What’s the Difference Between Nvidia GTX and Nvidia RTX?
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Nvidia offers two main lines of graphics cards: Giga Texel Shader eXtreme (GTX) and Ray Tracing Texel eXtreme (RTX). These variants sit under the GeForce brand, which is owned by Nvidia.
Released 10 years apart from each other, GTX and RTX cards offer different features and architecture. But, to help you decide whether you want to invest in an Nvidia GTX or Nvidia RTX graphics card, it’s important to understand the key differences.
Nvidia GTX vs. Nvidia RTX Differences
The first GPU in the Nvidia GTX series was the GTX 260, released in 2008. A decade later, Nvidia’s RTX cards were announced in 2018, bringing real-time ray tracing to offer a new and immersive gaming experience.
The differences between Nvidia GTX and Nvidia RTX boil down to six key areas:
But reading about the differences is one thing. It’s best to take a look at the differences between RTX and GTX to see the reality.
Ray tracing is a somewhat complicated process of calculating how light rays reflect off surfaces and how shadows are formed. The end result essentially produces shadows with softer and smoother edges to create more immersion. Images become more realistic, butray tracing does cost more processing power.
The other main difference between GTX and RTX graphics cards is DLSS. DLSS stands for Deep Learning Super Sampling and is a type of graphics technology that uses AI to boost performance by generating more frames, according toNvidia Developer:
NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) is a neural graphics technology that multiplies performance using AI to create entirely new frames and display higher resolution through image reconstruction—all while delivering best-in-class image quality and responsiveness.
Of course, having technologies like ray tracing and DLSS means the other difference between Nvidia GTX and RTX graphics cards is their price. And that’s understandable, given the advancement in generations. Note that while a 2020 Nvidia driver update did implement ray tracing for some Nvidia GTX GPUs, they’re not powerful enough to make the most of the tech, and results are typically below what you’d expect.
GTX 10 Series
RTX 20 Series
Architecture
Only on GTX 1060 or higher.
Ray Tracing
Some models
AI Upscaling
For comparison purposes, the entry-level graphics card in the RTX 20 Series, theRTX 2060, offers better performance than that of theGTX 1660.UserBenchmarktests suggest the average bench for the GTX 1660 sits at 68.3%, while the RTX 2060 sits at 89.8%. Furthermore, there are other reasons why you mightconsider the RTX 2060 over the RTX 3050, even though the latter is the newer GPU.
The EVGA GeForce RTX 2060 offers 6GB of RAM and comes with a pre-installed all-metal backplate.With dual fans, you could expect higher performance, more efficient cooling, and quieter operation.
What Is Ray Tracing?
Nvidia’s real-time ray tracing renders graphics with a more lifelike simulation of how light behaves. This level of realism makes games feel more immersive, and thanks to Nvidia’s RTX architecture, ray tracing can be implemented more efficiently without putting a drain on performance.
RT Cores accelerate ray tracing by offering developers ray-traced rendering. Therefore, objects and environments can portray accurate lighting, again offering a more captivating experience. Pit this alongside Nvidia’s Tensor Cores, and you’re left with stunning, realistic images that deliver a high-quality performance boost with AI upscaling and DLSS.
Nvidia’s RTX Graphics Cards Continue to Impress
With incredible boosts in performance, Nvidia’s 40 Series graphics cards, released in late 2022, offer higher frame rates and speeds compared to the 30 Series. As Nvidia continues to invest in AI-enhanced video performance, it can be assumed that the RTX cards will continue to captivate users.
Although you could still pick up an Nvidia GTX graphics card, it’s well worth the investment to upgrade to an RTX card so you can enjoy ray tracing and DLSS, among other performance-increasing features.
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