5 Best RTX 2060 Graphics Cards For Mid-Range PCs

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 is a mid-range performance-focused graphics card by Nvidia which was launched back in January 2019 as a part of the RTX 2000 series. The RTX 2060 is built on the 12nm manufacturing process and is based on the TU106 GPU in its TU106-200A-KA-A1 variant. At its core, the card holds the GPU itself which is a large chip with a die area of 445 mm² and has 10,800 million total transistors.

This transistor count is a big jump over the outgoing -60 series graphics card, the GeForce GTX 1060, which was based on the Pascal architecture. These numbers help rocket the RTX 2060 way past the GTX 1060 in terms of performance, which is to be expected in a generational improvement.

The RTX 2060 is, however, a fairly tame card in terms of power usage. Most of its variants (including the Founder’s Edition card) are dual-slot cards that ensure a wide range of compatibility with various PC cases. The card itself draws a maximum of 160 W under load, which is provided through its 1×8-pin power connector in the Founder’s Edition card.

Being a fairly modest contender in terms of power draw (and subsequently thermals), one does not need the biggest and most expensive variants on the market to get the best out of this GPU. Even fairly mediocre heatsinks with 2 fans should be able to get the job done comfortably, so this is one area where the potential buyer should consider saving some money.

Our Picks For The Best RTX 2060

However, if you are in the search of the best of the best, here are the 5 Best Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 variants that are ideal for mid-range gaming PCs.

The ROG Strix line has always been the most high-end and premium lineup from ASUS for its graphics cards. While the RTX 2060 might be just a mid-range GPU, the ROG Strix variant cuts no corners when it comes to the cooling elements or the overall build quality. The Strix is definitely one of the best variants of the RTX 2060 one can buy.

Inside the ROG Strix, we find a hefty cooling solution with a massive heatsink design interleaved with several nickel-plated copper heat pipes. The ROG Strix features a triple-slot design that is quite overkill for a card such as the RTX 2060 with a rated TDP of 160 W, but cooling overhead is something that is always welcome.

The heat-generating components such as the GPU itself, the VRM components, and the memory modules make direct contact with a large copper base plate to ensure maximum heat dissipation. Thermal pads aid the transfer of heat from the VRM components and the memory chips on the PCB itself.

The ROG Strix delivers excellent acoustic performance as well, as one might expect from such a high-end variant. The active cooling element features 3 fans with ASUS’s impressive Axial Tech design which is optimized to provide direct airflow over the heatsink in order to dissipate heat rapidly from the shroud of the card.

ASUS also claims a 105% increase in static pressure over traditional GPU fans which can help in pushing the air through the heatsink more efficiently. The card also features the 0dB technology which allows the fans to stop spinning when the GPU is idle or under a relatively light load, thus improving acoustic performance.

Considering this is a high-end variant of 2060, it is best paired with a processor like the Ryzen 5 5600X for great gaming performance. Check out our selection of the best motherboards for the Ryzen 5 5600X. 

Aesthetically, the ASUS ROG Strix RTX 2060 is one of the best-looking graphics cards on the market. It features a slightly aggressive industrial design that is not quite over-the-top with “gamer-centric” design language but still looks quite attractive installed in a case. The RGB lighting is very beautiful with thin slivers of lighting along the sides of the fans when it comes to the fan shroud, and additional lighting on the side of the card as well.

The ROG Strix RTX 2060 is a really well-built card with premium components and an attractive design that would be ideal for a moderately high-end gaming PC. While the card itself is great, the pricing situation is not quite the best for a mid-range GPU such as the RTX 2060. Therefore, in our opinion, the Strix is only suitable if you can get one for a stellar deal on the new or the used market.

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 2080 Ti

MSI’s Gaming Z GeForce RTX 2060 is another premium variant from a really reputable manufacturer in the GPU space. MSI offers several really impressive variants of the RTX 2000 series in its lineup, but our choice is the Gaming Z variant when talking about the RTX 2060 in particular. The Gaming Z packs all the features that one might need in a high-end variant of the RTX 2060.

This particular variant of the RTX 2060 also features an extensive, triple-slot design when it comes to the heatsink assembly. However, the card is not quite as long as the ROG Strix variant due to the fact that MSI has opted to go for a dual-fan configuration in the Gaming Z, which will make it much easier to find a compatible case for this graphics card.

Still, the cooling performance from the heatsink itself is excellent, as it is well-crafted with several heatpipes which take the heat away from the large copper base plate towards the unique curved fin design of the heatsink itself for dissipation.

Related Read: Best RTX 3070 Graphics Cards.

The two fans are excellent as well in terms of acoustic performance, and they look quite nice as well. The fans use MSI’s Twin Frozr design, which is prevalent in almost all of MSI’s premium lineup at this point. The acoustic levels of the cards are comfortably low even on full load, and the fans turn off under light loads to lower noise levels and to increase the longevity of the fans themselves. Realistically, one would not have any noise issues with this card in a case with decent airflow.

In terms of looks, the MSI Gaming Z features a very aggressive design language with sharp angular lines and excess of RGB lighting. Still, in a gaming PC, this design language is more than acceptable and the card does look quite attractive installed in a case. Many enthusiasts opt for a vertical mount with this graphics card to show off those beautiful fans and that accent RGB lighting on the shroud itself.

If you want to build a capable gaming PC with the RTX 2060, you might want to pair it with something like the 13600K. Check out our selection of the best Z690 motherboards to get the best gaming experience.

All in all, the MSI Gaming Z RTX 2060 is another high-end variant of the RTX 2060. The card features excellent build quality, impressive thermals, and a modern design that would suit any modern gaming build. The price of the Gaming Z variant is higher than most basic variants, but it is often quite a bit lower than some of the most expensive options such as the ROG Strix. Potential buyers should check the value proposition of the cards beforehand.

EVGA is known for launching numerous variants of the same graphics card that compete with each other in a tight price bracket, and the RTX 2060 was no exception. Out of all the variants from EVGA, the EVGA GeForce RTX 2060 SC Ultra Black is the one that we think makes the most sense to buy. The card is not the most premium or the most high-end variant that EVGA offers, but it is one that covers most bases.

The 2060 SC Ultra is a card that also happens to work well for compact builds. Check out our selection of the best microATX cases to find a good fit.

In terms of thermal performance, the EVGA SC Ultra Black performs quite decently. While it may not provide the lowest raw numbers in this category, its cooling solution is more than capable to handle the GPU of the RTX 2060, along with the VRM components and the memory modules. EVGA has opted for a 2-fan design with this one as well, and that makes quite a lot of sense considering the price point and the thermal requirements of the card. Both thermally and acoustically, the RTX 2060 SC Ultra Black from EVGA does not disappoint.

Related Read: Best RTX 3080 & RTX 3090 Graphics Cards.

When one is looking for the variant that offers the most value, looks are often not on the top of the list of priorities. The EVGA 2060 SC Ultra Black offers nothing special in this department. It offers a completely plain, and quite understated look that might be preferred by those enthusiasts that do not like the showmanship of RGB lighting. The 2060 SC Ultra Black might also perfectly suit blackout builds, since it lacks any RGB lighting and is mostly black in appearance.

While yes, the EVGA RTX 2060 SC Ultra Black is not the most powerful variant in terms of raw numbers, nor the most attractive, it is definitely one that covers all the bases quite efficiently. This is the candidate that flies under the radar of most people, but gamers looking for the utmost value should definitely give this variant a look.

Gigabyte also launches several variants of every graphics card that are aimed at different price points and no exception was made for the RTX 2060. Gigabyte did introduce the premium AORUS line for the RTX 2060 as well, but our pick is the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2060 WindForce OC Rev 2.0, a variant that is aimed at or near MSRP.

Ridiculous name aside, the WindForce OC is a genuinely well-rounded variant of the RTX 2060. This is a no-frills, back-to-basics type of option that offers little more than what you absolutely require from your graphics card. The thermal performance is satisfactory, as one can expect from a value-oriented variant. The two fans of the WindForce cooler can get a bit noisy under full load, but it is not something that is a deal-breaker if you are looking for a card of this profile.

Aesthetically, the Gigabyte RTX 2060 WindForce OC Rev 2.0 is as barebones as they come. The shroud is quite simple and mostly black just like the aforementioned EVGA offering, and there is no lighting to be seen anywhere on the card. This is completely normal for a graphics card in this category as the product is trying to be as price-competitive as possible without compromising too heavily on the important factors.

Related Read: Best RTX 2070 & RTX 2070 Super Graphics Cards.

Overall, the Gigabyte WindForce variant is another value-oriented option that potential buyers should definitely consider if they are in the market for an RTX 2060. Since the RTX 2060 is a mid-range graphics card, this option makes a lot of sense for that particular price point.

The EVGA RTX 2060 KO Ultra Gaming is a bit different than the other variants mentioned on the list, and that is because it was launched way later. The RTX 2060 KO was basically a “one last hurrah” for the RTX 2060 before it was completely replaced by the RTX 2060 Super on store shelves. The RTX 2060 KO was a special run by EVGA and it was meant to compete with the AMD RX 5600 XT.

Furthermore, RTX 2060 KO is also unique in its internal component configuration. Instead of using the TU106 graphics core which was meant specifically for the RTX 2060 itself, the KO edition used a cut-down version of the TU104 GPU which was used in more powerful cards such as the RTX 2080. This was basically a way to get rid of all the excess TU104 GPUs that could not make it into the more powerful graphics cards due to binning issues. At the end of the day, the 2060 KO performs more or less like any other RTX 2060 but is quite a bit cheaper.

Related Read: Best RTX 2080 Super Graphics Cards.

The RTX 2060 KO offers nothing special in terms of appearance, however. EVGA is using one of its most basic coolers and fan shrouds in this card, but its enough for a GPU such as this. There are no extra frills in this offering, but that was basically the point of the RTX 2060 KO in the first place. The main attraction for this particular variant is that it offers almost the same RTX 2060 performance in a cheaper package, which makes it an excellent value.

While the RTX 2060 KO provides excellent overall value, your expectations should be in-line with performance. You’re not going to get great 4K performance here like you would from a brand new RTX 4090, but the 2060 KO is an interesting upgrade compared to the original 2060. It’s also a GPU that pairs well with something like a mid-range 12600K CPU/motherboard combo.

All in all, the RTX 2060 KO is an interesting and unique offering from EVGA which is, in fact, an excellent value purchase. While it may not be the most powerful or the coolest RTX 2060 variant by any means, it certainly delivers on the value front.