Is the Re-Released RTX 2060 Worth Buying?

Is the Re-Released RTX 2060 Worth Buying?

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Release of the RTX 2060
3. The Current GPU Shortages
4. Older Nvidia Cards Re-released
5. Buying a New RTX 2060
6. The Price Comparison
7. Performance of the RTX 2060 7.1. Assassin's Creed Valhalla 7.2. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War 7.3. Crysis Remastered 7.4. Cyberpunk 2077 7.5. Dirt 5 7.6. Red Dead Redemption 2 7.7. Watch Dogs Legion 7.8. Ray Tracing Performance
8. Conclusion
9. Pros and Cons
10. Highlights
11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

🖥️ Introduction

In this article, we will be discussing the re-release of the Nvidia RTX 2060, which was initially launched two years ago. We will explore the current GPU shortages and the rumors surrounding the availability of older Nvidia cards. I will share my personal experience of purchasing a new RTX 2060 and provide insights into the price comparison between this card and its newer counterparts. Furthermore, we will delve into the performance of the RTX 2060 in various popular games and discuss its suitability for different resolutions.

💥 The Release of the RTX 2060

The RTX 2060 made its debut in the market two years ago, priced at £299 in the UK. This mid-range graphics card quickly gained popularity due to its excellent performance-to-price ratio. However, the relaunch of the RTX 2060 in 2021 has sparked both intrigue and controversy among gamers. Let's explore the reasons behind this unprecedented move.

💥 The Current GPU Shortages

The gaming industry is currently facing a severe shortage of graphics processing units (GPUs). Various factors, including the global pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and increased demand for gaming hardware, have contributed to this scarcity. Gamers all around the world are eagerly awaiting the restocking of GPUs to fulfill their gaming desires. In such a challenging market, the re-release of older Nvidia cards may offer a Glimmer of hope.

💥 Older Nvidia Cards Re-released

To tackle the current GPU shortages and provide gamers with more affordable options, Nvidia has decided to re-release older graphics cards. This move aims to not only alleviate the frustration of gamers trying to buy a new GPU but also make use of existing supply. The re-release of the RTX 2060 is just one example of Nvidia's strategy to enable gamers to purchase a reasonably priced graphics card without compromising on performance.

💥 Buying a New RTX 2060

As an avid gamer myself, I recently purchased a brand new RTX 2060 from an online marketplace. Despite being released two years ago, I was able to find this card at a price of £390. While the price may seem higher than the original launch price, it is still considered a decent value compared to the current inflated prices of newer GPUs in the market. Many other retailers also had limited stock of the RTX 2060, indicating that the re-release is indeed happening.

💥 The Price Comparison

It's essential to compare the price of the RTX 2060 with its newer counterparts to determine whether it truly offers value for money. At the time of writing this article, the recommended retail prices for the newer 3060 and 3060 Ti are £300 and £369, respectively. However, these newer cards are virtually unavailable in the market, except for exorbitantly priced options on online marketplaces. Older cards such as the 1070 Ti and the 1080 are also selling for over £400. In this context, the price of the RTX 2060 is relatively justified.

💥 Performance of the RTX 2060

To assess the performance of the RTX 2060 in 2021, I tested it on various popular games. Let's delve into the results and see how well it holds up in today's gaming landscape.

🎮 Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Running Assassin's Creed Valhalla at high settings with the RTX 2060, I achieved an average of close to 60 frames per Second (fps) at 1080p resolution. While there were occasional frame rate drops to 40 fps in busier areas, overall, the performance was commendable. The RTX 2060 proves to be a capable card for 1080p gaming.

🎮 Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

In Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, I ran the Game with a combination of medium and high settings, including high anti-aliasing. This allowed me to achieve an average frame rate of well over 100 fps, providing a smooth gaming experience. The RTX 2060 handled the game comfortably, showcasing its capabilities in competitive online shooters.

🎮 Crysis Remastered

Crysis Remastered recently received a DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) update. However, to ensure a more native gaming experience, I decided to stick to native resolutions rather than utilizing DLSS. Even with medium settings, the game ran at over 100 fps, delivering visually impressive gameplay. Despite its lower settings, Crysis Remastered still looked stunning on the RTX 2060.

🎮 Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 is infamous for being a visually demanding game, pushing hardware to its limits. With the RTX 2060 on medium settings, I achieved a stable 60 fps on average. Lowering the settings does impact the visual quality, but the game still looks impressive. It is worth noting that turning on ray tracing drastically impacts the performance, resulting in significantly lower frame rates.

🎮 Dirt 5

Dirt 5, a racing game, provided a pleasant surprise in terms of performance. Running the game on the high preset, I easily achieved an average of 60+ fps. The RTX 2060 handled the game comfortably at 1080p resolution, providing smooth gameplay and visually pleasing graphics.

🎮 Red Dead Redemption 2

Following Digital Foundry's recommended console settings (equivalent to Xbox One X), Red Dead Redemption 2 ran smoothly on the RTX 2060. The combination of high, medium, and low settings, along with TAA (Temporal Anti-Aliasing), delivered a satisfactory visual experience. The game's performance remained consistent for the most part, with occasional frame rate drops in densely populated areas.

🎮 Watch Dogs Legion

Running Watch Dogs Legion on the high preset, I encountered smooth gameplay with the RTX 2060. While there were occasional frame rate dips below 60 fps, overall performance remained reasonable. It's worth mentioning that Watch Dogs Legion seems to be more CPU-intensive than GPU-intensive, as observed by the high CPU usage during gameplay.

🎮 Ray Tracing Performance

Ray tracing, an advanced rendering technique, adds realistic lighting and reflection effects to games. However, enabling ray tracing significantly impacts performance. In games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Watch Dogs Legion, where ray tracing is available, the frame rates drop dramatically when these effects are turned on. The visual enhancements may not outweigh the performance compromise, making it more suitable for those with higher-end graphics cards.

💥 Conclusion

The re-release of the RTX 2060 in 2021 certainly presents a mixed bag of emotions for gamers. While the price may seem higher than the initial launch, it offers a comparatively more affordable option amidst the current GPU shortages. The performance of the RTX 2060 in popular games at 1080p resolution is commendable, making it a suitable choice for gamers who prioritize value for money over cutting-edge features like ray tracing.

💥 Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Relatively affordable compared to newer GPUs
• Good performance at 1080p resolution
• Availability in a time of GPU shortages
• Capable of running popular games smoothly

Cons:

• Higher price compared to its initial launch
• Performance limitations in games with ray tracing
• Availability may still be limited

💥 Highlights

• The re-release of the RTX 2060 aims to alleviate the current GPU shortages by providing a more affordable option for gamers.
• Despite the higher price compared to the initial launch, the RTX 2060 still offers decent value for money.
• The performance of the RTX 2060 in popular games at 1080p resolution remains commendable.
• Ray tracing effects significantly impact the performance of the RTX 2060, making it less suitable for those prioritizing visual enhancements.

💥 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why did Nvidia re-release the RTX 2060? A: The re-release of the RTX 2060 is part of Nvidia's strategy to combat the current GPU shortages and provide a more affordable option for gamers.

Q: Is the price of the RTX 2060 justified? A: Considering the scarcity and inflated prices of newer GPUs, the RTX 2060's price can be seen as reasonable compared to the alternatives available in the market.

Q: How well does the RTX 2060 perform in popular games? A: The RTX 2060 delivers a satisfactory gaming experience, especially at 1080p resolution. However, it may struggle with more demanding games and ray tracing effects.

Q: Should I consider turning on ray tracing with the RTX 2060? A: Enabling ray tracing effects on the RTX 2060 significantly impacts performance, resulting in lower frame rates. It is recommended to weigh the visual enhancements against the performance compromise before deciding to use ray tracing.

Q: Are there any alternatives to the RTX 2060? A: If you are looking for alternatives to the RTX 2060, it is worth exploring the second-hand market for options such as the RTX 2060 Super or other mid-range graphics cards.