Question/advice video card

[Madman3353]

right now i'm rocking a 7800x3d and a 1070 TI (left over from old computer). i want to get a used graphics card  in the 200-300 price range for VR (Oculus Q3). I'm still learning the game so i will not be doing PvP or multiplayer servers just local play campaigns and training on the maps i purchased. This is only temporary while i save up and wait for the 5000 series later this year or beginning of next year. so its basically the cheapest upgrade with decent graphics to hold me over until the new series where i will be going for the 5070 or 5080 i have a feeling the new 90 series will cost as much as a used car so wont be getting that one haha. Which card would be best for DCS in that price range? thank you in advance

Edited March 15 by Madman3353

[LucShep]

The thing is, you want a 200-300 price range GPU to do VR... with DCS, of all things.  
You can't expect too much, and only from the used market. There is nothing brand new for that price that will cut it (at least in Europe, may be different in the US). 

if you don't mind adventuring in the used market (Ebay, etc) there are some decent GPUs that may be worth it, as interimn solutions for you.

• From Nvidia, check the RTX 2080 Super 8GB and the RTX 3060Ti 8GB. With some luck maybe an RTX 2080Ti 11GB could be found (but doubtful). 
• From AMD, check the RX 6700XT 12GB and RX 6750XT 12GB.

These are all seriously good "mid-range" GPUs, very capable for a 2D monitor @ 1440P, whatever the game you throw at them (including DCS), and awesome deals in the used market - of course, if fully working. There's so many people upgrading (or just getting rid of) PC parts acquired during the pandemic days. 
They're somewhat capable for DCS VR but, honestly, better refrain expectations.

Edited March 15 by LucShep

[Madman3353]

Just now, LucShep said:

The thing is, you want a 200-300 price range GPU to do VR... on DCS, of all things.  
You can't expect too much, and only on the used market. There is really nothing brand new for that price that will cut it. 

if you don't mind adventuring in the used market (Ebay, etc) there are some decent GPUs that may be worth it, as interimn solutions for you.

• From Nvidia, check the RTX 3060Ti 8GB and the RTX 2080 Super 8GB. With some luck may be an RTX 2080Ti 11GB could be found (but doubtful). 
• From AMD, check the RX 6700XT 12GB and RX 6750XT 12GB.

Any of these are seriously good "mid-range" GPUs, very capable for a 2D monitor @ 1440P, whatever the game you throw at them (including DCS), and awesome deals in the used market, with so many people upgrading (or just getting rid of) in these post-pandemic days. 
But better refrain expectations for DCS VR.

I’m not looking for new as this is a place holder used is fine. Just want something better than a 1070 for now. I’m asking because there are those that have been playing longer than me that know what cards play nice with DCS even if it’s an older generation card.I’m not expecting a miracle lol. I will be getting the new 5000 series whenever it comes out since the 4000 series is overpriced from the gpu debacle.

[LucShep]

58 minutes ago, Madman3353 said:

I’m not looking for new as this is a place holder used is fine. Just want something better than a 1070 for now. I’m asking because there are those that have been playing longer than me that know what cards play nice with DCS even if it’s an older generation card.I’m not expecting a miracle lol. I will be getting the new 5000 series whenever it comes out since the 4000 series is overpriced from the gpu debacle.

Are you located in the US ?

If so, give a look to the refurbished RTX 3060Ti 8GB models in Newegg: https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?N=4016&d=3060ti&Order=1

Pretty much any RTX 3060Ti will do fine, but I'd recommend getting a triple-fan model (Gigabyte ones are excelent).
I too had one as interimn solution and it positively surprised me - it's just a slightly underclocked RTX 3070 (more expensive) and performs as good as it.
And a terrific performer once undervolted (tutorial HERE).

Edited March 16 by LucShep

[Madman3353]

11 minutes ago, LucShep said:

Are you located in the US ?

If so, give a look to the refurbished RTX 3060Ti 8GB models in Newegg: https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?N=4016&d=3060ti&Order=1

Pretty much any RTX 3060Ti will do fine, but I'd recommend getting a triple-fan model (Gigabyte ones are excelent).
I too had one as interimn solution and it actually positively surprised me - it's just a slightly underclocked RTX 3070 (more expensive) and performs as good as it.
And a terrific performer once undervolted (tutorial HERE).

 

Yes I am located in the US I will look at that. If I’m not mistaken I should stay away from AMD cards correct, as they don’t play as nice as nvidia cards with DCS?

[LucShep]

1 hour ago, Madman3353 said:

If I’m not mistaken I should stay away from AMD cards correct, as they don’t play as nice as nvidia cards with DCS?

In your case, for your budget, it's an absolute "correct" to answer your question.   

The best AMD GPU you'll manage for your budget is the AMD RX 6700XT and 6750XT 12GB models.
While you'll notice and feel tempted by the bigger VRAM ammount in these (12GB vs 8GB), when compared to the Nvidia RTX 3060Ti and RTX 2080 Super they compete with, they are severely limited by their 192-bit bus once you go past 1440P resolution (and with VR).
The two mentioned Nvidia models are better being 256-bit, and we're not even counting yet with, yes, the tremendous DCS bias towards Nvidia.

What happens in reality when put into practice for DCS, those two Nvidia models (RTX3060Ti, RTX2080S) perform better and are far less fussy with DCS (2D or VR).
From experience, I'd say to definitely get Nvidia, though those mentioned two are far from perfect (but it's an interim solution, as you said) given their 8GB VRAM limitation.

Any AMD GPU that is 256-bit bus and 16GB+ VRAM performs fine with DCS (RX 6800 XT, RX 6900/6950 XT, RX 7800 XT, RX 7900 GRE, XT and XTX).
But then those are well over your budget.  And the Nvidia equivalents to those still perform notoriously better in DCS.

Edited March 16 by LucShep

[diego999]

Get a 3060ti. As long as you don't go crazy with the settings, it will perform well.

[Madman3353]

1 hour ago, LucShep said:

In your case, for your budget, it's an absolute "correct" to answer your question.   

The best AMD GPU you'll manage for your budget is the AMD RX 6700XT and 6750XT 12GB models.
While you'll notice and feel tempted by the bigger VRAM ammount in these (12GB vs 8GB), when compared to the Nvidia RTX 3060Ti and RTX 2080 Super they compete with, they are severely limited by their 192-bit bus once you go past 1440P resolution (and with VR).
The two mentioned Nvidia models are better being 256-bit, and we're not even counting yet with, yes, the tremendous DCS bias towards Nvidia.

What happens in reality when put into practice for DCS, those two Nvidia models (RTX3060Ti, RTX2080S) perform better and are far less fussy with DCS (2D or VR).
From experience, I'd say to definitely get Nvidia, though those mentioned two are far from perfect (but it's an interim solution, as you said) given their 8GB VRAM limitation.

Any AMD GPU that is 256-bit bus and 16GB+ VRAM performs fine with DCS (RX 6800 XT, RX 6900/6950 XT, RX 7800 XT, RX 7900 GRE, XT and XTX).
But then those are well over your budget.  And the Nvidia equivalents to those still perform notoriously better in DCS.

 

What about a 4060 seems like they are going dirt cheap or are the previous 3060 and 2080 to better?

[Madman3353]

Right now I can get a MSI NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ventus 2X 8G OC 8GB GDDR6 Graphics Card for $225-270

 

EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti FTW3 ULTRA GAMING 8GB GDDR6 Graphics Card For $225-265

 

PNY NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB GDDR6 Graphics Card (blower style)(VCG2080T11BLMPB) $250-270 

 

which would be the best deal?

[LucShep]

On 3/16/2024 at 2:03 AM, Madman3353 said:

What about a 4060 seems like they are going dirt cheap or are the previous 3060 and 2080 to better?

Nope.

RTX 3060Ti is better than any other GPU in its price range.

Better than RTX 4060Ti and RTX 4060. These are cheap for a reason, they're 128-bit bus (don't just walk, run from them!)
Also better than RTX 3060 12GB.
And also better (for DCS) than the AMD equivalents, the RX6700XT, 6750XT and 7600XT.

RTX 2080 Super performs pretty much the same, but with a little higher power consumption (+50W) and higher temperature.
RTX 3070 is pretty much the same thing as it, just with slightly higher clocks (~8% performance difference) and higher price.

Edited March 18 by LucShep

[diego999]

16 minutes ago, LucShep said:

Nope.

RTX 3060Ti is better than any other GPU in its price range.

Better than RTX4060Ti and RTX4060. These are cheap for a reason, they're 128-bit bus (don't just walk, run from them!)
Also better than RTX3060 12GB.
And also better (for DCS) than the AMD equivalents, the RX6700XT, 6750XT and 7700XT.

RTX 2080 Super performs pretty much exactly the same, but with a little higher power consumption (+50W).
RTX 3070 is pretty much the same thing, just with slightly higher clocks (~5% performance difference) and higher price.

 

This is solid advice.

[LucShep]

 

4 hours ago, Madman3353 said:

Right now I can get a MSI NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ventus 2X 8G OC 8GB GDDR6 Graphics Card for $225-270

 

EVGA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti FTW3 ULTRA GAMING 8GB GDDR6 Graphics Card For $225-265

 

PNY NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB GDDR6 Graphics Card (blower style)(VCG2080T11BLMPB) $250-270 

 

which would be the best deal?

As said above, the RTX 4060 (any version) in comparison to those is garbage. Even if new, avoid it.

The RTX 2080Ti 11GB would be a better deal if it was not a blower model (it's friggin awful, avoid it!), which that PNY unfortunately is.
  

Try to negotiate that EVGA RTX3060Ti FTW3 Ultra.
Go for it! That one is among the very best models you can get and, if it's good, for 250-ish it's a heck of a good deal, I think.

 

Edited March 16 by LucShep
spelling(?)

[Tomcat388th]

I picked up a used 6950xt last year from ebay for around 300 to replace my 6700xt been very happy with it. When ever I shop ebay I try to pick sellers that accept returns worst case I have to pay return shipping.

J 

[Madman3353]

29 minutes ago, Tomcat388th said:

I picked up a used 6950xt last year from ebay for around 300 to replace my 6700xt been very happy with it. When ever I shop ebay I try to pick sellers that accept returns worst case I have to pay return shipping.

J 

I was looking at the 6950 cat but they attempt going for 500 and above at this moment.