As an alternative, the competitor offers the RX 550, which is basically identical to the GT 1030 in terms of performance. But it costs a little more. Also in this price category you can find models like the GT 730, which have been gathering dust in folds for many years. They are not worth considering for purchase due to low performance.
Starting at 5,500 rubles you can find RX 560 , which is 60% more productive. We believe that this is a good increase for an additional payment of only 1,500 rubles relative to the GT 1030. It is this factor that makes the AMD model a more reasonable choice. But if you're on a budget, the GT 1030 is still a good entry-level option. Otherwise, if possible, it is better to pay extra up to RX 560.
However, you should understand that for this amount you will get a version with two gigs of video memory under the hood. The most budget 4-GB RX 560 will cost you almost 7,000 rubles. It's not worth paying extra, because the performance gain won't be that big. And even more so, close to these figures is the GTX 1050 Ti , which will be approximately 30% more powerful.
The situation with the GTX 1050 and the Ti version is approximately the same as between the RX 550 and RX 560. Initially, when the cards were first released, the price difference between them was greater. Now, when more powerful adapters have appeared, the old ones in the budget segment are forced to significantly reduce their prices in order to somehow attract the attention of buyers. Therefore, there is practically no difference in price between neighboring cards. And the difference in performance, although small, remained, in favor of the older card, of course. Therefore, it makes sense to take the Ti version and not the stripped-down one, just like the RX 560 and not the RX 550. But, again, we repeat: it’s not worth paying extra for 4 gigabytes of memory on the RX 560. It's better to pay a little extra and get the GTX 1050 Ti.
A good alternative to the GTX 1050 Ti is the RX 570 . It costs a little more (about 9,000-10,000 rubles), but the productivity increase is about 20-30%. That's why we think the RX 570 is the best budget gaming card at today's prices. Moreover, the difference in cost between 8 GB and 4 GB is practically absent. This means you can safely take a modification with a large amount of memory. Of course, the difference in performance between the two versions will not be that big, but in games that require a lot of video memory, the difference will be noticeable.
Nearby is also the RX 580 for 10,000 rubles, but this is the most budget model, which will have only 4 GB of memory. The version with 8 GB of memory will cost another 1,000 rubles more. We believe that it is better to buy an RX 570 with 8 GB for 9,000 rubles than an RX 580 with 4 GB for 11,000 rubles. This price already goes beyond the budget segment, so if you have that amount in your pocket, it’s better to immediately aim for the middle segment. This is where the real battle begins among a large number of competing models.
Features of Nvidia video cards
Almost all modern devices are equipped by default with graphic editors, the production of which is now supervised by three well-known companies:
- Intel;
- Nvidia;
- AMD.
Experts, in turn, conditionally classify all manufactured products into:
- integrated;
- discrete;
- hybrid.
Going deeper into the topic, it is worth noting that the first type is not capable of providing high-end graphics when integrated into the CPU. And, since the Intel brand produces such products, it makes no sense to consider it in the future, much less use it for comparative analysis with more powerful devices.
Another thing is video cards produced by Nvidia, which specializes exclusively in the production of discrete graphics. It refers to individual chips that provide the highest quality images, being built on architectures such as Fermi, Kepler and Maxwell (the names were chosen in honor of famous physicists).
And if we consider these architectures, the most ancient of them is Fermi with its GeForce models up to GT 820M, which belong to the entry level. Despite this feature, this solution is quite suitable for many modern mid-range games like Dota or World of Tanks, in HD mode.
The middle level in the line is considered to be GeForce products built on the Kepler architecture (model range from GT 730M to GT 740M), while the most advanced graphics of the brand is Maxwell, which, among other things, is positioned as the most energy efficient. The use of such discrete graphics greatly expands the user experience, allowing you to run the most modern gaming at low and medium settings.
In addition, the use of flagship models like the GT 880 and 980M makes it possible to play even at high settings in full-screen FHD mode. True, such pleasure does not come cheap.
AMD RX 460/560 (2Gb) – A good option for the price
Price: from 7,400 rub.
A budget video card, suitable for FullHD, will run almost all games at medium settings. Two gigs of memory is not enough, but for the price it is a very good option. The 4 GB version will be more expensive, and most likely unreasonably.
There is almost none in Russian retail, so if you buy it, order it from CU. In Russia, the RX 560 is more common, but the cost is higher than the GTX 1050.
There is only one recommendation when buying an RX 460 or RX 560 in 2022: buy only if it turns out cheaper than the GTX 1050.
Features of AMD video cards
Today, AMD is the only company specializing in the production of hybrid discrete-integrated video cards, as a result of which the IT world was presented with a completely unique Dual Graphics technology. Its essence is this: when executing daily scenarios related to text typing and web surfing, the resources of integrated graphics are used, while when starting heavy gaming, a discrete video editor is automatically activated.
And if you focus specifically on this component, then it makes sense to opt for PCs equipped with Radeon HD 8000, R5 and R7 M200 graphics, as well as AMD M9 300, despite the fact that all of them are designed primarily for gaming and HD playback. In addition, the developers of both companies provided at least two professional video graphics models, including not only FirePro from AMD, but also Quadro from Nvidia. And, above all, these solutions were created for users who use PCs for drawing, 3D modeling, drawing up design projects, as well as photo and video processing.
No. 5 – Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 580 8GB
Price: 21,390 rubles
According to our version, the best video card in Radeon's arsenal is the Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 580 8GB. Paired with a powerful processor, it may well become the basis for an advanced gaming station. The design of the model is interesting, blue colors predominate, and there is also RGB backlighting, adjustable using a special utility.
The owner of this video card will be able to afford to run modern projects in 1080p resolution at maximum graphics settings. If we are talking about 1440p or even 4K, then it has no special trump cards, you will have to lower the parameters, even taking into account successful overclocking. By the way, setting the frequency is quite easy, and there is no need to worry about overheating, since this model is very “cold”.
Comparison table of Nvidia and AMD graphics cards for 2022
If there is no clear understanding of the issues of choosing a graphics card, then it makes sense to familiarize yourself with the performance indicators of the latest models. And today we are talking about AMD and Nvidia products from 2022, the characteristics of which are shown in the following supporting data table:
| Video card model | Performance index | GPU frequency, MHz | Memory size, MB | Frequency, MHz | Bus width, bits | link |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super | 54235 | 1650-1815 | 8192 | 15496 | 256 | View on AliExpress |
| AMD Radeon VII | 48992 | 1400-1800 | 16384 | 2000 | 4096 | View on AliExpress |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super | 47062 | 1605-1770 | 8192 | 14000 | 256 | View on AliExpress |
| AMD Radeon RX 5700XT | 45077 | 1605-1755 | 8192 | 14000 | 256 | View on AliExpress |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Super | 42020 | 1470-1650 | 8192 | 14000 | 256 | View on AliExpress |
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 | 39010 | 1365-1680 | 6144 | 14000 | 192 | View on AliExpress |
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | 32756 | 1500-1770 | 6144 | 12000 | 192 | View on AliExpress |
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super | 30873 | 1530-1785 | 6144 | 14000 | 192 | View on AliExpress |
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 | 28825 | 1530-1785 | 6144 | 8000 | 192 | View on AliExpress |
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Super | 25364 | 1530-1725 | 4096 | 12000 | 128 | View on AliExpress |
This plate will help you not only decide on the choice of a new device, but also appreciate the characteristics of the video card already installed on your PC, as well as understand the prospects of an upgrade. It is worth noting that upgrading a video card is not the best solution, so it is better to immediately purchase a device with high-quality hardware or be prepared to replace it. In the latter case, it makes sense to change the map only if the new model is at least five levels higher than the current one, otherwise the game is not worth the candle.
No. 4 – MSI GeForce GTX 1070 8G
Price: 35,000 rubles
The MSI GeForce GTX 1070 is one step away from getting onto the prize podium. It has 120 texturing units and 8GB of memory on a 256-bit bus. In addition, the MSI GeForce GTX 1070 has a very low TDP value of 150 W, thanks to which a 500 W power supply will be sufficient for a computer with it.
Productivity is also at a high level. There is no need to talk about 1080p - all games will run at the highest settings. The situation with 1440p is much more interesting, compared to previous models, everything is much more rosy here - only in non-optimized games you will have to think about what graphic parameters to choose, in all others - feel free to move the settings slider all the way.
Which is better for a laptop - Nvidia or AMD
If we talk not about a stationary PC, but about a mobile PC, then the choice of the optimal video graphics solution will directly depend on the tasks that are on the user’s daily agenda. And if we are talking about working in Office applications, then we can limit ourselves to the most primitive models of integrated cards from Intel.
As for AMD products, in order to handle heavy gaming, the user will have to fork out for a PC with Vega and RX series graphics, which is at least 100 thousand Russian rubles. It is noteworthy that cheaper models are downright weak, and if you do spend money, it will be on devices with top-end video cards from NVIDIA, which make the hardware truly powerful.
To summarize, it is worth noting that many developers are leaning towards the GeForce line from Nvidia, but this does not mean that AMD is significantly worse. And all because the decisive role in matters of choice will be played not only by the specific GPU model, but also by its arrangement with the CPU and RAM (the performance characteristics of the latter directly determine the quality of the video card).
How to Check What Computer Hardware You Already Have
Whenever you invest in a new component for your PC, it's a good idea to run the software to see what you already have. This will help determine how recent other components are and whether they will be a bottleneck for your upcoming GPU purchase. To understand what makes everything work inside a PC case, there are many software options available. We would recommend two CPU-Z and Speccy.
These apps will tell you what kind of motherboard you have, as well as the processor, RAM, and other little things. Basically we need to look at what kind of processor you have, and a good indicator for determining how good your processor will be when purchasing a new GPU is 3DMark. The higher the 3DMark score, the better the processor is at games and other resource-intensive applications. It shouldn't be used as a definitive value, but scoring a specific chip in 3DMark will give you an idea of how powerful it is.
Beyond the rating, you should also consider the age of the processor, the generation it belongs to, the manufacturing process used, the cooler installed, whether it's overclocked or not, and how many cores you're pumping. Intel has an ARK platform for easy searching across its processor portfolio. If you're on #TeamRed, AMD has a similar feature on its own website.
Which video card will be more productive in games?
Today, AMD products are considered representatives of the budget segment, while Nvidia belongs to the middle and high class. And if you are choosing the best option for a video card for gaming PCs, then it is better to give preference to the GeForce line, although the type of gaming will play an important role in this matter. In general, all GPUs that are relevant today can be divided into three subcategories:
- Low-end. An ideal budget solution for those who do not require much from graphics. Mostly we are talking about AMD, although these video cards do a good job with some average toys.
- Middle-end. In this segment you can find not only AMD, but also Nvidia, which are quite enough to run games in high FHD mode without serious lag in FPS. But for 4K such potential will not be enough, otherwise you will have to sacrifice the absence of bugs in FPS.
- Hi-end. The absolute kingdom of top-end Nvidia, which certainly won’t care about 4K. Another thing is that such flagships will cost a pretty penny, and not every gamer can afford them.
This gradation makes it clear that only graphics from Nvidia can meet the inflated requirements, while AMD is suitable for not the most powerful gaming content. And if the user does not plan to use the full potential of expensive equipment, then it is not worth overpaying, especially since the difference is really significant.
#3 – GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
Price: 54,000 rubles
GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1080 Ti was the company's first video card using the new type of GDDR5X video memory, and therefore its performance is simply amazing. It has at its disposal as many as 2560 CUDA cores and 160 texturing units, just like the GTX 1070, it uses a 256-bit bus. Unlike its main competitors produced by AMD, it has a low heat dissipation of 180 W versus 220 W for its closest competitor, the Radeon RX Vega 64.
If you plan to play modern games at 1080p resolution and higher, as well as stream them, then this video card is exactly what you need. The first revisions were characterized by instability, problems with heat dissipation and cooling, but now the problems have been completely corrected and all copies are functioning perfectly. The video card is quite suitable for VR fans; this market has just begun to develop and it is not particularly optimized, so the requirements for games with this technology are quite high.
Where will the FPS be higher - Nvidia or AMD
It is worth saying that the already impressive performance gap between the positions in question continues to widen. And not the least role in this matter was played by the introduction of new technologies by Nvidia developers. Among them is DLSS, with the help of which it was possible to increase the number of FPS. The developers were able to achieve this result through the use of ray tracing and the introduction of artificially intelligent technologies.
And, in particular, we were talking about machine learning, which makes it possible to reduce the broadcast resolution of 4K to 2K with its subsequent reverse adaptation, although the developers soon had to improve the innovative technology. As a result, the new approach gave an excellent result, allowing to increase FPS by as much as 30-40%, without any damage to the quality of the image recreated from 2K to 4K.
At the same time, there was a fly in the ointment, because there are not so many games that could support the new DLSS. Of course, there is a high probability that the rapidly growing popularity of the unique technology will sooner or later do its job and an increasing number of developers will present compatible gaming products, but for now the effect of ray tracing can be appreciated by only a few.
Returning to AMD, it is worth noting that such prospects for its main competitor are becoming threatening for the company. The reason for this is the outdated technologies used to produce video cards from this manufacturer, which never began to use ray tracing, continuing to delay the integration of AI. And, as you know, without the latter, high-quality image rendering in real time is out of the question, which makes the gap between AMD and Nvidia even more significant.
Perhaps everything will change in the near future and AMD will finally decide to make a breakthrough? Of course, anything can happen, but judging by the latest trends, the manufacturer has decided to be content with the niche that it currently occupies, yielding the palm to the royal Nvidia.
