Upgrading Your Graphics Card: The Best Options to Replace Your NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super in 2023
Are you a passionate PC gamer or content creator looking to take your graphics performance to the next level? If you‘re currently rocking an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super GPU, you‘re probably starting to feel the limitations of this once high-end card in the newest AAA games and demanding applications. Fear not, because there are some incredible upgrade options available in 2023 that will provide a massive boost over your trusty 2070 Super. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down the best graphics cards to replace your RTX 2070 Super, from budget-friendly 1080p beasts to no-compromise 4K powerhouses.
First, let‘s take a quick look back at the RTX 2070 Super to appreciate just how far graphics cards have come in a few short years. Released in 2019 as a supercharged version of the original RTX 2070, the Super variant came with higher clock speeds, more CUDA cores, and faster GDDR6 memory. At the time, it was one of the best GPUs you could buy for high refresh rate 1440p gaming and entry-level 4K.
However, a lot has changed since then. NVIDIA‘s Ampere architecture brought huge generational leaps in performance, while AMD introduced their RDNA 2 line culminating in the mighty RX 6900 XT. More recently, the launch of NVIDIA‘s Ada Lovelace RTX 4000 series and AMD‘s RDNA 3 RX 7000 series raised the bar even higher, with flagship models like the RTX 4090 and RX 7900 XTX delivering previously unimaginable frame rates.
So, what are the best graphics cards to upgrade from an RTX 2070 Super in 2023? Here are our top recommendations:
Best Overall Upgrade: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
For most gamers looking for a big step up from the RTX 2070 Super, the new RTX 4070 Ti is the GPU to beat. Based on the same Ada Lovelace architecture as the monstrous RTX 4090, the 4070 Ti delivers incredible performance for the price. You get a massive 12GB of blazing-fast GDDR6X memory, a significant upgrade over the 8GB of slower GDDR6 in the 2070 Super.
In terms of raw specs, the RTX 4070 Ti features 7680 CUDA cores and a boost clock of 2610 MHz, compared to 2560 CUDA cores and a 1770 MHz boost clock on the 2070 Super. This translates to huge real-world performance gains, with the 4070 Ti beating the 2070 Super by around 80-100% on average across a range of games at 1440p and 4K resolutions.
In other words, the RTX 4070 Ti is capable of maxing out pretty much any game at 1440p well above 100 fps, and it‘s even a very competent 4K 60 fps card in demanding titles with some settings tweaks. DLSS 3 support means you can squeeze out even better performance with minimal impact on visual quality.
The RTX 4070 Ti also benefits from all the new features Nvidia introduced with the Ada Lovelace generation, including improved ray tracing performance, better energy efficiency thanks to the new 5nm manufacturing process, and a suite of hardware and software cheat prevention measures to combat hacking in competitive online games.
All this cutting-edge performance does come at a higher price compared to the 2070 Super‘s original $500 MSRP, with the 4070 Ti starting at $800. But considering the huge generational leap on offer, the 4070 Ti still represents excellent value in the current GPU market.
If you have a bit more budget to play with and want even more performance, there are two clear step-up options: the NVIDIA RTX 4080 and the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX.
High-End 4K Upgrade: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080
For gamers and creators who absolutely must have the best of the best, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a beast of a graphics card that will chew through any workload you throw at it. With a whopping 16GB of GDDR6X VRAM, 9728 CUDA cores, and a boost clock of 2505 MHz, the 4080 is significantly more powerful than even the RTX 4070 Ti.
In gaming benchmarks, the RTX 4080 is around 30% faster than the 4070 Ti at 4K resolution, making it the perfect choice for uncompromising 4K 120 fps gameplay in the latest AAA titles. With DLSS 3 enabled, you can get even better performance in supported games, with frame rates approaching 200 fps at 4K in some cases.
The RTX 4080 is also an excellent choice for content creators working with high resolution video, 3D rendering, or AI applications. The massive 16GB frame buffer provides plenty of headroom for complex projects, and the card‘s raw compute performance is among the best in any consumer GPU.
Of course, all this power comes at a cost. The RTX 4080 has an MSRP of $1199, making it significantly more expensive than the 4070 Ti. It also has much higher power requirements, with a TDP of 320W compared to the 4070 Ti‘s 285W. Make sure your power supply is up to the task before considering this monster of a graphics card.
Budget 1080p Upgrade: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
If you‘re on a tighter budget or you mainly play esports and older games at 1080p resolution, the RTX 4060 Ti is a great choice to upgrade from the RTX 2070 Super. With 8GB of GDDR6 memory and 4352 CUDA cores, the 4060 Ti is around 30-40% faster than the 2070 Super at 1080p while drawing significantly less power.
The RTX 4060 Ti is the perfect graphics card for high refresh rate 1080p gaming, capable of pushing well over 144 fps in most competitive shooters and battle royale games. It also has enough power to handle more demanding single player titles at 1080p with maximum settings.
At an MSRP of $399, the RTX 4060 Ti is very reasonably priced considering the performance on offer. It‘s a great choice for gamers who want a taste of the latest Nvidia features like DLSS 3 and improved ray tracing without breaking the bank.
AMD Alternatives: Radeon RX 7900 XTX and RX 6950 XT
For those who prefer AMD graphics cards, there are a couple of excellent options that can go toe-to-toe with Nvidia‘s offerings. The RX 7900 XTX is AMD‘s current flagship, based on the new RDNA 3 architecture. With 24GB of GDDR6 memory and a game clock of 2300 MHz, the 7900 XTX trades blows with the RTX 4080 in terms of raw performance.
The RX 7900 XTX really shines at 4K resolution, where it can take advantage of its massive 24GB frame buffer. In some games, it even beats the more expensive RTX 4090, although it falls behind in ray tracing performance due to the lack of a DLSS alternative.
If you don‘t need the absolute bleeding edge, the previous-gen RX 6950 XT is also worth considering. With 16GB of GDDR6 memory and performance roughly on par with the RTX 4070 Ti, the 6950 XT is a great value option for high refresh rate 1440p and entry-level 4K gaming. You can often find models selling for under $800, making it significantly cheaper than the 4070 Ti.
One advantage of going with an AMD card is that you‘re not locked into Nvidia‘s proprietary ecosystems like G-Sync and DLSS. AMD‘s FidelityFX Super Resolution offers similar upscaling quality to DLSS in most games, and the open Adaptive Sync standard means you have a wider range of compatible monitors to choose from.
Things to Consider When Upgrading Your GPU
Before pulling the trigger on a graphics card upgrade, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First and foremost, make sure your system‘s power supply can handle the increased power draw of a high-end GPU. The RTX 4080 and 4090 in particular have very high power requirements, and you may need to upgrade to a beefier PSU to avoid stability issues.
You‘ll also want to make sure your CPU and RAM are up to the task of feeding data to your shiny new graphics card. If you‘re still rocking an older CPU like an Intel 7th or 8th gen or AMD Ryzen 1000 series, you may run into CPU bottlenecks that prevent you from fully utilizing a top-end GPU. 8GB of system RAM is also starting to become a limit for some newer games, so consider upgrading to 16GB or 32GB if you can.
Finally, think about what resolution and refresh rate you want to game at. If you play on a 1080p 60Hz monitor, even a mid-range card like the RTX 4060 Ti or RX 6700 XT will be more than sufficient for your needs. 1440p and especially 4K gaming is where you‘ll really see the benefits of a high-end GPU like the RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XTX.
Closing Thoughts
So, should you upgrade your NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super? If you‘re starting to feel the limitations of the card in newer games and you have the budget for it, absolutely. The graphics card market has come a long way in the past few years, and there are some incredible options available in 2023 that will provide a massive performance uplift over the 2070 Super.
For most gamers, the RTX 4070 Ti gets our vote as the best overall upgrade pick. It offers a huge generational leap over the 2070 Super while still being (relatively) affordable at $800. If money is no object and you want the ultimate 4K gaming experience, splurge for the RTX 4080 or AMD RX 7900 XTX. And if you‘re on a tighter budget or mainly play at 1080p, the RTX 4060 Ti is an excellent value option.
Whichever card you choose, you‘re in for a treat. Happy gaming!
