If you are you are looking for a new graphics card for your computerno doubt you have heard RTX and GTX series from NVIDIA. But what is the difference between these two product lines? What are the pros and cons of each? And how to choose the one that best suits your needs and budget ? In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know RTX and GTX graphics cardsand they will help you make the right choice.
What is an RTX graphics card?
THE RTX graphics cards are the latest and greatest from NVIDIA. They were launched in 2018 with the 20 series and then in 2020 with the 30 series. The name RTX refers to ray tracing technology, which allows you to create realistic lighting effects by simulating the behavior of light rays in a 3D environment. Ray tracing is used in animated films and video games to make scenes more immersive and detailed.
RTX graphics cards have ray tracing cores, which are computing units dedicated to this technology. They also have Tensor cores, which are computational units specialized in artificial intelligence. These Tensor kernels enable the use of DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) technology., which is an image analysis optimization system based on deep learning. DLSS lets youincrease visual quality and frames per second (FPS) compatible games, reducing GPU workload.
Therefore, RTX graphics cards are designed to provide an optimal gaming experience, with stunning graphics and maximum fluidity. They are also suitable for professional applications that require high computing power, such as video editing, 3D modeling or performance.
What is a GTX graphics card?
GTX graphics cards are NVIDIA’s older, more affordable models. They were released in 2005 with the 7000 series, then in 2014 with the 900 series, in 2016 with the 10 series and in 2019 with the 16 series. The name GTX refers to the technology Giga Texel Shader eXtremewhich is a system for optimizing texture rendering in video games.
THE GTX graphics cards do not have ray tracing cores or Tensor cores. Therefore, they are not compatible with ray tracing or DLSS. They rely solely on CUDA heartswhich are general purpose computing units used for graphics processing and parallel computing.
Therefore, GTX graphics cards are designed to provide a satisfying gaming experience, with proper graphics and acceptable fluidity. They are also suitable for common applications that do not require a lot of computing power, such as e.g navigation webThe flow or the office automation.
What is the difference between RTX and GTX?
The main difference between RTX and GTX lies in the level of performance and capabilities each series offers.
THE RTX graphics cards are more powerful and more innovative than GTX graphics cards. They allow you to take full advantage of the latest technological advancements in graphics, such as ray tracing or DLSS. They are also more expensive and require more power than GTX graphics cards.
GTX graphics cards, on the other hand, are more affordable and more affordable than RTX graphics cards. They allow most current games to be played in the right conditions, but without taking advantage of it visual effects the most impressive. They are also more limited for business applications that require a lot of computing power.
here is one comparison table of the main features of the RTX and GTX series from NVIDIA :
| Characteristic | RTX 30 series | RTX 20 series | GTX 16 series | GTX 10 series | GTX 900 series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Turing | Turing | Pascal | Maxwell |
| CUDA Hearts | 2x FP32 | 1x FP32 | 1x FP32 | 1x FP32 | 1x FP32 |
| Ray tracing cores | 2nd generation | 1st generation | – | – | – |
| Tensor cores | 3rd generation | 2nd generation | – | – | – |
| DLSS | DLSS 2 (Super Resolution) | DLSS 2 (Super Resolution) | – | – | – |
| PCIe | 4th generation | 3rd generation | 3rd generation | 3rd generation | 3rd generation |
| NVIDIA Encoder (NVENC) | 7th generation | 7th generation | 6th generation | 6th generation | 5th generation |
| NVIDIA Decoder (NVDEC) | 5th generation | 4th generation | 4th generation | 3rd generation | 2nd generation |
| AV1 encoding | Oui | – | – | – | – |
| AV1 decoding | Oui | – | – | – | – |
| CUDA capability | 8.6 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 6.1 | 5.2 |
| DX12 Ultimate | Oui | Oui | – | – | – |
| Video outputs | DisplayPort (2) HDMI (1) |
DisplayPort (2) HDMI (1) |
DisplayPort (2) HDMI (1) | DisplayPort (2) HDMI (1) | DisplayPort (2) HDMI (1) |
How to choose between RTX and GTX?
The choice between RTX and GTX it depends on many factors such as your budget, configuration, needs and preferences. Here are some questions to ask yourself to help you make the right choice:
What is your budget?
RTX graphics cards are more expensive than GTX graphics cards. It takes approx €1500 for an RTX 3090, €700 for an RTX 3070, €400 for a GTX 1660 Ti, €250 for GTX 1650 Super and €150 for a GTX 1050 Ti. Of course, these prices may vary depending on the availability, demand and supply of different models.
What is your setup?
RTX graphics cards require more power than GTX graphics cards. So you need to check that your power supply is sufficient to support them and that your case is spacious enough to accommodate them. For example, an RTX 3090 consumes approx 350W and meters approx 31 cm away, while a GTX 1050 Ti consumes approx 75W and meters approx 14 cm de long.
What are your needs?
THE RTX graphics cards they are more suitable for demanding users, who want to take advantage latest graphics technologiesAs the ray tracing ou le DLSS. They are also more efficient for professional applications that require high computing power, such as video editing, 3D modeling or rendering.
THE GTX graphics cards are more suitable for casual userswho want to play less demanding or older games, or where content with less realistic graphics. They are also more effective for common applications that do not require a lot of computing power.
What are your preferences?
RTX graphics cards are more attractive to fans of stunning graphics and maximum fluidity. They allow you to play in high resolution (4K or more), with a high number of frames per second and with realistic lighting effects. They let you toooptimize the visual quality and fps of DLSS compatible games using artificial intelligence.
GTX graphics cards are more attractive to fans of decent graphics and acceptable fluidity. They allow you to play in medium resolution (1080p or 1440p), with an average number of frames per second, and without realistic lighting effects. They also save power and money, being cheaper and less demanding than RTX graphics cards.
What models of RTX and GTX graphics cards are available?
RTX and GTX graphics cards are available in different models, which correspond to different performance and price ranges. here is one comparison table of the main RTX and GTX graphics card models :
| Model | Implementation | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 3090 | Too high | Around €1500 |
| RTX 3080 | High | Around €700 |
| RTX 3070 | Medium-high | Around €500 |
| RTX 3060 Ti | Average | Around €400 |
| RTX 3060 | Medium-low | Around €300 |
| GTX 1660 Ti | Medium-low | Around €250 |
| GTX 1660 Super | Low-medium | Around €200 |
| GTX 1650 Super | Bass | Around €150 |
| GTX 1050 Ti | Very low | Environment €100 |
What is the difference between RTX and GTX for VR?
No VR (Virtual reality) is a technology that allows the user to immerse themselves in a immersive 3D environment, using a VR headset. VR requires a lot of graphics power because it is necessary to display two images in high resolution (one for each eye) at high frame rate (90 Hz or more) to avoid nausea.
The The difference between RTX and GTX for VR lies in the level of performance and capabilities each series offers. RTX graphics cards outperform GTX graphics cards for VR because they have ray tracing cores, Tensor cores and DLSS, which improve the visual quality and smoothness of compatible VR games. RTX graphics cards are also better suited for the latest generation VR headsets, which display higher resolutions (4K or higher).
What is the difference between RTX and GTX for streaming?
The Streaming is an activity that consists of broadcasting your video game gameplay live over the Internet, using software like OBS or XSplit. Streaming requires a good internet connection, but also a good graphics powerbecause the video must be encoded and transmitted in real time.
The difference between RTX and GTX for streaming lies in the level of performance and capabilities each series offers. THE RTX graphics cards perform better than GTX graphics cards for streaming because they have a 7th generation NVIDIA (NVENC) codecwhich allows for higher quality video encoding with minimal impact on game performance.RTX graphics cards also feature NVIDIA Broadcastwhich is software that uses artificial intelligence to improve the streamer’s audio and video quality by removing background noise, blurring the background or tracking facial movements.
GTX graphics cards perform worse than RTX graphics cards for streaming because they have a 6th generation NVIDIA (NVENC) codec or less, which offers lower quality and a greater impact on game performance. GTX graphics cards also lack NVIDIA Broadcast, which is software exclusive to RTX graphics cards. However, they are sufficient for casual or low-resolution streaming (720p or 1080p).
conclusion
In conclusion, there is no universal answer to the question: RTX or GTX? It all depends on you budgetof your configurationYours Needs and you preferences. If you want to benefit from the latest technological innovations in mygraphics card and if you can afford a powerful and power efficient graphics card then go for an RTX graphics card. If you want to play less demanding or older games, and if you have a tighter budget or a more modest configuration, then go for a GTX graphics card. In any case, you will find the graphics card that suits you at NVIDIA!
If you are gamer looking for amazing graphics or one professional for video editing in 4k UHDwe suggest you take a look at our comparison of the best graphics cards for 4K gaming!