Virtual reality (VR) has gained a lot of popularity because it enables users to immerse themselves in new gaming and entertainment environments.
To really enjoy VR, you’ll need a high-end graphics card that can handle the demands of this cutting-edge technology.
But with so many options available, picking the ideal graphics card for vr for you might be challenging. You may sort through the choices and select the best graphics card for your VR needs with the help of this article.
At A Glance:
Best Value
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
✓ Great value
✓ High factory overclock
✓ Ampere architecture
View on AmazonBest Power
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
✓ Powerful enough for ray tracing and 4K gaming
✓ Future proof with HDMI 2.1
✓ Very powerful
View on AmazonBest Runner-up
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2060
✓ 6GB of GDDR6 memory.
✓ Great performance in 1440p.
✓ Energy efficient graphics card.
✓ Founders Edition beating performance.
View on AmazonGraphics Card Virtual Reality Gaming Requirements
It’s crucial to comprehend the minimal system requirements for VR before you start looking for a graphics card.
The majority of VR headsets need a strong computer with a quick processor, lots of RAM, and an excellent graphics card.
Your particular needs will depend on the VR headset you’re using, but generally speaking, you should search for a computer with the following features:
- Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD FX 8350 processor or higher
- 8GB or more of RAM
- HDMI 1.3 video output
- 1 USB 3.0 port
- Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 operating system
There are a few things that you need to know before buying it. VR needs two displays to run as one for each eye and have very low input lags and high refresh rates, so you need a high-end VR graphics card.
Though there are not many Virtual Reality games available, there are still enough to play, and the amount is increasing year-on-year.
If you haven’t experienced VR before, this technology takes you into a 3-dimension world and gives an immersive and realistic simulation experience, nothing quite ever seen before in all the previous years of gaming.
VR needs high-end compatible hardware to run, and taking care of this.
These offer great value for their price. We did the proper research and found them better than other GPUs and their competitors. So, without wasting time, let’s start!
Our Recommendations
Award | Modal | Design | Retailer |
---|---|---|---|
Best Value | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti | View on amazon | |
Best Efficiency | AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT | View on amazon | |
Best Power | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 | View on amazon | |
Best Overall | MSI Gaming Radeon RX 5700 | View on amazon | |
Best Runner-up | MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2060 | View on amazon | |
Best Entry-Level AMD | XFX Radeon Rx 590 Fatboy | View on amazon | |
Best Entry-Level NVIDIA | ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | View on amazon | |
Best Enthusiasts | Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super | View on amazon | |
Best Overkill Graphics | Asus ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2080 TI | View on amazon |
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Staff Pick View on amazonThe NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is a reliable GPU with excellent gaming capabilities. Its slightly faster boost clock speed than the RTX 3060 is significant when playing games that tax the GPU. It is prepared for 4K @ 30fps gaming and is intended to provide fluid AAA gaming at a 1440p resolution.
A great choice for the $400 GPU market, this mid-range GPU has exceptional performance and a fantastic price.
In comparison to the RTX 2080 Super from the previous year, it performs better and costs $300 less. It is perfect for virtual reality gaming because it has 3,584 Ampere CUDA cores, 112 Tensor cores, and 28 RT cores. There is now a memory capacity of up to 12 GB, a two-fold increase, with the same 192-bit GDDR6 memory interface width as the RTX 2060.
One issue to consider is that since the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti only has one HDMI port, an optimal VR experience might not be as good as it could be.
Even with the power restriction increased to a maximum of 110 percent and the fan curve stabilized, it should still deliver a satisfactory VR experience. Additionally, the RTX 3060 Ti supports Mystic Light, giving your gaming rig a little extra flair.
To sum up, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is a dependable GPU with a great price-to-performance ratio. The hardware required to run virtual reality games make it ideal for mid-range gaming.
The Pros
✓ Great value
✓ High factory overclock
✓ Ampere architecture
The Cons
✗ Limited availability
✗ High average temperature
AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT
View on amazonThe AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT has a base price of $399, which is cheaper than other high-end graphics cards such as the GeForce RTX 2070 and the recently announced RTX 2070 Super.
There is also an anniversary edition available with a beautiful design and higher clock speeds for $449, but it is a limited launch and is not considered standard for this SKU.
The RX 5700 XT provides an average of 15% higher frame rates compared to Vega 64 according to benchmarks. The card is neck-and-neck with the Radeon VII and is unable to surpass the RTX 2060 according to Digital Trends.
According to TechPowerUp, overclocking the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is problematic and resulted in a 5% increase in memory speed and a GPU overclocking that was not possible due to instability issues.
In terms of VR experience, the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT provides a smooth VR performance, making it a good choice for a compact gaming PC build. The maximum operating temperature for the RX 5700 XT series GPU cards is 110C, and the card has several thermal sensors that will automatically start to throttle the temperature if it reaches 110C or above. gaming
The Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT Gaming OC 8G is one specific variant of the RX 5700 XT that runs with the same Navi 10 GPU as the reference RX 5700 XT. The die contains 10.4 billion transistors and has HDMI ports.
In conclusion, the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is a good budget GPU that provides improved performance compared to its predecessor, smooth and optimal VR experience, and a low price tag. The card is best suited for compact gaming PC builds and provides an overall good value for its price.
The Pros
✓ Great gaming performance
✓ Power efficiency
✓ Competitive price
The Cons
✗ Higher noise levels
✗ Stock cooler
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
Best pick View on amazonThe NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is one of the most potent graphics cards on the market, and its performance is evident in the gaming and VR experiences. It can handle even the most demanding games with ease and provide great frame rates thanks to its 10,496 CUDA cores and 8GB of GDDR6X memory. As a result, you may play video games at their top settings without experiencing latency or stuttering.
The RTX 3080 offers a fluid and lifelike VR experience, making it a wonderful option for VR aficionados. Even for the most demanding VR games, it has the power to run them at high settings and deliver a comfortable experience. The Valve Index headset, one of the most well-liked high-end VR headsets, is also compatible with the card, making it a fantastic option for those who already possess one.
Some people might be concerned about the Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 price because it is on the expensive side. You do, however, get what you pay for, so keep that in mind. The RTX 3080 is an excellent purchase if you want the best performance when you run VR or for any gaming setup.
The RTX 3080 offers a fluid experience with augmented reality, enabling users to enjoy AR applications and games without any stuttering or lag. This is made possible by the card’s strong functionality, which can manage the demands of AR applications and games.
For gamers and VR aficionados that demand the highest performance and don’t mind paying a premium price for it, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is a fantastic option. It can handle even the most demanding games and VR applications because to its excellent performance, giving users a fluid and immersive experience.
The Pros
✓ Powerful enough for ray tracing and 4K gaming
✓ Future proof with HDMI 2.1
✓ Very powerful
The Cons
✗ Expensive
✗ May not fit in smaller PC cases
MSI Gaming Radeon RX 5700
View on amazonMSI graphics cards are no less than any other top tier company as they use military class components, which ensures the long-lasting. MSI Gaming Radeon RX 5700 is undoubtedly the Best Graphics Card for VR gaming as its performance matches the RTX 2070 Super. The reason to consider this vendor is the best in the class cooling system and higher clock rates than ASUS and Gigabyte versions. The looks of this graphics card have changed as previously. Gaming X cards come in the black and red color scheme, while now these cards have a metallic silver color scheme.
This graphics card’s general specifications are no different from RTX 2070 Super as both of these graphics’ cards offer 2300+ core units. The base clock of this graphics card is around 1500Mhz, while with overclocking, you can easily push it up to 1750Mhz. The 8GB GDDR6 memory is enough to max out the latest AAA titles, but you have to stick with 1440p as its performance might worsen with 4K resolution. This VR graphics card’s price difference with RTX 2070S is comparable because it performs the same at a meager price tag.
With all of the goodness, MSI Gaming Radeon RX 5700, it’s one of the best graphics cards for VR, but there are some cons you might notice while using it. First of all, this graphics card lacks Real-Time Ray Tracing and DLSS support as these technologies are only available in RTX series GPUs. Rx 5700xt is not much more expensive than this GPU while performs much better than this, and I would prefer that graphics card over it. The power consumption is a bit high, and I recommend getting at least 500-600W PSU for it.
This graphics card’s VR performance will be excellent, but don’t expect something more than average because of low hardware. We are calling this GPU best overall because of its performance in 1440p resolution. In Assassin’s Creed Unity, this GPU managed to give us 90 frame rates average at ultra-settings and FX AA, while for Rx 5700xt, this reaches up to 110 frame rates. With this performance, this graphics card can be used in mid-range gaming.
The Pros
✓ Great 1440p performance.
✓ Affordable price
The Cons
✗ Power hungry graphics card.
✗ Lacks Real Time Ray Tracing and DLSS.
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2060
Budget Pick View on amazonThe second graphics card we got is also from MSI, but this time there, we had the MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2060, which is from the same lineup of GTX 1060. Well, this graphics card got a significant position in the entry-level RTX series because of its price and performance. Some graphics cards like GTX 1070ti from the previous series are faster than this one, but it has the advantage of RTX and DLSS, available in 20-series GPUs. Well, I would not recommend using Real-Time Ray Tracing with RTX 2060 because it can absorb the frame rates.
In addition to this, these entry-level graphics cards for vr have 6GB GDDR6 memory, which is good, but these days mostly GPUs feature 8GB of VRAM. The clock speed is 1750Mhz, while you can also overrate it to get some more performance. The Cuda cores of this GPU are 1920, while it also has 17 trillion RTX OPS. This GPU is energy efficient and not much power-hungry as you can run it on 500-550W PSU efficiently. All those users who want something powerful in the RTX series but for a lower budget, I would recommend you to go with it.
This entry-level RTX series graphics gave enough performance and amazed its users, but there are some bad ones you need to know. The GPU price is almost the same as Rx 5700, which is much better than this, so take a look at that GPU. You might already know about VirtualLink Port, an excellent alternative to USB Type-C in modern GPUs, while this one lacks. Also, graphics cards usually come with Steel or Metal black plates, but this one has a plastic made backplate, which looks odd. That’s all that you need to know about this GPU and consider these things before buying it.
The performance of RTX 2060 is no different than the Rx 5700, but in some games like Battlefield 1 and ROTTR, AMD GPUs have an advantage. In Assassin’s Creed Unity, this GPU gives an average of 85 frame rates at 1080p resolution and ultra-settings with FXAA. If you consider turning off Ray Tracing, you can get enough performance from this VR graphics card. Overall, its performance in games would be excellent, but you might miss high refresh rates.
The Pros
✓ 6GB of GDDR6 memory.
✓ Great performance in 1440p.
✓ Energy efficient graphics card.
✓ Founders Edition beating performance.
The Cons
✗ No VirtualLink (Type-C) port.
✗ Backplate is made up of plastic.
XFX Radeon Rx 590 Fatboy
View on amazonThere might be no other competitor of XFX in AMD graphics cards as they are cheap enough and provide the best in the class cooling system. XFX Radeon Rx 590 Fatboy is a refreshed or revised version of Rx 580 with minor changes in specifications. While choosing the Rx 590, I recommend you stick with only two vendors, from which one is XFX and the other is Power Cooler. Both of these vendors are offering great cooling solutions. GTX 1660 is slightly faster In benchmarks than the Rx 590 8GB, but we need to consider their price difference.
As its name suggests, this graphics card has 8GB of DDR5 memory, which is enough for 1080p gaming. Also, it’s an overclocked version means you can get higher clock rates than the standard version while it has a clock speed of 1570Mhz. This GPU can’t handle 1440p gaming very well, but for 1080p, it’s an excellent choice. Aesthetically XFX Rx 590 is identical to Rx 580 with the same black and red color scheme and a backplate on the rear side. The power connector required for this graphics card is six-pin and one eight-pin, while it has a TDP of 175W.
Team Red puts everything in their Rx series graphics card, but some don’t have we found while reviewing it. GDDR5 memory seems a bit old, and these days modern graphics cards come with GDDR6 memory, so I would recommend you go with the latest hardware. Like other AMD graphics cards, power consumption is a bit high, and it’s not energy efficient. The physical size of XFX Rx 590 is a bit large as compared to other mid-range graphics cards. Also, the Rx 580, while its predecessor is slightly slower than this GPU but price-wise, is considerably cheaper than this.
This GPU can’t handle 1440p gaming very well, but for 1080p, it’s a great budget choice to consider these days. In Assassin’s Creed Unity, this GPU runs the game at 50 frame rates average and 1080p ultra settings with FXAA. While on 1440p, the frame rates drop to 35, and at some points, that game lags. In Dx 12 games and in battlefield one, which is a favorite title of Rx series GPUs, this one can give 100+ frame rates at 1080p resolution ultra-settings.
The Pros
✓ 14% faster than the Nvidia GTX 1060.
✓ Overclocking capabilities are appreciable.
✓ Cooling fans runs on minimum noise level.
✓ Great alternative to highly expensive Nvidia GPUs.
The Cons
✗ Power hungry graphics card.
✗ GDDR5 memory is old these days.
✗ Physically its bit large than mid-range GPUs.
✗ Rx 580 is much cheaper and slightly low in performance.
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
View on amazonZotac manufactures Nvidia graphics cards for several years and builds its reputation in its customers’ eyes by providing the best quality products. ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is the Best Entry-Level Graphics Card for budget users. Zotac is offering this for a comparatively low price but higher clock rates. GTX 1660Ti is an advanced version of Nvidia GTX 1060, which performs well in modern games at 1080p or 1440p resolutions. Aesthetically this graphics card looks good as it has Zotac original black and grey color scheme, and it’s super compact in size while it also best in performance.
GTX 1660ti is a bit expensive than the Rx 590, but the performance is much better. This graphics card has 6GB of GDDR6 memory faster than GDDR5 and GDDR5x and has 192bit bus speed. The Cuda core of the GTX 1660ti is 1536, while its predecessor. GTX 1060 has only 1280, which clears the main performance difference between them. The cooling system in this GPU is outstanding as its compact doesn’t allow the chip to reach 75C when under load, which impressed me. With this graphics card, you must need a 500W PSU and one eight-pin power connector.
The specifications and the price of this VR graphics card are fantastic, but let’s head toward what’s terrible in the GTX 1660ti Zotac. This GPU lacks RT/Tensors meaning you can’t use Ray Tracing with it, while for its price, you can get RTX 2060 or for a few more money RTX 2060S while allowing them. Ray tracing is available to GTX series graphics cards, but this GPU can’t handle it very well, like other RTX GPUs. As I’ve said earlier, this GPU comes with GDDR6 memory, but it’s limited to 12Gbps, while other high-end GPUs offer more. So, I would recommend you consider all these things and choose between RTX 2060 and GTX 1660ti.
This non-RTX graphics card based on Turing architecture can give exceptional performance in modern games. In Assassin’s Creed Unity, this GPU manages to give 80+ frame rates at ultra-settings 1080p resolution and FXAA. This beast’s performance matches the RTX 2060, but there is a small price difference between them. In VR gaming, this entry-level GPU can outperform all others in its price category but don’t expect something big.
The Pros
✓ Gives a great overall balance in performance.
✓ This GPU is efficient and you can overclock it.
✓ GDDR6 memory makes it much faster than predecessors.
The Cons
✗ GDDR6 memory is limited to 12GBPS.
✗ Lacks Real-Time Ray Tracing and DLSS.
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super
View on amazonThere was a great performance difference between the RTX 2070 and RTX 2080, so Nvidia released the RTX 2070 Super to fill this gap. This graphics card is slightly cheaper than the founder edition of RTX 2070 but servers 15% more performance than it. The reason to select the Gigabyte is the low price and same performance as other cards, while if you want something cheaper, you are good to go with PNY. The Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super performance is outstanding, but most tech reviewers recommend turning off Real-time ray tracing. Aesthetically this GPU is plain as it has Gigabyte original Black and Orange color scheme, but it looks good in RGB builds.
RTX 2070S is not built for 4K gaming, but 1440p; there are no other mid-range cards that can outperform it. The 8GB of DDR6 memory is enough to run the latest titles at ultra-settings because these days, games demand at least this amount of memory. The shading units of RTX 2070 Super are 2304, while it also has 144 texture mapping units. The founder edition of RTX 2070 Super has a clock rate of 1750Mhz at boost, but as Gigabyte RTX 2070S has Windforce tri fans and large size heatsink, it allows you to overclock the chip to get some extra performance.
All of this graphics card’s greatness is on one side, but there are some terrible things in it, so take a look at them before considering it. Gigabyte RTX 2070S is a bit high compared to AMD competitors because Rx 5700xt is precisely the same but available for a low price. This graphics card lacks RGB lights, which is in trend nowadays, but it looks good if you own an RGB build. This version’s cost is a bit expensive than the founder edition of RTX 2070S but still cheaper than some models of RTX 2070.
For its price, there might be no other graphics card that can outperform it. This GPU got every basic feature set available in RTX 2080S but is currently listed for less than RTX 2070. In benchmarks, this GPU gives 100+ frame rates in Assassin’s Creed Unity ultra-settings 1080p resolution, which is slightly better than the Rx 5700xt. The VR performance is impressive, and I recommend this graphics card if you can afford it.
The Pros
✓ Excellent performance in 1440p and 4K.
✓ Supports Real Time Ray Tracing and DLSS.
✓ Large size heatsinks for maximum heat dissipation.
The Cons
✗ Price cut would be better.
✗ Lacks RGB lights and have plain aesthetics.
✗ Rx 5700xt offers same performance for cheap.
Asus ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2080 TI
View on amazonThe futureproof build is a dream of every gamer, as no one wants to spend money every year on new hardware. Asus ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2080 TI, which is right now the most powerful GPU ever released by Nvidia, makes your PC futureproof for the next several years and gives you the best VR gaming performance. The reason to consider ASUS Strix is quality components and high overclocking power. This GPU’s performance is roughly 40% better than the RTX 2080S, while its price crosses the thousand-dollar figure. With all of its greatness, this is one of the Best Graphics Cards for VR gaming.
This high-end graphics card comes with a memory of 11GB, which is enough to handle any VR based application or game. The base clock of ASUS Rog Strix 2080ti is 1590Mhz, but as it supports overclocking, you can easily take it up to 1750Mhz. The Cuda cores of this graphics card are 4352, while it has 76T RTX OPS. This GPU can run games like RDR2 and SOTTR at 60 frame rates at 4k resolution, which is impressive. The minimum power supply I would suggest you get for this graphics card is 600W, and make sure that it has two eight-pin power connectors.
This gaming beast will be capable of running games like Cyberpunk 2077; some don’t have RTX 2080ti. One of the most annoying things about this graphics card is the lack of RGB light while most other models offer them. Some other models support RGB lights, but I would not recommend spending more money on those GPUs offering great aesthetics. The Founder Edition of this GPU is quite cheaper than this one so that a price cut would be much appreciated. Microsoft announced to cut support for Windows 7, hardware manufacturers are also doing the same, and this GPU doesn’t work with Windows 7.
No words for this gaming beast, this GPU is made for some upcoming games like Cyberpunk and other titles. RTX 2080ti straightly gives 100+ frame rates in Assassin’s Creed Unity at 1440p resolution and ultra-settings. While on 4K resolutions, you can get 65+ frame rates easily with this graphics card, and it’s excellent. You can take an idea with this benchmark of how good this GPU will perform in modern games.
The Pros
✓ Supports 4K gaming at 120Hz.
✓ Energy efficient graphics card.
✓ Realtime Ray Tracing and DLSS support in games.
✓ Quiet BIOS which allows to run GPU at minimum noise.
The Cons
✗ This GPU lacks RGB lights
✗ Lacks support for Windows 7 and older OS.
✗ Asus Rog Strix is bit expensive than the founder edition.
Summary
Award | Modal | Design | Retailer |
---|---|---|---|
Best Value | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti | View on amazon | |
Best Efficiency | AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT | View on amazon | |
Best Power | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 | View on amazon | |
Best Overall | MSI Gaming Radeon RX 5700 | View on amazon | |
Best Runner-up | MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2060 | View on amazon | |
Best Entry-Level AMD | XFX Radeon Rx 590 Fatboy | View on amazon | |
Best Entry-Level NVIDIA | ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | View on amazon | |
Best Enthusiasts | Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super | View on amazon | |
Best Overkill Graphics | Asus ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2080 TI | View on amazon |
Conclusion
The processor and graphics card for vr are two essential building blocks of every gaming build. VR movies and games are going trending these days, and for them, we need high-end hardware to enjoy a realistic experience. The best graphics card for VR is Rx 590, but it’s too old for modern games, so its competitor from Nvidia is GTX 1660ti. If you have more money to spend on graphics cards for vr, I recommend getting at least RTX 2060/Super or AMD Rx 5700. Lastly, high-end enthusiasts build, and for all those, I would suggest you select RTX 2070 Super or RTX 2080ti according to your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
What graphics card is recommended for VR?
The simple answer to this question is it depends upon your budget and your needs. Those users who are looking for an entry-level graphics card for VR can go with Rx 590, while the GTX 1660ti is slightly more expensive than this. In the RTX series, the entry-level graphics card that supports VR gaming is RTX 2060, but you have to compromise on a few things. The RTX 2070S and RTX 2080ti can be used for enthusiasts builds, but price wise they are expensive and not recommended for entry-level builds.
Will a better graphics card improve VR?
Having a good graphics card is not going to give you an advantage in VR, but as this technology demands high-end hardware so you can feel more realistic things. The main thing is the older device doesn’t support high refresh rates, which is one of the essential elements in Virtual Reality games. Also, the input lag can hurt your gaming experience in a wicked sense in VR if your hardware doesn’t support low latency.
What is VR ready graphics cards?
There are thousands of graphics card models available in the market, but only a few of them support Virtual Reality. This is because VR demands high-end hardware, and you must need at least a GTX 970 or AMD R9 390 graphics card to run VR games. While all the hardware before these models are not compatible with VR, games or experience might go worse. Taking care of this, we made a list of all those graphics cards which support VR and give great value for their price.
What is the cheapest VR ready GPU?
The cheapest VR Ready graphics card you can get is the GTX 970, but of course, it’s a bit old and expensive as compared to modern entry cards of the same specifications. I am not sure about others, but the cheapest graphics card you can get for VR is Rx 5700, which is not that old and supports modern AAA titles at max settings and 1440p resolution. There are some other choices, too, like RTX 2060, which offers Real-Time Ray Tracing and DLSS, which is not available in Rx 5700.