Graphics Cards Options in Early 2021

2021 is right around the corner, so let’s go over some of the most alluring graphics cards that are currently on the market! First of all, let’s not build any unnecessary suspense: if you can, it’d be wise to wait things out. This holds true regardless if you’re a budget-conscious buyer or just someone who doesn’t want to invest a small fortune in a GPU. There’s a bevy of exquisite graphics cards on the market right now, but the best is yet to come. This is pretty much a fact.

The GPU market, at least right now, is in a strange position. We’re going through a transition between two disparate generations of hardware — a process that’s endlessly entertaining, but also somewhat peculiar. These are the days when both Nvidia and AMD are releasing their absolute best and most awe-inspiring products. But these offerings certainly don’t come cheap. The fact that neither tech giant can meet user demand is also a cause for concern. Take the RTX 3060 Ti for example. It’s supposed to retail for $399 and yet it’s selling for nearly twice as much, in no small part because of a meager supply and a boatload of scalpers.

This, unfortunately, is a frequent occurrence, and the fact that it’s happening should come as no surprise. Still, we know this is but a momentary problem and that it’ll soon be resolved.

A Strange Conundrum

Buyers will no doubt find themselves in quite a pickle. The aforementioned generational leap means these latest graphics cards are often twice as better than the ones they’re replacing. So, for instance, the 3060 Ti is about as powerful as the RTX 2080 Super — a GPU that initially cost nearly twice as much. The same goes for AMD’s RX 6000 series of graphics cards and any other product in Nvidia’s RTX 3000 line.

In short, because both Nvidia and AMD improved their manufacturing process, they were able to harness historic gains across the board. This is an oversimplification, but it is by no means incorrect. Because of this, any top-tier graphics card — that isn’t a part of the bleeding edge — is no longer interesting nor “worth it.” This holds true regardless if they can be purchased brand-new, refurbished, or second-hand.

And yet you’d be hard-pressed to find any of these exquisite GPUs as they’re either sold out or are retailing for far more than they’re worth. So you either can’t buy them, or are forced to shell out a lot more money than you’re supposed to. Either way, it’s a lose-lose situation. Now, of course, if you have the funds and can get your hands on an RTX 3000 or RX 6000 series GPU then, by all means, spend away! You definitely won’t regret it, that’s for sure.

If that’s not the case, then you’d be wise to wait things out a bit. These prices will inevitably drop in a couple of months which means you’ll be able to save upwards of two or three hundred dollars! That’s nothing to scoff at!

Nvidia or AMD

This is a debate that’s about as old as the Intel vs. AMD one. Some folks just despise Nvidia, whereas others feel a solid bit of disgust at the notion of using an AMD graphics cards. Both ends of the spectrum and their inhabitants have their reasons, that’s for sure.

Historically speaking, Nvidia was always the better option. They had better driver support (from day one), their cards weren’t as noisy, and didn’t run as hot. But — and this is a big one — they were never cheap. AMD, on the other hand, offered gamers more value for their money. Still, you can’t have it both ways. AMD never had good drivers (still true to this day) and their GPUs always ran hotter. Like, by a lot, depending on the model.

In 2021, both Nvidia and AMD will have exceptional graphics cards. Heck, maybe that’s even an understatement. But there’s a problem, and it’s a problem that AMD simply won’t be able to solve overnight: DLSS 2.0. You’ve probably heard of it by now — it’s basically super-sampling that’s harnessing the power of artificial intelligence. It’s pretty darn amazing, especially once you see it in action.

It’s also the difference between “playable” and “unplayable” at 1440p and 4K. Take a look:

The Future of Gaming

Ray-tracing is the future, regardless if we like it or not. And right now, the only company (of the two) that’s doing it right (or doing it at all, rather) is Nvidia. AMD is supposedly working on something similar themselves, but it won’t be out any time soon. Plus, by the time it actually sees the light of day, Nvidia will have something even better up its sleeve. It’s a perpetual game of cat and mouse, and it makes one thing perfectly clear: buying an Nvidia graphics card is the only logical option at this point in time. This is especially true if you’re someone who’s streaming (HEVC hardware encoding) or is doing heavy video work.

Of course, not all games support ray-tracing. In fact, a fairly meager number of them do, but we are moving towards a future in which RT is everpresent. So, with that in mind, if you’re spending a lot of money on a GPU, you might as well future-proof yourself for a little bit longer.

2021 Graphics Cards | Cheaper Alternatives

Right now, we’re all aware of the biggest and most potent GPUs from Nvidia and AMD. They’re incredible in every sense of the word, but they’re also bafflingly expensive. Obscenely so, in fact. Fortunately, more affordable options are coming in a matter of weeks.

Nvidia will soon unveil the RTX 3050, 3050 Ti, and regular 3060 — three products that will supposedly cover the $175-$300 range. Now, these GPUs might sound cheap and underpowered, but they’ll effectively replace the likes of 2060 Super, 2070, and 2070 Super, all for a much lower price. That’s pretty darn amazing! AMD will also introduce a pretty similar range of GPUs (think RX 6500, 6600, and 6700) for about the same MSRP.

This means that you’ll be able to get a lot of bang for your buck in just a couple of months’ time. There’s really no reason to shell out huge sums of money for a graphics card right now. More affordable — but sufficiently powerful — options are right around the corner!