Virtual Reality is experiencing exponential growth, with gaming being one of its prominent sectors. Are you a gamer who wants to explore VR gaming? The first pitstop would be to invest in the right graphics card. So, how to go about this?
VR setups aren’t just about high frame rates. Instead, you need consistency and low latency. High VRAM, a lot of cores, and a high memory bandwidth are the key specs to consider. Simply put, you need a GPU that is future-ready, affordable, and still good enough to keep challenges like motion sickness out.
But finding such a GPU isn’t that easy. It requires a ton of research, A/B tests, and more. Worry not, I’ve done all the hard work so that you don’t have to.
Contents
- 8 Best Graphics Cards for VR in 2023
- 1. Best Overall: EVGA FTW3 Ultra Gaming RTX 3080 Ti
- 2. Best Runner-Up: ASUS ROG Strix RTX 3080 V2 OC
- 3. Best Cooling Setup: Gigabyte AORUS RTX 4090
- 4. Best Value: XFX Speedster Radeon RX 6900 XT
- 5. Best Mid-Range Option: PNY GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
- 6. Best Air Cooled GPU: PowerColor Radeon RX 6800 XT
- 7. Best Low Profile GPU: ZOTAC RTX 3070 AMP Holo
- 8. Cheapest Option: MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2070 Super
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Verdict
8 Best Graphics Cards for VR in 2023
I tested 14 different GPUs that can handle virtual reality and evaluated them based on benchmarks and real-world performances. I even considered the driver support and price-to-performance ratio before zeroing in on my top picks.
As for the overview, premium options are right at the top, followed by mid-range picks suited to specific needs, and budget choices at the bottom.
So, let us get the ball rolling!
1. Best Overall: EVGA FTW3 Ultra Gaming RTX 3080 Ti
- GPU Architecture: NVIDIA Ampere
- Memory: 12GB GDDR6X
- GPU Clock Speed: 1800 MHz
- PCIe Version: PCIe 4.0
- Cooling: iCX3 Cooling
- PSU Requirement: 750 Watts
EVGA RTX 3080 Ti is my go-to GPU for VR-specific requirements. It strikes the perfect balance between features, performance, and price. I even compared it against the RTX 3080, but the Ti variant felt way faster, courtesy of a higher number of CUDA cores and a bigger chunk of VRAM.
VR and Gaming Experience
The FTW3 Ultra Gaming GPU is the perfect fit. Throw any VR game at it, and it can consistently churn out 90+ FPS with ease. Amplifying the VR performances is NVIDIA’s proprietary VRWorks, which is great at multi-resolution shading.
Plus, there are Tensor and Ray Tracing cores for better visuals, shadow renders, and lighting effects. The 3080 Ti also makes room for DLSS support and low latency viewing to minimize VR-specific motion sickness and also brings in the elusive Precision X1 software bundle to help fine-tune the card for better VR output.
Here are some of the games that I tested this card with:
Do note that the resolution aspects are different while viewing the games on a VR headset. The per-eye resolution of the VR headset matters. In this case, I tested the games on Oculus Rift S, boasting a per-eye res of 1280 x 1440 pixels.
Another interesting feature that helps with VR and standard gaming is the availability of the iCX3 cooling setup, which brings the highest level of heat dissipation standards and ensures top-notch heat management.
Processing Power & Connectivity
When it comes to the specifications, the FTW3 Ultra Gaming is nothing less than extraordinary, all thanks to the 12GB GDDR6X video RAM, which helps render even the most complex visuals with ease.
Next in line is the maxed-out clock speed of 1800 MHz, allowing you to handle and load games in a jiffy. Adding to this is the Ampere architecture, which is power-efficient yet performant. There are 10,240 CUDA cores in play, capable of handling even the most complex of textures without breaking a sweat.
As for the connectors needed to pair external monitors or VR headsets like the ones from Oculus, you get HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort support on this card. Then, there is PCIe 4.0 for faster CPU-GPU interactions, followed by the need for a 750W PSU. However, you can always get a bigger power module if your budget allows it.
Parameter | Specification |
---|---|
Cores | 10,240 CUDA Cores |
Max Clock Speed | 1,800 MHz (Reference Card) |
Power Consumption | 320W (Estimated, depending on the variant) |
Average FPS for VR games | 100-130 FPS (Varies by game & settings) |
Memory Speed | 19 Gbps |
Design and Warranty
Design-wise, the EVGA GPU forth a 2.2-slot layout, making it compatible with almost every mid- and full-tower case. There is also an all-metal bending-inhibiting backplate followed by support for ARGB LED to optimize visuals.
This GPU from EVGA even includes PCB cutouts to further optimize airflow. And when it comes to warranty, you get three years’ worth of post-purchase support, covering every issue along the way.
Bottomline
Overall, EVGA 3080 Ti FTW3 is a premium GPU to get for VR gaming and content creation with a focus on mixed reality. It offers the best features in the given segment with a massive chunk of VRAM and over 10K CUDA cores, making life easier for the gamer and content creator in you.
Pros
- Excellent VR gaming performance
- Lowest possible latency
- 3 year warranty is a lifesaver
- Excellent cooling setup
- Decent overclocking support
- Several connectivity options
Cons
- A power guzzler
- Pricey
2. Best Runner-Up: ASUS ROG Strix RTX 3080 V2 OC
- GPU Architecture: Ampere GA102
- Memory: 10GB GDDR6X
- GPU Clock Speed: 1935 MHz
- PCIe Version: PCIe 4.0
- Cooling: Triple Axial Tech fan layout
- PSU Requirement: 750 Watts
On paper, there isn’t a lot to choose between the ROG Strix RTX 3080 V2 OC and the recently reviewed 3080 Ti from EVGA. Even though its capabilities are quite evident, it even compares really well to the older RTX 3080, courtesy of better thermal refinements and a more aesthetic design.
VR and Gaming Experience
Gaming-wise, the ASUS ROG Strix NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 V2 OC is literally a behemoth, all thanks to the perfect combination of tensor and ray tracing cores. The built-in DLSS support helps with visual upscaling, whereas ASUS’s proprietary software solution takes care of VR optimization.
Despite handling gaming like a pro, heating isn’t an issue for the ASUS ROG Strix NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 V2 OC, all thanks to the axial-tech layout, bolstered by three aesthetic fans.
And finally, if you are into gaming thrills, this GPU features RGB lighting, ASUS Aura Sync, to be exact — allowing you to play around with gaming scenarios.
Here are the games I tested it with:
Processing Power & Connectivity
The 10GB high-speed VRAM steals the show. Powering along is the base clock speed of 1440 MHz and the near 30% overclocking potential at 1935 MHz. This way, you can leverage this GPU not just for VR games but also for traditional yet demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and more.
There are 8704 CUDA cores in existence, all of which add to the rendering quality and standard performances.
Connectivity-wise, ASUS offers three DisplayPort 1.4a units and 2 HDMI slots, each allowing you to pair 4K and 8K monitors and even VR headsets. Additionally, this card is PCIe 4.0 compatible and works best with a 750W graphics card.
Parameter | Specification |
---|---|
Cores | 8,704 CUDA Cores |
Max Clock Speed | Up to 1,935 MHz (OC Mode) |
Power Consumption | Approx. 340W (Varies based on the usage) |
Average FPS for VR games | 90-120 FPS (Depending on game & settings) |
Memory Speed | 19 Gbps |
Design and Warranty
When it comes to the design, there is a metal backplate in sight, ensuring that there is no chance of the card bending. Plus, the 2.9-slot makes a good case for this card to fit in large mid-tower and standard full-tower cases.
Also, the triple fan layout features barrier rings, which do take up some space but are great at pushing the air down. Warranty-wise, ASUS has you covered for three years, which you can extend if needed.
Bottomline
ASUS ROG Strix RTX 3080 V2 OC hinges on raw power when it comes to handling games and content creation. As for VR experiences, it is the high-speed RAM and OC capabilities that make it a recommended GPU for virtual reality.
Pros
- Features ray tracing cores
- Excellent cooling
- Durable and aesthetic design
- RGB lighting support
- The three-year warranty is more than generous
Cons
- Pricey
- Doesn’t fit into every mid-tower case
3. Best Cooling Setup: Gigabyte AORUS RTX 4090
- GPU Architecture: Ada Lovelace
- Memory: 24GB GDDR6X
- GPU Clock Speed: 1800 MHz
- PCIe Version: PCIe 4.0
- Cooling: Waterforce Cooling setup
- PSU Requirement: 850 Watts
You will need to save a lot if you wish to afford the Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 4090 Xtreme WATERFORCE 24G. At least I had to.
Priced well above $2000, this is as premium as a GPU can get. It leaps way ahead of the RTX 3090 courtesy of better architecture and a more beefed-up VRAM, all of which add to the overall performance of the card.
VR and Gaming Experience
When it comes to gaming, especially VR games, the 4th gen Tensor and 3rd gen Ray tracing cores do their bit, allowing you to experience the best visuals and shadows ever. The 384-bit memory interface ensures faster game loading and near-zero lags.
This card features an all-in-one cooling system, termed the WATERFORCE cooling unit. While it ensures minimal heating and top-notch heat dissipation, helming it is a massive 360mm radiator. There are three 120mm built-in fans, which make the card large but equally efficient.
As for the games, here are the titles I tested:
Processing Power & Connectivity
The Gigabyte RTX 4090 brings home 10,496 CUDA cores, capable of handling anything you throw at it. Adding to this 24 GB worth of VRAM and a clock speed threshold of 1800 MHz.
As far as the connectivity traits are concerned, you get access to PCIe 4.0, a feature that makes GPU-CPU interactions faster. Adding to this is HDMI and DisplayPort support, allowing you to pair monitors, VR headsets, and anything compatible. You would need a 750W PSU to get it running, but I would recommend something higher.
Parameter | Specification |
---|---|
Cores | 10,496 |
Max Clock Speed | 1800 MHz |
Power Consumption | Approx. 450W (Varies based on usage and overclocking) |
Average FPS for VR games | 130-160 FPS (Depending on the game & settings) |
Memory Speed | 21 Gbps |
Design and Warranty
Design-wise, the metal backplate stands out, followed by the inclusion of an anti-sag metal bracket. All these elements ensure that the card is robust enough. As for the layout, the 2.5-slot ensures it can work with most mid-range cases.
You can always use full-tower cases if you have a large PSU, additional fans, and other components in sight. Also, this card offers four years of warranty, which should cover you for most internal and manufacturing issues.
Bottomline
The Gigabyte AORUS RTX 4090 doesn’t need a reason to be on this list. It scores high in every segment, but its massive WATERFORCE cooling setup is what steals the show, provided you can look beyond the CUDA cores.
Pros
- The ADA Lovelace architecture
- Excellent cooling setup
- A massive 24GB of VRAM
- Dual BIOS support
- 3rd gen RT cores for better visuals
Cons
- Consumes a lot of power
- Exorbitantly priced
4. Best Value: XFX Speedster Radeon RX 6900 XT
- GPU Architecture: AMD RDNA 2
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6
- GPU Clock Speed: 2135 MHz
- PCIe Version: PCIe 4.0
- Cooling: XFX Ghost Thermal Design
- PSU Requirement: 850 Watts
XFX Speedster MERC319 AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT immediately follows the Gigabyte RTX 4090, priced at almost one-third of the latter’s price but still packing quite a punch. The RDNA 2 architecture makes it a powerhouse, and it also beats the older RX 5700 XT, hands down, courtesy of the bumped-up memory speeds.
VR and Gaming Experience
Gaming-wise, the XFX MERC319 has a lot going for it, including excellent overclocking abilities and a crazy memory speed of 16 Gbps. Plus, you have DirectX 12 support, Virtual Super Resolution, 7nm architecture, FidelityFX, and other traits that can handle VR and traditional gaming like a pro.
You also get access to the FreeSync technology that ensures zero screen tears for traditional games. Also, if you plan on using it in tandem with the likes of Oculus Rift, here are the gaming performances that you can expect from this card:
As you can see in the benchmarks above, the GPU performs great for 1080p and, therefore, should be able to handle most per-eye VR headset requirements. Also, there is AMD’s “smart access memory” tech to further improve gameplay.
Real-time ray tracing also finds a place, followed by AMD’s infinity cache feature with 128 MB of bandwidth to ensure faster gaming loading performances.
Processing Power & Connectivity
The RX 6900 XT stands tall, riding on the 16GB VRAM support and the boosted OC-compatible clock speed limit of 2365 MHz. The PCIe 4.0 ensures faster data transfers, whereas this card requires at least an 850W PSU to work seamlessly.
As far as the output units are concerned, there are two DisplayPort units, one Type-C unit, and one HDMI slot to fit in external monitors and VR devices.
Parameter | Specification |
---|---|
Cores | 5,120 Stream Processors |
Max Clock Speed | Up To 2,365 MHz |
Power Consumption | Approx. 300W |
Average FPS for VR games | 100-130 FPS (Depending on the game & settings) |
Memory Speed | 16 Gbps |
Design and Warranty
The cooling segment requires a special mention as the Ghost Thermal layout is innovative to the core. There are double fan bearings present to improve the overall airflow, all without adding bulk to the design.
The straight-through venting stands out, followed by the inclusion of copper heat pipes, 13-blade fans, copper base, and adequate thermal padding. As it features a 2.5-slot, this card is better suited for full-tower and mid-tower cases.
The dual-BIOS functionality is a result of this innovative cooling design, a feature that allows you to switch between performance and gaming modes with ease. As for the warranty, XFX offers three years of coverage on this one.
Bottomline
All in all, the XFX Speedster RX 6900 XT is a value graphics card that handles VR gaming with considerable ease. It offers excellent cooling, all while striking the perfect balance between features and price.
Pros
- Excellent memory speed
- AMD’s Infinity Cache for better gaming
- Efficient cooling setup
- Competitive Pricing
- Powerful yet virtually noiseless fans
Cons
- Consumes a lot of power
- Not meant for smaller PC cases
5. Best Mid-Range Option: PNY GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
- GPU Architecture: NVIDIA Ampere
- Memory: 8GB GDDR6X
- GPU Clock Speed: 1575 MHz
- PCIe Version: PCIe 4.0
- Cooling: Triple Fan (Uprising Design)
- PSU Requirement: 650 Watts
PNY GeForce RTX 3070 Ti might not look like the most premium option around, but its novel cooling architecture, exceptional clock speed when boosted, and exceptional memory speed level stand out.
Upon comparing it with the more premium RTX 3070 Ti, I could see it churn out better frame rates for most games, courtesy of a more polished chunk of VRAM.
VR and Gaming Experience
Gaming-wise, the PNY RTX 3070 Ti handles most standard and VR titles with ease, all thanks to the 2nd gen Ray Tracing and 3rd gen Tensor Cores. These elements add realism to the visuals, whereas the G-SYNC supports minimal to no screen tearing, even when the game you are playing is primed for higher frame rates.
AI-based visual improvements are rendered by the DLSS feature also stands out. Other gaming-specific features of this VR-ready GPU include the DirectX 12 functionality and the GPU boost.
Here are the performances associated with some of the titles I indulged in:
Another feature that stands out is the way the PNY 3070 Ti Triple Fan GPU handles cooling. There is a triple-fan layout in place, based on the Uprising architecture, ensuring adequate heat dissipation.
Processing Power & Connectivity
What stands out is the memory speed of 19 Gbps, a feature at par with the more premium VR-compatible graphics cards I reviewed above. There are 6144 CUDA cores in play, which work hand in hand with the 8GB GDDR6X video RAM, improving the speed and quality of the renders.
This card supports a decent base clock speed of up to 1575 MHz, which can go as high as 1770 MHz when boosted.
As for the connectors, there are three DisplayPort modules followed by one HDMI 2.1 slot, supporting up to 4 monitors or VR headsets. This card boasts PCIe 4.0, a 16-lane connection with the CPU for the fastest possible data transfers.
Also, for optimal performance, you are better off using this GPU with a 650W PSU.
Parameter | Specification |
---|---|
Cores | 6,144 CUDA Cores |
Max Clock Speed | Approx. 1,770 MHz (Boost Clock) |
Power Consumption | Approx. 290W |
Average FPS for VR games | 90-120 FPS (Depending on the game & settings) |
Memory Speed | 14 Gbps |
Design and Warranty
Despite three fans, the PNY 3070 Ti is one of the sleekest GPUs around. The 2.5-slot ensures that it can work with most mid-tower and even full-tower cases if you want to set up additional components.
Also, the black-colored card features a metal backplate, offering additional durability to the design. I tested the same with the NZXT H510 PC case, and the fit was perfect. And yes, the 3-year warranty offered by PNY also adds to the overall experience.
Bottomline
The PNY GeForce RTX 3070 Ti at $600 strikes the perfect balance between price and performance, especially for someone interested in a mid-range product.
And what stands out is the exceptional memory speeds, a feature that makes content creation and mid-range gaming smoother than ever.
Pros
- Excellent cooling setup
- Robust layout with a metal backplate
- Advanced RT and tensor cores
- High memory speed
- Excellent connectivity traits
Cons
- High power consumption for non-gamers
- Only 8GB of VRAM
6. Best Air Cooled GPU: PowerColor Radeon RX 6800 XT
- GPU Architecture: RDNA 2
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6
- GPU Clock Speed: 2340 MHz
- PCIe Version: PCIe 4.0
- Cooling: Triple-Fan Layout
- PSU Requirement: 850 Watts
If you are in the market for a durable, power-efficient, and ultra-cooled GPU that doesn’t cost a fortune, get the PowerColor Red Dragon Radeon RX 6800 XT. Also, the design of this card stands out in comparison to PowerColor’s Red Devil variant.
VR and Gaming Experience
With Red Dragon RX 6800 XT, you need not worry about the visual quality. For starters, it comes with DirectX 12 support followed by DirectX Raytracing or DXR, VRS, FidelityFX, and other features to ensure that the visuals are more realistic.
This card also brings the FreeSync tech into the mix to help with lag-free gaming experiences. However, it is the triple-fan cooling layout that takes the lead here. This Red Dragon variant packs two 100mm and one 90mm fan, ensuring the highest level of heat dissipation.
Also, it supports the Dual BIOS mode, offering better control over the fans. Plus, the card comes with deep Red LED lighting to further amplify the gaming performance.
Here are the individual gaming performances:
Processing Power & Connectivity
The performance takes centerstage when you enlist the core features of the RX 6800 XT Gaming GPU, led by 16GB VRAM, over 4600 stream processors, and an overclocking-aligned boosted clock speed of 2310 MHz.
Adding to the performance bit is AMD’s “Smart Access” memory technology, followed by a memory speed of 16 Gbps.
Connectivity-wise, RX 6800 XT features three DisplayPort units and one HDMI slot. The PCIe 4.0 and works seamlessly with any PSU equal to or higher than 750 Watts. The HDMI 2.1 slot is VR-compatible, and there is also a Type-C port to help you pair VR headsets.
Parameter | Specification |
---|---|
Cores | 4,608 Stream Processors |
Max Clock Speed | Approx. 2,250 MHz (Boost Clock) |
Power Consumption | Approx. 300W |
Average FPS for VR games | 85-115 FPS (Depending on game & settings) |
Memory Speed | 16 Gbps |
Design and Warranty
The card features a 310mm cooler, integrated heat pipes, and a sizable copper base to increase the heat transfer efficiency. There are polymer capacitors included for improved efficiency.
Other design-specific elements include the vertical aluminum-based fin design and a reinforced metal backplate. This is a 2.5-slot card that, despite the exceptional air-cooled setup, can fit into most mid-tower cases, like the Phanteks P400A and more.
As for the post-purchase coverage, this PowerColor card offers two years’ worth of coverage.
Bottomline
The PowerColor RX 6800 XT makes it to the list mainly on the basis of its cooling solution. But then, its visual offering, thanks to the Ray tracing and VRS support, also makes it a standout performer in regards to standard and VR gaming.
Pros
- Premium cooling setup
- A sizable chunk of VRAM
- DirectX Ray Tracing support
- Robust design with an integrated backplate
- Excellent boosted clock speed
- Competitive Pricing
Cons
- On the bulkier side
- Consumes a lot of power
7. Best Low Profile GPU: ZOTAC RTX 3070 AMP Holo
- GPU Architecture: NVIDIA Ampere
- Memory: 8GB GDDR6
- GPU Clock Speed:1575 MHz
- PCIe Version: PCIe 4.0
- Cooling: IceStorm 2.0
- PSU Requirement: 600 Watts
ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 3070 AMP Holo is one of the more aesthetic graphics cards to use for VR gaming and projects.
When pitted against the PNY 3070 Ti, the ZOTAC variant boasts a better, ensuring that even the mini-ITX cases can accommodate the same.
VR and Gaming Experience
This VR-ready card comes equipped with 2nd gen ray tracing cores for better visuals. Game-specific realism gets a boost with the built-in tensor cores. Also, you can further optimize the gaming performances with the SPECTRA 2.0 RGB layout. Notably, the 14 Gbps worth of memory speed ensures that games hardly take time to load.
Also, if you connect a VR headset like the Oculus Rift, you can expect decent per-eye resolution figures. Here is what some of the gaming FPS levels look like:
Cooling happens to be another aspect of gaming, and the ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 3070 AMP Holo excels in that. There is the IceStorm 2.0 cooling with dual fans, and the active control system can freeze-stop the blades if needed.
You can even download the Firestorm Utility software solution to have better control over heat dissipation.
Processing Power & Connectivity
The ZOTAC GPU Card brings home 8GB worth of video RAM. When boosted, the clock speed can go as high as 1785 MHz, allowing you to play games and create content without any lags. There are 5888 CUDA cores in existence, allowing you to work with even the most complex textures.
Connectivity-wise, this card features three DisplayPort options and a standard HDMI 2.1 port. Also, this GPU is PCIe 4.0 optimized and works really well with any power supply unit bigger or equal to 650 Watts.
Parameter | Specification |
---|---|
Cores | 5,888 CUDA Cores |
Max Clock Speed | Approx. 1,785 MHz (Boost Clock) |
Power Consumption | Approx. 220W |
Average FPS for VR games | 80-105 FPS (Depending on game & settings) |
Memory Speed | 14 Gbps |
Design and Warranty
The RTX 3070 AMP Holo can easily work with smallish gaming cases like the NZXT H210, courtesy of its low-profile design. However, the slimness doesn’t take away the robustness, as ZOTAC features a metal wraparound backplate with RGB compatibility.
The 2.5-slot module also offers two years’ worth of warranty that you can always be extended if needed.
Bottomline
The ZOTAC RTX 3070 AMP Holo is price-designed for smallish gaming rigs. And while the features are decent enough for mid-range gaming, it makes it on the list purely on the basis of aesthetics.
Pros
- Exceptional design
- Solid gaming performance
- A decent chunk of CUDA cores
- Excellent cooling tech
- VR-ready device
Cons
- High-end gaming does challenge its limits.
- Not the best overclocking potential
8. Cheapest Option: MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2070 Super
- GPU Architecture: NVIDIA Turing
- Memory: 8GB GDDR6
- GPU Clock Speed: 1770 MHz
- PCIe Version: PCIe 3.0
- Cooling: TORX Fan 3.0
- PSU Requirement:650 Watts
If you have mid-range to light gaming requirements, you need not overwhelm yourself with an RTX 30-series GPU. Instead, the MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Super is a perfect budget offering. It trumps the RTX 2070 courtesy of a larger core count and better overclocking efficiency.
VR and Gaming Experience
You get access to top-notch overclocking settings. Additionally, this card supports advanced VR rendering, led by AI support and Ray Tracing support. The card also comes loaded with game-ready drivers, ensuring the best settings for gameplay.
Here are the individual games that I tested the card with:
Processing Power & Connectivity
The 2070 Super is built on NVIDIA Turing architecture, which is known for its power efficiency. This card offers 2560 CUDA cores and lets you achieve boosted speeds of up to 1800 MHz.
Next in line is the memory speed of 14 Gbps, which is excellent considering the price point. You get 8GB of video RAM followed by a wide range of connectivity, including three DisplayPort modules and one HDMI 2.0b slot for working alongside external monitors and VR headsets.
This card is PCIe 3.0 compatible and works best when paired with at least a 650W power supply unit.
Parameter | Specification |
---|---|
Cores | 2,560 CUDA Cores |
Max Clock Speed | Approx. 1,770 MHz (Boost Clock) |
Power Consumption | Approx. 215W |
Average FPS for VR games | 70-90 FPS (Depending on game & settings) |
Memory Speed | 14 Gbps |
Design and Warranty
The card is an aesthetically designed card led by the TORX Fan 2.0 layout. What works towards efficient heat dissipation is the inclusion of curved blades for accelerating the airflow.
Also, at 297mm, this card can fit within mid-tower and full-tower cases. It might even work with a few mini-ITX cases, but you need to precisely check the measurements before proceeding.
Design-wise, there is a metal backplate in place, and MSI ensures you get three years’ worth of warranty with this card.
Bottomline
The MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Super is a great budget GPU to have for casual VR gaming and or side projects. Despite being priced low, its performance is commendable, and turns out to be a good graphics card for VR.
Pros
- Competitive Pricing
- Ray tracing support
- Premium build quality
- Adequate VRAM
- Excellent cooling setup
Cons
- Not futuristic
- A power guzzler
Frequently Asked Questions
The nature of the VR apps and games you intend on running determines which basic card you should go with. However, if you wish to use 1st gen headsets, including the likes of Oculus Rift, anything close to the AMD Radeon R9 290 or even GTX 970 from NVIDIA feels enough.
But if you want the card to be able to handle the likes of HTC Vive Pro and other similar and advanced headsets, you might need to use RTX 2070 or other compatible graphics cards.
The newest VR games and tools do require strong graphics cards as the rendering needs to focus on two displays — for each eye. Therefore, a refresh rate of over 90Hz is often required, especially to ward off issues related to motion sickness.
If you want a graphics card that is compatible with all the variants of Oculus, including the new ones like the Rift S or the Quest Series, anything equal to or higher than the RTX 2070 Super is recommended. This way, it becomes easier to render visuals perfectly and ensure the highest possible frame rates.
Verdict
VR-ready graphics cards need to be powerful. Keeping that in mind, I have reviewed eight of the best options that you can invest. If you are still confused, here is a quick curated list to help you choose better:
- If you want a graphics card that offers more than just VR gaming and can handle even VR-related modeling and content creation with ease, the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti from EVGA is the best option.
- If a top-notch cooling setup is a priority, you might want to consider the Red Dragon AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT from PowerColor.
- Finally, if you want a budget option that packs a punch and fits almost anywhere, the ZOTAC RTX 3070 AMP Holo is the perfect choice.
Leave a Reply