Are you looking for the Cheapest 4K graphics card? The graphics card is one of the most important hardware components of a gaming PC, and these graphics cards are much more powerful than they used to be. This increase in graphics card performance provides enthusiasts with the best gaming experience seen in recent technology. However, just one single graphics card will not fit everyone’s needs, and which graphics card is the best for you depends on the specific performance and quality you are looking for and if it falls under your budget. Not to worry, we have reviewed the highest performing cheapest 4k graphics cards here.
At a Glance:
EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Gaming
- iCX technology.
- 11 GB frame buffer.
- Low-latency performance.
Nvidia GEFORCE GTX 1080 Ti
- 11GB VRAM.
- Improved cooling.
- Included backplate.
- No hotter than the GTX 1080.
To play brand new AAA games at 4K with the best visuals, you will need a PC equipped with a mighty graphics card, especially; if you want those breathtaking visuals by cranking the graphics settings time way up. When running the games at 4K resolution, you will have to lower the game’s detail and effects from the settings. So, the graphics card matters a lot, and you have to have a 4k graphics card.
We are going to be going through the 4K GPU here in this guide. Before you decide which graphics card you will be getting, you should compare a few attributes between the graphics cards to make sure that you make the right choice. Here we will go over what you need to look for and choose the best graphics card for you.
Quick Shopping Tips
When choosing a graphics card, keep in mind that not every graphics card will be the same. Some of the graphics cards will be faster than the others and depending on some factors. It will determine if the graphics card that you chose is the right one for you or not. Some attributes that you should look for when selecting the cheapest 4K graphics card are listed below.
Motherboard: Your motherboard should have an accessible PCI Express x16 slot unless you build a multi-GPU gaming PC. The motherboard you choose should have enough PCIe slots for every graphics card you intend to install. You can obstruct some vertical slots if the graphics card uses a bulkier cooler.
Display: To get the full experience intended when you bought the 4K resolution, you should have a monitor with a 4K resolution to keep up with your graphics card and provide you with the full 4K experience you paid for. If your monitor does not have a 4K resolution, you will not experience 4K to the fullest.
Port: Ensure that you can connect to your monitor right to enjoy a gaming experience at 4K resolution. The modern technology is the HDMI 2.0 and the DisplayPort 1.4 that are capable of 4K resolution.
Resolution: 1080p (FHD), 1440p (QHD), an 2160p (UHD / 4K resolution) are the three most popular resolutions nowadays. To choose which resolution is good for your unique situation, it is best to select based on performance and visuals.
Budget: What you need and what you want for your gaming experience depends on your budget. It is better to have a more significant account if you are looking for high quality. You can expect to spend over $1000 to get a quality graphics card like the GTX 1080 Ti, which will run modern games at 4K resolution.
PC Case: Ensure that your PC case has enough space for the graphics card you have selected to buy. It will be a bummer if the graphics card you have just bought does not fit your PC case. Usually, the graphics cards that have more oversized coolers take up more space in your PC. The next important thing is to check whether the cooler’s size is appropriate for your need, then the next thing is to make sure that the graphics card’s length fits your PC.
Our Recommendations For Cheapest 4K Graphics Card
| Design | Graphics Card | Retailer |
|---|---|---|
Budget Pick | Check Price | |
Best Pick  | Check Price | |
Staff Pick | Check Price |
Nvidia GEFORCE GTX 1080 Ti
Budget Pick| Brand: | Noctua |
| Cooling: | Fan |
| Noise Level: | 24.6 dB |
| Material: | Copper |
| Dimension: | 5.91 x 6.34 x 6.5 inches |
| Compatible Sockets: | Intel LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA1200, LGA2011, LGA2066 and AMD AM4, AM3(+), AM2(+), FM2(+) |
Without any doubt, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is a performance beast. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti features more VRAM and more cores than the GTX 1080, which boosts performance in gaming and benchmarks.
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti has a base clock of 1480MHz frequency, while the boost clock is 1582MHz frequency. It also has 3584 CUDA cores, 224 texture units and 88 ROPs.
The design was a hit when it debuted, and the modern, angular look still looks appealing. Some users might notice no DVI port, but don’t worry because the GTX 1080 Ti comes with an adapter that you can plug into a DisplayPort.
By getting rid of the DVI port, more space has been made for a better cooling solution. Now, the second slot is used for ventilation. Now, the whole slot is open for airflow. Nvidia says that their new high airflow thermal solution provides double the amount of airflow in the GTX 1080’s cooling system.
For a long time, 4K gaming at 60 FPS (Frames Per Second) has been considered the holy grail of PC gaming, and the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is the closest we got before the Nvidia Turing launched a few years later. A smooth gaming experience in 4K resolution will depend on the game that you are trying to play.
Some games might struggle to deliver consistent 60 FPS at 4K resolution, while some other games will run smoothly at 60 FPS and 4K resolution. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti will provide you with a smooth gaming experience anyhow.
Pros
- 11GB VRAM.
- Improved cooling.
- Included backplate.
- No hotter than the GTX 1080.
Cons
- Not so quiet as some of the board partner designs.
- The reference-style cooling is not as efficient as the custom coolers.
MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
Best Pick| Brand: | Noctua |
| Cooling: | Fan |
| Noise Level: | 24.6 dB |
| Material: | Copper |
| Dimension: | 5.91 x 6.34 x 6.5 inches |
| Compatible Sockets: | Intel LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA1200, LGA2011, LGA2066 and AMD AM4, AM3(+), AM2(+), FM2(+) |
When Nvidia Released their Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Graphics card, it became apparent that this graphics card is potent and also that the chip runs hot. These open-air graphics cards are now moving into the two and a half and even three-slot widths. It is where the MSI Duke GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics card comes in; it has a sleek design, a three-fan cooling solution that runs cool and quiet, also does it in just two slots.
Like the other 1080 Ti graphics card models, the MSI Duke GeForce GTX 1080 Ti also features 11GB GDDR5X of VRAM, which is more than enough for any game title on the market currently. The MSI Duke GeForce GTX 1080 Ti has a base clock of 1531 MHz, while the boost clock is 1645 MHz.
The MSI Duke GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics card’s dark, sleek, and angular aesthetic design allows it to easily fit within any case and color scheme. The MSI Duke GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics card has an RGB-enabled logo; it will enhance the PC’s overall look.
The MSI Duke GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics card has vertically oriented fins that you can see if you look closely at the top or the bottom of the graphics card. It also has GeForce GTX written in white and the RGB enabled Duke logo on the top of it.
The MSI Duke GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is an amazing graphics card as it has a sleek design and takes up only two slots while still providing the users with adequate cooling. It makes the MSI Duke GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics card a great option to go for as it should not have any problem running games at 4K resolution.
Pros
- Reliable.
- Has three fans.
- Customizable RGB logo.
Cons
- Can be a little noisy relative to the other 1080 Ti models.
EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Gaming
Staff Pick| Brand: | Noctua |
| Cooling: | Fan |
| Noise Level: | 24.6 dB |
| Material: | Copper |
| Dimension: | 5.91 x 6.34 x 6.5 inches |
| Compatible Sockets: | Intel LGA1150, LGA1151, LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA1200, LGA2011, LGA2066 and AMD AM4, AM3(+), AM2(+), FM2(+) |
When the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti debuted, the board partners readied their custom cards soon after that, like the EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Gaming with iCX technology. This graphics card might be the most appealing to the tweakers among you.
The iCX technology by EVGA is quite interesting for some reasons. It contains a large number of additional sensors onto the graphics card and a protection circuit too. It also features a highly-optimized heatsink and fans to provide the users with far more information about their graphics card and keep them cool. Thanks to the RGB lighting and the EVGA’s excellent Precision XOC tuning utility, the EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Gaming with iCX technology is customizable.
The EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Gaming graphics card has a dual-fan design like the previous-gen ACX-equipped EVGA graphics cards. The underlying baseplate and the heatsinks on the EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Gaming graphics card with iCX are very different. According to EVGA, they created iCX to provide enthusiasts with “peace of mind gaming” by providing them with a better understanding of their graphics card’s vital signs and operation.
EVGA’s iCX technology includes temperature monitoring on key components (not just the graphics card), built-in power protection, interaction with other devices, and enhanced overclocking capability, in addition to better and more efficient cooling.
There are 9 additional sensors and a microcontroller unit integrated into the PCB on iCX-equipped graphics cards, plus the sensor built-into the GPU, for 10 in total. The high-end graphics cards have been using a single sensor in the graphics card to determine the card’s temperature until now.
On iCX cards, the fans are now controlled asynchronously. It can potentially reduce noise output. The GPU fan will spin up if the GPU is getting warm. All of the LED lighting on the iCX-branded cards is RGB and is fully customizable, like the other high-end EVGA graphics cards. The backplate is two pieces and has thermal pads to provide better cooling to the PCB’s backside components.
The EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Gaming is an amazing graphics card for gamers who want to game at 4K resolution.
Pros
- iCX technology.
- 11 GB frame buffer.
- Low-latency performance.
Cons
- Relatively high price.
- Makes more noise than the competing premium GTX 1080 Ti cards.
Summary For Cheapest 4K Graphics Card
| Design | Graphics Card | Retailer |
|---|---|---|
Budget Pick | Check Price | |
Best Pick | Check Price | |
Staff Pick | Check Price |
Conclusion
When you turn the Zotac GeForce GTX 1080 Ti AMP Extreme Core graphics card over in your hands, you will notice that Zotac’s backplate wraps around on the top and back, helping stabilize the frame a bit. The plate’s main purpose is to look pretty; however, it does not help with the cooling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What graphics card can run 4K?
All of the graphics cards that are mentioned above can run 4K. However, the Gigabyte AORUS GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Xtreme and the Zotac GeForce GTX 1080 Ti AMP Extreme Core graphics cards have high clock speeds and will provide impressive performance in 4K resolution. It does not mean that the other graphics cards that are mentioned above will not be able to provide good performance in 4K resolution; they will provide good performance at 4K resolution.
Do I need a special graphics card for 4K?
Yes, well kind of. To get 4K resolution over HDMI, you will need a graphics card that supports HDMI 2.0. For the Display Port, you will need a graphics card that supports DisplayPort 1.2 or DisplayPort 1.4 to get 4K resolution. However, all of the graphics that are mentioned above support 4K resolution. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti also supports 4K resolution, which is the slowest graphics card among the ones that are mentioned above.
What graphics card do I need for 4k 60fps?
That depends on your needs and what you want to do with your graphics card. But, if you are going to use it mainly for gaming and sometimes streaming 4K videos, then you should check out the Gigabyte AORUS GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Xtreme because it is one of the fastest graphics cards that are mentioned above. It will provide the best gaming performance among the graphics cards that are mentioned above.
What is the best budget graphics card 2020?
The best budget graphics card has to be the Zotac GeForce GTX 1080 Ti AMP Extreme Core because of the performance it provides the enthusiasts with. It has one of the highest clock speeds among the graphics cards that are mentioned above, while its price is just over $1000. But, it does support 4K resolution, and its performance is excellent.
