What Is a Mid-Range Graphics Card? How Do You Choose One?
Reading Time: 5 minutesYou don’t always need to spend the big bucks to get the gaming experience you want.
With the evolution of PC hardware, mid-range graphics cards have gained immense popularity among budget-conscious gamers owing to their affordability, versatility, and feature set. However, while high-end GPUs tend to deliver the best possible gaming experience on multiple occasions, they are often associated with a hefty price tag.
Based on these insights, let’s take a closer look at mid-range graphics cards, their benefits over high-end GPUs, and how to choose one when building a brand-new gaming rig.
What Is a Mid-Range GPU?
Mid-range graphics cards are often considered the sweet spot for gaming as they strike a great balance between price and performance. These GPUs are intended explicitly for value-oriented consumers who aren’t willing to spend a fortune on high-end alternatives while opting for something better than an entry-level option.
Unlike flagship-grade GPUs, which will set you back by several hundred or even thousands of dollars, mid-range graphics cards typically fall within a price bracket of $250-$500. Moreover, from a performance standpoint, these GPUs are powerful enough to drive most modern AAA titles at High/Ultra settings on a 1080p or 1440p display.
One of the biggest differences between mid-range GPUs and high-end GPUs is the number of CUDA cores (for Nvidia GPUs) and Compute Units (for AMD GPUs). There are differences in how CUDA cores and Compute Units work, but both values are often used to illustrate a level of GPU performance (though they’re far from the only data point). For example, the Nvidia RTX 3060 has 3584 CUDA cores, while the Nvidia RTX 3090 has 10496 CUDA cores. Similarly, the AMD RX 6600 has 28 CUs, while the AMD RX 6900 XT has 80 CUs.
Benefits of Using a Mid-Range GPU
Given the differences in pricing and accessibility, mid-range graphics cards offer distinct advantages over their high-end counterparts. Here are some of the major benefits of using a mid-range GPU.
1. Better Value for Money
As mentioned earlier, mid-range graphics cards represent a better price-to-performance ratio than most enthusiast-grade GPUs in the long run. Besides being equipped with the latest rendering and upscaling techniques like Ray Tracing, DLSS, XeSS, and FSR, mid-range graphics cards often match up to a flagship-tier GPU from previous generations in terms of raw performance.
For instance, when comparing Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3060 Ti with the RTX 2080 Super, we found that the mainstream Ampere GPU outperformed Nvidia’s last-gen Turing flagship by a slim margin. Not only was the RTX 3060 Ti 6-7% faster on average, but it also had a price advantage over the outgoing RTX 2080 Super—$399 instead of $699.
2. Lower Power Consumption and Heat Output
With the generational improvements in GPU fabrication technology, mid-range graphics cards have become substantially more power efficient than their high-end alternatives. These GPUs are usually rated for a maximum TDP of 200W-220W and can work flawlessly on most mid-tier PSUs throughout their life cycle.
In addition to a balanced power profile, mid-range graphics cards generate less heat than flagship-grade GPUs during intensive workloads. As a result, they seldom require big, beefy cooling solutions to maintain a safe operating temperature under full load.
3. Compact Form Factor
Since mid-range graphics cards benefit from lower power consumption and heat output, they are specifically designed to be more compact than a high-end GPU. Most mid-range GPUs retain a standard profile wherein they are roughly the same length as an ATX motherboard when mounted horizontally.
Even if you’re building a small form factor PC, mid-range graphics cards can be viable as they provide enough clearance for other components to fit inside a mini-ITX case.
Choosing the Right Mid-Range GPU for Your Gaming PC
Choosing a mid-range graphics card for your gaming PC can be quite intimidating, especially when you factor in the wide variety of options available in the market. Regardless, here are a few quick suggestions to help you make an informed decision.
- Budget Allocation: If you’re building a gaming PC from scratch, you should allocate at least 30-40% of your budget toward the GPU. For a $1,000 PC build, it is possible to get your hands on an extremely capable mid-range graphics card that retails for around $300-$400.
- Reference Design vs. AIB Models: For early adopters, a Reference or Founders Edition GPU seems like an obvious choice as it takes advantage of a smaller form factor and comes in cheaper than most AIB (All-In Board) models. However, if you’re after a GPU that sports an over-engineered power delivery system, a robust cooling solution, and significant overclocking headroom, custom-made graphics cards from third-party manufacturers start to make more sense in this regard.
- Form Factor: Ensure that the PC case you’re using leaves enough room to install a full-size graphics card. If not, a compact single-fan or dual-fan GPU might be your best bet regarding compatibility.
- PSU Requirements: Check whether the PSU in your system matches the power requirements of the specific GPU model you intend to purchase. For mid-range graphics cards, the recommended PSU wattage should be around 550W-650W.
- Power Connectors: Make sure that the PSU you’re using includes all the necessary PCIe power connectors for your GPU. In most cases, mid-range graphics cards require a combination of 6-pin and 8-pin power cables to function properly.
- Memory Capacity: Nowadays, mid-range graphics cards ship with 8GB-12GB of VRAM, which is adequate for gaming at 1080p, 1440p, or even 4K. However, if you’re planning to run some of the most graphically demanding AAA games with high-resolution texture packs, you might want to invest in a GPU that has a higher memory capacity, preferably 10GB or more.
- Memory Bandwidth: Besides a higher memory capacity, an increased memory bandwidth is crucial for improving the computational performance of a mid-range GPU. For instance, the cut-down 8GB variant of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3060 was 15-20% slower than the original 12GB model due to a massive reduction in its bus width and theoretical bandwidth.
At present, the sub $300 price segment looks particularly impressive with popular mid-range GPU options from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel. If you prioritize rasterization performance over real-time ray tracing, AMD’s Radeon RX 6700XT, which is available for $339, stands out as the best mid-range graphics card in this price category.
However, if you’re on the hunt for a mid-range GPU that offers superior RT performance, look no further than the Intel Arc A770 and the GeForce RTX 3060. When comparing the Intel Arc A770 with Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3060, it is evident that Nvidia has the upper hand in older DX11/DX9 titles, whereas Intel takes the lead in newer DX12 games.
Mid-Range Graphics Cards Offer the Best of Both Worlds
Mid-range graphics cards can be a lucrative option for budget-minded gamers who want a decent gaming experience without breaking the bank. In a nutshell, these GPUs offer the best of both worlds—the performance of a former flagship at nearly a fraction of its cost.
Reference: https://www.makeuseof.com/what-is-a-mid-range-graphics-card/
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