Best mouse pad for gaming in 2022
The best mouse pad for gaming might feel like an optional extra, but if you’ve already splashed out on an expensive clicker, it’s definitely worth the investment. After all, a professional runner can wear the sportiest shoes possible, but a bumpy road will still trip them up.
While a decent mat isn’t going to transform a bargain bin peripheral into the best gaming mouse, it’ll help everything feel a little smoother, especially if you regularly delve into the best FPS games. Even the term ‘gaming mouse pad’ may feel a little gimmicky, but trust us when we say they offer a big difference compared to your bog standard bit of cloth.
To help you pair your reliable rodent with an exceptional mat, we’ve compiled a list of the best gaming mouse pads, including mats by Razer, Logitech, SteelSeries, and even Amazon Basics.
- SteelSeries QcK – our favourite mouse pad
- Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma – adds a splash of RGB lighting
- Amazon Basics Gaming Mouse Pad – affordable
- Jialong Gaming Mouse Pad – big and unique
- Logitech G440 – a hard surface for FPS enthusiasts
- Logitech G Powerplay – charges your wireless Logitech mouse
1.
Best mouse pad for gaming
The best gaming mouse pad is the SteelSeries QcK
Expect to pay from $15 USD / £7.99 GBP
| SteelSeries QcK | |
| Surface material | Cloth |
|---|---|
| Base material | Silicon rubber |
| Sizes | S, M, L, XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL |
| Colours | Black, various limited editions |
Pros
- Mouse glides smoothly
- Affordable
- Gorgeous limited editions in the US
Cons
- Edges can fray quickly
SteelSeries’ mat is the best all-rounder. It looks smart, it won’t tear apart after a few intense multiplayer sessions, and it pairs well with rodents of any price.
SteelSeries uses a special micro-woven cloth for the ultimate smoothness and accuracy with both optical and laser sensors. The rubber anti-slip base means it’ll keep its position on the best gaming desk, no matter how heavy-handed you are on your mouse.
It’s available in multiple sizes and colours too, including limited editions on the SteelSeries store, which is perfect for tailoring your setup towards high or low DPIs. While you could go for cheaper mats, SteelSeries pads are popular because their build quality stands the test of time, so this one should last you for years to come.
2. Best RGB mouse pad
The best RGB mouse pad is the Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma
Expect to pay from $39.99 USD / £29.99 GBP
| Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma | |
| Surface material | Cloth |
|---|---|
| Base material | Silicon rubber |
| Sizes | Standard, Extended, 3XL |
| Colours | Black, Mercury, Quartz |
Pros
- RGB lighting
- Synapse software is easy to use
Cons
- Larger mats get expensive
- RGB means an extra wire on your desk
If you want to add a bit of flair to your gaming setup, the Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma puts 16.
8 million colours on the table with RGB lighting around the edges. Better yet, the lighting syncs seamlessly if you’re already rocking Razer’s best gaming keyboard.
The Goliathus also uses an anti-slip rubber base to prevent any movement during hard and fast swipes, as well as a built-in cable stay to stop any snag with wired mice.
3. Best cheap mouse pad
The best cheap mouse pad is the Amazon Basics Gaming Mouse Pad
Expect to pay from $5.81 USD / £8.44 GBP
| Amazon Basics Gaming Mouse Pad | |
| Surface material | Cloth |
|---|---|
| Base material | Silicon rubber |
| Sizes | Mini, Standard, Extended, XXL |
| Colours | Black |
Pros
- Affordable, even at larger sizes
- Good for general use
- Machine washable
Cons
- Not built for gaming
- Very thin
- Logo is prominently visible
This Amazon-branded surface is a no-frills option, perfect if you’re going for a budget mouse such as the Nacon GM-180 and you don’t want to spend more on a mat than the clicker itself.
It’s available in small, mini, XXL, and extended sizes, depending on your preference.
As a bonus, it’s machine washable, making it the ideal model if you’re a clumsy eater or spill your drink. Naturally, we’d still suggest checking out how to clean a mouse pad, but we won’t judge you for taking the easy route with this cheap and cheerful pad.
4. Best large mouse pad
The best large mouse pad is the Jialong Gaming Mouse Pad
Expect to pay around $14 USD / £34 GBP
| Jialong Gaming Mouse Pad | |
| Surface material | Cloth |
|---|---|
| Base material | Silicon rubber |
| Sizes | XXL |
| Colours | Black, 16 other prints |
Pros
- Some wonderful designs
- Covers a lot of your desk
Cons
- Only comes in one size
- Only one design option
The Jialong pad is an extended desk mat option with a practical flair, as it features a sprawling world map.
Sure, the busy geographical design won’t be for everyone, but if you’re looking for something to gaze at during matchmaking, it might be the rectangle for you.
As an extended desk mat, it’s unlikely to shift with the best gaming keyboard sitting on top of it, but a tire-tread style rubber underside also helps it stay in position on your desk. It also boasts strong stitching around the edge, meaning it won’t fall apart after a few encounters with your mouse.
5. Best hard mouse pad
The best hard mouse pad is the Logitech G440
Expect to pay $27 USD / £24.99 GBP.
| Logitech G440 | |
| Surface material | Polymer |
|---|---|
| Base material | Silicon rubber |
| Sizes | Medium |
| Colours | Black |
Pros
- Great for FPS games
Cons
- Only comes in one size
- The surface can peel after a year
Instead of cloth, Logitech’s G440 uses a hard polymer surface, resulting in less friction for your clicker to deal with.
Since there’s no fabric to fray over time, it should last longer, and less resistance means you’ll be able to land shots quicker in the likes of CS:GO.
Logitech says its pads are engineered to work best with its own gaming mouse sensors, like the one within the Logitech G Pro Wireless. However, there’s nothing to stop you from pairing this mat with your clicker of choice, providing it works on hard surfaces.
6. Best mouse pad charger
The best mouse pad charger is the Logitech G Powerplay
Expect to pay $119.99 USD / £109.99 GBP
| Logitech G Powerplay | |
| Surface material | Rubber (without mouse pad) |
|---|---|
| Base material | Silicon rubber |
| Sizes | Medium |
| Colours | Black |
Pros
- Never run out of battery
- Comes with a Logitech G440 pad
Cons
- Only works with Logitech Lightspeed mice
- Only comes in one size
Charging the best wireless gaming mouse doesn’t have to be a chore when there are mouse pads to do it for you.
Just plug one in and you’ll never have to manage cables again – at least with your rodent, anyway.
Logitech’s Powerplay mat is still the gold standard, as it charges no matter where your mouse is placed and ships with both cloth and hard G440 pads in the box. The only caveat is that you need to own one of Logitech’s Lightspeed-compatible wireless devices for it to work.
The Corsair MM1000 is a close second because of its sheer compatibility, charging any Qi-enabled wireless device – including the best Android phone – but since only one corner of the mat wirelessly charges and you have to remember to pop your mouse there at the end of your gaming session, it doesn’t exactly solve the main issue of forgetting to charge your device.
Best Gaming Mousepad — The Ultimate Guide
A gaming mousepad can be compared to the tires of a race car if you’re asking us. You can have the fastest car on the circuit with the best driver behind the wheel, but if you slap a pair of old and worn out tires underneath the car you won’t be seeing a lot of wins.
The mousepad is a piece of kit that’s often ignored by the more casual gaming audience, but that really shouldn’t be the case. There are many different pads out there, all with different specifications and characteristics, so it’s definitely a good idea to find one that matches your preferences and playing style. You’ll not only increase your personal playing comfort but you’ll also increase your performance.
To help you with your search we’ve been taking a look at our analyzed professionals across all of our games, and we used that data to create a list of five popular pro pads. We have also supplemented this list with five of our own picks, so there should be something here for everyone. In this article we’ll go over the features and specifications of each mousepad so that you can make an informed decision on your next purchase. So whether you’re in the market for a new pad or you’re just looking to learn more about the available options; we’ve got you covered!
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analyzed pro gamers
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different mousepads
Perhaps the most important advantage is that these gaming mousepads are made for, well.
.. gaming. They have been carefully designed to offer a smooth and reliable gliding experience. They’re designed for optimal tracking, so they have a playing surface with little to no irregularities, which will not only ensure a consistent and even mousing experience but will also ensure that the sensor in your mouse tracks whatever you’re doing accurately at all times. We don’t have to tell you how important it is for your gameplay that your mouse can accurately track your movements, so if you’re playing games where precision and consistency is even a tiny bit important it’s already a good idea to go for a gaming mousepad.
It doesn’t end there, however. There are tons of different kinds of gaming mousepads out there, so there’s bound to be one for you. Do you prefer a fast glide on a thin hard pad? You’ve got it. Do you want a thick pad with a very controlling feeling to rein in your wild swipes a bit? You can have that. It might not seem like it at first sight, but there can be a tremendous difference in gliding characteristics between two pads that, from afar, look the same.
Getting a playing surface that matches your own needs can definitely improve your performance. Gaming pads also come in larger sizes, whereas most consumer-grade mousepads are barely big enough for even the highest sensitivity players.
Lastly there’s also the fact that a gaming mousepad is generally better for the long term health of your mouse. If you’ve got yourself a shiny new gaming mouse you don’t want to be sanding down the feet of your mouse by sliding it around on a wooden desk or a plastic cutting board you’ve found in the kitchen, for example.
All in all, the advantages seem clear to us. If you’re even a bit serious about your gaming it’s a great idea to get yourself a nice pad to really complete your setup.
How to clean your mousepad
This list is, as we mentioned before, based on what the professionals are using. We bundled together various variations of the same pad into one entry, however.
Plenty of professionals use a special customized version of a certain pad with a team logo or gamer tag on the surface, but those pads are essentially all the same when it comes to the overall specifications and performance. These special colorways and personal editions usually have the logos and names added to the pad by sublimation, so the glide isn’t affected at all.
What you’ll see here is that most pros are using fairly large mouse pads, at least when compared to regular office mats. That’s because the overall sensitivity/eDPI of pro (shooter) players is way lower than that of most casual gamers. This gives them way more control over their aim and overall just makes for a more consistent and reliable aiming experience when compared to extremely high sensitivities where it’s nearly impossible to make any micro adjustments to the aiming reticle. Even if you feel like you don’t need a large mousepad we would recommend getting one if you have the space for it; it’s always better to have some spare space for your mouse movements than to have to run into the edge of your playing surface in the heat of battle.
MOST USED MANUFACTURERS
Zowie
SteelSeries
Logitech
Razer
HyperX
The Top 5:
Logitech G640
Zowie G-SR
Zowie G-SR-SE
SteelSeries QcK+
SteelSeries QcK Heavy
1. Logitech G640
The Logitech standard
The G640 is Logitech’s ‘standard’ gaming mousepad. It’s got a middling thickness of 3mm, no stiched edges (at least not on the regular version; there are team versions for sale that do have stitched edges) and a medium to fast glide which is quite similar to what you’ll find on the QcK line.
This pad as such isn’t very remarkable or unique, but that doesn’t take anything away from this product. It’s a reliable gaming surface that requires very little maintenance to keep in top gliding shape, and thanks to the thickness it’s also gonna be a good option for people who are often playing away from home on unpredictable surfaces.
This is another great option for people who aren’t quite sure what they prefer when it comes to mousepads, as it’s very much a ‘middle of the road’ option.
Take control
People often think that all cloth mousepads have the exact same glide, but that’s a common misconception. The Zowie G-SR is living proof of that. When compared to (most) other cloth gaming mousepads this one offers a very controlling glide with a pretty large amount of surface friction. This won’t please everyone (then again, no product does) but it is a great option for people who have a tendency to use large, aggressive swipes or for gamers who often find themselves overshooting their target.
It’s a medium thickness (3mm) pad with stitched edges and a rubber base so that it never moves around when you’re swiping around. Due to the very specific gliding experience it’s perfect for people who are looking for a bit more control from their mousepad, and the stellar quality and stitched edges will ensure that this pad lasts you for years and years.
It does require a bit of maintenance though, so you’ll need to wash it quite often if you want to keep that fresh gliding experience.
This is the best option for people who don’t like fast gaming pads and desire control.
fun fact: around
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of cs:go pros use a custom branded pad
The medium option
The Zowie G-SR-SE might sound like it’s just a recolor of the G-SR but it’s anything but. It offers a faster glide that lands somewhere between the G-SR and the other pads in this list, making it have a rather unique glide that not a lot of pads offer.
Despite the fact that this pad has been out for a while now, people seem to only just be flocking to it as we can see it rising in popularity in most of our lists. It should come as no surprise: the slightly held back feeling that you get still allows you to flick your mouse with ease and it’s not as ‘muddy’ as a pure control pad like the G-SR so it’s not as much of a ‘shock’ to use if you’re not used to those types of pads.
One potential downside of the G-SR-SE is that it’s a coated pad. This means that, once your glide ‘goes’ you will not be able to restore it to its original glide since that means the coating has worn off. How long this takes of course depends on how often and for how long you use it, but we’re just putting it out there as a warning.
4. SteelSeries QcK+
The classic
The SteelSeries QcK+ is one of the most widely used gaming mousepads, not only in the pro circuit but also in the more casual scene. Most gear enthusiasts will probably have used this mousepad one way or another throughout their gaming careers, and it makes sense. The QcK+ doesn’t really offer anything special such as stitched edges or a crazy glide, but that’s arguably what makes it so popular.
It’s a basic pad that’s very friendly on your wallet and offers a very average glide when it comes to control vs. speed, so it’s unlikely to offend anyone. This is a great choice if you’re looking to buy your first gaming mousepad and you’re unsure what your preferences are when it comes to these kinds of things.
The thickness of just 2 millimeters is nice for that seamless transition between desk and pad, but it can become a problem when used on rougher desks, so be wary of that. If you’ve got a rocky surface you should look towards the SteelSeries QcK Heavy further down this list.
Check on Amazon
fun fact: around
0%
of analyzed fortnite pros use a steelseries pad
A thicker QcK+
In our entry for the QcK+ we mentioned that it might not be an ideal pad to use on rougher surfaces due to the fact that it’s pretty thin at 2 millimeters, so the QcK Heavy is the answer to your woes if you’ve got a rocky playing surface to deal with.
Coming in at an impressive 6 millimeters in thickness it’s one of the thicker pads out there, and certainly the thickest pad in this list. This is great news for LAN gaming enthusiasts, as it’ll cover up all but the most insanely uneven surfaces so that you don’t have to worry about anything when gaming away from your home, but not everyone will love the feeling that this kind of height on a pad gives you.
Aside from that the QcK Heavy has exactly the same characteristics as the thinner QcK+. Some people note that the Heavy feels a little slower, but that’s probably because the pad is so thick that the mouse feet get ‘buried’ in the material a bit if you tend to press down hard on your mouse, which can make it feel like a slower pad.
This is a good option for people who have an uneven desk, and for people who like to game away from their own desk a lot.
You’ll probably have noticed that all the pads that we’ve listed so far are cloth pads. That’s because there are a lot more options to choose from in cloth pads due to their popularity (though one could argue this would change if pros started going for hard pads) and also because of the fact that a hard pad is much more difficult to take along with you, especially if you want a larger pad like the pros do.
Aside from that we see a variety of different gliding qualities here. The G-SR is a very controlling pad, for instance, while the QcK line is much faster with less friction.
As such, if you want to go by what the pros use you’ll want to go for a large cloth pad, with thickness and glide being the factors that are up to personal preference.
Additional picks
We know that not only aspiring professionals read our guides, and that different people have different preferences. That’s why we’ve gathered our staff to come up with five additional picks to cover the ‘gaps’ that have been left by the pro picks. We tried to include something for everyone here, ranging from ultra thin pads to massive desk-covering gaming rugs, so you should be able to find something that you like in this article. We also tried to go for picks that are commonly available. There are tons of smaller brands out there making great mousepads, but in the interest of keeping it accessible for everyone we went for options that are a bit more mainstream.
extra picks:
Endgame Gear MPC450
Razer Gigantus V2
Glorious 3XL
Logitech G440
Glorious Helios
The best ‘hybrid’ pad
If you’re looking for a pad that gives you an extremely slick glide but you don’t want to feel like Bambi on ice when you’re trying to do micro movements then the MPC450 is a great option for you.
Its Cordura surface provides an extremely slick glide once you get going but it’s just textured enough to allow you to control your mouse when making smaller movements. It’s still nowhere near a control pad or anything like that though, so if you’re looking for that you should skip this one.
Another added bonus is the fact that the foam is very firm, leading to a consistent surface that’s also water resistant (handy in case you’re a bit of a clumsy person) to boot. The looks of this pad might not be for everyone but it’s definitely a great mousepad.
Razer Gigantus V2
Best customizable mousepad
We all know that looks aren’t important when it comes to your gaming gear if you’re a competitive gamer, but if you can get gear that matches your overall setup that’s of course always a handy bonus. With the Razer Gigantus V2 you can even get a pad that’s completely your own: Razer offers an option to create your own pad, after which they’ll ship it to you.
This is of course not the first pad to offer that (you’ve got hundreds of companies who will print office mousepads for you) but what’s important here is that the Gigantus V2 is a very capable pad. In other words: you’re not getting a bubbly and inconsistent office mat if you order this one. What you get is a medium speed mousepad (the customized Gigantus V2 feels different than the regular one because the custom versions have a coating, be wary of that when you read the review) with an impressive consistency and all the features of an extremely decent gaming mousepad.
Glorious 3XL
Best desk size mousepad
Having a large mousepad on your desk is all well and good, but you don’t know freedom until you’ve tried a pad that covers your entire desk and then some, depending on your desk size. The Glorious 3XL with it’s 122×61 cm size is large enough to use as a sleeping mat for a small child, but it’s anything but a gimmicky product.
The 3XL (this same pad is available in more conservative sizes as well, by the way) offers a very nice medium to fast gliding experience that can effortlessly stand up to what some of the more mainstream brands are offering. The fact that you never run out of surface to mouse around on is also a special feeling in and of itself, so if you’re a very low sensitivity player or you’re of the opinion that you just cannot have enough space for your mouse this is a dream come true for you.
This obviously isn’t an ideal traveling pad (unless you use it as a blanket on the plane or whatever) but having your entire desk covered in mousepad does look pretty cool, and the glide and performance of the 3XL is fantastic to boot.
Logitech G440
Best hard mousepad
Most gamers these days are using cloth mousepads, but there are obviously still those who prefer a hard pad. The Logitech G440 is a great option if you’re one of those aforementioned people. It’s not the largest mousepad in the world (at 26×34 cm) so super low sensitivity players should probably be wary here, but aside from that it checks all the boxes. The polypropylene top provides that trademark fast glide with little friction that you want if you’re a fan of hard pads, while the rubber base ensures that the G440 stays put when you’re gaming. With a thickness of 3mm it’s also unlikely to offend anyone, so all in all this is a great option for fans of hard pads.
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Glorious Helios
Best ultra thin mousepad
This is the second time that Glorious pops up in our staff picks list, and the fact of the matter is that they fully deserve the two spots. The Glorious Helios not only is one of the thinnest pads out there at the moment (coming in at 0.5 millimeters of thickness) but it’s also one of the only hard pads on the market that’s available in a large size.
If you’re looking for an ultra thin pad and/or a large hard pad this is one of your only options at this point in time, but rest assured that it won’t disappoint. The Helios offers a nice and speedy, low friction glide and the fact that it’s almost imperceptible when you’re using it makes for a unique experience. The bottom is covered with an adhesive so that your Helios doesn’t end up in the corner of your room once you do an aggressive swipe, and that adhesive does what it promises to do without leaving any traces on whatever surface you’ve decided to put it on.
This isn’t the best pad for gamers who are often moving around, but if you’re in the market for a (large) and ultra thin hard pad you absolutely need to take a look at this one.
Mousepads come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and it’s mainly up to you to figure out which one is going to be right for you. All of the pads in this article are going to be doing exactly what they need to do when it comes to performance (i.e. they don’t slide around or have a surface that starts to bundle up after a couple of hours) so it’s mainly a job of figuring out what suits you. If you’re completely unsure we would recommend you to go for a nice middle-of-the-road cloth pad to start out with.
As a little side note: the glide of cloth pads can be affected by a number of factors, including how clean the surface is, the humidity in the air, and the age of the pad. As such it can be quite hard to rank the gliding experience of similar pads. Therefore it’s possible that person A would rank a certain pad to be faster than person B would, and it’s also why we try to be as ‘broad’ as possible when ranking the gliding experience of these pads. Nevertheless, there should be an option in here for everyone regardless of your preferences, so hopefully this guide has been informative for you.
Thanks for reading!
2022 PC gaming graphics cards
NVIDIA or AMD, GTX or RTX? Buy now or wait for the next generation? Questions like these haunt you when it’s time for an upgrade. To help you solve at least some of them, we have compiled a list of the best graphics cards at the moment.
NVIDIA
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti
GPU — GA102 | CUDA Cores – 10,752 | Memory — 24GB GDDR6X | Bus — 384-bit
Pros :
- Ultimate Power
- Large memory
- Ideal for 4K resolution
Cons :
- Out of reach for most gamers
- Uses a lot of energy
The
GeForce RTX 3090 Ti was designed for enthusiasts who don’t accept compromise and are willing to pay for the pleasure of owning the world’s most powerful graphics card.
Indeed, it has an advanced graphics processor, and the list of supported technologies takes up a whole page. The graphics card will easily handle any modern games at 4K resolution with ray tracing enabled (especially if you use the DLSS function). Among the shortcomings of the video card — prohibitively high price, indefatigable power consumption and large dimensions.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
GPU — GA102 | CUDA cores — 10,496 | Memory — 24GB GDDR6X | Bus — 384-bit
Pros :
- Very powerful
- Large memory
- Good for both gaming and professional use
Cons :
- Very expensive
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 costs $500 less than the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti, while not losing much power to the older model. It’s a great graphics card for 4K and 1440p gaming as well as professional tasks like video editing and 3D modeling.
However, it is still very expensive, especially considering that it is not easy to find a video card at the suggested retail price. The adapter consumes 100 watts less power than the 3090 Ti, which will significantly offload your power supply. And take care of the presence of a spacious case that can accommodate an overall three-slot video card.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
GPU — GA102 | CUDA Cores – 10,240 | Memory – 12GB GDDR6X | Bus — 384-bit
Pros :
- Support for modern rendering and visualization technologies
Cons :
- Back-to-back memory for 4K games
- 12-pin power connector included
The
3080 Ti is designed with gamers in mind, so it supports all the latest technologies for an unrivaled gaming and streaming experience. Among them are DLSS, and ray tracing, and Nvidia Reflex, and an encoder for better image transmission through streaming, and Resizable BAR, and much more.
The graphics card is powerful enough to run games at maximum settings in 4K resolution and with DLSS: it provides more than 60 fps in all modern AAA titles. You can count on this graphics adapter to provide you with high performance for years to come.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
GPU — GA102 | CUDA Cores – 8,960 | Memory — 10/12GB GDDR6X | Bus — 320/384-bit
Pros :
- More powerful than RTX 2080 Ti
- Supports modern technologies
- Good for 1440p and 4K
Cons :
- Not enough memory to play in high resolution
- 12-pin power connector
The GeForce RTX 3080 outperforms the RTX 2080 Ti by approximately 15%, while the new graphics card packs more features than the previous generation.
You can still play 4K with this video card and there is no game that it can’t handle at 1440p, but with ray tracing enabled, you’ll have to make compromises in the form of lower settings. And using the newfangled 12-pin power connector will force you to look for an appropriate adapter or upgrade the power supply.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
GPU — GA104 | CUDA Cores – 6,144 | Memory – 8GB GDDR6X | Bus — 256-bit
Pros
Nvidia developed the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti as a «response» to its closest competitor, the AMD RX 6800. The answer was controversial: the model outperforms its rival in 4K resolution, but is slightly inferior in 1440p and 1080p. However, with the activation of ray tracing and DLSS, Nvidia’s adapter wins a clear victory.
This is a good graphics card if you don’t plan on playing at 4K resolution, where it’s getting too small, and by that we mean making trade-offs in the form of lower settings or frame rates. On the other hand, we would recommend paying a little extra and getting an RTX 3080.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
GPU — GA104 | CUDA Cores – 5,888 | Memory – 8GB GDDR6 | Bus — 256-bit
Pros
Cons :
- 12-pin connector
- Weak for 4K
The
RTX 3070 is great if you’re not going for max settings and high resolutions. With this graphics card, you can comfortably play at 1440p, and it supports all modern Nvidia technologies, including RTX, DLSS, Resizable BAR and so on. In terms of performance, it compares with the RTX 2080 Ti, the flagship of the previous generation, which is a very good result for a middle-class video card.
At the same time, this model is smaller than the older representatives of its generation, less noisy and more energy efficient. The disadvantages include the presence of a 12-pin power connector, although this should not be a big problem, given that the manufacturer puts in the kit an adapter for power supplies that are not equipped with the appropriate connectors.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 TI
GPU — TU102 | CUDA Cores – 4,352 | Memory — 11GB GDDR6 | Bus — 352-bit
Pros :
- Serious Gaming — 4K/60fps
- Faster than $3,000 Titan V
- All the goodies of ray tracing and AI
Cons :
- Conservative price tag
Here it is, the true nextgen. GPU based on the Turing architecture, ultra-modern and unsurpassed «king of graphics». While the RTX 2080 and 2070 Super are able to match the performance of the GTX 1080 Ti, this card leaves them far behind, giving you 4K/60fps in all but the most demanding games today.
No matter how you feel about newfangled (for PC gaming) ray tracing technology, there’s no getting away from it in the future, and the RTX 2080 Ti is ready for it. With the release of PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles that support ray tracing, there are more and more games with appropriate graphic effects, and sooner or later you will have to upgrade.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
GPU — GA104 | CUDA Cores – 4,864 | Memory – 8GB GDDR6 | Bus — 256-bit
Pros :
- Ideal for playing at 1440p and 1080p
- Quiet
- Energy efficient
- Relatively affordable
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti could become a new «people’s» video card, if not for the shortage and high prices for devices in this segment of computer technology. However, owners of the model can count on excellent performance at 1440p and 1080p, and for 1080p you don’t even need to use DLSS when ray tracing is activated — the video card can handle it.
Unlike the «monsters» of energy consumption in the face of older models, 3060 Ti is energy efficient and quiet. In terms of performance, it can be compared with the more expensive RTX 2080 SUPER, and we would recommend buying this video card to those who have finally decided to switch from a Pascal family video card to something new.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER
GPU — TU104 | CUDA Cores – 2,944 | Memory – 8GB GDDR6 | Bus — 256-bit
Pros :
- Excellent 4K gaming
- RTX Turing architecture
Cons
The days of the RTX 2080 were numbered as soon as Nvidia admitted to releasing a Super version soon. The new graphics card outperforms the GTX 1080 Ti with more cores and faster memory. And yet, the latter has the best performance with tracing the best at the turn of up to $1000. GPU — TU104 | CUDA Cores – 2,560 | Memory – 8GB GDDR6 | Bus — 256-bit Pros : Cons : The RTX 2070 Super was born to win with the new Navi chips. As AMD took aim at the old RTX 2070, Nvidia released an upgraded version that is cheaper and slightly inferior to the 2080. It’s fast. Really fast. Impressive 4K can be squeezed out of this card, far ahead of Pascal’s best result on the GTX 1080 Ti. GPU — GA106 | CUDA Cores – 3,584 | Memory — 12GB GDDR6 | Bus — 192-bit Pros : Cons : The GeForce RTX 3060 boasts a low suggested retail price, as well as good performance at 1080p and 1440p, combined with a whopping 12 GB of video memory. The latter, however, is debatable, since this amount is redundant for playing at resolutions lower than 4K. Although, on the other hand, there is never enough memory. The graphics card allows you to play with ray tracing, provided you’re willing to compromise and don’t mind turning on DLSS — without intelligent anti-aliasing, the RTX 3060 can’t do much with RT enabled. GPU — TU106 | CUDA Cores – 2.176 | Memory – 8GB GDDR6 | Tire — 256-bit Pros : Cons : The RTX 2060 is the bare minimum required to enter the magical world of ray tracing (even though the technology isn’t perfect yet, RTX games are truly transforming). More importantly, thanks to DLSS 2.0, you can play games at 1440p resolution with no fps loss and with maximum graphics settings with this video card. If you choose between RTX 2060 and RTX 2060 SUPER, then we would recommend the second one: it has better overclocking potential, more memory and higher frequency, which means it will stay relevant longer compared to the younger version. GPU — GA106 | CUDA Cores – 2,560 | Memory – 8GB GDDR6 | Bus — 128-bit Pros : Cons : GeForce RTX 3050 is a budget option for a gaming system. This model is distinguished from similar performance video cards of the middle segment from the previous generation by supporting a larger number of current technologies. Cool and quiet, the graphics card is able to deliver acceptable frame rates at 1080p. However, it is too weak for ray tracing games, although the available tensor cores do not feel superfluous — they can be used to activate DLSS and the subsequent increase in fps. GPU — TU116 | CUDA Cores – 1,536 | Memory — 6GB GDDR6 | Bus — 192-bit Pros : Nvidia’s consumer graphics card takes advantage of the shader benefits of the Turing 20xx series architecture, but lacks the ray tracing and intelligent processing that sets the RTX line apart from other GPUs. Overclocked cards like the STRIX GTX 1660 Ti are too expensive, closer to the RTX 2060 and RX 5700, but the GTX 1660 Ti has no rivals in RRP. GPU — TU116 | CUDA Cores – 1.408 | Memory – 6GB GDDR5 | tire — 192-bit Pros : Cons : Since the introduction of Polaris GPUs in the sub-$300 segment, the GTX 1660 has taken a turn for the worse. The Nvidia card still has a slight performance advantage, which gives it the lead, offsetting the cost difference. When we spend money, we expect to get the highest possible frame rate for them, and green GPUs still meet our needs. In addition, they are equipped with new technologies Integer Scaling (scaling without blurring) and Low Latency Mode (low latency mode), which AMD graphics cards lack. GPU — TU116 | CUDA Cores – 1,280 | Memory — 4GB GDDR6 | Bus — 128-bit Pros Cons
GeForce GTX 1650 Super is enough for games at 1080p or lower. If you’re willing to lower your graphics settings, you’ll be able to get high fps, and the Turing architecture’s support for DLSS technology will further improve performance. At the same time, 4 GB of video memory is frankly not enough for modern AAA games. This will have to be taken into account if you want to download a pack of high-quality textures for your favorite title. GPU — GP107 | CUDA Cores — 768 | Memory – 4GB GDDR5 | Bus — 128-bit Pros : Cons
If the RTX 2060 is the bare minimum for ray-traced gaming, then the GTX 1050 Ti is the bare minimum for gaming. Of course, you will have to make compromises with it: it is suitable for gaming at a resolution not higher than 1080p, and it is better to forget about the maximum graphics settings. On the other hand, it is very cheap (although it could be even cheaper) and will run all modern video games — even those from the AAA segment. However, it should be noted that with the release of a new generation of consoles, its performance will no longer be enough. GPU — Navi 21 | RDNA Cores – 5,120 | Memory — 16GB GDDR6 | Bus — 256-bit Pros0025 Cons : The AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT is a direct competitor to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, only losing slightly in power. With this graphics adapter, AMD is returning to the top graphics card segment for the first time since the release of the R9 Fury X. In terms of pure performance, this model breathes down the back of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090, but in real-world performance, things are a little more complicated, since Nvidia has an trump card in in the form of DLSS technology. On the other hand, the «red» video card is cheaper than the «green» competitors, which can be a weighty argument in its favor. GPU — Navi 21 | RDNA cores – 4,608 | Memory — 16GB GDDR6 | Bus — 256-bit Pros : Cons : The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT takes on the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 by being roughly on par with the competition but with more memory, which is great for 4K and 1440p gaming. All this is true on one condition: you are ready to abandon ray tracing in games. Alas, in terms of RT support, AMD video cards lose to Nvidia solutions, so when you enable the appropriate effects, you will encounter a strong drop in frame rate. It is worth considering this nuance. GPU — Navi 22 | RDNA cores – 2,560 | Memory — 12GB GDDR6 | Bus — 192-bit Pros : Cons : AMD promises that the Radeon RX 6700 XT is able to outperform not only the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, but even the RTX 3070, at a more modest price tag than its competitors from Nvidia. This is a great choice for 1440p games. The video card is compact, quiet and «cold». It has 12 GB of video memory, which allows you to use high-resolution textures, and reasonable power consumption. However, in terms of performance per dollar, this is not the most economical solution, so we recommend carefully weighing the pros and cons. GPU — Navi 23 | RDNA Cores – 2,048 | Memory – 8GB GDDR6 | Bus — 128-bit Pros Cons : The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is a smart alternative to GPUs like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060/Ti that delivers good gaming performance at 1080p. Traditionally for AMD video cards, this model does not cope well with ray-traced games due to the fact that competitors have DLSS support. AMD has an answer for this in the form of FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), but this technology is not as well established as DLSS, and is supported by fewer games. GPU — Navi 10 | RDNA cores – 2,560 | Memory – 8GB GDDR6 | Bus — 256-bit Pros : Cons : With aggressive pricing, AMD has turned out to be a real monster that can not only make the RTX 2070 Super tense, but also save money at the same time. The best part about this is that for the money, the RT 5700 XT almost takes us to the promised land of high-end GPUs, challenging the «green» gang. Still, it (in its reference form) would not be so noisy and burning. GPU — Navi 24 | RDNA Cores — 1.024 | Memory — 4GB GDDR6 | Bus — 64-bit Pros : Cons : The main disadvantage of the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT is its small amount of memory: with 4 GB, you can forget about decent gaming performance at resolutions above 1080p. Of course, one should not even dream of ray tracing in this case. Add to this the 64-bit bus, which also affects the efficiency of the video card, and you have an option that should be settled only as a last resort. AMD, however, takes an affordable price tag and the lack of alternatives in the budget segment. For the most part, this is a plug card, but for lack of a better one, it will do. GPU — Navi 10 | RDNA Cores – 2.304 | Memory – 8GB GDDR6 | Bus — 256-bit Pros : Cons : The RX 5700, which runs on the same chip, but with cut frequencies, immediately follows its XT companion. By the way, this also affects overclocking: even in capable hands, it will still be inferior to its older sister. And it’s sad, because the RX 5700 is a great powerful graphics card with a moderate price and performance that can put Nvidia to shame in its price segment. GPU — Navi 10 XLE | RDNA Cores – 2. Pros : The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT performs well at 1080p and slightly worse at 1440p, but at 4K resolution it will show modest results. Its main advantage is the new RDNA architecture based on the 7nm process technology, due to which gamers can expect impressive results in DX12 applications, where the video card confidently outperforms its competitor from the «green» camp — NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060. that it would be nice to add a little and get a more powerful RX 5700 XT. GPU — Navi 14 | RDNA cores — 1.408 | Memory – 4/8GB GDDR6 | Bus — 128-bit Pros : Cons : For 1080p gaming, the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT is a good choice. The video card will be a good alternative to the outdated Radeon RX 580 and competes on equal terms with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super, getting close even to the GTX 1660. In the budget segment, a lot depends on the price, and the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT is ready to tear and throw, pushing the competition. GPU — Polaris 30 | GCN Cores — 2.304 | Memory – 8GB GDDR5 | Bus — 256-bit Pros : Cons : The latest generation of Polaris has given us 12nm chips with impressive gaming power at a very modest price tag. They are slightly inferior to the GTX Turing graphics cards, but still able to surprise. The latter has long been a problem for «red» GPUs, but you can easily find a card with additional cooling that will solve this misunderstanding. GPU — Polaris 20 | GCN Cores — 2.304 | Memory – 8GB GDDR5 | Bus — 256-bit Pros : The price of the RX 580 has gone down, and it has found itself in the budget segment. Its price tag may not be attractive enough for many, but the video card justifies every ruble invested in it. After all, it was AMD’s flagship just a couple of years ago. Actually, it is still capable of producing impressive results in 1080p and even 1440p. GPU — Polaris 20 | GCN Cores – 2,048 | Memory – 4GB GDDR5 | Bus — 256-bit Pros : Cons : An excellent budget graphics card that can make the GTX 1050 Ti shine with its presence. Still, the 4GB RX 570 can handle the highest settings at 1080p. A real budget hero. There are a number of criteria to consider when choosing a graphics card for your gaming PC. First of all — the price: in the current realities, the cost of a graphics adapter often has the greatest impact on decision making. When choosing between Nvidia and AMD, it’s worth considering that the «green» graphics cards offer flagship performance with ray tracing and DLSS intelligent anti-aliasing technology. AMD, in turn, is betting on a more attractive price, and its cards work better with AMD processors. Intel has already joined the race between video chip manufacturers, so the choice will expand soon. Based on your monitor resolution and desired graphics settings. When it comes to video memory, the “more is better” statement is true, especially when it comes to 4K gaming. Although there are nuances here too: a weak video chip combined with a large amount of memory will not give out impressive performance. In other words, you need a balance: do not be too lazy to study the characteristics and tests of the video card so as not to mistakenly buy an “office plug” with a large amount of memory that it does not need. Any graphics card consumes power, so it’s important to make sure your power supply matches the graphics adapter’s appetites. Usually, the specifications of the video card indicate the recommended power supply, and if it is weaker than required, it is better to take care of a replacement. The best graphics cards are like a firebird from ancient mythology. The very ideal that you heard about, but did not meet. We tried to correct this injustice and compiled a list of the TOP five progressive devices. 916GB And the power of 850 W is a characteristic feature of all analogues that are not inferior to it in terms of performance. This is good and bad for three reasons: The dimensions depend primarily on the cooling system. The two side fans rotate clockwise, while the central one rotates counterclockwise. This model has increased due to the blades, which provides a good air flow to the circuits themselves, saving the system from overheating. ASUS Radeon RX 6900 XT switches to cooling if its temperature exceeds 60°C. This allows you not to create unnecessary noise with a small load on the system. Inside the box, in addition to 5120 CUDA cores, there are 16 GB of the above-mentioned RAM, which significantly distinguishes the card from other models and brings it to the top of our rating. Article on the topic: Laptop for a designer: top 5 devices “in style” Waterblock is what catches the eye when visually different from competitors. It’s just to keep her cool. When heated, the system unit barely heats up. The ASUS Radeon RX 6800 has multi-colored backlighting, which adds to the player’s positive. This is neither this nor that: if there is a place for a radiator, it’s good. If not, it is better to look at other video cards. The video card occupies, as usual, two slots. Inside — 4608 cores with a memory capacity of 16 gigabytes. This is slightly smaller than the previous video card, but sufficient for complex operations on the computer. Fans work without noise and rattling, because they are fastened with four screws to the case without additional rubber bands. Note: How to test the processor: 3 popular utilities This graphics card is good for gaming and mining. Only soldered memory in the device can strain. Since over time it will not be possible to add gigabytes for better system performance. Even if you only need a foundation for video streaming or surfing the Internet, this graphics card can make your system faster by speeding up video decoding or screen speed. Especially if you previously used a budget graphics processor. The video card comes with an envelope with detailed instructions, product description and a ruler for measurements. A trifle, but nice. By the way, the length of the device is 32 cm.
Asus graphics cards are checked for 144 hours before they hit the shelves, which guarantees the flawless operation of the system. The ASUS Radeon RX 6800 16GB is not exorbitantly priced, which corresponds to the quality offered. There are really more blades here: 13 on the central fan and 11 each on the side ones. New video card assembly technologies were used to cool the radiator and fans. This guarantees stable operation when performing any tasks. Interesting article: Which is better for gaming: comparing NVidia GeForce GTX 970 or GTX 1060? One of the most affordable yet good graphics cards you can afford. Even with a heavy gaming load, the system does not exceed 66°C. The model provides for the cooling of all the main elements that heat up in the first place. Topic: 5 best processors from Intel for NVidia GeForce GTX 1060
It is worth picking up one of the best on a budget to handle demanding toys. You can manage any: freely and without delay, as well as edit videos in high resolution. The only problem is that its little sister RTX 2070 Super is almost as good in terms of price and power, so sometimes you might wonder why the RTX 2080 Super is needed?
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER
And considering the fact that the 2070 costs a couple of hundred dollars less than the 2080, you can imagine what a bargain this is.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
In any case, this is a good «folk» map, which you will not have problems with most current AAA titles.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 TI
However, given the small number of games that really use ray tracing, this loss becomes not so significant. And it becomes even smaller if you remember at what cost for PC performance all this beauty is given.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660
For now.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER
A consolation can be the impressive power efficiency of the graphics card, which gives room for creating quiet and economical gaming builds.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
AMD
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
The video card is low-noise, supports the HDMI 2.1 standard, gives a performance boost when used with AMD Ryzen 5000 family processors — an excellent solution for enthusiasts, especially considering the democratic price.
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
These are impressive figures, but only if you forget about ray tracing, where the «red» cards are traditionally in the laggard position, even though this model is equipped with hardware support for RT.
AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT
It makes no sense to talk about something more serious, but the video card does not pretend to be: AMD did not declare that the RX 6600 XT would show itself worthy, for example, in 4K.
AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT
Yes, the Nvidia card is more powerful, but the difference is incredibly small.
AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
AMD Radeon RX 5700
AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT
304 | Memory — 6GB GDDR6 | Bus — 256-bit
AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT
But only if you choose a model with 8 GB of video memory: alas, the 4 GB version does not perform in the best way even at this resolution.
AMD Radeon RX 590
True, sometimes they can get hot…
AMD Radeon RX 580
AMD Radeon RX 570
There is an 8GB version of the RX 570 on the market, however, the extra 4 GB mark-up brings it very close to the cost of the RX 580, which now, we must admit, looks very attractive.
How to choose a gaming graphics card?
The higher the resolution, the more powerful graphics card you will need; the same is true for those who like to move all the graphic settings sliders to the right. In turn, if you plan to play undemanding network titles, you can think about a budget video card or a video chip (APU) built into the processor.
Also pay attention to the dimensions of the video adapter, otherwise you may encounter difficulties when trying to install it in a PC case.
BEST VIDEO CARDS 2022
Multicolored ASUS Radeon RX 6800 16GB
These LEDs are located inside the housing on the motor board. What is remarkable: the video card is located separately, the main radiator is also located. They are connected by tubes 60 cm long.
Silent ASUS Radeon RX 6800 16GB graphics card
Inexpensive graphics card ASUS GeForce GTX1650 4GB
This model is distinguished by the flawless sliding of the bearings used in the system. They are lubricated with high-quality aerospace oil. Dust-proof fans ensure quiet, long-term operation of the graphics card. The device is compact, which will be a plus when assembling a computer.
One of the budget video cards: ASUS GeForce GTX1650 4GB
