When considering if the RTX 2060 is worth purchasing in 2024, you’ll want to weigh its performance capabilities against newer, more advanced options. Despite being a few years old, this graphics card still offers solid performance for many of today’s popular games, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious gamers. However, as technologies evolve and newer models emerge, evaluating how well the RTX 2060 holds up against the latest releases is crucial. Dive into our exploration to discover its strengths, weaknesses, and overall value in the ever-changing landscape of technology.
An Overview of the RTX 2060
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details, let’s take a quick look at what the RTX 2060 is all about. Released in January 2019, this mid-range card from NVIDIA has been one of the go-to choices for gamers looking to balance performance and price.
Core Specifications
Knowing the core specifications of the RTX 2060 will help you understand its capabilities.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| GPU Architecture | Turing |
| CUDA Cores | 1920 |
| Memory | 6GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps |
| Base Clock Speed | 1365 MHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 1680 MHz |
| TDP | 160 watts |
These technical details set the foundation, but numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. How does this translate into real-world performance, and more importantly, is it good enough for 2024?
Performance in 2024
Let’s break down how the RTX 2060 is likely to perform in different scenarios you might encounter in 2024.
Gaming Performance
Gaming is probably where you’re most interested in seeing the RTX 2060 shine. Back in 2019, the card was powerful enough to run most AAA games at high settings in 1080p resolution. But how does it stack up today?
1080p Gaming
In 2024, the RTX 2060 can still deliver a competent gaming experience at 1080p. For most modern games, you can expect high to very high settings while maintaining a stable 60 FPS.
| Game Title | Settings | Average FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | High | ~50-60 FPS |
| Call of Duty: MW2 | High-Ultra | ~60-70 FPS |
| Fortnite | Epic | ~90-100 FPS |
It’s clear that the RTX 2060 can still handle 1080p gaming well, but what if you want to push the resolution?
1440p Gaming
At 1440p, the situation gets a bit tougher. While the RTX 2060 can manage some older or less demanding titles at high settings, newer AAA games will likely require you to dial down the settings to medium to maintain a smooth experience.
| Game Title | Settings | Average FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Medium | ~35-45 FPS |
| Call of Duty: MW2 | Medium-High | ~50-60 FPS |
| Fortnite | High | ~70-80 FPS |
If you’re a 1440p gamer, the RTX 2060 is a bit of a mixed bag but still reasonably competent.
4K Gaming
For 4K gaming, the RTX 2060 is largely outclassed. It struggles to maintain playable frame rates in most modern games at even low settings. If you’re aiming for 4K, you might need to look at more current, high-end GPUs.
| Game Title | Settings | Average FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Low | ~20-30 FPS |
| Call of Duty: MW2 | Low-Medium | ~30-40 FPS |
| Fortnite | Medium | ~30-40 FPS |
To sum up, while the RTX 2060 can still deliver solid performance in 1080p and somewhat decent in 1440p, it struggles at 4K.
Related:
Can RTX run all the games?
Ray Tracing and DLSS
One of the main attractions of the RTX series is ray tracing and DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling). The RTX 2060 offers support for both, but how well does it handle these complex features in 2024?
Ray Tracing
Ray tracing offers visually stunning effects but is very resource-intensive. The RTX 2060 can handle ray tracing in lighter games or at lower settings, but for demanding titles, you will see a significant dip in performance.
| Game Title | Settings (RTX On) | Average FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Medium-High | ~25-35 FPS |
| Minecraft | High | ~30-40 FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Low-Medium | ~20-30 FPS |
If ray tracing is a must-have for you, the RTX 2060 can do it, but you may need to compromise on other settings or resolutions.
DLSS
DLSS can help boost frame rates in games by rendering at a lower resolution and then upscaling the image. This technology can be a game-changer for the RTX 2060, particularly in demanding titles.
| Game Title | Settings (DLSS On) | Average FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Control | High (DLSS Quality) | ~60-70 FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | High (DLSS Balanced) | ~40-50 FPS |
| Death Stranding | Ultra (DLSS Quality) | ~80-90 FPS |
Thanks to DLSS, the RTX 2060 can punch above its weight in certain scenarios, making it a valuable feature for longevity.
VR Performance
Virtual Reality (VR) is another area of interest for many gamers. The RTX 2060 is capable of running most VR applications smoothly. However, for newer, more graphically-intensive VR titles, you might find the performance lacking.
| VR Title | Settings | Average FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Half-Life: Alyx | High | ~60-70 FPS |
| Beat Saber | High | ~90-120 FPS |
| The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners | Medium-High | ~50-60 FPS |
In summary, for mainstream VR experiences, the RTX 2060 is adequate, but if you’re looking into future-proofing for upcoming, resource-heavy VR games, you might need an upgrade.
Value for Money
Is the RTX 2060 worth its price tag in 2024? To answer this, we need to consider the current market prices and what other options are available.
Current Market Prices
The RTX 2060 has seen a drop in price since its release, but it’s essential to compare it with other GPUs in the same price range.
| Graphic Card | Average Price (2024) | Performance Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 2060 | ~$250 | Good 1080p, decent 1440p |
| GTX 1660 Ti | ~$200 | Slightly less powerful but cheaper |
| RTX 3060 | ~$350 | Better overall performance and features |
While the RTX 2060 offers good performance for its price, newer models like the RTX 3060 provide better value in terms of performance and features.
Future-Proofing
When buying a GPU, future-proofing is an important consideration. Given its age and relative performance, the RTX 2060 might struggle with future AAA titles, especially as game graphics continue to advance.
Resale Value
Another factor to consider is the resale value. As newer models are released, the resale value of older cards tends to drop. The RTX 2060 will likely follow this trend, making it less of a long-term investment compared to newer models.
Use Cases and Suitability
Depending on your specific needs, the RTX 2060 could either be a perfect fit or a less-than-ideal choice. Let’s break down some common use cases.
Casual Gamers
If you are a casual gamer who enjoys occasional AAA titles but predominantly plays less demanding games, the RTX 2060 offers more than enough power. It provides a good balance between price and performance for 1080p gaming.
Streamers and Content Creators
For streamers and content creators, the RTX 2060 might fall short, especially if you’re into rendering 4K videos or running multiple heavy applications simultaneously. In this case, investing in a more powerful GPU would be advisable.
Budget-Conscious Gamers
If you’re on a tight budget, the RTX 2060 provides excellent value for money. You get ray tracing and DLSS support, and it holds strong in 1080p gaming. However, it’s worth considering if spending a bit more for an RTX 3060 might provide longer-term benefits.
Enthusiasts
For gaming enthusiasts who crave the latest tech and highest settings, the RTX 2060 will likely seem underwhelming in 2024. Investing in a higher-end GPU would be more in line with your needs.
Professionals
For professionals who need a reliable GPU for work-related tasks, the RTX 2060 can handle most applications but may struggle with highly demanding software or large dataset processing. Depending on your work type, a higher-end GPU might be necessary.
Alternatives to Consider
If you’re thinking about the RTX 2060, you might want to also consider some alternatives that could offer better performance for a similar or slightly higher price.
RTX 3060
The direct successor to the RTX 2060, the RTX 3060 offers improved performance, more VRAM (12GB), and enhanced features at a higher but reasonable price point.
AMD RX 6600 XT
AMD’s RX 6600 XT provides strong competition to the RTX 3060. It offers excellent 1080p and decent 1440p performance and is often priced similarly to the RTX 2060.
| Graphic Card | Average Price (2024) | Performance Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 3060 | ~$350 | Better overall performance and features |
| AMD RX 6600 XT | ~$300 | Competitive 1080p and 1440p performance |
Both the RTX 3060 and the AMD RX 6600 XT provide compelling alternatives to the RTX 2060, each offering its set of pros and cons.
So, is the RTX 2060 worth it in 2024? It largely depends on your needs and budget. For casual gamers and budget-conscious individuals, the RTX 2060 can still deliver a satisfactory performance, particularly in 1080p gaming. Thanks to features like ray tracing and DLSS, it has some level of future-proofing as well.
However, if you’re looking for maximum performance, better future-proofing, or higher resolutions, you might want to consider newer alternatives like the RTX 3060 or AMD RX 6600 XT. Evaluating your specific use case and requirements will help you make the best decision.
Whatever you choose, happy gaming! If you have any questions or need further advice, feel free to drop a comment below.
