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Most new GPUs or graphics cards are sold with gaming in mind, but if you are going to use your computer for other activities, you want to make sure that your choice of GPU is up for the task.
Whether you are gaming, streaming, video editing, or doing graphic design, having the right GPU for the job will make things much faster.
Whether you choose to go with a gaming laptop or prebuilt PC, or even if you decide to build your own PC from scratch, you’ll want to make sure that you have the right graphics card.
In today’s article, we are going to discuss what to look for in a GPU for streaming. We’ll also review the 8 best graphics cards for streaming games in 2023 and talk about what makes them ideal for the job.
What to Look for in a GPU for Streaming
If you are looking to start streaming, you want to make sure that whatever GPU you put in your computer is good enough. Making the wrong choice can lead to subpar performance, glitches, stuttering, and just a generally unenjoyable experience.
Choose your brand
The first thing to keep an eye on when shopping for a good GPU for streaming is the brand. There are two major chip manufacturers in the graphics card industry: Nvidia and AMD. You may have also seen countless other names on GPUs, such as Asus, EVGA, Gigabyte, Zotac, and MSI. The reason you see this when looking at the available graphics cards on the market is because of the way they are manufactured.
Typically Nvidia and AMD only make the graphics processor, not the whole card. The chips are made by Nvidia and AMD, and the rest of the card is made by popular PC component manufacturers. This is because it is more economical for the chip makers to leave the assembly of the board, cooling system, and peripherals up to a dedicated component manufacturer instead of doing everything in-house.
This is why you will often see brands such as Asus and MSI since they already have the technology to manufacture silicon boards and housing. There are exceptions to this, of course, most notably with the Founder’s Editions of certain graphics cards.
Although no brand is particularly better or worse than the other, you will notice different overclock configurations and thermal designs, which can absolutely affect performance. Some brands offer more inexpensive solutions to the same model, with lower power consumption or a smaller footprint. It is important to be aware of the different specs across different brands, even when talking about the same model GPU.
What games do you plan on playing and streaming?
When considering a new GPU for streaming, one thing to keep in mind is what game titles you plan on streaming. If you are streaming older games at lower settings, you won’t need a very powerful graphics card. If you are hoping to stream AAA titles or highly competitive, demanding games, then you should make sure you find the most powerful graphics card you can.
Since streaming is typically a very intensive task, most major streamers choose to set up a 2nd PC specifically to handle the stream while their main PC handles the game. This type of setup is ideal but can be very expensive. For that reason, most streamers will want to simply equip their main PC to handle gaming and streaming.
Understand the basics of encoding
To understand the requirements needed for streaming, a solid understanding of encoding is necessary. But just what is encoding? Encoding is the process your computer goes through in order to stream a game live to the internet as you are playing it. Doing this is a very intensive task, whether you use software or hardware encoding.
Basically, your computer needs to record the video of your gameplay and compress it as much as possible so it can be sent over the Internet. Streaming uncompressed data would just be too slow. That’s where encoding comes in.
There are two methods of encoding: hardware encoding and software encoding, and each one has a different set of requirements. If you are relying on software encoding, you’ll need a more powerful CPU, as software encoding is very CPU-intensive. If you are relying on hardware encoding, you will need a more powerful GPU, as hardware encoding uses the graphics processor much more.
Most of the time, hardware encoding is the way to go since it is much faster. Hardware encoding still uses the CPU a little bit, but some of the responsibility is shifted to the GPU. If you have a more powerful GPU, then you will be able to encode faster and therefore stream at higher settings.
CPU software encoding is typically not sufficient for streaming, and you may experience lag and choppy gameplay. Using the CPU for encoding is not an issue for prerecorded videos, but when you are streaming in real time, you need the best performance possible.
That’s why picking the best GPU for streaming is very important. Nvidia and AMD both have their own encoding software, and most benchmarks out there point to Nvidia’s Nvenc encoder being a little better. Ultimately it depends on your specific setup, but the encoder could be a deal-breaker if you are trying to squeeze every last drop of performance out of your streaming hardware.
The rest of your build is also important
Building your ideal streaming system means that you’ll need to make sure that you have the best CPU for streaming as well. A quad-core or better CPU from Intel or AMD will usually do the job just fine as long as you have enough RAM and fast enough storage.
Another important factor is your internet connection speed. If your internet is under a certain threshold, you won’t be able to stream at all. Typically, a safe minimum internet speed is around 10 MBPS, although higher speeds will allow you to stream in better quality.
Once you have the rest of your build in order, all that’s left is the graphics card. With all of the variety in the graphics card market today, it can be difficult to pinpoint just which cards are perfect for the job.
That’s why we have taken the time at PC Mecca to do all the research, so you can confidently pick from the eight best graphics cards for streaming currently available on the market.
Best Graphics Cards for Streaming Games in 2023 Round-Up
The table below will give you a quick look at our selections for the 8 best graphics cards for streaming currently available on the market. To read a full review, simply click on ‘review>>’ in the respective row.
Product | Image | Rating | |
1. EVGA GeForce RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra ''Best GPU for Streaming in 2023 Overall'' |  | 9.9 | |
2. ASUS TUF Gaming AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT OC ''Best AMD Card for Streaming'' |  | 9.8 | |
3. GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3080 Ti VISION OC ''Excellent Addition to a High-end, Aesthetics-oriented Streaming Rig'' |  | 9.7 | |
4. PowerColor Red Devil AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT ''Best Value Pick'' |  | 9.6 | |
5. ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Trinity OC ''The Cheapest Card We Recommend for 1440p Monitors'' |  | 9.5 | |
6. GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3060 Eagle OC ''The Cheapest Card We Recommend for 1080p Monitors'' |  | 9.4 | |
7. MSI Gaming AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT ''Honorable Mention'' |  | 9.2 | |
8. ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti EVO OC ''Honorable Mention #2'' |  | 8.8 |
1. EVGA GeForce RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra
CUDA Cores: 10496 | Base Clock: 1395 MHz | Boost Clock: 1800 MHz | Memory: 24 GB GDDR6X | Memory Clock Speed: 19500 MHz | Memory Interface: 384-bit | Max. Monitors Supported: 4 | Dimensions: 300 x 137 x 56 mm
REASONS TO BUY
- Excellent performance for streaming any of the current games
- Superior 1080p and 1440p performance
- Perfect for competitive gamers (capable of 200+ FPS at most competitive titles)
- Viable at 4k
- Lots of fast VRAM (makes the card future-proof)
- Quality construction, premium feel
- Attractive aesthetics with RGB
- Beefy cooling system
REASONS TO AVOID
- Large and heavy (definitely won’t fit all cases)
- Power-hungry
Our Rating: 9.9/10
It’s no surprise at all that the best card on our list is the legendary RTX 3090 from Nvidia. This particular GPU is made by EVGA, one of the most reliable manufacturers with a longstanding history of making high-performance graphics cards. Whether you plan on gaming, streaming, or using your GPU for any other demanding activities, a graphics card from EVGA is always a great choice.
What really sets the EVGA Geforce RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra apart from the competition is the combination of raw power, quality design, and high-performance capabilities. With a whopping 24GB of DDR6X VRAM and 10,496 Cuda Cores, you’ll be able to stream any game on high settings with no issues at all.
In fact, when we benchmarked this GPU, we found that it performed better on average than any other graphics card on this list. If you need the most powerful GPU without going overboard with the price of the ”Ti” version, then the EVGA RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra is the way to go.
If you are hoping to play AAA games at 4K ultra HD settings, then this graphics card will not let you down. What is even more impressive is that you will be able to stream your games effortlessly without any noticeable loss in quality.
Fast-paced, demanding games like Apex Legends, Overwatch, and Call of Duty will stream perfectly on this graphics card, even on high-end 144hz or 240hz monitors that require a high-performing GPU to deliver 100+ or even 200+ frames per second.
This incredible performance is thanks to some very intelligent upgrades provided by EVGA. Whereas the base model RTX 3090 is still an extremely impressive GPU, EVGA has taken many steps to ensure that this version of the card is even more powerful. You get all the standard features that are typical on an RTX 3090, such as Nvidia DLSS, G-Sync, Ray Tracing, and Tensor Cores, but you also get some design upgrades courtesy of EVGA.
The most notable upgrade is the incredibly enhanced cooling system on this GPU. EVGA really spared no expense when crafting the perfect thermal design. Three hydro-dynamic bearing fans, with the middle one being slightly offset, make up the majority of the cooling system. Behind the RGB-illuminated shroud, you’ll find a large aluminum fin-stack heatsink that does an amazing job at transferring the heat away from the chip and out of the fans.
One thing you should be aware of with the EVGA RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra is the sheer size of the card. It is absolutely massive, measuring almost 12 inches in length and over 5 inches in height. As long as you have a spacious PC case, you should be fine. Anything smaller than a full ATX size case may cause you some difficulties installing this GPU.
The power requirements are also pretty hefty for this card compared to something like the RTX 3080 or 3070 models, as you might expect. You’ll need a power supply with at least 750 watts or more to run this GPU comfortably alongside your other components. For connectivity, make sure you have three 8-pin PCI-e power connectors to deliver all the juice needed to run this graphics card.
If you’re on the fence about trusting a graphics card with an investment like this, fear not, as EVGA provides a pretty solid 3-year warranty along with it. This goes to show that EVGA cares about maintaining its longstanding reputation as a quality GPU maker.
Overall, the EVGA RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra makes the cut as our top pick for the best graphics card for streaming in 2023. With its innovative cooling system, attractive RGB illuminated design, quality construction, and tons of power under the hood, this is the perfect GPU for those looking for a smooth streaming experience for years to come without spending a fortune.
2. ASUS TUF Gaming AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT OC
Stream processors: 5120 | Base Clock: 1825 MHz | Boost Clock: 2340 MHz | Memory: 16 GB GDDR6X | Memory Clock Speed: 16000 MHz | Memory Interface: 256-bit | Max. Monitors Supported: 4 | Dimensions: 320 x 140 x 58 mm
REASONS TO BUY
- Fantastic performance for streaming games
- One of the best performances per dollar
- Shines at 1080p and 1440p
- Plenty of VRAM (overkill for games)
- High-quality construction
- 3-year warranty
- Stays cool even under heavy loads
REASONS TO AVOID
- Weaker performance compared to Nvidia
- Enormous. heavy design
- Power-hungry
- No RGB
Our Rating: 9.8/10
Coming in at a close 2nd place is one of AMD’s best GPUs to date: the Radeon RX 6900 XT. This particular model is from Asus TUF Gaming, one of the biggest names in quality gaming components. Asus has been honing its craft for decades, with a long history of making high-performance motherboards, graphics cards, and even entire gaming computers. We’re not surprised to see Asus put out another awesome graphics card.
You’ll be pleased to find out that this version of the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT has been modified and overclocked from the factory specs to be even faster and better equipped for streaming. Based on the RDNA2 graphics architecture, this is the same graphics processor that was first used in the newest Xbox and Playstation 5 systems. Packed with 16GB of DDR6X VRAM, the Asus Tuf Gaming AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT OC is a perfect GPU for streaming for years to come.
Playing the latest AAA games on even the highest settings is no problem for this graphics card. Even at 4K resolution, you’ll still see very impressive frame rates. One potential drawback with this GPU is using AMD’s encoding software. The encoder used on AMD’s graphics cards gets a bad rap in the streaming community, and it is often said that it is not as good as Nvidia’s Nvenc encoding software.
However, if you have an AMD processor in your build to combine with this card, you can take advantage of AMD smart access memory technology to boost the performance of your games.
You get some really impressive features with the ASUS TUF Gaming AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT OC. AMD Infinity Cache, Radeon Anti-Lag, and Radeon Boost provide a truly remarkable experience when pushed to the limit. You’ll be able to immerse yourself in realistic lighting and shadows at high resolutions with the help of DirectX Ray Tracing and Variable Rate Shading.
The new RDNA2 graphics architecture makes it easy to reach high frame rates while still enjoying all of the visual effects of your games. According to AMD, you can expect a 54% increase in performance-per-watt over the older GCN architecture.
One of our favorite parts about this graphics card is the unique and efficient cooling system. Three large 13-blade fans sit atop the heat spreader, optimizing airflow with the center fan reversed to reduce turbulence inside the cooling array. The heat spreader takes care of most of the work until the GPU starts to register temperatures of at least 60 degrees Celsius. At this point, the fans quietly spin up and keep the whole graphics card cool, even under heavy load.
As you should expect with a graphics card of this caliber, it is quite large, measuring about 12 inches in length. The power requirements are not incredibly high, as AMD has always been known for its energy-efficient components, but you will still need at least a 700-watt power supply or more, depending on your build. The RX 6900 XT OC consumes around 375 watts of power and is fed through two 8-pin PCI-e connectors along the top.
You can rest assured that your investment will be safe with this GPU, as Asus provides a pretty standard 3-year warranty in case anything goes wrong. With such a good track record of success, you can count on Asus to stand behind its components.
A close second to the RTX 3090, this GPU is an excellent choice for streaming. Compared with the other graphics cards, the ASUS TUF Gaming AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT OC provides impressive performance for the money. If you’re a fan of team Red, this is currently one of their best offerings and one that can actually compete with Nvidia on the highest level.
- READ ASLO: Best Gaming Graphics Cards Under $500
3. GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3080 Ti VISION OC
CUDA Cores: 10240 | Base Clock: 1365 MHz | Boost Clock: 1710 MHz | Memory: 12 GB GDDR6X | Memory Clock Speed: 19000 MHz | Memory Interface: 384-bit | Max. Monitors Supported: 4 | Dimensions: 320 x 126 x 55 mm
REASONS TO BUY
- Superb performance for all levels of streaming
- Keeps up with the RTX 3090 in most cases
- Beautiful aesthetics
- Efficient and quiet cooling system
- Excellent build quality
- Great overclock out of the box
- 4-year warranty
REASONS TO AVOID
- Worse performance per dollar compared to the competition
- Not as future-proof as the RTX 3090 models or even the RX 6900 XT
- Larger, heavier card
Our Rating: 9.7/10
Following closely behind the AMD Radeon is another high-performance graphics card from Nvidia. The Geforce RTX 3080 Ti Vision OC is made by Gigabyte, one of the biggest names in gaming and custom PC components. Gigabyte is well known in the PC world for its lineup of high-quality yet affordable motherboards, graphics cards, and loads of other parts.
As far as performance, the 3080 Ti does better in comparison to the RY 6900 XT. However, the difference in price is also significant, meaning you won’t be getting as good of a performance per dollar as you’d be getting with the AMD video card. Only for that reason, we decided to place this GPU lower than its AMD competitor.
The Geforce RTX 3080 Ti Vision OC stands out by providing a superior gaming and streaming experience thanks to the 2nd generation Ampere architecture. Gigabyte improved upon Nvidia’s already stellar 3080 Ti series GPU with factory overclocking and upgraded thermal design, allowing you to really push the limits when gaming or streaming.
With next-generation Ray Tracing and DLSS, and 12GB of DDR6X VRAM, this graphics card packs enough punch to deliver a 1.5x faster average benchmark over the previous generation 2080 Ti.
When gaming, you’ll notice the ability to run all of the latest titles and competitive, fast-paced games with no stutter or lag. The Geforce RTX 3080 Ti Vision OC runs the latest AAA games at Ultra settings with no problem, even when put to the test at full 4K resolution. Thanks to Nvidia’s Broadcast hardware encoding, you’re able to stream games using the latest AV1 codec for lossless quality as well.
Some of the features we found most attractive in a card at this price point are Nvidia’s G-Sync, Nvidia Reflex, and Nvidia DLSS. The Gigabyte Aorus engine allows you to change the overclock settings to tweak performance depending on what games you are streaming. You’ll be able to effortlessly push settings to the maximum, even when streaming over the internet. All of these built-in tools provide a way for your games to run at the highest settings without stressing your GPU.
When it comes down to the cooling system, we were pretty impressed with the overall design. Made up of two 90mm fans and one 80mm fan, you’ll notice the central fan spins in an alternate direction to reduce the turbulence between fans and increase the air pressure. Heat is dissipated with the help of 7 composite copper heat pipes and a large copper plate that directly contacts the GPU. All in all, this thermal design does a great job of keeping the graphics card cool under load.
One of our favorite features is the customizable RGB illumination available on this card. Whether you have a minimalistic build or an RGB-based build with lots of colors, you can customize this GPU to match your aesthetic perfectly.
You’ll also notice the dimensions and power consumption are typical of a GPU with these capabilities. With a TDP rating of about 360 watts, you will need at least a 750-watt power supply to comfortably power this GPU alongside the rest of your system.
The 4-year warranty available with this graphics card through the manufacturer is also above average. This really speaks to the confidence Gigabyte has in their workmanship and build quality. Don’t forget to register your product after receiving it; otherwise, the default warranty provided is only three years.
Overall, this is another fantastic GPU for streamers and competitive gamers who also put emphasis on aesthetics. It is still on the expensive side, and you won’t get the knockout performance that you can expect from the highest-end cards, but streaming the latest titles on high settings is still an easy task for this GPU. And in combination with the cooling, metallic design, and RGB lighting, this makes for one of the best graphics cards out there.
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4. PowerColor Red Devil AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
Streaming Processors: 4608 | Base Clock: 1900 MHz | Boost Clock: 2340 MHz | Memory: 16 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock Speed: 16000 MHz | Memory Interface: 256-bit | Max. Monitors Supported: 4 | Dimensions: 320 x 135 x 62 mm
REASONS TO BUY
- Great performance for streaming games in FullHD
- Probably the best price/performance out of all the cards on this list
- Double BIOS (OC and silent modes)
- Good overclock over the reference card
- Efficient cooling system
- Stays quiet overall
- High-quality construction
- Backlit I/O ports
REASONS TO AVOID
- Not viable for 4k gaming and streaming
- Only a 2-year warranty
- Large and heavy
- Power-hungry
Our Rating: 9.6/10
A logical choice for us for 4th place is the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT. If you can’t quite spring for the expense of the RX 6900 XT, this GPU is a good alternative in a lower price range. And if you’re on a tight budget, the $300 savings look even better if you compare the performance of these two cards.
The PowerColor Red Devil AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is an exceptional graphics card for streaming in that it provides you with superior component quality, has extensive overclocking capabilities, and delivers all of this in an eye-catching design. Despite being one of the less-known manufacturers, PowerColor still provides great warranties and support on all of their products, and their quality is evidenced by tons of positive reviews from happy customers.
You’ll be happy to find out that this GPU comes packed with some really impressive specs for the price. Going head to head against the Nvidia Geforce 3080 series graphics cards, the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT delivers awesome performance at a more competitive price point. Based on the RDNA2 architecture and loaded with 16GB of DDR6 VRAM, this GPU won’t disappoint when it comes to gaming and streaming performance.
The gameplay is excellent, even on 4k Ultra HD with high settings. For streaming the latest AAA games, you should be able to get by just fine on medium to high settings. AMD’s hardware encoding may not be quite as top-notch as Nvidia’s, but you should be able to stream most games with very little loss in quality at full 1080p HD. For older games or titles with lower requirements like CS: GO, League of Legends, Overwatch, Fortnite, PUBG, and others, this GPU is fantastic, delivering full performance with 100-200+ FPS.
There is a lot we like about this card, but the overclocking and dual BIOS modes are some of our favorite features. With the dual BIOS mode, you can configure your GPU to run in OC mode or silent mode. OC mode boosts your GPU to run at a higher performance level at the expense of louder fans, whereas silent mode will adjust your GPU’s performance to allow you to game quietly. If you are playing less demanding games, this is a handy feature to make your PC a little quieter.
Thermal design is another thing we like about this graphics card. The massive heatsink makes direct contact with the GPU and dissipates heat out through a series of nickel-plated copper heat pipes to an array of aluminum fins.
Neatly concealing all of this is an RGB-illuminated shroud containing three large fans. This accounts for a much better cooling system compared to the base RX 6800 XT model. All of this serves to keep your graphics card nice and cool while you are streaming.
With a manufacturer-recommended minimum power supply wattage of 850, you’ll need to be prepared with two 8-pin power connectors to run this GPU. You’ll also notice that this is still a huge graphics card, similar in size to the Nvidia RTX 3090 series cards.
The good news is you get the standard HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 ports common on most high-end GPUs, but what really makes this card unique is that the ports are illuminated. With built-in LEDs on each port, you’ll easily be able to see what you are plugging in.
Even though PowerColor only offers a 2-year warranty on its GPUs, this card is an absolute steal for the current price. You won’t get the same level of performance or aesthetics in comparison to the cards above (the RTX 3090, 3080 Ti, and the RX 6900 XT). What you get, however, is a quality, well-cooled, and, most importantly, high-performing card at a price point you can call affordable.
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5. ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Trinity OC
CUDA Cores: 6144 | Base Clock: 1575 MHz | Boost Clock: 1800 MHz | Memory: 8 GB GDDR6X | Memory Clock Speed: 19000 MHz | Memory Interface: 256-bit | Max. Monitors Supported: 4 | Dimensions: 318 x 118 x 59 mm
REASONS TO BUY
- Enough performance for streaming the vast majority of games
- Can easily power 1440p monitors
- High-quality construction
- Attractive aesthetics with RGB
- 8GB of the fastest VRAM currently available
- a 3-year warranty (with registration)
- Powerful cooling system
REASONS TO AVOID
- Gets loud under load
- Large footprint
- Not viable for 4k
- High TDP despite lower performance
Our Rating: 9.5/10
Taking up 5th place is another Nvidia GPU: the Zotac Gaming Geforce RTX 3070 Ti Trinity OC. Zotac has always been an excellent choice if you are looking for a quality graphics card without breaking the bank, and this GPU is no different. Whether you are gaming, streaming, or doing other demanding tasks like video editing or graphic design, the RTX 3070 Ti from Zotac is a solid choice at the upper end of the mid-tier category.
With 8GB of GDDR6X and packing 6144 CUDA Cores, this GPU is loaded with some impressive specs, easily competing with the RX 6800 XT and even the more expensive RTX 3080. With the help of 2nd-generation Ray Tracing Cores and 3rd-generation Tensor Cores, you’re able to use artificial intelligence features to massively improve high-resolution gaming performance.
We’re pretty impressed with the gaming abilities of this card, to say the least. Although not quite as powerful as the RTX 3080 series, the 3070 Ti graphics cards come close, especially when looking at this model with enhanced cooling and factory overclock.
On 1080p monitors, you’ll be able to stream the vast majority of modern games, including the latest AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Crysis, or the latest Halo Infinite. The same goes for competitive titles like Fortnite, Overwatch, Apex Legends, and so on.
At 1440p, you’ll still be able to stream the majority of games with little to no issues, but there are definitely titles this GPU will have trouble rendering at the highest settings. 4k is out of the picture completely with this card, as you’d always be choosing between low settings and smooth FPS.
What makes us really happy to recommend this graphics card are some of the innovative features that come standard. With Nvidia DLSS, you are able to enjoy an average of 1.5x higher frame rates without sacrificing image quality. As for looks, the customizable RGBs make this a very attractive GPU to add to your PC build.
Many reports online will state this graphics card can get loud when running under load, and we found this to be true for the most part. Although the cooling system is a fairly standard design, with three large fans, an aluminum heat-fin array, and an improved layout over the previous generation, it is not the best at dissipating heat compared to other GPUs on this list.
Due to this, you may notice the fans running a little loud at times. Unless you are going for a completely silent PC build, we don’t think this is a dealbreaker.
You’ll find the Zotac RTX 3070 Ti has a pretty standard power rating of 310 watts, with a 750-watt power supply being the recommended minimum to support it. Power is supplied via two 8-pin power connectors along the top of the graphics card.
Even though not as powerful as some of the top-of-the-line GPUs, the Zotac RTX 3070 Ti is still a massive card, measuring over 12 inches in length. You’ll want to ensure you have a roomy case to install this in.
The 2-year warranty that comes standard with all Zotac graphics cards can be extended up to 3 years for free, provided you register the product within 30 days of buying it. We thought this was a nice little bonus on Zotac’s part, as a longer warranty is always ideal.
Overall, this RTX 3070 Ti from Zotac is a great pick-up for those on a tighter budget but still looking for something that can stream a large variety of games on both 1080p and 1440p. On top of the great performance, you also get a great cooling system, quality construction, and some RGB to top it off. Currently, for less than $700, this is a fantastic card for streaming.
6. GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3060 Eagle OC
CUDA Cores: 3584 | Base Clock: 1777 MHz | Boost Clock: 1807 MHz | Memory: 12 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock Speed: 15000 MHz | Memory Interface: 192-bit | Max. Monitors Supported: 4 | Dimensions: 242 x 124 x 41 mm
REASONS TO BUY
- The most cost-effective GPU for 1080p
- Highly affordable
- Quality construction
- 12GB of VRAM (a lot for this price range)
- Well-performing cooler
- Compact (fits microATX builds)
- Power-efficient
REASONS TO AVOID
- Weaker performance, no future-proofing
- Poor 1440p performance
- Low aesthetic value
- No RGB
Our Rating: 9.4/10
If your budget doesn’t allow for some of the nicest GPUs on our list, fear not, as there are still plenty of options. The Nvidia Geforce RTX 3060 Eagle OC from Gigabyte is one of the best options to pair with a 1080p monitor. If you are looking to stream games at relatively high settings while staying within a smaller budget, this graphics card is perfect for you.
Whether you are gaming or streaming or using your GPU for other demanding tasks, this card has everything you need to stay current. 12GB of DDR6 VRAM and 3584 Cuda Cores makes this GPU very competitive for streaming.
If you are wondering what level of gaming performance you can expect out of this graphics card, you’ll be pleased to find out it is quite good. When tested with some of the latest AAA titles, you’ll average at least 40 to 50 FPS, even on high settings. For games like Metro Exodus, we saw an average of about 67 FPS, with games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider clocking in at well over 100 FPS. For streaming performance, you can still get very good frame rates, provided you keep your resolution no higher than 1080p.
We were surprised to see Nvidia still includes some of its high-end features even at this price point. G-Sync, Nvidia Reflex, and Nvidia DLSS are all standard with this GPU, providing you with the ability to squeeze as much performance as possible out of your graphics card. Overclocking capabilities are available for you to tweak as well using Gigabyte’s built-in Aorus Engine.
When discussing the thermal design of this GPU, it is important to mention that a lot of reviews complained about the noise. We found this to be true to some extent, although the cooling system is still very effective at keeping temperatures low and stable. With direct-contact copper heat pipes, and an alternating fan layout, the cooling system is a good upgrade over the previous generation.
Measuring about 9 inches in length, you’ll still need a decently sized PC case to house this in. The good news is power requirements are a little lower than some of the larger GPUs on our list, with a TDP rating of 170 watts. You’ll only need about a 550-watt power supply to support this graphics card and one available 8-pin connector.
As long as you register your product within a month of receiving it, Gigabyte will extend the standard 3-year warranty up to 4 years. We thought this was pretty nice of Gigabyte to offer, and it really goes to show that they stand behind their GPUs.
At such an attractive price point, we can definitely recommend this graphics card to the entry-level streamer. For playing games at high settings, this GPU won’t let you down, bringing you very reasonable frame rates even when set to full 1080p resolution. We’re putting this graphics card just above the RX 6600 XT simply because it offers Nvidia DLSS and better Ray Tracing capabilities which are very impactful when streaming.
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7. MSI Gaming AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT
Stream Processors: 2048 | Base Clock: 2428 MHz | Boost Clock: 2607 MHz | Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock Speed: 16000 MHz | Memory Interface: 128-bit | Max. Monitors Supported: 4 | Dimensions: 277 x 130 x 51 mm
REASONS TO BUY
- Excellent 1080p performance (keeps up with the RTX 3060 in some cases)
- Faster than the RX 5700 XT
- High-quality build
- Attractive aesthetics
- Stays nice and cool with average cooling
- Very quiet, even under load
- Power-efficient
REASONS TO AVOID
- Outperformed by its Nvidia counterpart
- Less VRAM than the RTX 3060 (even less future-proofed)
- Sub-par 1440p performance
- Large for a dual fan GPU
Our Rating: 9.2/10
For our 7th place pick, we had to go with another AMD graphics card: the MSI Gaming AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT. When comparing this GPU to the RTX 3060, the Nvidia card only came out on top by a little bit. Depending on which one is a better deal for you at the time, you may want to go with the RTX 3060 or this one. For gaming and streaming, both graphics cards performed very well, with roughly the same level of performance.
You may have heard of the MSI brand before, and how could you not with all of the gaming gear and custom PC components they have been producing for decades.
MSI has always been known as one of the best names in motherboards, graphics cards, and gaming laptops. The MSI Gaming AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT stands up to this lofty reputation, packing immense power into a very affordable graphics card, making it a perfect pick for 1080p gaming and streaming.
Being one of the cheapest GPUs you can get that is based on the new RDNA2 architecture, the performance offered by this graphics card is excellent for the price. We were pleased to find out that benchmarks show this GPU is capable of getting very high frame rates on the most popular games, even on higher settings. AMD calls this card “the ultimate 1080p gaming experience,” and we found this to be quite true.
Although not suitable for 1440p gaming, especially if you’re going to stream as well, you can still expect most AAA games to run just fine at 1080p resolution.
When tested with games like F1 2020, we were impressed to see an average FPS of around 160. Games like Metro Exodus came in at around 80 FPS on average, an even higher score than the RTX 3060 from Nvidia. When put to the test while streaming, we only saw a slight drop in quality. You can expect at least 60 FPS for most games while streaming in full HD.
The thermal design of this graphics card is fairly average looking, but what really sets it apart is the silence. Even under load, this GPU will stay extremely quiet. Everything from the fan blade design to the shape of the heatsink fins is crafted to make this GPU as quiet as possible.
Coming in at just under 11 inches in length, the MSI Gaming AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is certainly not a compact GPU. Power requirements are lower than some comparable graphics cards, with a rating of 160 watts. If you’ve got a 500-watt or higher power supply with at least one available 8-pin connector, you will be all set.
All MSI graphics cards come with a generous 3-year warranty, which is the industry standard in this day and age. For a GPU with this level of power, full DirectX 12 support, and a quiet cooling system, we think this is an excellent deal. As long as you have a 1080p monitor, the MSI Gaming AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT could be the perfect graphics card for you, especially if you’re on a tight budget.
- RELATED READING: Best Laptops for Streaming
8. ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti EVO OC
CUDA Cores: 1536 | Base Clock: 1500 MHz | Boost Clock: 1845 MHz | Memory: 6 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock Speed: 12000 MHz | Memory Interface: 192-bit | Max. Monitors Supported: 4 | Dimensions: 206 x 124 x 46 mm
REASONS TO BUY
- Great 1080p performance for less taxing games
- Super cheap
- Great cooling system
- Quality construction
- Very compact, will fit miniITX builds with ease
- Power efficient
- Quality construction
REASONS TO AVOID
- Weak performance for modern games
- Plain aesthetics, no RGB
- Not recommended for high-end streaming
Our Rating: 8.8/10
Don’t think this is a bad GPU just because we ranked it last. In fact, the ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti EVO OC is one of the best budget graphics cards for streaming that you can find. Although you can’t expect the fantastic levels of performance that some of the high-end graphics cards offer, the GTX 1660 Ti is still a formidable GPU for gaming, streaming as long as you stick with less demanding games like League of Legends, Overwatch, or CS: GO for example.
We’ve already talked about the longstanding reputation that Asus has in the gaming industry, and this graphics card is a fine example of the quality and workmanship that you can expect from them. Based on Nvidia’s Turing architecture, the GTX 1660 Ti packs 6GB GDDR6 and 1536 Cuda Cores into a relatively compact graphics card.
You may be surprised to find out that a graphics card at this price point is capable of 1080p gaming on high settings. We reviewed benchmarks from some of the most popular games just to find out if this GPU can really do what Nvidia says it can do, and we were impressed with the results.
For AAA titles and fast-paced games, you might not be gaming at 1440p, but you can get some excellent frame rates at full 1080p resolution. Thanks to Nvidia’s Nvenc encoder and optimization for OBS (open broadcaster software), you can also stream without a significant drop in quality.
Asus also offers you some overclocking features with this graphics card, something we did not expect to see on a GPU at this price point. The GPU Tweak II utility from Asus allows you to tweak your graphics card settings individually to get better performance. With the ability to customize GPU core clocks, memory frequency, and voltage settings, you’ll have endless options for exploring your card’s performance levels.
With a length of around 8 inches, this is one of the smallest GPUs on our list. This is perfect if you have a smaller PC case and are looking for a compact graphics card. The power requirements are also very reasonable, and a 550-watt power supply with one 8-pin connector will be enough to power this card.
If you’re trying to get into streaming for as little as possible, the ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti EVO OC may be the perfect card for you. For older, less taxing titles, and indie games, this is a great GPU that cuts down on price and delivers a very solid 1080p performance.
Final Words
There you go; these were our selections for the eight best graphics cards for streaming currently available on the market.
We did our best to include an option for every budget, so you can easily pick the best GPU for both your rig and your wallet. We really hope this was helpful to you–If this article helped you in any way, make sure to share it with your friends on your favorite social media.
Also, if you have any additional questions, feel free to ask them in the comment section below, and we’ll be more than happy to help you out. We love hearing from you!
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