Buying a brand new graphics card is often an enormous funding. For this cause, you must think twice prematurely about which GPU is best for you. Here are seven errors you must keep away from when shopping for a graphics card.

1. Is the graphics card the limiting issue in any respect?

If your PC doesn’t ship the specified efficiency in purposes or video games, the graphics card doesn’t essentially must be the limiting issue. The processor, the primary reminiscence, or inadequate cooling also can decelerate your PC. In these circumstances, putting in a stronger GPU will solely offer you a small enhance in efficiency, if any in any respect. So earlier than you resolve to purchase a brand new graphics card, you must first examine whether or not the GPU is definitely the issue. We clarify how you must proceed on this article: How can I tell if the CPU or GPU is limiting my gaming?

2. Is a brand new graphics card value it in any respect or ought to I purchase a brand new PC?

Once you might have recognized the graphics card as a weak level, the subsequent query is whether or not an improve is smart in any respect or whether or not shopping for a brand new PC makes extra sense. Ultimately, this relies closely on whether or not you may merely exchange the graphics card or whether or not you’ll then additionally want a stronger energy provide unit and/or a bigger housing. You can discover out which compatibilities it is advisable take into account within the subsequent paragraph.

Further studying: Upgrade your PC or buy a new one? A guide

3. Pay consideration to compatibility

In order to have the ability to set up the graphics card of your alternative in your PC, just a few situations should be met:

• Does your energy provide ship enough energy and have the mandatory energy connections? To reply this query, it is advisable evaluate the graphics card producer’s advice with the nominal values of your energy provide unit. Unfortunately, it isn’t often potential to learn out which energy provide unit is put in in your PC by way of software program; you must unscrew the PC and look. Before you do that, you should floor your self — e.g. on a radiator — and disconnect the PC from the facility provide. Then take away the rear aspect panel of the PC case and find the facility provide unit — often on the again, put in on the backside of the case. As a rule, there’s writing or a sticker on the aspect of the facility provide unit that signifies the particular mannequin. Using the title, you’ll find the specified info on the producer’s web site.

• Is there sufficient house within the case for the graphics card? If there’s not sufficient house in your PC case, you might not be capable to set up the graphics card you need. For this cause, you must undoubtedly examine earlier than shopping for. If you already know the mannequin designation of your enclosure and even have the guide at hand, it’s simple to seek out out from the producer’s specs. You must examine the utmost potential size and top for putting in a graphics card in your enclosure in opposition to the GPU producer’s specs for the scale of its product. If you don’t know which PC case you might have, you may all the time measure it your self.

• The third level is non-obligatory, however it can have an effect on the efficiency of the graphics card in your PC. You also needs to examine which PCIe era your processor and motherboard assist. Although PCIe is backwards suitable, which implies you can additionally use a graphics card with PCIe 4.0 in a PCIe 3.0 slot, it will end in efficiency losses.

• Last however not least, you must take into account whether or not the specified graphics card even supplies the suitable connections in your monitor. The most typical requirements in the present day are HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C. For older connections equivalent to DVI or VGA, you’ll have to resort to adapters. But that’s not all, as a result of there are additionally variations within the HDMI and DisplayPort requirements: HDMI vs. DisplayPort: Which display interface reigns supreme?

4. The proper graphics card for the aim

If you already know precisely what you need to do with the graphics card and the way a lot efficiency you want, it can save you some huge cash. For instance, a devoted graphics card is just not vital for on a regular basis workplace duties, browsing the web, streaming content material, or easy browser video games. The graphics unit built-in in lots of CPUs is completely ample for this.

If you’re a informal gamer or need to edit a video every now and then, you may’t keep away from a devoted graphics card, however you most likely don’t want a high mannequin. If, alternatively, you personal a 1440p or UHD monitor with 144Hz or much more and likewise need to play the newest video games with the absolute best particulars otherwise you frequently edit 8K movies or create complicated 3D renderings, then a high mannequin is the correct alternative for you. Our graphics card comparability will allow you to make the correct alternative:

Further studying: Best graphics cards for PC gaming

5. How a lot video reminiscence?

The subject “size of the video memory” additionally relies upon strongly in your subject of software. However, you shouldn’t make the error of evaluating a graphics card solely on the premise of the scale of the VRAM. As a rule, a bigger video reminiscence is a sign of higher efficiency, however you also needs to consider the reminiscence bandwidth, the variety of computing items, the clock charges, and the function set. The present entry-level graphics playing cards from AMD and Nvidia supply 8GB of video reminiscence on a 128-bit reminiscence interface.

This is enough for informal avid gamers who don’t all the time must play with the absolute best graphics settings. The entry-level fashions are extra problematic for inventive customers, because the comparatively small reminiscence interface limits the reminiscence bandwidth. Depending on the purposes, you might be higher off with a graphics card of the earlier era due to the 256-bit interface, even when these playing cards are additionally outfitted with solely 8GB of video reminiscence.

If, alternatively, you need to play the newest video games with the very best potential settings and activated ray tracing, then we now have to advise in opposition to graphics playing cards with 8GB video reminiscence, even when gaming in 1080p decision. In our expertise, this measurement is now not enough in increasingly more video games; we suggest 10 to 12GB VRAM as a substitute. In 1440p decision, that is once more our minimal advice; you might be higher outfitted for the longer term with 16GB. This quantity is often enough for 4K gaming in the meanwhile, however extra VRAM can’t damage for upcoming video games.

Further studying: Pushing the Radeon RX 7600’s memory: Is 8GB enough?

6. Efficiency is mirrored within the electrical energy invoice

Especially in instances of rising electrical energy costs and international warming, you must take into account energy consumption and the ensuing effectivity when shopping for a graphics card. If you play plenty of video games in your PC or usually use the GPU to full capability with inventive purposes, this may present up in your electrical energy invoice on the finish of the yr.

Foundry

7. If you purchase low cost, you purchase twice

The previous adage “if you buy cheap, you buy twice” additionally applies to a sure extent to the acquisition of a brand new graphics card. Not as a result of low cost graphics playing cards break rapidly, however as a result of you might discover out after a short while that you’d have been higher off shopping for a extra highly effective graphics card. So when shopping for a brand new graphics card, all the time take into account its future viability, in case your pockets permits it.

If your PC is simply too weak for the newly bought recreation and also you resolve to purchase a brand new graphics card that solely meets the minimal necessities, you should firstly reckon with the truth that it can solely be sufficient for the bottom graphics settings. Secondly, it could occur that solely a short while later one other recreation comes in the marketplace that you just completely need to play and that has even greater necessities, by which case you’ll have to improve once more. So it’s by no means unsuitable to plan for a bit buffer within the GPU’s computing energy.

This article initially appeared on pcwelt.de and was translated from German to English.