The gaming series of graphics cards, also known as the “gaming series”, are an integral part of modern gaming and work computers. This article focuses on three major GPU gaming series from leading manufacturers: NVIDIA GeForce RTX, AMD Radeon RX and Intel ARC series. We’ll compare their GPU technology, performance, and specs to provide a comprehensive overview of what these cards offer.
GeForce RTX
NVIDIA GeForce RTX is a gaming graphics card series that NVIDIA introduced as a follow-up to its successful GeForce GTX 1000 and GeForce GTX 1600 line. This series includes three major generations: the GeForce RTX 2000 (Turing), the RTX 3000 (Ampere), and the latest RTX 4000 (Ada Lovelace). Each generation has brought significant improvements that allow gamers to experience realistic graphics.
Technology from NVIDIA
With ray tracing technology, NVIDIA offers realistic lighting effects and dynamic reflections that add to the gaming experience. In the Generation 4000, this technology has been further enhanced with the addition of Shader Execution Reordering (SER), which further improves performance. DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) in the current version 3.0 allows artificial intelligence to be used to interpolate frames, dramatically increasing FPS while maintaining image quality.
NVIDIA Reflex technology minimizes system latency, which is critical for competitive gaming. Essential for streamers and content creators is NVENC Encoder technology, which delivers exceptional recording quality and supports the latest video formats, including AV1. Another significant benefit of GeForce RTX cards is support for software such as NVIDIA Broadcast, which uses AI to enhance audio and video during game streaming.
High-end models
TheGeForce RTX 4090 is the flagship of the series, handling 4K gaming at maximum settings. Similarly, the RTX 4080 offers top performance for 4K and 1440p gaming while being more affordable.
Mid-range models
The GeForce RTX 4070 Ti provides an excellent price/performance ratio, ideal for 1440p gaming. The RTX 3060 is a great choice for Full HD gaming and more demanding entry-level workloads.
Benefits of the GeForce RTX gaming series
Benefits of this series include high efficiency, regular driver updates, and unique AI technology support. However, the disadvantages remain a higher price, especially for high-end models, and higher power consumption.
AMD Radeon RX
AMD Radeon RX is a series of graphics cards that features an excellent price/performance ratio and rivals NVIDIA in gaming performance. The series includes models built on the RDNA, RDNA 2 and RDNA 3 architectures. The latest RDNA 3 brings significant improvements in computational efficiency, while also introducing support for ray tracing, bringing AMD closer to NVIDIA’s performance in this area.
AMD Technologies
One of the key technologies in the Radeon RX series is FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), which is a response to NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS). Unlike DLSS, FSR is “open source” and can be used on a variety of platforms, including legacy graphics cards, making it very flexible. Infinity Cache, integrated directly into the GPU, improves bandwidth and rendering efficiency, which significantly improves performance when playing demanding games.
Smart Access Memory (SAM) is a technology that enables AMD Ryzen processors to directly access the entire VRAM memory of the graphics card, increasing performance in games and applications that make heavy use of graphics resources. Important for content creators is the Radiance Display Engine, which supports advanced color standards and improves visual quality when rendering videos or graphics.
The most powerful high-end models
- The Radeon RX 7900 XTX is the flagship of the series, delivering outstanding performance for 4K gaming. This model is ideal for demanding gamers who require top performance on the highest settings.
- The Radeon RX 7900 XT offers similar performance to the XTX, but at a more affordable price, making it a suitable solution for gamers who want top-end performance without the premium price tag.
Mid-range models
- The Radeon RX 6800 XT is an excellent choice for gamers who focus on 1440p and 4K gaming. This model offers a very good price/performance ratio and great performance on high settings.
- The Radeon RX 6700 XT is ideal for gamers who prefer 1440p gaming and are looking for a card with good performance at a reasonable price.
Benefits of Amd Radeon RX series
- Excellent price/performance ratio: the Radeon RX series offers outstanding performance at a lower price compared to the competition.
- Lower power consumption: the cards in this series are more efficient in power consumption, which is an advantage for those who are environmentally conscious and conserve electricity.
- Open Technology Access: FSR and other technologies are open and compatible with different platforms and GPUs, ensuring broader support across different devices.
Disadvantages:
- Ray tracing: Although RDNA 3 brings support for ray tracing, AMD still lags behind NVIDIA in this technology, which can affect performance in games that make heavy use of ray tracing.
- Drivers: While things are improving, there may be occasional driver issues that can affect stability or performance in some games.
The Radeon RX series is an ideal choice for gamers looking for quality gaming performance at an affordable price and are willing to sacrifice some ray tracing details for a better price/performance ratio.
Intel ARC
Intel ARC is a new series of gaming GPUs that Intel has brought to the market with high-end and mid-range GPUs. This series leverages the Xe-HPG architecture, which is designed to optimize performance for gaming and content creation, while offering significant improvements in computing power and visual effects.
Intel Technology
The key technology that makes Intel ARC unique is XeSS (Xe Super Sampling), Intel’s alternative to NVIDIA’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) and AMD’s FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution). Intel XeSS uses artificial intelligence to interpolate frames and boost performance, improving the fluidity of games without significantly reducing visual quality, making it ideal for demanding titles as well as future high-resolution games.
In addition to gaming technology, Intel has also focused on the needs of streamers and content creators. Advanced AV1 Encoding technology delivers better image quality at lower bitrates, which is important for streaming and uploading videos with lower bandwidth requirements, while maintaining high visual quality. This technology ensures that the streamer can achieve higher quality even with lower internet connection requirements.
Intel ARC also relies on Deep Link technology to enable better optimization between Intel CPU and GPU. This technology improves performance in applications that require intensive computing power, improving efficiency when multitasking. In conjunction with new generations of Intel processors, this system is ideal for professional work applications.
Top models
- The Intel ARC A770 is the flagship of the series, designed for the discerning gamer. This model is ideal for gaming at 1440p resolution at maximum settings, with support for advanced gaming technologies such as ray tracing and XeSS.
- TheIntel ARC A750 is a more affordable model that delivers excellent performance for Full HD gaming, while supporting high refresh rates and improved performance in more demanding applications.
Pros:
- Attractive price: the Intel ARC offers a good price-performance ratio, making it attractive to those looking for an affordable alternative to NVIDIA and AMD.
- Innovative technologies: XeSS and AV1 Encoding present strong technological advantages that improve the gaming experience and streaming quality.
- Multitasking performance: Deep Link technology ensures optimal use of system resources when multitasking, increasing productivity in applications.
Disadvantages:
- Less optimized drivers: Intel ARC still lags behind in driver optimization compared to the competition, which can lead to less stability and performance in some games.
- Weaker compatibility with older games: Some older titles may not be fully optimized for Intel ARC graphics cards at launch, which can affect performance.
- Lower support in the gaming ecosystem: Although Intel is investing in improving compatibility, support is still not as broad as NVIDIA and AMD.
The Intel ARC series is a viable option for those looking for innovative and affordable graphics cards that can meet the demands of modern gaming and content creation, although some software driver and compatibility challenges may still affect its full potential.
Gaming graphics card price comparison
| Graphics Card | Price (CZK) | Benchmark score | VRAM memory | TDP (W) |
| RTX 4090 | 56 000 Kč | 24 000 | 24 GB GDDR6X | 450 W |
| RTX 4080 | 28 000 Kč | 19 500 | 16 GB GDDR6X | 320 W |
| RX 7900 XTX | 25 000 Kč | 20 000 | 24 GB GDDR6 | 355 W |
| RX 7900 XT | 20 000 Kč | 18 000 | 20 GB GDDR6 | 315 W |
| Arc A770 | 9 000 Kč | 8 000 | 16 GB GDDR6 | 225 W |
| Arc A750 | 6 000 Kč | 6 500 | 8 GB GDDR6 | 200 W |
So which gaming series to choose?
As I pondered which graphics card series is best, I quickly realised that it all depends on what you expect from the card. If I had to choose a card based on performance, I would definitely reach for the RTX series. Models like the RTX 4090 or RTX 4080 are simply kings in the graphics world – they can handle 4K gaming at the highest detail, and their ray tracing effects are second to none.
However, when it comes to price, that’s where Radeon has the upper hand for me. Cards like the RX 7900 XTX offer great performance while not costing as much as NVIDIA’s high-end models. If you don’t want to spend your entire paycheck on graphics, Radeon is a great alternative. And then there’s Intel – if you’re on a budget, models like the A750 or A770 can surprise. They’re not “monsters”, but they’re perfectly adequate for Full HD gaming or casual use.
When it comes to mini PC cases, this is where the decision gets complicated. If I were building a small build, I would choose one of the compact models – for example, RTX 4060, RX 7600 or Intel Arc A750. These cards will fit into smaller enclosures and still offer very decent performance.