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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.
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 graphics card for the job will make things much faster.
Be sure to check out our recommendations for other streaming gear:
- Best Laptops For Streaming
- Best Budget PCs For Streaming
- Best Headsets For Streaming
- Best Budget Microphones For Streaming
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 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 need to make sure you’re picking from the high tier of the current generation.
Since streaming is typically a very intensive task, most major streamers choose to set up a second 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 with good enough hardware to handle both gaming and streaming.
Understand the basics of encoding
To understand the requirements needed for streaming, a solid understanding of encoding is necessary. What is encoding?
Encoding is converting the gameplay and related content into a digital format suitable for real-time transmission over the internet to be viewed by users. 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.
However, 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.
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 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 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 a good CPU for streaming as well. Nowadays, we recommend at least an octa-core or better CPU but enough RAM (32GB) and fast enough storage are equally important.
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.
8 Best Graphics Cards for Streaming 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. Asus TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4080 OC ''Best GPU for streaming overall'' |  | 9.9 | |
2. MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming X Trio ''Best overall runner-up'' |  | 9.8 | |
3. XFX Speedster MERC310 AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX ''Best AMD graphics card for streaming'' |  | 9.7 | |
4. MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Ventus 3X ''Best 1440p graphics card for streaming'' |  | 9.6 | |
5. ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Trinity OC ''Best budget GPU for streaming'' |  | 9.5 | |
6. GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3060 Eagle OC ''Best 1080p graphics card for streaming'' |  | 9.4 | |
7. MSI Gaming AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT ''Extreme budget option'' |  | 9.2 | |
8. Asus TUF Gaming Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti EVO OC ''Honorable mention'' |  | 8.8 |
1. Asus TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4080 OC
CUDA Cores: 9,728 | Base Clock: 2,595 MHz | Boost Clock: 2,625 MHz | Memory: 16 GB GDDR6X | Memory Clock Speed: 22,400 MHz | Memory Interface: 256-bit | Max. Monitors Supported: 4 | Dimensions: 348.2 x 150 x 72.6 mm
REASONS TO BUY
- Top-of-the-line performance
- Superior 1440p and 4k gaming performance
- Suitable for professional content creation
- Better performance per dollar than RTX 4090
- Lots of fast VRAM
- High-quality construction
- Fantastic cooling system
- Quiet even under heavy loads
REASONS TO AVOID
- Large and heavy
- Power-hungry
- Higher price
Our Rating: 9.9/10
Our number one recommendation for the best GPU for streaming is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080. This particular model is made by Asus TUF, a more affordable (yet still high-quality) branch compared to ASUS’ ROG series of products.
Why the RTX 4080 and not the RTX 4090? It’s simple. The RTX 4080 is more affordable and has very similar gaming benchmarks, making it much more cost-effective for gamers and streamers. Plus, the cooling system installed by Asus is top-notch.
In terms of performance, it doesn’t get much better than this. With nearly 10 thousand CUDA cores, 16GB of fast GDDR6X memory, and a 2,625MHz clock speed, this card puts out smooth FPS for even the most demanding AAA titles.
Being a current-gen model, you also get access to DLSS3 and the 3rd generation RT cores for improved performance and even more realistic visuals compared to previous generations.
If you are hoping to play AAA games at 4K resolution, this graphics card will not let you down. In addition to that, you will be able to stream your games effortlessly without any noticeable loss in quality, thanks to Nvidia’s highly touted NVENC encoder.
Fast-paced, competitive games such as Apex Legends, Valorant, Fortnite, or 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.
The most notable aftermarket upgrade that sets this graphics card apart from the competition is the cooling system. Three large axial-tech fans with dual-ball bearings and a massive aluminum fin-stack heatsink make up the majority of the cooling system–Not only does it cool the card extremely well, but it also stays very quiet even during marathon streaming sessions.
One thing you should be aware of is the sheer size of the card. It is absolutely massive, measuring almost 14 inches in length and over 6 inches in height. As long as you have a spacious PC case, you should be fine, but anything smaller than a mid-tower case may cause you some difficulties installing this GPU.
As you might expect, the power requirements are also pretty hefty for this card compared to the lower-tier models. You’ll need a power supply with at least 750 watts to run this GPU comfortably alongside your other components, and the average power draw during gaming is around 250 watts.
If you’re on the fence about trusting a graphics card with an investment like this, fear not, as Asus provides an industry-standard 3-year warranty along with it. This goes to show that Asus cares about maintaining its longstanding reputation as a quality GPU maker.
Overall, the Asus TUF Gaming RTX 4080 makes the cut as our top pick for the best graphics card for streaming in 2023. With its innovative cooling system, quality construction, tons of power under the hood, and a much better performance per dollar than the RTX 4090, this is the perfect GPU for those looking for a high-end streaming experience without spending more than they need.
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2. MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming X Trio
CUDA Cores: 16,384 | Base Clock: 2,235 MHz | Boost Clock: 2,610 MHz | Memory: 24 GB GDDR6X | Memory Clock Speed: 21,000 MHz | Memory Interface: 384-bit | Max. Monitors Supported: 4 | Dimensions: 337 x 140 x 77 mm
REASONS TO BUY
- Best-performing GPU on the market
- Significant improvement over the last generation
- One of the most affordable RTX 4090 custom cards
- 4K 144hz gaming possible
- Massive VRAM
- High-quality construction
- Nice aesthetics with RGB
- 3-year warranty
- Efficient cooling system
REASONS TO AVOID
- Large and heavy
- Power-hungry
- Worse value than the RTX 4080 for gaming
Our Rating: 9.8/10
Coming in at a close 2nd place is Nvidia’s MSI’s take on the flagship GeForce RTX 4090. We selected the MSI Gaming X Trio model for two reasons. First, the quality is always top-notch on MSI cards, and this one is no exception. And second, it is one of the most affordable aftermarket RTX 4090 cards.
With that being said, this is still an extremely expensive graphics card, and it doesn’t provide a noticeable performance boost in games over the RTX 4080. Unless you have an unlimited budget or you know you need that extra power for tasks beyond gaming and streaming, we’d recommend buying the RTX 4080 and spending the $500 on a better CPU or more RAM.
This GPU is simply an overkill for streaming, and it becomes even more clear when you take a closer look at the specs. This card is packed with 16,384 CUDA cores (6 thousand more than its predecessor, the RTX 3090), 24GB of GDDR6X VRAM clocked at 21Gbps, and a maximum boost clock of 2,610MHz, which is nearly 1GHz more than the previous generation.
Just like with the RTX 4080, you’ll be able to take advantage of the latest features to get the best visual quality and high FPS for your streams. This includes Nvidia DLSS3, 8th generation NVENC encoder (with support for the latest AV1 codec), Nvidia Studio, and more.
In terms of gaming performance, the RTX 4090 has no competition; we’d describe it as the end-game 1440p card and the best GPU for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming. The closest competitors are the RTX 4080 and the RX 7900 XTX from AMD, which this card outperforms by 20-40% in average FPS, depending on the title.
Performance aside, our favorite part about this graphics card is the robust cooling system, which keeps the card nice and cool no matter how hard you push it. Three large 8-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 would expect with a graphics card of this caliber, it is quite large, measuring 13.3 inches in length and over 3 inches in width. The power requirements are incredibly high as well; you’ll need at least an 850W power supply. Plus, it consumes around 400 watts of power during gaming and is fed through the latest 16-pin PCI-e connector along the top.
You can rest assured that your investment will be safe with this GPU, as MSI provides a pretty standard 3-year warranty in case anything goes wrong. With such a good track record of success, you can count on MSI to stand behind its components.
Overall, The Nvidia RTX 4090 is unsurprisingly an amazing graphics card for streaming that will deliver smooth FPS in any game that’s currently out. However, the price is ridiculous, and you simply don’t need this much power–The RTX 4080 is a much better buy. But of course, if you have a bigger budget and want the beefiest card out there, this is the card to get.
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3. XFX Speedster MERC310 AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
Stream Processors: 6,144 | Base Clock: 1,855 MHz | Boost Clock: 2,615 MHz | Memory: 24 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock Speed: 20,000 MHz | Memory Interface: 384-bit | Max. Monitors Supported: 4 | Dimensions: 344 x 128 x 57 mm
REASONS TO BUY
- Excellent performance for gaming and streaming
- Amazing value for the money
- Huge savings over Nvidia GPUs
- Double BIOS
- Massive 24GB VRAM
- Good overclock over the reference card
- Robust cooling system
- Quiet operation
- Sturdy build
REASONS TO AVOID
- Weaker encoder than Nvidia
- Unassuming appearance with no RGB
- Power-hungry
Our Rating: 9.7/10
A logical choice for us for 3rd place is the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX. If you can’t quite spring for the expense of the high-end Nvidia cards, this GPU is a perfect alternative in a lower price range. It still delivers top-of-the-line specs for streaming; however, the downsides will be a weaker encoder and mainly gaming performance, especially compared to the RTX 4090.
The XFX Speedster MERC310 AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX 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 a bit subtle but eye-catching design.
Despite being one of the less-known manufacturers, XFX 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 RTX 4080, the RX 7900 XTX delivers robust performance at a more competitive price point. Based on the new RDNA 3 architecture and loaded with a massive 24GB of GDDR6 VRAM, this GPU won’t disappoint when it comes to gaming and streaming capabilities.
The gaming performance is among the best, 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 will still be able to stream games with very little loss in quality at full 1080p HD.
For older games at 1440p, or titles with lower requirements, such as Valorant, League of Legends, Overwatch, Fortnite, PUBG, and others, this GPU provides nearly identical FPS count to the more expensive RTX 4080, delivering full performance with 100-200+ FPS, depending on the title.
Plus, 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.
Thermal design is another thing we like about this graphics card, as it keeps the card cool despite the raw power under the hood. The card uses the standard 3-fan design with 13 blades on each fan, along with a massive heatsink that makes direct contact with the GPU and dissipates heat out through a series of heat pipes to an array of aluminum fins.
With a manufacturer-recommended minimum power supply wattage of 850W, you’ll need to be prepared with three 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 4080, but a bit slimmer.
Despite XFX not being as popular or well-known as manufacturers like Asus or MSI, they still offer the industry standard 3-year coverage for all of their GPUs, including this one.
All in all, this RX 7900 XTX from XFX 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; however, it is a quality, well-cooled, and, most importantly, high-performing card at a price range where Nvidia sells their mid-range GPUs.
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4. MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Ventus 3X
CUDA Cores: 7,680 | Base Clock: 2,310 MHz | Boost Clock: 2,640 MHz | Memory: 12 GB GDDR6X | Memory Clock Speed: 21,000 MHz | Memory Interface: 192-bit | Max. Monitors Supported: 4 | Dimensions: 308 x 123 x 52 mm
REASONS TO BUY
- Superb performance for high-level streaming
- Huge improvement over the last generation
- Uncompromising performance for 1440p gaming
- Handles 4K gaming well
- Efficient and quiet cooling system
- Great overclock out of the box
- Fairly compact and lightweight
- Quality construction
REASONS TO AVOID
- VRAM is a bit light
- Higher price
- No RGB
Our Rating: 9.6/10
Following closely behind the AMD Radeon is another high-performance graphics card from Nvidia. The MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Ventus 3X is more affordable than all of the cards above (though still pricey) but still offers superb 1440p performance and even puts 4K gaming on the table.
It’s also more compact and less power-hungry, making it more suitable for mid-tier builds. Additionally, MSI improved upon Nvidia’s already stellar 4070 Ti series GPU with factory overclocking and upgraded thermal design, allowing you to really push the limits when gaming and streaming.
Compared to its predecessor, the RTX 3070 Ti, it’s a huge step up. You’re getting around 1500 more CUDA Cores, next-generation Ray Tracing and DLSS, and 4GB extra VRAM (for 12GB total). In combination with the new architecture and DLSS 3, this leads to a massive uplift of around 60-80% faster average FPS and even up to 100% in some titles.
For gaming in general, this card is capable of running all of the latest titles and competitive, fast-paced games with 100+ FPS. The RTX 4070 Ti runs AAA games at high settings with no problem at 1440p and even holds its own at full 4K resolution. And thanks to Nvidia’s NVENC hardware encoding, you’re able to stream games using the latest AV1 codec for lossless quality as well.
When compared to the AMD RX 7900 XTX, which is around $150-200 more expensive (depending on where you buy it), the 4070 Ti lags behind it with around 15-20% less FPS on average. This directly correlates with the price difference, which puts this card at a solid spot in terms of performance per dollar.
When it comes down to the cooling system, this card employs a triple-fan cooling with three powerful 95mm fans, along with robust copper heatsinks and an array of heat pipes. This seems a bit excessive for a mid-tier graphics card, but we can’t complain–The card runs very cool even during prolonged, straining sessions.
In terms of size, the card’s total dimensions are 308 x 123 x 52 millimeters, and it weighs in at 1.1kg (2.4lbs). That’s still considered fairly large and heavy, but compared to the high-end GPUs, it’s noticeably more compact and lighter. It’s the first card on this list that we’d comfortably recommend for smaller mini-tower builds.
With smaller size and weaker performance also comes the benefit of lower power consumption. With a TDP rating of about 285 watts, you will need at least a 700-watt power supply to comfortably power this GPU alongside the rest of your system. During gaming, it draws around 200 watts on average, which also makes it much more power-efficient than the previous generation 30-series GPUs.
Lastly, the 3-year warranty available with this graphics card through the manufacturer is in line with the industry standard, which speaks to the confidence MSI has in their workmanship and build quality.
Overall, this is a fantastic graphics card for streamers and competitive gamers who don’t have the room in their budget to splurge on high-end GPUs. 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 it’s perfect for streaming demanding games on high settings at up to 1440p.
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5. ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Trinity OC
CUDA Cores: 6,144 | Base Clock: 1,575 MHz | Boost Clock: 1,800 MHz | Memory: 8 GB GDDR6X | Memory Clock Speed: 19,000 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
- Respectable 1440p performance
- Frequently on sale due to its age
- 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
- Power-hungry
Our Rating: 9.5/10
In the second part of this recommendation list, we’re going to take a look at some older and more affordable cards. Not everyone has the budget to buy the latest and greatest GPUs, and by going back a generation or two, you can find some solid-performing cards at a fraction of their release price.
With that in mind, enter the Zotac Gaming Geforce RTX 3070 Ti Trinity OC. This card cannot compete with its successor in the slightest; however, at around $600 (maybe even less), it’s still an excellent option–Whether you are gaming, streaming, or doing other demanding tasks like video editing or graphic design, this RTX 3070 Ti from Zotac has plenty of power to support you.
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.
Despite its age, we’re pretty impressed with the gaming abilities of this card, to say the least. Although not as powerful as the RTX 40-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 popular AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Crysis, GTA, and others. 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 often 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 up to 1440p monitors. On top of the great performance, you also get a quality construction and some RGB to top it off. If you can find it on sale for around $500, this would be an excellent buy.
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6. GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3060 Eagle OC
CUDA Cores: 3,584 | Base Clock: 1,777 MHz | Boost Clock: 1,807 MHz | Memory: 12 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock Speed: 15,000 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
- Very affordable
- Quality construction
- 12GB of VRAM
- Well-performing cooling
- Compact design
- Fairly power-efficient
- Up to a 4-year warranty
REASONS TO AVOID
- Weaker performance, no future-proofing
- Poor 1440p performance
- Plain design
- 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, streaming, or using your GPU for other demanding tasks, this card has everything you need to stay current as long as you stick to 1080p. 12GB of DDR6 VRAM and 3,584 Cuda Cores make 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 at 1080p, 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, and games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider are clocking in at well over 100 FPS. For streaming performance, you can still get very good frame rates–Again, 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 a dual fan setup, 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 and will provide very reasonable frame rates even when set to 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 for gaming.
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7. MSI Gaming AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT
Stream Processors: 2,048 | Base Clock: 2,428 MHz | Boost Clock: 2,607 MHz | Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock Speed: 16,000 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)
- Good improvement over the previous generation
- 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.
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.
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. When put to the test while streaming, we only saw a slight drop in FPS. 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 at its current price point.
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 CPUs Under $200
8. Asus TUF Gaming Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti EVO OC
CUDA Cores: 1,536 | Base Clock: 1,500 MHz | Boost Clock: 1,845 MHz | Memory: 6 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock Speed: 12,000 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 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 1,536 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 and low settings. 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, which 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 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 available on the market in 2023. 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 reach out to us via the comment section below, and we’ll be more than happy to help you out.
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