Is The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER Still Good for Gaming?

Scott Daly

RTX 2070 Super

Yes, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is still a decent graphics card for gaming, but it’s definitely on its way out. Especially as the NVIDIA 5000 series approaches, you can likely get a better card for your PC at a pretty decent price. The GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is a graphics card that provides a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the RTX 2070. It not only offers improved performance but also does so at a competitive price, and was tailored for gaming enthusiasts back when it came out. The RTX 2070 SUPER brought high-fidelity graphics to modern games and was a great balance of price and performance, making high-quality gaming experiences more accessible.

But as far as being a card that is still good for gaming now – you’ll still be able to play most (if not all) 1080p and 1440p games on low to medium settings with this card. And you’re likely to be able to pick up a GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER at a relatively low cost. It’s equipped to handle the demands of the latest game titles with improved consistency and notable performance, allowing players to enjoy their favorite games with enhanced visuals and smoother gameplay. The only real issue is how much better future generations of this line are.

Here’s the breakdown:

Strengths:

  • 1080p Gaming: It can comfortably handle most games at 1080p resolution with high or even ultra settings, delivering smooth frame rates.
  • 1440p Gaming: It’s also capable of playing games at 1440p, but you might need to adjust settings to medium or high to maintain good performance.
  • VR: The card meets the recommended specifications for most VR headsets, providing a good VR experience.
  • Ray Tracing: It offers decent ray tracing capabilities, allowing you to enjoy games with ray-traced effects, though at potentially lower frame rates or with compromises on other settings.

Weaknesses:

  • 8GB VRAM: Its 8GB VRAM might start to feel limiting in newer, more demanding titles, particularly at higher resolutions or with ray tracing enabled.
  • DLSS: While it supports DLSS, it’s not as efficient as newer generation cards, so the performance gains might be less noticeable.
  • Aging Architecture: Compared to the latest generation GPUs, the RTX 2070 SUPER is based on an older architecture, which means it might not perform as well in newer games optimized for newer hardware.

Overall:

If you’re primarily playing at 1080p, or are willing to make some settings adjustments for 1440p gaming, and you’re not chasing the absolute highest frame rates or visual fidelity, the RTX 2070 SUPER can still provide a good gaming experience.

Recommendation:

  • If you already own an RTX 2070 SUPER, it’s still a worthwhile card to hold onto for the time being, unless you’re specifically looking for a major performance upgrade.
  • If you’re considering buying one second-hand, it can be a good value option, as long as you’re aware of its limitations and the price is reasonable.
  • If you’re building a new PC or looking for the best possible performance, newer generation GPUs like the RTX 30 series or 40 series would be a better investment, although they come at a higher price.

Unleashing the Power of the RTX 2070 SUPER

Raw Performance and Specifications

The RTX 2070 SUPER boasts impressive specifications even by today’s standards. With 8GB of GDDR6 memory and 2560 CUDA cores, it can handle most modern games at 1080p and 1440p resolutions with high settings and smooth frame rates. It also supports ray tracing and DLSS, enhancing visuals and performance in compatible games.

1080p Gaming Prowess

At 1080p, the RTX 2070 SUPER truly shines. You can expect to achieve 60+ frames per second (fps) in most AAA titles with high or ultra settings. Even demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2 run smoothly, and competitive esports titles can easily hit high refresh rates for a responsive gaming experience.

1440p Gaming Performance

The RTX 2070 SUPER can still deliver a respectable 1440p gaming experience. You might need to adjust some settings to medium or high, depending on the game, but you can still expect smooth gameplay with minimal compromises on visual fidelity.

4K Gaming: A Stretch but Possible

While 4K gaming is achievable with the RTX 2070 SUPER, it might require lowering some settings or utilizing DLSS to maintain a consistent 60 fps. However, for less demanding games or older titles, you can still enjoy a decent 4K experience.

Ray Tracing and DLSS Capabilities

The RTX 2070 SUPER’s real-time ray tracing capabilities add stunning visual effects to supported games, enhancing reflections, shadows, and lighting. DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) helps boost performance in ray-traced games by intelligently upscaling the image, allowing for higher resolutions and frame rates.

Performance Comparison

GameResolutionSettingsAverage FPS (RTX 2070 SUPER)
Cyberpunk 20771080pHigh60-70
Red Dead Redemption 21080pUltra50-60
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla1440pHigh50-60
Control1080pHigh (Ray Tracing On)45-55
Fortnite1440pEpic80-90
Apex Legends1080pUltra120+

Longevity and Future-Proofing

While the RTX 2070 SUPER might not be the latest and greatest GPU on the market, it still holds up well for 1080p and 1440p gaming. It’s a solid choice for budget-conscious gamers who want to enjoy current titles without breaking the bank. However, if you’re planning to upgrade to a higher resolution or want to play future games at their highest settings, you might need to consider a more powerful GPU.

Key Takeaways

  • The GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is a capable and reasonably priced graphics card for gamers.
  • It offers improved performance over its predecessor, enabling better gaming experiences.
  • This graphics card makes high-resolution gaming more accessible to a wide range of consumers.

GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER in Gaming Performance

The GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER offers notable improvements in gaming performance. It features advanced technologies like ray tracing and DLSS, making it a strong candidate for high-resolution and high-fidelity gaming.

Comparative Performance Across Generations

The RTX 2070 SUPER sits between the original RTX 2070 and the high-end 2080. It shows an average of 10% better performance than its predecessor thanks to increased CUDA cores and higher clock speeds.

Resolution Impact on Gaming Experience

Gamers seeking to play at 4K resolutions will find the RTX 2070 SUPER capable, but not ideal, as some settings might need to be reduced. At 1440p, this card excels, delivering high frame rates for a smooth gaming experience.

Technological Innovations and Gaming Advancements

Ray tracing and DLSS give games photorealistic graphics and improved frame rates. The RTX 2070 SUPER with its Turing architecture is well-equipped to handle these features.

Game-Specific Performance Analysis

The RTX 2070 SUPER maintains over 60 frames per second at 1440p ultra settings in demanding games like Metro Exodus and Battlefield V, though optimization in settings may be required for the most intensive games.

Value Proposition

Compared to its close competitors from AMD, like the Radeon RX 5700 XT, the RTX 2070 SUPER offers better performance at a competitive price point, especially when ray tracing is taken into account.

Future-Proofing and Longevity

With technologies such as ray tracing still gaining traction, the capability to run these features makes the RTX 2070 SUPER a future-proof investment for upcoming game titles.

Hardware Specifications and Overclocking

The RTX 2070 SUPER has a robust set of specifications including 8GB of GDDR6 memory. Overclocking can lead to increased performance, with many cards offering headroom for enthusiasts to push the limits.

User Experience and System Requirements

Running a RTX 2070 SUPER for optimal gaming performance requires a system with adequate power supply and cooling. A high-quality monitor is also recommended to take advantage of the card’s capabilities.

Benchmarking and Analysis Tools

Tools like UserBenchmark provide insights into where the RTX 2070 SUPER stands among GPUs. It ranks impressively, often making it to top lists for its performance bracket.

Market Availability and Purchase Considerations

Finding the right RTX 2070 SUPER involves looking at different manufacturers for the best cooling solutions, clock speeds, and prices. Availability can vary, so it’s smart to keep an eye on stock levels and sales.