Overview
You will need a graphics card with RT cores if you want to play games that use ray tracing. You will therefore require an AMD Radeon RX 6000 or an Nvidia RTX. The most recent graphics card drivers are required by these GPUs in order to support the technology.
Ray-tracing is a feature of NVIDIA's 30-series graphics cards. You can utilize these cards to enhance the overall graphics if you enjoy playing video games.
You could be considering if it makes sense for your computer to use a graphics card for ray tracing. In fact, this type of computing has numerous advantages, such as the ability to produce hyper-realistic effects in real-time and soft shadows, among others.
But in other circumstances, it may also have a substantial effect on performance. You'll need a graphics card with enough power for ray tracing in order to take advantage of this technique.
An enhanced visual experience is one of the main advantages of ray tracing. When employed on a graphics card, ray tracing enhances the visual appeal of images and can boost frame rates in games that support it.
Even with completely path-traced games, the technology isn't currently compatible with all of them. However, the advantages of ray tracing on a graphics card outweigh any drawbacks.
Top Picks
If you're in a rush, take a look at the fast selection of our favorites, or scroll down to read our whole list with in-depth guides before buying the best graphics card for ray tracing in 2024:
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Best overall: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
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Best elite: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
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Best mid-range: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
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Best mid-range alternative: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
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Best budget: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
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Best AMD alternative: AMD RX 6800 XT
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Best AMD elite: AMD RX 6900 XT
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Best AMD mid-range: AMD RX 6800
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Best AMD budget: AMD RX 6700 XT
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Best last-gen option: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super
What To Look For In Graphics Cards For Ray Tracing?
Ray tracing is a new gaming technique that calls for specific hardware. While rendering a picture can take days, ray tracing it can only take a fraction of a second.
The closest representation of reality is a ray-traced image, therefore buying a graphics card that can perform the additional processing is crucial. Make sure the graphics card supports ray tracing technology if you're not sure which one to purchase.
There are a variety of cards available on the market for ray tracing. Ray tracing is a design goal of contemporary GPUs, and support for it is a common component.
The most common ray-tracing graphics card is by Nvidia, and if you want to save money, you should think about an AMD card.
Although AMD graphics cards offer good ray tracing performance as well, an RTX card is required for a really immersive experience.
Ray-tracing GPUs are available from AMD and NVIDIA, however the latter is more expensive. AMD cards are still good for gaming even though they don't perform ray tracing as well. By analyzing the interplay of virtual objects and the route of simulated light, ray tracing is a technique for rendering visuals.
High levels of photorealism are produced by this approach, which is perfect for a wide range of visual picture applications.
Only NVIDIA GPUs could perform ray-tracing in the past. The approach is now supported by a new array of AMD GPUs, albeit these models fall short of NVIDIA's RTX graphics cards in terms of performance.
Ray tracing works best on NVIDIA flagship cards, with the GeForce RTX being the best option for those seeking the highest level of performance.
Are Graphics Cards for Ray Tracing Worth It?
The value of a graphics card with Ray Tracing may be questioned. The answer is dependent on the type of game you play and the environment you wish to build.
You might not require a card with Ray Tracing if you play basic games like Fortnite with minimal surroundings. However, if you play competitively in eSports, you'll probably want a card with this function.
When playing games, a ray-tracing graphics card can produce stunning visuals. With the aid of this feature, you can produce images that are more realistically reflective.
Additionally, it improves the entire appearance of your gaming system, making it simpler to produce high-resolution images. The best RTX models for ray tracing are the most expensive ones.
For gamers that enjoy playing competitive games, a graphics card with RTX is a worthwhile investment. RTX will reduce processing requirements while enhancing shadows, reflections, and environments.
Because it is pricey, real-time ray tracing is not accessible to all young gamers. Players will be able to immerse themselves in the universe and enjoy more realistic settings with a higher-end graphics card.
Ray tracing graphics cards are therefore completely worthwhile because they improve your gaming experience as a whole.
How to Choose the Best Graphics Card for Ray Tracing?
Before you purchase a good graphic card for ray tracing, there are a few things you should be aware of. Here are some things to think about while choosing the best graphics card.
AMD vs. NVIDIA
Consider the brand when buying a new graphics card with ray tracing capabilities. NVIDIA and AMD are the two industry leaders in graphics card manufacturing.
While NVIDIA dominates the ray tracing graphics card market, AMD GPU also provides respectable performance. Choose the finest gaming graphics card by comparing the various brands.
Ray Tracing Capability
You should think about a graphics card's ray tracing capabilities before purchasing one. Ray tracing requires a specific type of graphics card, so be sure to get the proper one. Only Nvidia and AMD are offering real-time ray tracing at the moment.
When it comes to offering ray tracing capabilities, AMD was late to the party. They do not, however, perform as well as equivalent Nvidia GPUs despite having powerful GPUs.
Thermal Design Power
When buying a new GPU, it's crucial to consider the Thermal Design Power (TDP) of the graphics card for ray tracing. This provides a wattage estimate and shows how much heat a GPU may generate.
For instance, a graphics card with a 200 TDP will draw about 200 watts from its power supply. With this TDP, a graphics card ought to be able to run more demanding applications without overheating.
Memory
There are a few things to think about if you're thinking about implementing ray tracing for your gaming PC. Check the RAM on the graphics card.
For high-end games, your graphics card's memory capacity is crucial. Your graphics card will operate faster and better the more RAM it has.
Connections
Ray tracing requires the connections of a graphics card. The motherboard and other parts are connected to the graphics card. PCI and PCIe are the two different kinds of connectors. The oldest connection is the PCI port.
Today, more computers include the AGP interface, which was created for graphics cards. The PCIe port, however, is quicker and has more connections. Ray tracing supports both PCIe and AGP interfaces. Make sure the graphics card you select has numerous connectors.
FAQs About GPUs for Ray Tracing
What Graphics Card Has the Best Ray Tracing?
You may be asking which graphics card provides the best ray tracing if you're thinking about upgrading your graphics card. Thankfully, AMD and Nvidia both provide some excellent choices. Both are extremely power-efficient and have quiet operation.
The best ray tracing card is usually recognized as Nvidia's RTX 3090. The fastest and priciest graphics card available from NVIDIA. Another potent graphics card now on the market is AMD's Radeon RX 6800 XT.
Does Ray Tracing Work on GTX Cards?
Since GTX cards lack specialized hardware, they can only provide the most fundamental ray-tracing effects. However, ray tracing functionality for GTX cards will soon be possible thanks to a new Nvidia driver, which is fantastic news for gamers.
Unfortunately, having this support does not ensure a top-notch gaming experience. Compared to the previous GTX series, Nvidia's RTX graphics cards provide more potent hardware.
Is RTX More Effective Than GTX?
With the launch of the GeForce 20 series, NVIDIA debuted its RTX line of graphics cards. It is stronger and superior to GTX cards. Ray tracing performance between RTX and GTX GPUs varies.
While both GPUs support ray tracing, the RTX GPUs perform better when rendering on the GPU.
While both GPUs support ray tracing, the RTX series is the more reliable option because it makes use of the new Turing architecture. As a result, it can function more effectively and cost less in games of the following generation.
Final Thought
Imagine you want to play video games with better visuals and effects. A graphics card with ray tracing capabilities is essential. It is a method for simulating light and shadows.
Ray tracing is not supported by all GPUs, therefore you must carefully choose the optimal one for your gaming requirements. We have examined the top 15 best graphics card for ray tracing in 2024 in this guide. Any of these GPUs are available to buy for gaming.
As new, better models are released, we intend to update this page frequently. Please write to us in the comments section below if you have any suggestions or require further information.