GTX 1070, 1080 or would you prefer an RX 480? Which graphics card is right for me?
27.7.2016
Translation: machine translated
There has rarely been a better time to buy a new graphics card than now. Nvidia and AMD are virtually showering us with new models. While the RX 480 should be of particular interest to Team Red, Team Green has three different models. To help you keep track of all the choices and find the right card for your PC, I've put together a little buying guide.
RX 480 and GTX 1060: entry-level models for the price-conscious
AMD RX 480
AMD opted for a price war with the RX 480 and not a performance war. This doesn't mean that the card is slow, far from it, but AMD is clearly targeting price-conscious gamers. 8 GB models are available from 300 francs. In terms of performance, it is just behind a GTX 980 or R9 390, meaning that most games can be played very well with all details in a resolution of up to 2560x1440 pixels. With Full HD, everything should run smoothly anyway. On top of that, the card is surprisingly small and should fit easily into any case.
You can find a very detailed test at PC Gamer
At present, almost exclusively reference models are available, which only differ in price. One exception, for example, is the slightly tuned version from XFX.
Nvidia GTX 1060
To counter AMD's bargain card, the GTX 1060 completes Nvidia's range. It is roughly on a par with a GTX 980 - sometimes above, sometimes below - and therefore also the RX 480. In terms of price, it is slightly above the competition from AMD. But at around 350 francs, it's still a very attractive offer.
The GTX 1060 uses a GP106 chip (instead of the GP104 as in the GTX 1080 and 1070). It also has 6GB GDDR5 RAM at 8GHz, 1280 CUDA cores and a clock frequency of 1.7GHz. According to Nvidia, it can easily be overclocked up to 2GHz. The GTX 1060 will be able to cope with most games in full detail at resolutions of up to 2560x1440 pixels. This will not always be enough for a constant 60 FPS. You will have to go down to 1080p for this.
Go to the test here
Favourable
Quiet
Fast
GTX 1070: Mid-range for those who want a little more power
For those looking for stable frame rates at 60 FPS and more, the GTX 1070 should be of interest. If you can live with a few compromises, you can even get a taste of 4K. At Full HD resolution, the card can easily cope with anything you throw at it. Even at 2560x1440 pixels, very few games manage to push the 1070 below 60 FPS. The card is also ideal for virtual reality.
However, the price is almost double that of an RX 480 or a GTX 1060, but you get around 35 per cent more performance on average.
You can also find a detailed review at PC Gamer.
The different models are pretty close to each other in terms of performance and volume. Nevertheless, I have found a few special candidates.
Favourable [[productlist:5784642]]
Quiet [[productlist:5784638]]
Fast [[productlist:5870762]]
GTX 1080: Top models, for enthusiasts
All those for whom only the best is good enough get a GTX 1080. Whether ambitious online gamers who want to get everything out of their 144Hz monitors or graphics whores like me who don't want to compromise, Nvidia's top model is the first choice. Only the 1080 guarantees a reasonably stable 4K experience. Even then, 60 FPS is rare, but if you're not playing hectic shooters, you'll be able to live with it. The models that are already overclocked ex works offer some room for improvement here. If you're buying a GTX 1080, you should definitely check beforehand whether the bulky units will fit in the case. If you're thinking of getting a HTC Vive or Oculus Rift, the 1080 is the perfect choice.
I also recommend that interested parties take a look at the detailed test at PC Gamer.
As with the 1070 series, the various 1080s are close to each other in terms of performance and volume.
Favourable [[productlist:5839936]]
Quiet [[productlist:5777040]]
Fast [[productlist:5777021]]
Available [[productlist:5779409]]
Bonus: The unusual one with RGB lighting: [[productlist:5881304]]
Information on availability: The availability of the various models still varies greatly in some cases. We continue to try to offer as many graphics cards as possible from our warehouse on a daily basis.
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
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