The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super is a powerful graphics card that was released in July 2019 as part of Nvidia's Super series refresh. This card was designed to deliver a substantial performance increase over its predecessor, the RTX 2070, while staying relatively affordable. The RTX 2070 Super has quickly become a popular choice for gamers and content creators, offering a compelling balance of performance and price.
Let's dive into a detailed review of this formidable graphics card, examining its specifications, performance benchmarks, features, and real-world usage to see why it's considered a top contender in the mid-range GPU market.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super: A Deep Dive into Specifications
The RTX 2070 Super is built upon Nvidia's Turing architecture, featuring advanced features like ray tracing and deep learning super sampling (DLSS). This architecture is designed to handle demanding tasks like real-time ray tracing, which significantly improves the visual fidelity of games by simulating how light interacts with objects in a scene.
Here's a breakdown of the key specifications of the RTX 2070 Super:
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| GPU | TU106 |
| CUDA Cores | 2560 |
| Base Clock | 1605 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1770 MHz |
| Memory | 8 GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps |
| TDP | 215 W |
| Recommended PSU | 650 W |
| Display Connectors | 3x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI |
Performance Benchmarks: Outperforming its Predecessor
The RTX 2070 Super significantly improves upon the performance of its predecessor, the RTX 2070. In most gaming benchmarks, the RTX 2070 Super delivers a 10-15% performance boost, making it a much more appealing option for high-resolution gaming, particularly at 1440p.
Here are some benchmark results that illustrate the impressive performance gains:
- 3DMark Time Spy: RTX 2070 Super scores approximately 10,000 points, compared to the RTX 2070's score of around 8,500 points.
- Unigine Superposition: In the 1080p Extreme benchmark, the RTX 2070 Super achieves a score of around 7,500, while the RTX 2070 scores around 6,500.
- Gaming Benchmarks: The RTX 2070 Super can consistently deliver playable frame rates at 1440p resolution in demanding titles like "Cyberpunk 2077," "Red Dead Redemption 2," and "Forza Horizon 5" with ray tracing enabled.
Features: A Blend of Cutting-Edge Technology
The RTX 2070 Super incorporates several key features that enhance its performance and capabilities. These features make it a powerful option for both gamers and creators:
- Ray Tracing: The RTX 2070 Super supports real-time ray tracing, which allows for more realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows in games. This technology significantly enhances the visual fidelity of games, creating a more immersive experience.
- DLSS: Nvidia's Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) is a powerful technology that uses artificial intelligence to upscale low-resolution images to high-resolution, delivering smoother, higher-fidelity visuals. This helps to improve performance in games without sacrificing image quality.
- Nvidia GeForce Experience: This software suite provides a wide range of features for optimizing gaming performance, recording gameplay, and sharing experiences with friends. It also enables automatic driver updates to keep your system running smoothly.
Real-World Usage: A Powerful Multi-Purpose GPU
The RTX 2070 Super is a versatile graphics card that excels in various applications, making it a suitable choice for a wide range of users:
Gamers: The RTX 2070 Super delivers excellent performance in modern games, enabling gamers to enjoy high-resolution gaming at smooth frame rates. This card is capable of running most games at 1440p resolution with high graphics settings and even supports ray tracing in select titles.
Content Creators: The RTX 2070 Super is also an excellent choice for content creators who work with demanding applications like video editing, 3D modeling, and graphic design. The card's powerful processing capabilities and dedicated ray tracing cores can accelerate rendering times and improve the quality of output.
The Pros and Cons: A Balanced Perspective
Like any graphics card, the RTX 2070 Super has its strengths and weaknesses. Let's take a look at both sides of the coin:
Pros:
- Exceptional Performance: The RTX 2070 Super delivers excellent performance in both gaming and content creation tasks.
- Ray Tracing and DLSS: The support for ray tracing and DLSS enhances the visual fidelity and performance of games.
- Mid-Range Pricing: The RTX 2070 Super offers a compelling balance of performance and price, making it a strong contender in the mid-range GPU market.
- Energy Efficiency: Despite its power, the RTX 2070 Super is relatively energy efficient.
Cons:
- High Power Consumption: While not overly excessive, the RTX 2070 Super consumes a significant amount of power compared to some lower-end cards.
- Cost: The RTX 2070 Super can be relatively expensive compared to other mid-range GPUs from competing brands.
Alternatives: Comparing with Competitors
When deciding on the RTX 2070 Super, it's important to consider alternatives from competing brands. Here are some of the most direct competitors to the RTX 2070 Super:
- AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT: The RX 5700 XT is AMD's counterpart to the RTX 2070 Super. It offers similar performance in games, with some slight advantages in certain titles. However, the RX 5700 XT lacks ray tracing support.
- AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT: While a newer generation card, the RX 6700 XT is a more expensive alternative to the RTX 2070 Super. It offers significant performance gains in certain games, but its higher price point may be a deterrent for some users.
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti: A more recent card from Nvidia, the RTX 3060 Ti boasts similar performance to the RTX 2070 Super while offering support for newer features and technologies, but it comes at a higher price tag.
Conclusion: An Excellent Choice for Gamers and Creators
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super is an excellent choice for gamers and content creators who are looking for a powerful graphics card with a compelling blend of performance and price. This card offers a substantial performance increase over its predecessor, the RTX 2070, while still being relatively affordable.
While the RTX 2070 Super is a powerful card with numerous advantages, you should carefully consider your budget, specific needs, and the alternatives mentioned above before making a purchase. If you're looking for a high-performing graphics card that delivers excellent visuals and smooth frame rates in modern games while also providing ample power for content creation, the RTX 2070 Super is a strong contender.
FAQs:
1. How much does the RTX 2070 Super cost?
The price of the RTX 2070 Super varies depending on the specific model and retailer. However, you can generally expect to find it priced between $400 and $500 USD.
2. What are the system requirements for the RTX 2070 Super?
To ensure optimal performance, the RTX 2070 Super requires a system with at least a Core i5-8400 or Ryzen 5 2600 CPU, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 650W power supply.
3. Is the RTX 2070 Super compatible with my existing motherboard?
The RTX 2070 Super is compatible with motherboards that have a PCIe 3.0 slot. However, it's essential to check the compatibility of your motherboard and ensure that it has sufficient power to handle the card's power consumption.
4. Is the RTX 2070 Super worth buying in 2023?
The RTX 2070 Super is still a capable card in 2023, offering good performance in modern games and content creation applications. However, with newer graphics cards being released, you might consider the newer generation GPUs, such as the RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6700 XT, for potentially higher performance and features.
5. Can I upgrade my RTX 2070 to an RTX 2070 Super?
Yes, you can upgrade your RTX 2070 to an RTX 2070 Super. However, this requires purchasing a new card and replacing the existing one in your PC.