Now that we’ve touched on the topic of cooling, we have to say a few words about overclocking. If you are unfamiliar with this topic, overclocking is the act of raising the GPU clock frequency beyond the default clock rate set by the manufacturer .
- 7 of the best RTX 2060 graphics cards to buy in 2020
- MSI GeForce RTX 2060 GAMING Z 6G
- Best RTX 2060 Super GPUs in 2022 – Top Picks
- Best RTX 2060 Super Graphics Cards
- Things You Must Know About Nvidia RTX 2060
- Frequently Asked Questions
- PNY RTX 2060 Super 8GB Dual Fan Graphics Card
- Performance: As expected!
- Build Quality: Good Quality
- Cooling System: Decent!
- Dimensions: SMALLEST!
- ASUS DUAL RTX 2060 S O8G EVO V2
- Performance: Better!
- Build Quality: Standard!
- Cooling System: Best!
- Dimensions: Supports 99% Cabinets!
- ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2060 Super
- The Pros:
- The Cons:
- How To Pick The Right Card For Your Needs
- Cooling
- Things To Consider
- Performance
- Cooling System
- What Budget Should I Set For An Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super Graphics Card?
- A Peek at the Heat
- An RTX 2070 by Any Other Name.
7 of the best RTX 2060 graphics cards to buy in 2020
So you are ready to upgrade your computer and have decided which graphics card to buy – Nvidia RTX 2060. Only problem? There are around 200 different variants to choose from.
From different vendors, to different builds, to different builds from different vendors, there are too many 2060 GPUs on the market to sift through, and for good reason. Mid-range graphics cards from Nvidia such as the 2060, 2060 Super and 1660 Ti are the most popular graphics cards on the market. The GTX 1060, the predecessor to the RTX 2060, continues to dominate 20 percent of the PC gaming market, according to a recent Steam hardware and software study four years after its release.
The RTX 2060 is a great graphics card to buy and despite being much cheaper than the best GPUs on the market, it can still run modern games with fantastic graphics and render 4K movies, and even deliver real-time next-generation ray tracing in supported games. To help you in your search for the perfect graphics card, we’ve compiled a list of the best 2060 models on the market, in any order.
Here are seven of the best RTX 2060 graphics cards to choose from.
Prices and availability of these products were correct at the time of publication but are subject to change.
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 GAMING Z 6G
The MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z is one of Newegg’s most popular GPUs across all budgets and manufacturers, and for good reason. It’s incredibly affordable, especially when compared to high-end graphics cards, and has some of the most impressive specs in the 2060 lineup, even to this day. With a boost clock of 1830MHz, 6GB of fast graphics RAM and sleek design is an eye-catcher and an easy favorite. It also has decent connectivity options, with three DisplayPorts and one HDMI port.
Overall, the Zotac RTX 2060 Super Mini is the best Mini graphics card for mini-tower and small form factor cases. The gaming performance is unquestionable at a reasonable price, although the card gets louder under heavy load, which is the normal case for cards with two fans.
Best RTX 2060 Super GPUs in 2022 – Top Picks
Shortly after Nvidia released the RTX 2060 graphics cards, a new update line called “RTX Super” came out. The newly introduced “super” GPUs were also relatively better, fast and expensive. These cards not only improved graphics performance while gaming, but also ensured better productivity.
Then the trend reached new heights; the company has successively launched a new RTX series, i.e. 2070 and 2070 Super; RTX 2080 and 2080 Super. But the RTX 2060 Super cards are still good in terms of performance and much cheaper than their sister products.
Their powerful performance is a major improvement and surprising to most players who use previous generation cards. The increased performance of such cards in games thanks to 8 GB of DDR6 memory, a powerful fan and modern Turing architecture make them ideal for high-end games in 1080p, 1440p and sometimes 4K; thanks to VR compatibility.
In this 2060 Super guide, we’ll go over some of the best RTX 2060 Super graphics cards on the market today as well as the web. Based on their gaming performance, design, and durability, we’ll compare each card for a top-notch gaming experience. So without further ado, let’s take a look at these cards to build a high-end PC in 2022.
We’ll update this when we announce more RTX 2060 Super cards, and if there are any not mentioned please email us and we’ll do our best to update them.
Best RTX 2060 Super Graphics Cards
Specifications
Model | ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER MINI |
Increase the core clock | 1650 MHz |
CUDA cores | 2176 |
Number of fans | 2 |
Memory | 8 GB of GDDR6 memory |
Memory bandwidth | 448 GB / s |
Memory speed | 14,000 MHz |
RGB lighting | No |
Graphic outputs | 1 x HDMI 3 DisplayPort |
Length | 8.3 inches |
Power connectors | 8-pin x 1 6-pin x 1 |
Power requirements | 550W |
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price | Check the last price |
Reasons to Buy
- Attractive appearance
- Compatible with most cases
- easy overclocking with Firestorm
- Good price-performance ratio
Reasons to Avoid
The main problem with RTX cards is their huge size, which makes them difficult to adapt to small desktops. The problem is the large architecture of the chipset. At this point, Zotac found an opportunity, and as usual, the company introduced the mighty RTX 2060 Super Mini to cater to the needs of smaller enclosures.
The good thing is that the card comes at a competitive price without compromising on quality. With 2176 Cuda physical cores and a GPU clock speed of up to 1650 MHz, the card provides excellent performance of 1080p at 60 Hz as well as 144 Hz. What’s more, the card uses an average of about 550W of power. However, the 600W power supply greatly improves the performance of the card.
Usually, PC gamers avoid small sizes due to the prevailing myth about the low performance of such computers. However, this is not the case in most small cases. Let’s take the case of the Zotac 2060 RTX 2060 Super Mini. In terms of performance, the card is capable of streaming on Twitch and YouTube; and playing in 1080p, thanks to their amazing compatibility with almost all systems.
Granted, the card doesn’t have the premium quality built in by the Asus ROG Strix; it is still sturdy and durable enough to last for years. The aluminum metallic matrix as well as the metal back plate make it quite efficient to use.
The cooling mechanism with two fans in combination with an aluminum heat sink provides excellent and does not allow the card to exceed the temperature above the threshold. Temperature remains normal during regular gaming and the airflow in the housing dissipates heat, while during intense gaming the temperature remains in the range of 70-80 degrees Celsius.
In addition, IceStorm 2.0 technology has further improved cooling by activating the fans when required to optimize energy consumption. To get detailed information about the card while it is running and to overclock it, the FireStorm Utility software is very helpful. The card is equipped with three DisplayPort ports and one HDMI port for display and connectivity.
While each card has a built-in cooling system, they will all be slightly different from each other. Some cards may have additional fans, different fan styles, or even more efficient heat sinks.
Things You Must Know About Nvidia RTX 2060
There are undoubtedly a few things to keep in mind when browsing the various RTX 2060 Super options available in the market. The most important is definitely the thermal and acoustic performance of the discussed variant of the graphics card. Being a fairly energy-efficient card, the RTX 2060 Super probably won’t cause much trouble with the thermals, but that shouldn’t be left to chance.
Many companies are looking to use the best cooling solutions to remove heat from critical components such as VRMs, memory modules, and the chip itself. One simple way to assess thermal performance is to check the design of the heat sink and fans. Theoretically heavy heat sinks with a large number of ventilation fins and cooling fans have satisfactory cooling. Proper use of thermal pastes, good quality thermal pads and pastes maintains contact with the surface resulting in efficient heat transfer.
In contrast, manufacturers also design special 0db fans to ensure minimal acoustics that remain off when idling. GPUs with good cooling head can overclock for high performance without breaking sweat. Especially since the advent of technologies like GPU Boost, the self-amplification algorithm, temperature now has a direct impact on performance. Undoubtedly, we have some bad apples in the market that have a reputation for very poor thermal performance. It’s easy to avoid such products if you check the individual reviews of these variants.
And with this we end our roster of the best RTX 2060 Super variants on the market. Buying the most suitable RTX 2060 Super variant for a specific version is fairly straightforward when you take the factors mentioned above into account. Let us know in the comments which RTX 2060 Super variant you prefer most of our proposals.
Frequently Asked Questions
The RTX 2060 Super continues to hold a relatively comfortable position in the market, even into 2022. An ongoing shortage of GPU inventory certainly helps with the RTX 2060 Super, as RTX 3000 series graphics cards and AMD’s rival options are limited. Certainly the RTX 2060 Super has its own performance as well, so we can say the RTX 2060 Super is definitely worth it in 2022.
The RTX 2060 Super can certainly handle games in 1080p @ 144Hz, provided you want to tweak the graphics settings a bit in some games. Most of the lighter titles and multiplayer / eSports games will be able to run fairly comfortably at 144Hz at 1080p, but reaching that figure for AAA single-player titles will be a bit of a hassle. You can tinker with the graphics settings a bit if you want to achieve this goal.
In 2022, it would be a bit of an exaggeration to say that the RTX 2060 Super is overkill for 1080p. The development of games is progressing by leaps and bounds, and games are becoming more and more demanding. The advent of Ray Tracing certainly takes this proposal even further and that is why we are seeing accelerated aging of graphics cards. The RTX 2060 Super is convenient at 1080p for AAA gaming from 2022.
The RTX 2060 Super can certainly play some basic 1440p games as well, but that depends entirely on the types of games you plan on playing. It can handle lighter titles like eSports games and competing multiplayer titles with ease at 1440p, but may struggle to play modern AAA titles at that resolution in 2022. Lowering the graphics settings is a good way to get some extra performance on 1440p if you need to.
The design of the graphics card is fairly simple, but this particular color theme makes it very enjoyable. The graphics card is quite rugged as it has a strong backplate, although it would be fine even without the backplate.
PNY RTX 2060 Super 8GB Dual Fan Graphics Card
PNY is a famous manufacturer in the United States. The PNY offers a dual and triple fan RTX 2060 Super, but we’ll take a brief look at the dual-fan variant. PNY understands the market demand and keeps the price lower to meet the expectations of new consumers and increase popularity among players.
Performance: As expected!
PNY has integrated its product with the NVIDIA Turing architecture, which is of course the RTX 2060 Super processor. You don’t need to worry about performance as your graphics card can transmit both 1080p and 1440p gameplay at high and medium settings. You may have to lower the graphics settings for 4K games and you have smooth gameplay. You can connect a monitor with a resolution of 7680 x 4320 and run it at a refresh rate of 60 Hz, which is the maximum resolution supported.
Since the dual-fan version of the PNY RTX 2060 Super is a budget graphics card, I can’t complain here, but I want to point out that it doesn’t support NVLink. Two RTX 2060 Super cannot be connected for workstation or other project purposes.
Build Quality: Good Quality
PNY is not a newcomer to the market and understands the competition and aggressive pricing to compete in the current US graphics card market. PNY worked on design and build quality. The brand quit working on the project because it lacks RBG lights and fancy design.
The brand used high-quality parts in the project to keep up with modern standards. However, you won’t find any fancy aspect in your graphics card and you can’t complain about the ii as it belongs to budget oriented products. Regardless of the lack of design work, I believe it’s a good graphics card that will last longer for thrifty gamers.
Cooling System: Decent!
The cooling design is important because it determines the performance, FPS and lifetime of the graphics card. Fortunately, the traditional PNY design doesn’t lack cooling performance and keeps the chipset cool, even during heavy graphics use. The card does not exceed 40 ° C when idle and a maximum of 70 ° C with heavy use of the graphics card, which is enough to prove my point.
Some even overclocked it and were able to keep the temperature below 70 ° C, which is a remarkable result. However, I cannot guarantee overclocking as things can go to waste when I mess with the basic setup.
What is missing?
Fans! The PNY should be running on your fan system as you don’t want to hear the sound of the fan spinning while you play. Many players love to record and share it with the world, and the microphone can pick up noise. My point is, you don’t have to worry about fan noise as long as it’s not reaching 100% RPM.
The brand requires consumers to have an 8-pin power connector and a 550W PSU.
Dimensions: SMALLEST!
Dimensions: 1.57 x 9.25 x 4.41 CM.
I wouldn’t say the PNY RTX 2060 Super Dual-fan is the smallest graphics card, but it’s a compact version and I’d recommend it for someone who doesn’t want to upgrade the case or have a smaller case.
ASUS DUAL RTX 2060 S O8G EVO V2
Asus added the ROG Strix sub-brand to creating and selling premium products, but has not stopped producing generic or standard quality products for consumers. The Asus Dual-fan RTX 2060 Super card brings more benefits to consumers who don’t want to pay for a graphics card above $ 410.
Performance: Better!
I don’t want to brag, but Asus has done a good job when it comes to folding a card that can speed up standard clocks. The dual fan configuration is clocked at 1470 MHz and the boost clock is at 1695 MHz. The base clock of 1470 MHz is indeed the original factory frequency, but Asus managed to turn the boost clock up to 1725 MHz in OC mode, while the standard boost frequency is 1650 MHz. The RTX 2060 Super has 2,176 Cuda cores which should provide email protection in ultra graphics settings.
Overall, the Asus variant offers a value-for-money package where you get a compact design, OC mode feature, and a decent quality card. In terms of performance, this is nothing fancy as it will perform like most standard quality cards and the equivalent of the Founder RTX 2060 Super. Asus puts cards on a 144-hour test period to make sure there’s nothing wrong with the card.
When it comes to streaming and gameplay, you have nothing to worry about as the Asus DUAL RTX 2060 S O8G EVO V2 does not lack NVIDIA Encoder (NVENC), which is an efficient technology for streaming and playing from one gaming PC.
Build Quality: Standard!
The Taiwanese manufacturer did not compromise on quality and used Auto-Extreme technology in this release. Engineers added an aluminum backplate to the structure to prevent PCB bending and improve stiffness. IP5X dust resistance ensures the highest protection of the fan blades and keeps the graphics card clean for a very long time.
The brand equipped the Axial-tech fan with a budget product that was made of high-quality material. The middle part is made of copper and the heat pipes are in direct contact with the GPU. However, I’d say it lacks a modern design element and has little RBG. Asus added a small RBG strap, but it’s not even worth looking at. I wouldn’t argue for the price and I can live without the modern design and RBG lights.
Cooling System: Best!
I am not surprised that Asus has raised the 2060 S to 1725 MHz as it has an Axial-tech Fan design. Axial technology is the flagship of ROG Strix fans and arguably the best in the market today. I wasn’t expecting it, but Asus included 0dB technology in this release, which is a smart technology that only allows the graphics card fan to spin when the temperature is above 55 ° C. DirectCU II Heatpipe design makes direct contact with the GPU for an efficient cooling process. Overall, I am happy with the cooling system as it is a flagship technology not to be missed.
Dimensions: Supports 99% Cabinets!
I’m usually always delighted to see Dual-fan cards, but Asus packaged a thick card. My cupboard can hold this, but there are a few things I have to sacrifice so I don’t recommend this card to holders of smaller cupboards. I must point out that the Asus Dual RTX 2060 S O8G EVO V2 adds more value to the bank and it is worth checking it out.
The only way to really understand the context for the Super line is to see the specifications of these cards alongside the other cards they come from or into. So here is, for starters, the new RTX 2060 Super compared to the last generation RTX 2070.
ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2060 Super
Cooling: Triple fan
Boost clock: 1860 MHz
Connectors: 2x DP, 2x HDMI, 1x USB-C
The Pros:
The Cons:
And finally, in the last post, we have a more serious performance-oriented solution from Asus – the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2060 Super.
Unlike Zotac, Gigabyte, and MSI, Asus has yet to update its graphics card design and we feel the redesign is long overdue. With a modest cover and a bit of basic RGB lighting (which is for 2022), the Strix at first glance does not seem as perfect as MSI’s Gaming X version, even though it performs better in the end.
Speaking of performance, this three-fan cooler is no joke. While noise levels and temperatures are roughly the same as that of the MSI Gaming X RTX 2060 Super, this Asus RoG Strix model offers better overclocking performance, which is evident from its hefty 1860MHz default clock speed.
Of course, the extra performance comes at a price, and this particular model usually costs around $ 450, which is slightly higher than the suggested retail price of $ 399.
When overclocked, this card can deliver 10% more frames per second on average compared to the default reference settings, so whether this performance gain is worth the extra $ 50 is entirely up to the user.
How To Pick The Right Card For Your Needs
Now that we’ve covered our pick of the best RTX 2060 Super models available today, what should you keep in mind when choosing a graphics card?
When it comes to compatibility, one of the main factors to consider (especially when it comes to larger cards) is the physical size of the card. If you want to be sure that the card you receive will fit in your case, the two key dimensions you need to keep in mind are length and width.
Some graphics cards are longer than others, whether it’s due to a longer circuit board or a longer cooler that extends beyond the circuit board. In both cases, always make sure that the card is not obstructed by the HDD / SSD rack.
In terms of width, some cards take up more vertical space inside the case due to a more bulky radiator, usually due to a thicker heat sink. This can lead to two potential problems:
- They can block some PCIe slots on the motherboard, thus preventing the installation of additional PCIe expansion cards in those slots.
- They can be too close to the bottom of the case, and even if there is enough space to fit the card, being too close to the bottom or a bottom-mounted power supply can prevent air from entering the radiator, leading to higher temperatures and higher noise generation.
Now the RTX 2060 SUPER is not exactly a compact card, although it is also not as bulky as some high-end models. In any case, it’s best to be on the safe side and check the dimensions of the card you receive as well as the dimensions of your case or the case you plan to receive in the future.
Cooling
The graphics card is where most of the heat generated by a computer comes from and like any other component that generates a lot of heat, it requires active cooling. Modern GPUs often use one of the following three types of cooling:
Outdoor coolers are the most popular and are used by all the graphics cards mentioned in this article. In most cases, outdoor coolers are the best solution for most gaming PCs as they provide good overall heat dissipation and can benefit more from case fans. These coolers can use one to three fans, but for high-end cards like the RTX 2060 Super, they usually come with two or three.
As for the blowers, they contrast with the outdoor coolers as they feature an enclosed heat sink and a single blower fan that blows hot air on the back of the card, directly out of the case. This prevents heat build-up inside the housing, making the blower suitable for smaller housings with limited airflow. However, it also makes them louder and generally less efficient.
Finally, liquid cooling is by far the most efficient cooling method, making it ideal for overclocking. Liquid-cooled GPUs can achieve higher clock speeds while operating at noticeably lower temperatures than their air-cooled counterparts. However, they are not necessarily quieter as they still need a pump to circulate the liquid and fans to cool the radiator.
When in-game ray tracing first hit the scene, the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti could barely stand delivering frame rates fast enough at high resolutions and detail settings, let alone a card as low on a Turing ward as the RTX 2060.
Things To Consider
Performance
One of the main things that will set each of our selected cards apart today is their performance. This is usually measured by clock speed and has a huge impact on how well your games will perform. You will be pleased to know that the RTX 2060 Super can handle most 1080p games with ease, and will also be able to play at 1440p with a few tweaks to the settings.
However, consider the type of games you want to run on your new system. If you want to play games in 4K resolution, you have to look for more expensive alternatives. However, if you just want to play the latest games at their highest settings on a standard 1080p monitor, this card is a great option.
Cooling System
The cooling system used by the graphics card is closely related to its performance. The more efficient your graphics card is, the higher temperatures it will produce – especially if it’s overclocked.
While each card has a built-in cooling system, they will all be slightly different from each other. Some cards may have additional fans, different fan styles, or even more efficient heat sinks.
You also need to make sure you have enough airflow space in your case before installing one of these cards. It doesn’t make sense to have two amazing fans if all they do is shove hot air straight into another component!
It may sound a little weird at first, but the physical size of the card is something you’ll definitely want to look at. It’s easy to forget when looking at the different types of cards and everything they have to offer to see which ones will fit inside your computer case. While they may all appear the same size on screen, you don’t want to convince yourself that they’re too big for your case!
If you have an extremely small form factor, you can check to see if there is a “mini” variant of the graphics card you are looking at. While these may lose a bit of raw performance, they’re often the only thing you can squeeze in.
Do you have a suitcase with lots of space? Some of the more powerful cards have an additional fan that increases their cooling capacity. While not all larger cards are necessarily powerful, it’s a good idea to have this option available if you have the space.
What Budget Should I Set For An Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super Graphics Card?
The next question you will no doubt have is – how much will it cost? Overall, budget correlates to performance, with more expensive cards offering more power for your money.
With the Nvidia RTX 2060 Super card, you’ll have to set aside about $ 350 to $ 450 to claim one of these cards. While it’s not the most expensive card, it’s still quite a big investment for one component. You need to make sure you make the right choices and that this card can handle the types of games you want to play.
In terms of width, some cards take up more vertical space inside the case due to a more bulky radiator, usually due to a thicker heat sink. This can lead to two potential problems:
A Peek at the Heat
RTX cards have never been known for their extreme thermal efficiency, given that each die contains three separate types of cores that perform complex processes side by side. However, we were pleasantly surprised that even during the 10-minute stress test in the 3DMark Port Royal test, the RTX 2060 Super never exceeded 74 degrees Celsius.
This is an unscientific look, but with the side of the case disconnected, almost all of the heat generated by the GPU was dissipated through the backplate, and while a small amount was emitted around the card, a significant amount also passed through the vents on the back of the card facing the outside of the case as well. I saw a similar diagram on the RTX 2070 Super, suggesting that both cards may have seen an upgrade to their cooling systems under this shield.
An RTX 2070 by Any Other Name.
As I mentioned in my RTX 2070 Super review, offering better performance at lower cost in any way is always a winner. Nvidia continues to prove that it can compete on price when it wants or is forced to do so; AMD’s first “Navi” cards will be released this weekend. The Nvidia card ecosystem has proven to offer a wide enough range of options that hardly any gamer has an excuse to give up, depending on the amount they have to spend on a new PC update.
In the RTX 2060 Super, Nvidia offers a healthy enough upgrade from the RTX 2060, even if there’s nothing revolutionary under the card cover. It’s a price game, simple and straightforward. But what the RTX 2060 Super offers is, above all, a greater variety of choice in the RTX market, with more mid-tier enthusiast cards not going to break the bank. Who knows? The introduction of the RTX 2060 Super could eventually cut the prices of non-Super RTX 2060 partner cards a bit to create some daylight.
Of course, you’re dealing with the GTX 1660 Ti then. And if you’re looking for a card that can handle anything you don’t need, just over 100 frames per second in 1080p on titles like Rainbow Six: Siege or CS: GO, the GTX 1660 Ti is more than enough to meet your needs.
But the RTX 2060 Super has its niche. If you want something a bit more expensive, which can comfortably play a large number of AAA games in 4K and 60Hz, costs slightly less than the RTX 2070 at launch, and can track rays at lower resolutions, then the RTX 2060 Super is an attractive new entry for an increasingly crowded medium card rates. And when AMD launches its Radeon RX 5700 XT and Radeon RX 5700 in a matter of days, we’ll see just how crowded the top picks are in this market segment.