graphics-cards

The Best Graphics Cards for VR in 2020

by Rustam Iqbal

We all know that companies are bringing new technologies in their products, in the same way, that the gaming industry doesn’t stand before anyone. Nvidia announced Real-Time Ray Tracing and DLSS in their RTX-series graphics cards, which gives you a better gaming experience than before. Like this, VR is transforming the gaming industry and pushing it toward the next level.

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Best pick

Best Overall Graphics Card for VR

MSI Gaming Radeon RX 5700

MSI Gaming Radeon RX 5700

VR Ready graphics card.

Best GPU for gaming and VR.

Affordable price with great 1440p performance.

Offers all basic things as of RTX 2070S for low price.

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Staff Pick

Best Entry-Level AMD Graphics Card for VR

XFX Radeon Rx 590 Fatboy

XFX Radeon Rx 590 Fatboy

14% faster than the Nvidia GTX 1060.

Overclocking capabilities are appreciable.

Cooling fans runs on minimum noise level.

Great alternative to highly expensive Nvidia GPUs.

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Budget Pick

Best Entry-Level NVIDIA Graphics Card for VR

ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti

ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti

Gives a great overall balance in performance.

This GPU is efficient and you can overclock it.

GDDR6 memory makes it much faster than predecessors.

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Though there are not many VR games available, there are still enough to play. If you haven’t experienced VR before, this technology takes you into a 3-dimension world and gives an immersive and realistic simulation experience. VR needs high-end compatible hardware to run, and taking care of this; we made a list of the Best Graphics Card for VR.

We are going to start our list in a while, but there are a few things that you need to know before buying any graphics card. VR needs two displays to run as one for each eye and have very low input lags and high refresh rates, so you need a high-end graphics card. The minimum requirements for VR Gaming are at least a GTX 970 or AMD r9 390, while you might also need an Intel Core i5 4th generation processor for it. All the graphics cards mentioned below are VR compatible, and you can get immersive performance with them.

These graphics cards are best for VR gaming as they are VR ready by the manufacturers and offer great value for their price. We did the proper research and found them better than other GPUs and their competitors. So, without wasting time, let’s start with the first graphics card.

Our Recommendations for VR

Award Modal Design Retailer
Best Overall Graphics Card for VR MSI Gaming Radeon RX 5700 MSI Gaming Radeon RX 5700 View on amazon
Best Runner-up Graphics Card for VR MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2060 MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2060 View on amazon
Best Entry-Level AMD Graphics Card for VR XFX Radeon Rx 590 Fatboy XFX Radeon Rx 590 Fatboy View on amazon
Best Entry-Level NVIDIA Graphics Card for VR ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti View on amazon
Best Enthusiasts Graphics Card for VR Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super View on amazon
Best Overkill Graphics Card for VR Asus ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2080 TI Asus ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2080 TI View on amazon

MSI Gaming Radeon RX 5700

Best pick MSI Gaming Radeon RX 5700 View on amazon

MSI graphics cards are no less than any other top tier company as they use military class components, which ensures the long-lasting. MSI Gaming Radeon RX 5700 is undoubtedly the Best Graphics Card for VR gaming as its performance matches the RTX 2070 Super. The reason to consider this vendor is the best in the class cooling system and higher clock rates than ASUS and Gigabyte versions. The looks of this graphics card have changed as previously. Gaming X cards come in the black and red color scheme while now these cards have a metallic silver color scheme.

The general specifications of this graphics card are no different than RTX 2070 Super as both of these graphics’ cards offer 2300+ core units. The base clock of this graphics card is around 1500Mhz, while with overclocking, you can easily push it up to 1750Mhz. The 8GB GDDR6 memory is enough to max out the latest AAA titles, but you have to stick with 1440p as its performance might worsen with 4K resolution. The price difference of this graphics card with RTX 2070S is comparable because it performs the same at a meager price tag.

With all of the goodness MSI Gaming Radeon RX 5700, it’s one of the best graphics cards for VR, but there are some cons you might notice while using it. First of all, this graphics card lacks Real-Time Ray Tracing and DLSS support as these technologies are only available in RTX series GPUs. Rx 5700xt is not much more expensive than this GPU while performs much better than this, and I would prefer that graphics card over it. The power consumption of this GPU is a bit high, and I recommend you get at least 500-600W PSU for it.

The VR performance of this graphics card will be excellent, but don’t expect something more than average because of low hardware. We are calling this GPU best overall because of its performance in 1440p resolution. In Assassin’s Creed Unity, this GPU managed to give us 90 frame rates average at ultra-settings and FX AA, while for Rx 5700xt, this reaches up to 110 frame rates. With this performance, this graphics card can be used in mid-range gaming.

The Pros

VR Ready graphics card.

Best GPU for gaming and VR.

Affordable price with great 1440p performance.

Offers all basic things as of RTX 2070S for low price.

The Cons

Power hungry graphics card.

Lacks Real Time Ray Tracing and DLSS.

Rx 5700xt is slightly expensive but much better.

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MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2060

MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2060 View on amazon

The second graphics card we got is also from MSI, but this time there, we had the RTX 2060, which is from the same lineup of GTX 1060. Well, this graphics card got a significant position in the entry-level RTX series because of its price and performance. Some graphics cards like GTX 1070ti from the previous series are faster than this one, but it has the advantage of RTX and DLSS, which is available in 20-series GPUs. Well, I would not recommend you to use Real-Time Ray Tracing with RTX 2060 because it can absorb the frame rates.

In addition to this, these entry-level graphics cards have 6GB GDDR6 memory, which is good, but these days mostly GPUs feature 8GB of VRAM. The clock speed of this GPU is 1750Mhz, while you can also overclock it to get some more performance out of it. The Cuda cores of this GPU are 1920, while it also has 17 trillion RTX OPS. This GPU is energy efficient and not much power-hungry as you can run it on 500-550W PSU efficiently. All those users who want something powerful in the RTX series but for a lower budget, I would recommend you to go with it.

This entry-level RTX series graphics gave enough performance and amazed its users, but there are some bad ones you need to know. The price of this GPU is almost the same as Rx 5700, which is much better than this, so take a look at that GPU too. You might already know about VirtualLink Port, which is an excellent alternative of USB Type-C in modern GPUs while this one lacks. Also, graphics cards usually come with Steel or Metal black plates, but this one has a plastic made backplate, which looks odd. That’s all that you need to know about this GPU and consider these things before buying it.

The performance of RTX 2060 is no different than the Rx 5700, but in some games like Battlefield 1 and ROTTR, AMD GPUs have an advantage. In Assassin’s Creed Unity, this GPU gives an average 85 frame rates at 1080p resolution and ultra-settings with FXAA. If you consider turning off Ray Tracing, you can get enough performance from this graphics card. Overall, its performance in VR games would be excellent, but you might miss high refresh rates.

The Pros

6GB of GDDR6 memory.

Great performance in 1440p.

Energy efficient graphics card.

Founders Edition beating performance.

The Cons

No VirtualLink (Type-C) port.

Backplate is made up of plastic.

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XFX Radeon Rx 590 Fatboy

Staff Pick XFX Radeon Rx 590 Fatboy View on amazon

here might be no other competitor of XFX in AMD graphics cards as they are cheap enough and provide the best in the class cooling system. Rx 590 is a refreshed or revised version of Rx 580 with some minor changes in specifications. While choosing the Rx 590, I recommend you stick with only two vendors from which one is XFX, and the other is Power Cooler. Both of these vendors are offering great cooling solutions. In benchmarks, GTX 1660 is slightly faster than the Rx 590 8GB, but we need to consider their price difference.

As its name suggests, this graphics card has 8GB of DDR5 memory, which is enough for 1080p gaming. Also, it’s an overclocked version means you can get higher clock rates than the standard version while it has a clock speed of 1570Mhz. This GPU can’t handle 1440p gaming very well, but for 1080p its excellent choice. Aesthetically XFX Rx 590 is identical to Rx 580 with the same black and red color scheme and a backplate on the rear side. The power connector required for this graphics card is six-pin and one eight-pin while it has a TDP of 175W.

Team Red puts everything in their Rx series graphics card, but there are some don’t have we found while reviewing it. GDDR5 memory seems a bit old, and these days modern graphics cards come with GDDR6 memory, so I would recommend you go with the latest hardware. The power consumption of this GPU is a bit high, like other AMD graphics cards, and it’s not energy efficient. The physical size of XFX Rx 590 is a bit large as compared to other mid-range graphics cards. Also, the Rx 580, while its predecessor is slightly slower than this GPU but price-wise, is considerably cheaper than this.

This GPU can’t handle 1440p gaming very well, but for 1080p, it’s a great budget choice to consider these days. In Assassin’s Creed Unity, this GPU runs the game at 50 frame rates average and 1080p ultra settings with FXAA. While on 1440p, the frame rates drop to 35, and at some points, that game lags. In Dx 12 games and in battlefield one, which is a favorite title of Rx series GPUs, this one can give 100+ frame rates at 1080p resolution ultra-settings.

The Pros

14% faster than the Nvidia GTX 1060.

Overclocking capabilities are appreciable.

Cooling fans runs on minimum noise level.

Great alternative to highly expensive Nvidia GPUs.

The Cons

Power hungry graphics card.

GDDR5 memory is old these days.

Physically its bit large than mid-range GPUs.

Rx 580 is much cheaper and slightly low in performance.

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ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti

Budget Pick ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti View on amazon

Zotac manufactures Nvidia graphics cards for several years and builds its reputation in the eyes of its customers by providing the best quality products. GTX 1660Ti is the Best Entry-Level Graphics Card for budget users, Zotac is offering this for comparatively low price but higher clock rates. GTX 1660Ti is an advanced version of Nvidia GTX 1060, which performs well in modern games at 1080p or even at 1440p resolutions. Aesthetically this graphics card looks good as it has Zotac original black and grey color scheme, and its super compact in size while it also best in performance.

GTX 1660ti is a bit expensive than the Rx 590, but the performance is much better. This graphics card has 6GB of GDDR6 memory, which is faster than GDDR5 and GDDR5x and has 192bit of bus speed. The Cuda core of the GTX 1660ti is 1536, while its predecessor. GTX 1060 has only 1280, which clears the main performance difference between them. The cooling system in this GPU is outstanding as with its compact, it doesn’t allow the chip to reach at 75C when under load, which impressed me. With this graphics card, you must need a 500W PSU and one eight-pin power connector.

The specifications and the price of this graphics card are fantastic, but let’s head toward what’s terrible in the GTX 1660ti Zotac. This GPU lacks RT/Tensors meaning you can’t use Ray Tracing with it while for its price, you can get RTX 2060 or for a few more money RTX 2060S while allowing them. Ray tracing is available to GTX series graphics cards, but this GPU can’t handle it very well, like other RTX GPUs. As I’ve said earlier, this GPU comes with GDDR6 memory, but it’s limited to 12Gbps while other high-end GPUs offer more. So, I would recommend you consider all these things and choose between RTX 2060 and GTX 1660ti.

This non-RTX graphics card based on Turing architecture can give exceptional performance in modern games. In Assassin’s Creed Unity, this GPU manages to give 80+ frame rates at ultra-settings 1080p resolution and FXAA. The performance of this beast somewhere matches the RTX 2060, but there is a small price difference between them too. In VR gaming, this entry-level GPU can outperform all others in its price category but don’t expect something big.

The Pros

Gives a great overall balance in performance.

This GPU is efficient and you can overclock it.

GDDR6 memory makes it much faster than predecessors.

The Cons

GDDR6 memory is limited to 12GBPS.

Lacks Real-Time Ray Tracing and DLSS.

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Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super

Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super View on amazon

There was a great performance difference between the RTX 2070 and RTX 2080, so Nvidia released the RTX 2070 Super to fill this gap. This graphics card is slightly cheaper than the founder edition of RTX 2070 but servers 15% more performance than it. The reason to select the Gigabyte is low price and same performance like other cards while if you want something cheaper, you are good to go with PNY. The performance of RTX 2070 Super is outstanding, but most tech reviewers recommend turning off Real-time ray tracing. Aesthetically this GPU is a bit plain as it has Gigabyte original Black and Orange color scheme, but it looks good in RGB builds.

RTX 2070S is not built for 4K gaming, but 1440p there are no other mid-range cards that can outperform it. The 8GB of DDR6 memory is enough to run the latest titles at ultra-settings because these days, games demand at least this amount of memory. The shading units of RTX 2070 Super are 2304, while it also has 144 texture mapping units. The founder edition of RTX 2070 Super has a clock rate of 1750Mhz at boost, but as Gigabyte RTX 2070S has Windforce tri fans and large size heatsink, so it allows you to overclock the chip to get some extra performance.

All of this graphics card’s greatness is on one side, but there are some terrible things too in it, so take a look at them before considering it. The price of Gigabyte RTX 2070S is a bit high as compared to AMD competitors because Rx 5700xt is precisely the same but available for a low price. This graphics card lacks RGB lights, which is in trend nowadays, but it looks good if you own an RGB build. This version’s cost is a bit expensive than the founder edition of RTX 2070S but still cheaper than some models of RTX 2070.

For its price, there might be no other graphics card that can outperform it. This GPU got every basic feature set available in RTX 2080S but is currently listed for less than RTX 2070. In benchmarks, this GPU gives 100+ frame rates in Assassin’s Creed Unity ultra-settings 1080p resolution, which is slightly better than the Rx 5700xt. The VR performance of this GPU is impressive, and I recommend this graphics card if you can afford it.

The Pros

Excellent performance in 1440p and 4K.

Supports Real Time Ray Tracing and DLSS.

Large size heatsinks for maximum heat dissipation.

The Cons

Price cut would be better.

Lacks RGB lights and have plain aesthetics.

Rx 5700xt offers same performance for cheap.

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Asus ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2080 TI

Asus ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2080 TI View on amazon

The futureproof build is a dream of every gamer, as no one wants to spend money every year on new hardware. RTX 2080ti, which is right now the most powerful GPU ever released by Nvidia, makes your PC futureproof for the next several years and also gives you the best VR gaming performance. The reason to consider ASUS Strix is quality components and high overclocking power. This GPU’s performance is roughly 40% better than the RTX 2080S, while its price crosses the thousand-dollar figure. With all of its greatness, this is one of the Best Overkill Graphics Cards for VR gaming.

This high-end graphics card comes with a memory of 11GB, which is enough to handle any VR based application or game. The base clock of ASUS Rog Strix 2080ti is 1590Mhz, but as it supports overclocking, you can easily take it up to 1750Mhz. The Cuda cores of this graphics card are 4352 while it has 76T RTX OPS. This GPU is capable of running games like RDR2 and SOTTR at 60 frame rates at 4k resolution, which is impressive. The minimum power supply I would suggest you get for this graphics card is 600W and make sure that it has two eight-pin power connectors.

Where this gaming beast will be capable of running games like Cyberpunk 2077, there are some don’t have RTX 2080ti too. One of the most annoying things in this graphics card is the lack of RGB light while most of the other models are offering them. Some other models support RGB lights, but I would not recommend spending more money on those GPUs offering great aesthetics. The Founder Edition of this GPU is quite cheaper than this one, so that a price cut would be much appreciated. Microsoft announced to cut support for Windows 7, hardware manufacturers are also doing the same, and this GPU doesn’t work with Windows 7.

No words for this gaming beast, this GPU is made for some upcoming games like Cyberpunk and other titles. RTX 2080ti straightly gives 100+ frame rates in Assassin’s Creed Unity at 1440p resolution and ultra-settings. While on 4K resolutions, you can get 65+ frame rates easily with this graphics card, and it’s excellent. You can take an idea with this benchmark of how good this GPU will perform in modern games.

The Pros

Supports 4K gaming at 120Hz.

Energy efficient graphics card.

Realtime Ray Tracing and DLSS support in games.

Quiet BIOS which allows to run GPU at minimum noise.

The Cons

This GPU lacks RGB lights

Lacks support for Windows 7 and older OS.

Asus Rog Strix is bit expensive than the founder edition.

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Summary for VR

Award Modal Design Retailer
Best Overall Graphics Card for VR MSI Gaming Radeon RX 5700 MSI Gaming Radeon RX 5700 View on amazon
Best Runner-up Graphics Card for VR MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2060 MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2060 View on amazon
Best Entry-Level AMD Graphics Card for VR XFX Radeon Rx 590 Fatboy XFX Radeon Rx 590 Fatboy View on amazon
Best Entry-Level NVIDIA Graphics Card for VR ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti View on amazon
Best Enthusiasts Graphics Card for VR Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Super View on amazon
Best Overkill Graphics Card for VR Asus ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2080 TI Asus ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2080 TI View on amazon

Conclusion

The processor and graphics card are two essential building blocks of every gaming build. VR movies and games are going trending these days, and for them, we need high-end hardware to enjoy a realistic experience. The best graphics card for VR is Rx 590, but it’s too old for modern games, so its competitor fromNvidia is GTX 1660ti. If you have more money to spend on graphics cards, I recommend you get at least RTX 2060/Super or AMD Rx 5700. Lastly, high-end enthusiasts build, and for all those, I would suggest you select RTX 2070 Super or RTX 2080ti according to your budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

The simple answer to this question is it depends upon your budget and your needs. Those users who are looking for an entry-level graphics card for VR can go with Rx 590, while the GTX 1660ti is slightly more expensive than this. In the RTX series, the entry-level graphics card that supports VR gaming is RTX 2060, but you have to compromise on a few things. The RTX 2070S and RTX 2080ti can be used for enthusiasts builds, but price wise they are expensive and not recommended for entry-level builds.

Having a good graphics card is not going to give you an advantage in VR gaming, but as this technology demands high-end hardware so you can feel more realistic things. The main thing is the older device doesn’t support high refresh rates, which is one of the essential elements in VR games. Also, the input lag can hurt your gaming experience in a wicked sense in VR if your hardware doesn’t support low latency.

There are thousands of graphics card models available in the market, but only a few of them support VR gaming. This is because VR demands high-end hardware, and you must need at least a GTX 970 or AMD R9 390 graphics card to run VR games. While all the hardware before these models are not compatible with VR, games or experience might go worse. Taking care of this, we made a list of all those graphics cards which support VR and give great value for their price.

The cheapest VR Ready graphics card you can get is the GTX 970, but of course, it’s a bit old and expensive as compared to modern entry cards of the same specifications. I am not sure about others, but the cheapest graphics card you can get for VR is Rx 5700, which is not that old and supports modern AAA titles at max settings and 1440p resolution. There are some other choices, too, like RTX 2060, which offers Real-Time Ray Tracing and DLSS, which is not available in Rx 5700.

Rustam Iqbal

Hi, I'm Rustam Iqbal. I love traveling, computer hardware, and software. I’m constantly trying to learn new skills and programming languages. Reviewing new pieces of hardware is one of my favorites hobbies. Drop by any time to leave me a message if you have any questions.

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