Best RTX 2060 Graphics Card For 2022 – GPU Buying Guide
A closer look at today's market to find only the best RTX 2060s the market has to offer
The RTX 2060 was announced at a CES live conference back in Jan 2019 and since it’s release has yet to disappoint thanks to its excellent performance rating and fantastic pricing. The 2060 was released alongside the rest of the 20 series (2070, 2080) and is said to be the equivalent, if not better, upgrade to the ever-popular 1070 TI. What separates the RTX range from the 10 series is its ability to efficiently perform real-time ray tracing, which in a nutshell is a better way to render light and shadow effects. The big problem with real-time ray tracing is how much computational power it actually required to pull off in real-time whilst still offering decent FPS. However, Nvidia seems to have provided a product that is both effective and affordable.
In the following article we are going to look at the best RTX 2060’s available in today’s market, how does the 2060 stand up to the RTX 2080 and which one is best suited to your needs. Underneath you will find a list of RTX 2060’s that are going to be looked at and a brief description of what we thought:
Our Top Picks
Best RTX 2060
In-depth Review
Asus Rog Strix GeForce RTX 2060 6GB OC
Asus Rog Strix GeForce RTX 2060 6GB OC
The Asus ROG STRIX range is always a little controversial for some people as many feel their money is being spent on a brand name and some fancy RGB that makes absolutely no difference to the performance of the GPU. However, with the RTX 2060 things are a little different, even though it does come equipped with a fancy design and lights that would put a trance gig to shame, it also has some fantastic performance stats that make you seriously put everything into consideration. When tested alongside some of the other mentions it boasts the greatest FPS (only marginally, however), the highest clock speed, fantastic potential to overclock if paired with the correct MOBO, and overall the lowest temps across the board.
Now all this doesn’t come cheap, $412.99 is roughly what you’re looking at for the ROG which is at the high end of what RTX 2060’s go for. But for that, you get unmatched cooling, fantastic performance, and quality RGB/design. What more could you ask for?
EVGA Xc Ultra Gaming RTX 2060
EVGA Xc Ultra Gaming RTX 2060
EVGA products are always high on our lists when it comes to performance, quality and longevity, and their RTX iteration is absolutely no different. It gets our top all-rounder award for that exact reason and continues to impress us on all levels. It comes to the table with an excellent boost clock speed of 1830 MHz and the ability to overclock even further with minimal pressure on the cards cooling system. It comes in at under $400 as well which is great value for money.
Zotac RTX 2060 6GB Gaming AMP
Zotac RTX 2060 6GB Gaming AMP
The AMP Gaming 2060 by Zotac was one of the first iterations to be released after the initial models hit the shelves and has stayed pretty steady in terms of value ever since. Like all AMP badged products in Zotac’s collection the 2060 comes overclocked at 1800MHz and has one of the smallest forms in this 2060 article. It sits at 21cm long and 12cm tall meaning it becomes compatible with a huge variety of cases making it extremely versatile. It comes with a dual fan setup and Zotac’s Icestorm 2.0 cooling system which can become slightly noisey but nothing that would be considered annoying. Overall for the price and the performance we would consider this the top budget model in the range.
MSI GAMING GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6GB
MSI GAMING GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus 6GB
Our first honourable mention goes to MSI’s Ventus edition of the 2060 and for good reason. Boasting 1800MHz boost clock speed, Dual fan setup with fantastic cooling and a beautiful design all come together to create a brilliant overall GPU. Performance is fantastic across the spectrum of 2060’s and MSI’s is no different. Slightly smaller in profile than some of the more expensive models and $20 dollars cheaper secures its position in our honourable mentions.
Gigabyte RTX 2060 6GB Mini ITX OC
Gigabyte RTX 2060 6GB Mini ITX OC
An honorable mention has to go to the Gigabyte Mini ITX as it’s the only small form card in this article. If you’re building a small form PC then this is surely the only model worth considering, built specifically with Mini ITX Motherboards in mind you will not get the same performance power and size anywhere else. It comes in at a reasonable price, produces solid FPS across a wide spectrum, and is relatively quiet in the larger scheme of things.
Final Word
Modern technology is moving quicker than ever and to keep up with the high demand games are now putting on computers and graphics means developers are constantly battling to provide solid hardware components that are going to live up to the task. The 2060 is the latest arrival to the 20 series and is much more affordable than its neighbors the 2070 and 2080 respectively. You can see how it compares in our RTX 2060 vs RTX 2070 comparison.
Every card we’ve tested has performed extremely well across the range of games we use and have their own specific set of pros and cons. If you are seriously considering purchasing a 2060 it really boils down to the following categories:
- Performance – If what you care about above all else is cutting-edge performance, and you don’t want to do your own overclocking, the ASUS ROG Strix OC is the GPU for you.
- All round choice – If you’re for an all-round, well-balanced, high-end 2060 then look no further than the EVGA Xc ultra Gaming 2060. It knocks on the door of the ROG strix but has a bunch of other attractive features that make it more balanced.
- Budget – Want a 2060 but also want to save as much money as possible getting one? Get our budget pick: Zotac RTX Gaming AMP.
- Balanced – Maybe you just want a well-balanced card and don’t want to lean too hard into one particular benefit? Snag the MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z…it’ll serve you well for years to come.
- Low Profile – Last but not least, let’s say you’re building a small PC and don’t have room for big graphics cards? Just go ahead and get the Gigabyte RTX 2060 Mini ITX. It’s perfect for exactly this purpose.
So hopefully this gives you enough information to go out there and make an informed decision on which best suits your requirements and start reaping the rewards of the excellent RTX 2060.
Feel free to comment below and let us know which card you went with, or what you think of our picks. You can also just ask for help if you need it– we’re serious about monitoring our comments and making sure our community is being well-served.
You can check out our GPU Hierarchy right here.