Top 5 Best VR-Ready Graphics Cards

Gaming has surely come a long way. From using a single stick as a controller to play Pong to using a full keyboard to perform insane moves that should not be possible in Devil May Cry 5.

A lot of people might not look at it this way, but we are in the Golden Age of gaming. Yes, there are some games that are very bad and disappointing, but don’t look at those games and think games these days are bad.

But this new technology brings new gaming possibilities.

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Remember when playing games in VR was a dream? Well, we’re advancing VR technology at a fast rate every year.

VR is now accessible to pretty much everyone who can afford it, but the requirements don’t end there. VR is heavy on the PC, and you will need to be prepared by making sure your PC is VR-ready, especially your graphics card.

VR-ready graphics cards are expensive, as VR-ready graphics cards are much more powerful than the average graphics card.

If you’re looking for a VR-ready graphics card in preparation for your VR gear, or if you’re looking for one now because you just found out your current graphics card isn’t VR-ready, then check out the best VR-ready graphics cards available right now.

Best VR-Ready Graphics Cards

A VR-ready PC eats up a lot of power. In fact, the minimum GPU requirement for a VR-ready PC is a Nvidia GTX 970 or AMD R9 290. While those are still fantastic graphics cards for 1080p gaming, they are not going to handle the VR games that demand more in order to perform better. Not only that, but you’re to be left behind when these graphics cards are eventually going to lose support.

If you’re looking for a VR-ready graphics card, be sure to remember the resolution of your monitor. If you have a 4K monitor, then you will need to get a graphics card that is both good for 4K and VR-ready, which is going to be extra expensive. This list will primarily include Nvidia graphics cards, as Nvidia has better support and performance with VR than AMD graphics cards.

Before we start with each graphics card, here’s a quick run-through of the graphics cards you will be seeing in the list:

1. MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Super Ventus XS OC

The MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Super Ventus XS OC is one of the best graphics cards for 1080p gaming. It has a 6 GB VRAM and it can go up to a maximum of 1815 Mhz GPU clock speed, which is due to the fact that this graphics card is overclocked. If you’re not familiar with overclocking your graphics card, it’s basically getting more performance out of your GPU than what is initially advertised.

Due to that, this graphics card is great for VR, as it is already VR-ready. While the GPU is a couple of generations behind, and it doesn’t have support for any versions of the DLSS, it is still a solid graphics card that you can play VR games if you don’t care about graphics. After all, what’s important is that you are able to experience VR.

The 1660 Super is essentially the last GPU that Nvidia developed before they started moving on to the RTX series. This means that by then, the 1660 Super and anything below it has been discontinued and no longer being worked on by Nvidia. That doesn’t mean that you won’t get any more driver updates in the future, as the 16 series still does. You just won’t see any more new GPUs in the 16 series.

And remember when I said that this is a great 1080p graphics card? That’s because it is. But don’t think you’re able to do 1440p or even 4K.

This graphics card is not able to handle those. 1440p is probable if you adjust your settings right, but 4K will be nothing but a slideshow that you get to play with. And don’t even think about doing Ray Tracing on a GTX graphics card. That is just a 20-minute loading screen.

All in all, the 1660 Super from MSI is great. Yes, it’s not an RTX, but if you’re the type of gamer who just wants to experience what modern gaming has to offer without worrying about every graphics setting being at max settings, and if you’re content with sticking to 1080p resolution for a while, then the 1660 Super from MSI is for you. Plus, it’s incredibly budget-friendly compared to most graphics cards.

What We Like

MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Super Ventus XS OC is a 1080p gaming beast, just behind the 1070’s and 1080’s. While only having 6 GB of VRAM, you can still overclock it to get a bit more power out of it to help improve the performance of your game.

On top of that, this GPU is VR-ready, and it still receives driver updates to this day.

What We Don’t Like

Understandably, this is a 1660 Super, which means you won’t have any of the features that the RTX series has. You won’t have the DLSS support that will help you get more frames out of your game, and there won’t be any more graphics cards for the 16 series, so it’s only until 1660 Super.

Summary

The ASUS TUF RTX 3060 Ti is a solid option for those looking to play AAA titles at 1080p in ultra settings.

It is completely silent, looks attractive, delivers exceptional performance, and offers an extra HDMI 2.1 port for MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Super Ventus XS OC is still a great graphics card to have.

It’s not top-of-the-line, but if you don’t play games like most PC gamers and just want to use VR, then this is the perfect VR-ready graphics that will bring you 1080p goodness.. Hence, if you can spend $500 on a graphics card, then this one can be the best choice for you.

Pros

• Budget-friendly
• Capable of overclocking
• Able to connect with HDMI and DisplayPort
• Has a max GPU clock speed of 1815 Mhz
• Great for those who don’t care about graphics
• Still receiving driver support from Nvidia

Cons

• No DLSS support
• Discontinued by Nvidia
• Not capable of 1440p or 4K
• Poor Ray Tracing handling
• Low VRAM for VR gaming (6 GB VRAM)

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2. MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2060

Another graphics card from MSI is the Gaming GeForce RTX 2060. This graphics card is a beast, sporting an amazing 12 GB of VRAM, which is great for VR gaming. The more VRAM a graphics card has, the better it can handle VR games. That doesn’t mean the graphics card will be able to max out the graphics settings.

MSI’s RTX 2060 is able to go up to 1650 Mhz, which isn’t as big as MSI’s 1660 Super. But even though the clock speed is a little smaller due to the fact that this graphics card isn’t overclocked, this is an RTX 2060, which means you are able to use the DLSS feature that will help you get more FPS if the VR games utilize the DLSS feature. Plus, combining DLSS with Ray Tracing on an RTX GPU gives you enhanced visuals with better framerate.

If you’re looking for something that’s capable of 4K, then you might have to look somewhere else. While this graphics card can handle playing games at 1440p, you won’t be able to do max settings with the more demanding games. 1080p is where this graphics card really shines, being able to handle doing max settings in the majority of high-demanding games in the market.

If you’re going to be playing VR games, then you might have to settle for 1080p and 1440p. 4K is something this graphics card cannot handle, and you will most likely have trouble trying to get a good framerate if you set your resolution to 4K. If you do though, then you might be able to get a decent framerate with the DLSS feature.

Another thing I would like to point out about the DLSS feature is that it’s not using the latest DLSS 3.0. That DLSS is only available if you’re using Nvidia’s RTX 40 series. Even the 30 series aren’t able to use 3.0. What you will be using is DLSS 2.0, which is still pretty good in terms of getting more framerate in your game. Just don’t expect to use the amazing Frame Generation technology that’s on DLSS 3.0.

While this is an RTX 2060, bear in mind that Nvidia also discontinued the RTX 20 series. Same with the 1660 and below, Nvidia will no longer make more RTX 20 series graphics cards. However, if you do decide to get this graphics card, bear in mind that the RTX 2060 and the rest in the 20 series lineup are currently still being supported.

What We Like

The RTX 2060 from MSI is a beast in gaming for both 1080p and 1440p gaming. Not only is it VR-ready, but you’re able to utilize the DLSS feature that will help you get more framerate out of your games. The 12 GB VRAM will help you handle VR gaming without having to worry about stuttering and freezes.

What We Don’t Like

While it has a bigger VRAM, the GPU clock speed isn’t as high up as MSI’s 1660 Super, meaning that the performance of the graphics card is slightly lower than the 1660 Super. The RTX 2060 is also discontinued, so you won’t be seeing any more 2060s since Nvidia is focused primarily on the RTX 40 series.

Summary

MSI’s RTX 2060 is still a great GPU to have for both traditional PC gaming and VR gaming. It’s a great graphics card for both 1080p and 1440p gaming, but don’t expect too much if you’re planning on 4K gaming.

Pros

• Has 12 GB VRAM
• Has DLSS support
• Great for 1080p and 1440p gaming
• VR ready
• Still receiving driver update support from Nvidia
• Budget-friendly
• Able to connect with HDMI and DisplayPort
• Better Ray Tracing handling

Cons

• Slightly lower graphics card clock speed
• Discontinued by Nvidia
• Not capable of 4K

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3. ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC

Jumping from the RTX 20 series to the RTX 30 series, ZOTAC’s Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC is the perfect middle ground for those who want to get top-of-the-line hardware for great performance, while also working on a budget. This graphics card is not only VR-ready, but it is ready for other games that are coming out in the future.

The RTX 30 series is still going strong today. While the RTX 20 series quickly fizzled out after the release of the 30 series, the 30 series is somehow still dominating the 40 series in terms of pricing and performance. While the 40 series has DLSS 3 and Frame Generation, the 30 series still outperforms some 40 series GPUs even with the DLSS 2 and its hardware.

What’s also great about ZOTAC’s RTX 3060 is that it is overclocked, meaning that it has a much higher GPU clock speed. It sports an impressive 1807 Mhz that rivals that of non-overclocked GPUs. The graphics card is not only ready for VR, but you can go above and beyond and do 1080p, 1440p, 4K, and 8K gaming.

An RTX 3060 can easily handle 1080p and 1440p at max settings, while 4K might require the need for DLSS and some graphical configurations. But for 8K? It’s definitely a stretch to see an RTX 3060 do 8K without having to lower pretty much every graphical setting in the game to get a stable 60 FPS. Or maybe even 30 FPS if you’re not stingy with 30 FPS.

Now, you might think with how good this graphics card sounds, you’re probably thinking that this graphics card is expensive to the point where you’re going to need to sell an organ. Well, you’ll be surprised to find that this graphics card is not all that expensive. It’s why I said the graphics card is the perfect middle ground for performance and budget. You won’t find a better graphics card like this out there.

Unfortunately, the RTX 30 series has also been discontinued once the RTX 40 series came out. While the RTX 30 series is still a top dog in PC gaming, the discontinuation of the RTX 30 series sees that there won’t be more upgrades to the RTX 30 series. But you won’t have to worry about driver updates, as it is still being supported to this day.

What We Like

ZOTAC’s RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC is nothing short of amazing. From the 12 GB VRAM, the overclocked GPU clock speed of 1807 Mhz, and the fact that it’s both VR and 8K ready? ZOTAC’s RTX 3060 is a beast that can handle the latest VR games and even the most demanding triple AAA games out there in the market.

What We Don’t Like

Even though it’s a fantastic graphics card that can perform very well, it is a little bland to look at. The design of the graphics card looks like it doesn’t show off its premium quality, which may cause people to overlook it. Also, the support for 8K just seems overkill, as most gamers settle for 4K at the most and 1080p at the very least.

Summary

ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC is an amazing VR-ready graphics card that will surely bring you a visual feast when you play VR games. This graphics card will surely help you immerse yourself by making sure it can handle those demanding VR games and up the graphical quality.

Pros

• Has 12 GB VRAM
• Has DLSS support
• Great for 1080p, 1440p, and 4K gaming
• VR ready
• Still receiving driver update support from Nvidia
• Great performance-to-price ratio
• Able to connect with HDMI and DisplayPort
• Improved Ray Tracing handling
• Great GPU clock speed of 1807 Mhz

Cons

• Bland graphics card design
• 8K is great but might be too much

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4. Galax GeForce RTX 4060 Ti OC

Moving away from the old RTX versions, we are now working with the Galax GeForce RTX 4060 Ti OC. If you’re not aware of what Ti is, it basically means that this RTX 4060 is much more powerful compared to the base 4060. Combine that with the OC (overclocked) on the box, you can get the very best performance on this graphics card.

Now since this is an RTX 4060, we now have full access to the latest technology that Nvidia has included with the RTX 40 series. Aside from the DLSS 3.0 which is exclusive to the RTX 40 series, we also have Frame Generation. Without going into the specifics of what Frame Generation does, it essentially works the same as DLSS: gives you more framerate without trying to down the visual fidelity of your game.

So, if you’re using an RTX 4060 Ti, which is also overclocked, you will essentially be able to play VR games at 1080p, 1440p, 4K, and even 8K with the combination of these two amazing technologies from Nvidia. Reaching 100+ FPS in VR games has become so much easier with the help of DLSS and Frame Generation, so imagine playing traditional, high-demand games as well.

While Galax’s RTX 4060 is a beast in gaming, bear in mind that this only has 8 GB of VRAM. While 8 GB isn’t much of a downgrade, playing VR games at 4K and higher will have noticeable hiccups and stutters due to the low VRAM memory, which will lead to you tweaking the graphics to get it stable. Even with the amazing clock speed of 2310 Mhz, an 8 GB VRAM brings down the graphics card.

There’s also an app that you can use to tinker with the settings of your GPU for Galax graphics cards. The XT App (Xtreme Tuner) is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. This app will allow you to customize the RGB colors, and fan speed, and even set it to overclock mode with just one click. It’s great for convenience if you don’t want to install more software on your computer.

Now, while all of that is nice, I do have an issue with the look of these graphics cards. While some people don’t really care, lots of other computer enthusiasts usually go for GPUs that look amazing to look at, and Galax’s RTX 4060 Ti OC is as bland as it can get. There is the option for a white version, but the design is still the same bland thing, just more expensive and less rectangular.

Speaking of expensive, another thing that might be a major turn-off for some people is the fact that, while graphics cards are understandably very expensive, this RTX 4060 Ti OC is not budget-friendly. It’s not super expensive, but if you’re looking for something that’s a little cheaper, then you won’t find it here. Having an RTX 40 series GPU would be great, but don’t get one unless you’re sure you won’t struggle financially.

What We Like

Galax’s RTX 4060 Ti OC is a fantastic graphics card that delivers great performance to help make sure your experiences with VR gaming are smooth like butter. Being able to have an app that lets you customize your RGB lights and other settings on the graphics card is great as well. It delivers both power and convenience, which is great on top of the fact that it can handle VR games nicely.

What We Don’t Like

Graphics cards are expensive, but this graphics card is up there. It’s not as expensive as most graphics cards, but I honestly wouldn’t pay for something that looks a little bland to look at. It also has 8 GB VRAM, which is a noticeable downgrade to the 12 GB that other graphics cards in this list have. It may have a higher GPU clock speed, but a low VRAM can cause some stutters along the way.

Summary

Galax’s RTX 4060 Ti OC is still a great graphics card to have. If you can squeeze out a little bit more from your savings, then this graphics card is a must. After all, who wouldn’t want to have an RTX 4060?

Pros

• Has DLSS 3 and Frame Generation support
• Great for 1080p, 1440p, and 4K gaming
• VR ready
• Nvidia is still supporting the RTX 40 series
• Continued driver updates
• Able to connect with HDMI and DisplayPort
• Can confidently handle Ray Tracing
• Great GPU clock speed of 2310 Mhz
• XT app to help customize graphics card settings like fan control and RGB lights

Cons

• Another bland graphics card design
• Only has 8 GB VRAM
• Cannot handle 8K resolution
• 4K is doable, but might need to sacrifice graphical fidelity
• Slightly more expensive than the other graphics cards

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5. PNY GeForce RTX 4070 Ti

If you think the last graphics card was expensive, then you haven’t seen anything yet. Here we have an RTX 4070 Ti from PNY. If you’re looking at it, then you’ll notice that this thing is beefy. Instead of sporting the two fans that we have seen all throughout this list, this graphics card needs three fans to cool itself down from how hard it’s working itself to play games.

There is no doubt that this graphics card is VR-ready. It is a 4070 Ti that can be overclocked to reach up to 2610 Mhz clock speed, which is the highest clock speed we have in this list. And if you’re thinking of gaming on an 8K monitor or TV, then this graphics card is definitely up to the challenge. If you tweak the settings for your graphics in the game, you will be able to get a steady 60 FPS at full 8K resolution.

While I have been complaining about the lack of cool-looking graphics cards in this list, the PNY RTX 4070 Ti looks absolutely fantastic to look at. It features an X, that is covered by the middle fan, that has RGB lights inside so you can customize it to what you want it to look like. If you’re looking for a fantastic-looking graphics card to make your PC look even cooler.

But there is a bit of a drawback to having three cooling fans and so much power. This graphics card is bulky in every sense of the word. It’s big, long, and very heavy. With that, you might have experiences with your graphics card damaging your motherboard from how heavy it is. It’s a good thing that PNY included a support bracket to the package, though, as this is a frequent complaint with other 4070s.

Not only can you have issues breaking your 4070 because of how heavy it is, but you might encounter issues in fitting it inside your PC. As I said, this graphics card is long and bulky, precisely 15.94 x 7.83 x 4.06 inches (length x width x height). Be sure your computer case is big enough to fit an RTX 4070 first before buying. Otherwise, you’ll end up with an expensive paperweight.

Speaking of expensive, this is a very expensive graphics card. I know I said the Galax RTX 4060 is expensive, but it honestly has nothing on the price of this bad boy. As stated before, it’s understandable that graphics cards are expensive, but this will definitely put a hole in your pocket if you are planning on spending money on this.

So, if you’re planning on eating cereals and oatmeal for the next year, then I suggest you look for a much cheaper RTX 40 series graphics card.

What We Like

PNY’s RTX 4070 Ti is a powerful graphics card that will let you play triple AAA and VR games without having to worry about stutters and low framerate. It’s possible to play with resolutions like 1080p, 1440p, 4K, and even 8K. Not only is it extremely powerful, but it also looks stylish and awesome with its cool design and RGB lights.

What We Don’t Like

With how great this graphics card is, many might say no due to how expensive this GPU is. It’s also very long, bulky, and heavy. It will have a hard time fitting in most cases, especially small ones, and it could potentially damage your motherboard if you don’t have a support bracket to help hold the weight up.

Summary

If you have the cash to buy this graphics card, then go ahead and experience VR games at max settings. PNY’s RTX 4070 Ti is a gaming behemoth and it’s understandably expensive. But if you’re looking for something a little cheaper that can only handle 1440p and 1080p, then you might have to look somewhere else.

Pros

• Extremely powerful
• Has DLSS 3 and Frame Generation support
• Great for 1080p, 1440p, 4K, and 8K gaming
• VR ready
• Nvidia is still supporting the RTX 40 series
• Continued driver updates
• Able to connect with HDMI and DisplayPort
• Ray Tracing performs very well
• Great GPU clock speed of 26610 Mhz
• Attractive GPU design
• Three cooling fans in the graphics card

Cons

• Might damage the motherboard due to how heavy it is (make sure to use the support bracket included in the box)
• Too big to fit in smaller computer cases
• The graphics card is highly expensive

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Conclusion

Best VR-Ready Graphics Card: ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC

Power is not everything and sometimes settling for something that won’t put you in tremendous debt is more than enough.

This is why ZOTAC’s Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC is the best graphics card you can get. It’s plenty powerful enough to handle smooth 1440p VR gaming with 4K maybe doing 30 to 40 FPS, and it’s got an excellent price for something so powerful.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are VR games worth getting a VR-ready graphics card?

While VR games are very fun, there’s surprisingly not a lot of good VR games out there. The most notable ones are Blade and Sorcery, Beat Saber, Bonelabs, and The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners. While it’s fun for a while, it can be pretty tiring, which is why a controller, keyboard, and mouse are still the top ways to play games.

2. Which is the best VR-ready graphics card?

The best VR-ready graphics card is the ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC.

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