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The 5 Best RTX 2070 Graphics Cards – Tested and Ranked

The GeForce RTX 2070 was a high-end offering from Nvidia in the RTX 2000 series based on the Turing architecture. The RTX 2070 was based on the 12 nm process and used Nvidia’s TU106 GPU as its core. Specifically, the TU106-400-A1 variant of the TU106 GPU was the GPU of choice for the GeForce RTX 2070 during the course of its lifetime. The TU106 GPU is a large chip with a massive 445 mm2 die area and a whopping 10,800 million transistors, a count that is exponentially higher than the one associated with its predecessor, the GTX 1070.

Best RTX 2070
Best RTX 2070 Lineup

Despite its staggering performance and impressive internals, the RTX 2070 is not the most power-hungry card in the world. The RTX 2070 is rated for a maximum power draw of 175 W, which is quite tame by modern standards. This means that the RTX 2070 does not require the most overbuilt cooling system to stay cool and to perform efficiently. Most AIB variants of the RTX 2070 with decent heatsink designs and at least 2 fans should be able to keep the RTX 2070’s thermals under control. This gives the potential buyer a lot of choices when deciding on a variant of the RTX 2070.

Note: If you’re interested in the refreshed and improved variant of RTX 2070 head over to our RTX 2070 Super guide.

Similar Reads: Best RTX 2080 Graphics Cards

Our Picks For The Best RTX 2070

Below are the best RTX 2070 variants available on the market right now.

1. ASUS ROG Strix RTX 2070 Gaming OC

The Best of The Best

Pros

  • Massive Factory OC
  • Impressive Cooling Performance
  • Low Noise Levels
  • Beautiful RGB Implementation

Cons

  • Quite Pricy

636 Reviews

CUDA Cores: 2304 | Base/Boost Clocks: 1410/1815 MHz | Memory: 8GB GDDR6 | Memory Bandwidth: 14 Gbps | Power Connectors: 1x PCIe 8-pin, 1x PCIe 6-pin | Outputs: 2x HDMI, 2x DisplayPort, 1x USB-C

Since the RTX 2070 is still a pretty high-end card, the purchase of a premium variant for this card is somewhat justified. This is where the ASUS ROG Strix RTX 2070 comes into play. The ROG Strix lineup is the premium lineup of graphics cards from ASUS that is aimed squarely at enthusiasts. The Strix cards occupy the upper echelon of aftermarket graphics card variants, and the ROG Strix RTX 2070 is no exception.

Under the fan shroud, there is a massive heatsink that is intertwined with several heatpipes that carry the heat from the heat-generating components such as the VRM and memory modules to the heatsink itself. The cooling system of the card spans the thickness of three PCIe slots, so there is a lot of cooling potential in this heatsink array. The 3 fans use ASUS’s Axial Tech design which maximizes their static pressure and allows them to direct the air through the heatsink in a more focused manner in order to reduce turbulence and increase efficiency. The fans also turn off under low load situations to improve the acoustic performance of the card and to increase the lifespan of the fans themselves.

As far as looks go, the RTX 2070 ROG Strix is as premium as they come. The shroud itself features a contemporary design language that is not too aggressive, but combined with the beautiful RGB implementation, it does lean more towards the “gamer-y” side than more basic variants. The RGB on the card is spread across multiple zones and can be managed through the Aura Sync software.

All in all the ASUS ROG Strix RTX 2070 is a premium option for enthusiast gamers, and it certainly delivers on multiple grounds to justify its price premium. It is one of the most well-built, high-quality graphics card variants out there for the RTX 2070. Whether or not that hefty price premium makes sense in terms of value, is up to the potential buyer to decide.

2. Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 2070

Premium Gigabyte Offering

Pros

  • Impressive Thermals
  • Quiet Fans
  • Aggressive Looks
  • Amazing RGB Lighting

Cons

  • Very Expensive

52 Reviews

CUDA Cores: 2304 | Base/Boost Clocks: 1410/1770 MHz | Memory: 8GB GDDR6 | Memory Bandwidth: 14 Gbps | Power Connectors: 1x PCIe 8-pin, 1x PCIe 6-pin | Outputs: 3x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort, 1x USB-C

The AORUS lineup is the premium graphics card lineup from Gigabyte and it includes some of their best offerings to date. The Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 2070 is one such offering from Gigabyte that should definitely be on the priority list for any enthusiasts looking for an RTX 2070. It is definitely one of the most well-built RTX 2070 variants available on the market. These are similar to the current Best RTX 2080 Super.

The Gigabyte AORUS GeForce RTX 2070 offers exceptional thermal performance as well, which should come as no surprise for a card at this price point. Nevertheless, Gigabyte has not cut any corners with the heatsink assembly in this card, and the hefty cooler has no problems keeping temperatures in check. The 3 fans in the shroud use the Windforce stacked 3x cooling system for efficient airflow over the heatsink itself, and it works wonders in practice as well. Not only are the fans really high-performing, but they are also among the quietest fans in any variant of the RTX 2070 currently available on the market.

Other RTX Card Reviews: Best RTX 3080 & RTX 2080 Ti Graphics Cards.

Aesthetically, the AORUS GeForce RTX 2070 really stands out from the crowd. It features a really aggressive design that is definitely marketed towards the gaming crowd, and there is nothing wrong with that. The AORUS RTX 2070 also has beautiful RGB implementation on the sides of the fan shroud as well as around the fans themselves. Many enthusiasts prefer to mount this particular graphics card vertically to show off the aggressive styling and the beautiful RGB a bit more prominently.

The AORUS GeForce RTX 2070 is one of the more high-end options on our list, but it is one that is definitely worth considering if you can afford it. It has a sizeable price premium, but that might just be worth it to an enthusiast looking for the exact blend of features that are provided by this card.

3. MSI Gaming Z GeForce RTX 2070

The Highest Factory OC

Pros

  • Very High Boost Clocks
  • Impressive Thermals
  • Nice Aesthetics

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Only 2 Fans

185 Reviews

CUDA Cores: 2304 | Base/Boost Clocks: 1410/1830 MHz | Memory: 8GB GDDR6 | Memory Bandwidth: 14 Gbps | Power Connectors: 1x PCIe 8-pin, 1x PCIe 6-pin | Outputs: 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort, 1x USB-C

MSI’s Gaming Z RTX 2070 is another variant that checks most of the boxes when it comes to RTX 2070 graphics cards. The Gaming Z is part of MSI’s premium lineup and it combines excellent build quality with a great thermal performance at a moderately high price tag.

There are certainly no complaints when it comes to the thermal performance of the MSI Gaming Z RTX 2070. The heatsink is massive a features a 3-slot design with several heatpipes that connect the large base plate to the general heatsink fin-array. The fin design is uniquely curved to maximize the surface area of the metal and, in turn, to maximize the thermal dissipation. The two fans are part of MSI’s Twin Frozr design and are quite well-built. The fans enable quiet operation even under load, and they turn off automatically when the card is idling in order to improve the acoustic performance of the card.

The MSI Gaming Z also stands out quite a bit when it comes to the aesthetics of the card. It features a 2-fan design which might be a little bit of a letdown for enthusiasts since this is a premium variant of a high-end graphics card, but other than that there is not a lot to complain about. The Gaming Z RTX 2070 features an aggressive, angular design language targeted towards gamers, with plenty of RGB lighting to go along with it. That certainly makes it one of the more attractive options on our list.

Overall, the MSI Gaming Z RTX 2070 makes a lot of sense if you are in the market for a premium RTX 2070 but do not quite want to pay the hefty margins that are commanded by our aforementioned picks such as the ROG Strix and the AORUS RTX 2070.

Want something better than the RTX 2070? Head over to our RTX 3070 guide.

4. Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 WindForce 3X

A Reasonable Choice

Pros

  • Reasonable Pricing
  • Adequate Thermal Performance
  • Understated Looks

Cons

  • A Little On The Noisier Side
  • Lack of Lighting

255 Reviews

CUDA Cores: 2304 | Base/Boost Clocks: 1410/1620 MHz | Memory: 8GB GDDR6 | Memory Bandwidth: 14 Gbps | Power Connectors: 1x PCIe 8-pin, 1x PCIe 6-pin | Outputs: 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort, 1x USB-C

Gigabyte makes the list again, this time with the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 WindForce 3X graphics card which is a base model variant of the RTX 2070. This is not a premium offering such as the AORUS card that was mentioned before, rather it is aimed at or near MSRP pricing to maximize the value proposition for the buyer.

The WindForce 3X RTX 2070 offers satisfactory performance when it comes to cooling and thermals. It will not be topping any charts in this category, but its performance is certainly sufficient to manage the RTX 2070 GPU. The heatsink is aided by 3 WindForce fans, hence the name, which focus the airflow directly through the fins in order to maximize the heat dissipation. This allows the card to keep its temperatures in check, without ramping the fans up too much. On full load, however, the fans can get a little bit noisy but that certainly isn’t a deal-breaker at this price point.

As far as looks go, the WindForce 3X is quite understated and plain in that department. The shroud features no notable design cues and there is a stark lack of lighting as well. This card is definitely not the one for those who are looking for an RTX 2070 for their ultimate showcase machine. Still, considering the price point, the aesthetics really do not matter a lot and the card doesn’t look unappealing from any angle.

All in all, If you are looking for an RTX 2070 variant that covers all the bases quite well without breaking the bank, then this one is definitely the perfect option for you.

On the contrary, If you want more GPU power and have a beefy wallet to buy that amount of power, check out our guide on the Best RTX 3090.

5. EVGA GeForce RTX 2070 BLACK Gaming

A Barebones Option

Pros

  • Adequate Thermal Performance
  • Low Price

Cons

  • Unremarkable Acoustic Performance
  • Plain Looks
  • Lack of Lighting

12 Reviews

CUDA Cores: 2304 | Base/Boost Clocks: 1410/1620 MHz | Memory: 8GB GDDR6 | Memory Bandwidth: 14 Gbps | Power Connectors: 1x PCIe 8-pin | Outputs: 1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 2x DisplayPort, 1x USB-C

EVGA is notorious for launching numerous variants in a tight price bracket for each graphics card and they certainly did the same for the RTX 2070. Out of those, our pick is the base variant which is the EVGA GeForce RTX 2070 BLACK Gaming. This card is for those who are looking for just the basics and nothing more.

One good thing about the EVGA GeForce RTX 2070 BLACK Gaming is its above-average cooling performance. While it does not hold a candle to any of the cards mentioned in the list already, the thermal performance it offers is certainly enough for an RTX 2070 at stock settings. The two fans are also reasonably quiet in low load situations, although they do have a tendency to get a little noisier once the load increases.

In terms of aesthetics, the card is as basic as they come. It features a mostly black fan shroud with a clear, see-through design that looks quite cheap from some angles. The card does not feature a backplate which is a pretty big miss, and there is no lighting anywhere on the card. However, this might appeal to those who are looking for a cheap variant of a high-end graphics card to put into their blackout builds or maybe a gaming PC without any transparent side window.

Related Read: Best RTX 2060 & RTX 2060 Super Graphics Cards

The underwhelming aesthetics of the card might not be acceptable to everyone, but this is a card that is targeted at or near MSRP pricing for the RTX 2070. It offers satisfactory thermal performance and has all the features one might expect from a normal RTX 2070. If you are tight on budget and still want an RTX 2070 that can do the job well, the EVGA BLACK is our value pick for you.

RTX 2070 - FAQs

Is the RTX 2070 worth it ?

Yes, the RTX 2070 is still a pretty powerful graphics card. It offers exceptional 1080p and moderately powerful 1440p performance even in modern AAA titles. The RTX 2070 can even dabble with some 4K gaming in eSports titles.

Is the RTX 2070 better than GTX 1080ti?

In terms of raw framerate numbers, the GTX 1080 Ti is slightly more powerful than the RTX 2070 and shows performance that is similar to an RTX 2070 Super. However, the RTX 2070 is more efficient, has Raytracing capabilities, and is also capable of using Nvidia’s DLSS 2.0 technology.

Can I run all games on the RTX 2070?

In theory, all modern games should be able to run comfortably on the RTX 2070, provided that you are flexible with your resolution and graphical settings.

Can the RTX 2070 run 4K?

Yes, the RTX 2070 can run games on 4K, however, the only titles that would provide good performance at 4K are eSports titles and lighter competitive games such as Rocket League and CS GO.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hassam Nasir


As a managing Editor, I run, operate, and implement a substantial amount of work at Appuals.com. I supervise a team of enthusiastic geeks and also create content strategies. Whenever I am not at my work desk you'll find me tinkering around PC hardware and retro gadgets.