon RX graphics cards. While ray tracing without dedicated hardware is possible, the latest advancements happen by way of dedicated cores built into your GPU. Tensor cores that were added alongside the CUDA cores that traditionally handle the graphics load in gaming desktops and laptops. Adding tensor cores into the mix allows graphics cards to handle more advanced workloads, most notably crunching number sets that are involved in machine learning.
PC VR platforms require robust graphics cards to operate effectively. The high demand requires, at a minimum, a mid-tier workstation graphics card with optimal performance levels. For best outcomes, consider high-end video cards like NVIDIA RTX and AMD RX devices.
Graphics card, video card, or simply GPU - these terms all refer to the card inside a computer that takes care of the video output of the computer system. Many of these graphics cards pack in a lot of processing power, which has resulted in many of these models being used for crypto mining as well. These GPUs for sale feature a graphics chipset from major brands like AMD and Nvidia, and some less popular brands like ATI. One important features to look out for when looking to buy video cards or graphic cards online is the physical size of the card. Some cards are designed for compact systems, while others take a lot of space inside a computer case, and will require plenty of available space. Additionally, many graphics cards generate a lot of heat and will require active cooling. For this reason, most high-performance cards features one, two or even three cooling fans. Before you buy video cards or graphic cards online, we also recommend checking the power requirements, as some GPU cards for sale may need more power than the existing power supply can supply.
The result? It's near-impossible for the average person to compete with cryptocurrency miners and scalpers in the race to see who can buy the latest graphics cards the quickest. These days, new cards, sold in limited quantities, sell out in an eyeblink at launch. Soon after, some of those very same cards show up on eBay or Craigslist at multiples of their manufacturer suggested retail prices (MSRPs). Existing cards, meanwhile, go out of stock almost as soon as fresh inventory is posted online or put on retail store shelves.
Sure, there was a run on video cards in 2017-2018, triggered by the first crypto-mining craze. But it has relented, and buying a card before the COVID-19 pandemic began used to be as easy as a leisurely Amazon or Newegg order, or a field trip to your local Best Buy or Micro Center: Enter with a credit card, exit with a video card. No more!
Unfortunately, this might be the worst method of trying to nail an in-stock notice on a new GPU. CamelCamelCamel, in particular, is limited to Amazon, where restocked graphics cards sell out almost instantly, and you have to set up alerts for individual products rather than checking for any modern graphics card. Other services, such as HotStock.io(Opens in a new window) and NowInStock.net(Opens in a new window), might support more storefronts or aggregate multiple versions of a given GPU onto a single page, but the restriction to a specific product is still pretty common.
Physical storefronts offer a few advantages over their digital counterparts when it comes to finding a graphics card in stock. The primary one is reduced competition. Everyone can shop on Amazon; not everyone can visit your local Micro Center. (Pro tip: Micro Center, if you live where the chain has stores, is better than most retailers for nailing a GPU in person.) Why compete with cryptocurrency miners, scalpers, bots, and everyone else looking to buy a new graphics card online if you can find the same product on a store shelf?
Call to ask which days of the week certain products are typically restocked. Stores often receive new shipments of a specific kind of device or gear on a predictable schedule. (Or at least as predictable as it can be, amid today's global supply problems.) Picking up the phone, politely asking when graphics cards are restocked, and planning your visit around that schedule can maximize your chances of landing a new GPU just as it hits the shelves.
The price of video cards varies greatly, with super low-end cards starting under $100 and high-end models going for $2,000 or more in the case of the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti. As is often the case, top-end cards aren't worth the money unless for some reason you absolutely have to have the best performance possible, or if you do professional work where 10% more performance will pay for itself over time.Dropping a tier or two down will greatly improve the bang for the buck. Currently, for example, an RTX 3080 12GB can be had for about $1,000. That's half as much as the RTX 3090 Ti, for about 15% less performance on average. The same goes for the AMD side. The RX 6900 XT (opens in new tab) costs about $1,050 while the RX 6700 XT (opens in new tab) can be had for half that much. There's no question about the 6900 being faster, but is it worth paying double the price? Only you can decide.Here's the short list of current generation cards and the best prices we're tracking right now:
Here's a breakdown of the major current GPUs and where they stand, grouped roughly by price and performance. (For example, note that the GTX 1070 is with the 'mid-range' now, since it's about as fast as a 1660 Super.) Remember that not all cards with a given GPU will perform exactly the same. For more detail, check out the GPU Benchmarks page.
If you want to use your GPU with a PC VR HMD, you need at least a mid-range card, with optimal performance coming from a card like the Nvidia RTX 2060 Super/AMD RX 5700 or higher. The lowest-end cards you can use with these headsets are the AMD Radeon RX 570 and Nvidia GTX 1060. And the card requirements of course increase with newer, higher-resolution headsets. Obviously, this isn't a critical factory if you have no interest in VR.
Even after you decide what GPU you're after (say, for example, an RTX 3060 Ti), you'll usually be faced with plenty of options in terms of cooler design and brand or manufacturer. Nvidia makes and sells its own cards under the Founders Edition moniker for higher-end models, while AMD licenses its reference design to other manufacturers. Both companies' GPUs appear in third-party cards from several different vendors.More expensive third-party cards will have elaborate coolers, extra fans, lots of RGB lighting, and often higher clock speeds, but they can also be more expensive than the reference card. Overclocking gains are often minimal, with gains of just a few FPS, so don't feel bad if you're not running a blinged-out card. That said, beefier cooling can often translate to cooler, quieter operation, which can be important given that high-end graphics cards are usually the noisiest, most heat-generating parts in a PC build.We've also noticed that Nvidia's RTX 3080 and 3090 Founders Edition cards (along with several custom models) can get particularly hot on their GDDR6X, so it pays to do some research. For much more on this discussion, see our Graphics Card Face-Off: Founders Edition or Reference GPUs vs 3rd-Party Design feature.
Once you've considered all the above and are ready to narrow down your choices, you can head to our GPU Benchmarks and our Best Graphics Cards to help finalize your buying decision. Here we include a condensed version of our current favorite cards for common resolutions and gaming scenarios below. Keep in mind that there are third-party options for all of these cards, so you may want to use these picks as a jumping-off point to finding, say, the best AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT model for your particular gaming build.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 almost looked too good to be true, promising full RT and DLSS support with a starting price of $250. At launch, it immediately sold out and we saw prices of over $400. Three months later, you can actually find the cards in stock for just $250. Some might argue that's not really a "budget" price, but dropping down $50 to the RX 6500 XT results in 35% less performance and effectively useless DXR support. If you want to go lower than $250, we suggest looking at previous generation cards and perhaps even a used graphics card. That's a big can of worms to open, but when the cheapest GTX 1650 Super cards (opens in new tab) cost well over $300, there's no point in even considering them. 041b061a72