Key Points
- The best upgrade from an NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super includes options like the RTX 4070 Ti, RTX 4080, and RTX 4060 Ti, each offering improved performance and features.
- The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX and RX 6950 XT are also excellent choices for upgrading from an RTX 2070 Super, providing high performance and ample VRAM.
- For those on a budget, the NVIDIA RTX 3050 offers affordability and compatibility with older power supplies, although it may not be a significant upgrade from the RTX 2070 Super.
- When considering a GPU upgrade, it’s important to assess the compatibility of other components in your gaming rig and determine if a complete system upgrade is necessary.
What is the best upgrade from an NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super? GPU prices have been plummeting. With scalpers no longer hogging the cards for themselves it is a great time to purchase upgrades. The RTX 2070 Super is still a very competitive GPU, but it’s beginning to show its age.
If you’re the sort of PC gamer that only wants to play with the best visuals, it could be worth taking a look at an upgrade. There are six great choices on the market today which are highly compelling upgrades from the venerable RTX 2070 Super.
So, you might as well strap in and start double-checking that your PSU can support a new graphics card.
NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super: Overview
The RTX 2070 Super is a 2019 release under the Turing architecture. It serves as a great midpoint between the 2060 Super and the higher-end RTX 2080. At the time of release, this was the best GPU you could buy in terms of overall value. It presented a great performance at a fairly affordable price point.
It is still highly usable for today’s games, but newer games released in the last two or so years have been more demanding on hardware. As such, the 8GB of VRAM isn’t sufficient for doing high detail settings at 4K resolution.
Specs
| NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super | |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing |
| MSRP | $499 |
| Transistors | 13,600 million |
| Manufacture Process | 12 nm |
| VRAM Amount | 8GB |
| VRAM Type | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit |
| Interface | PCI-E x16 3.0 |
| Core Clock Speed | 1,605 MHz |
| Memory Clock Speed | 1,750 MHz |
History Computer’s Best Upgrades from an RTX 2070 Super
Best Overall: NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti
- Exceptional performance
- Clock speed of 2535 MHz
- Great ray-tracing performance
- 12GB GDDR6X video memory
The RTX 4070 Ti presents a generational leap forward in many ways from the RTX 2070 Super. What makes this such a great consideration as an upgrade from an NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super is the notable improvements to the GPU.
You get a lesser memory bus at 192-bit, but access to a faster clock speed on both the core and memory. Memory has also been improved, jumping to the newer GDDR6X with 12GB of VRAM available.
The Lovelace architecture has been controversial for a number of reasons, but when upgrading from two previous generations it is a substantial improvement.
The RTX 4070 Ti should readily handle games at 1440p and 4K resolution with minimal adjustments to quality settings. You might need to tinker with things if you’re after raytracing, however.
Best Splurge: NVIDIA RTX 4080
- 16 GB of GDDR6X VRAM
- 2.51 GHz GPU clock speed
- PCI Express 4.0 support
- Great for AI work
- 9,728 NVIDIA CUDA Cores
The RTX 4080 is the choice to make if you’re after just complete overkill for your latest GPU. It is a solid upgrade from an NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super and is more than adequate for more modern games. You get access to a PCI-E 4.0 interface as well as superbly fast clock speeds.
VRAM for hi-res textures isn’t a concern with 16GB of GDDR6X memory on tap. If you’re looking for something that is going to handle 1440p or 4K with ease for years to come, the RTX 4080 is a great pick.
It is an expensive GPU, however. The GPU alone costs as much as some builds will run with a lower-grade graphics card. However, if the price isn’t a concern, it is a solid choice since it is one of NVIDIA’s flagship products.
Best for 1080p: NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti
- 8GB of VRAM
- PCI-E 4.0 interface
- 4,352 CUDA cores
- Comes with DisplayPort and HDMI inputs
The NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti is a tough GPU to recommend to someone if they’re upgrading from a 3000 series GPU. However, given the general rise in GPU prices over the last four years, it is a suitable upgrade from an NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super while staying in the same general price range.
It has a lesser memory bus at only 128-bit. VRAM is roughly the same with 8GB of GDDR6 on offer. It does offer up more cores, smaller transistors, and a higher memory and core clock frequency. The RTX 4060 Ti has proven to be a controversial choice for many reasons.
However, if you’re just looking for a modern GPU to handle most tasks, it is more than up to it. If you don’t mind sticking to 1080p or 1440p with some adjustments, it should serve you well for years to come.
It does falter quite a bit when moving to 4K resolution at higher detail levels, however.
Best Sleeper Pick: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
- Features 3 cooling fans
- Speed: 2400MHz boost clock
- Memory: 24GB GDDR6
- Supports DisplayPort 2.1 and HDMI 2.1
There is quite a bit to like about the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX. Considering the overall price, it is closer in performance to something like the RTX 4080 or RTX 4090 than the 4070. You get a massive 24GB of GDDR6X VRAM and insanely fast clock speeds on the core and memory.
This is a great upgrade from an NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super and should have you sitting pretty when playing modern games. It’ll handle VR, 4K, and 1440p with ease. Raytracing might see some performance degradation, especially since it doesn’t have NVIDIA’s DLSS to lean back on.
However, if you’re willing to forego raytracing, you are ready for the big leagues while paying less than the latest and greatest from NVIDIA.
Best Alternative Pick: AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT
- Video Memory: 16GB GDDR6
- Stream Processor: 5120
- Game Clock: 2226 MHz (OC) / 2116 MHz (Silent)
- Boost Clock: 2435 MHz (OC) / 2324 MHz (Silent)
- Memory Clock: 18.0 Gbps
The AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT is close in terms of overall performance to the RTX 4070. That price comes at a premium, so you’ll be paying close to $1,000 for a new one. However, you get access to 16GB of fast GDDR6 RAM and superb speed on the core and memory clocks.
The 6950 XT was the flagship model for the previous generation of GPUs from AMD and still doesn’t have a successor. However, it is more than up to the task of carrying you to graphical excellence. It has plenty of VRAM for high-resolution textures and is fast enough to carry you to 1440p or 4K.
The same lack of DLSS applies to the 6950 XT, so performance can suffer while using raytracing. However, if you’re willing to forego it, you’ll have a capable GPU that smokes the competition while costing roughly the same as the new RTX 4070 Ti.
Best Budget Pick: NVIDIA RTX 3050
- Supports HDMI 2.1
- 8GB of VRAM
- No power supply connections
- Great for prebuilts
The final choice on this list isn’t really a straight upgrade from an NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super. It isn’t terribly uncommon to downgrade GPU types when looking at a new build. The RTX 3050 has the benefit of not requiring external power sources, which can be great for older PSUs.
It is great for 1080p and has access to the same DLSS and improvements as its more expensive siblings in the same product line. The RTX 3050 isn’t going to be for everyone, but the price point is affordable and you can look at upgrading other elements of your rig with the savings you’ll have.
Is it a suitable upgrade from the RTX 2070 Super? Probably not, but sometimes it helps just to have a more modern GPU that will receive more support from the manufacturer. As stated, this is an extreme budget pick and not ideal for everyone.
Should You Upgrade?
Is it worth upgrading your GPU? If you’re starting to feel the pressure of lowering quality settings, it might be time to take a look at new components. However, when upgrading a GPU you do need to keep some considerations in mind.
Firstly, a GPU is only one component in the whole of your gaming rig. If you’re upgrading the GPU, you can run into things like CPU bottlenecks. As such, it might be time to look at a whole new rig. Modern CPUs aren’t going to struggle to keep up with the demands of modern games.
Every component might need upgrading, necessitating a whole new PC. This is especially true for things like the power supply. So, while a new GPU is an attractive prospect, a fresh start might be needed to get things up to par.
Closing Thoughts
Hopefully, you come away from this guide with a laundry list of potential upgrades for your aging RTX 2070 Super. The GPU market has largely cooled off from the rush of scalpers and crypto buyers, so it is a great time to buy.
Do keep in mind that your components deserve as much love as your GPU, and should be upgraded accordingly.
Summary Table
| Upgrade Option | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Best Overall: NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti | Improved GPU, faster clock speed, 12GB of GDDR6X VRAM |
| Best Splurge: NVIDIA RTX 4080 | PCI-E 4.0 interface, fast clock speeds, 16GB of GDDR6X memory |
| Best for 1080p: NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti | More cores, smaller transistors, higher memory and core clock frequency |
| Best Sleeper Pick: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX | 24GB of GDDR6X VRAM, fast clock speeds |
| Best Alternative Pick: AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT | 16GB of fast GDDR6 RAM, superb speed on the core and memory clocks |
| Best Budget Pick: NVIDIA RTX 3050 | No external power sources required, great for 1080p |
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Kiklas/Shutterstock.com.
