Best Graphics Cards for VR Windows Central 2020

Not just any old PC can run VR — whether you're looking at Oculus Rift S, HTC Vive, Vive Pro, Valve Index, or the Windows Mixed Reality headsets — and you might be wondering about a graphics card for VR upgrade to get your PC up to snuff. While the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT is likely the best bet for most people due to its performance-to-price ratio, we've rounded up a bunch of options here that fit different budgets and needs.

AMD's Radeon RX 5700 XT is one of its new GPUs based on its 7nm Navi architecture, bringing the performance you need for smooth VR at a reasonable price. That's especially important when you've invested (or are looking to invest) in a rather expensive VR headset. It's also one of our picks for overall best graphics card you can buy today. This GPU will power any VR headset available now, with high frame rates for essentially any game or VR experience. It has 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM, 448GB/s memory bandwidth, a 256-bit memory bus, and a boost clock up to 1,925MHz. When you're not enjoying a high-quality VR experience, the RX 5700 XT will also be able to deliver smooth gaming at 1440p (QHD) and can even dabble in 4K. You won't get some of the same benefits of NVIDIA RTX cards like ray tracing and DLSS 2.0. Still, you will get to take advantage of FreeSync 2 variable refresh rate technology to reduce tearing on compatible monitors. The Sapphire Pulse version that we recommend includes dual fans as well as three HDMI ports and one DisplayPort. Pros: Excellent performance-to-price ratio

Will power any VR headset

Power for smooth 1440p gaming

HDMI and DisplayPort connections

AMD FreeSync tech Cons: Won't have enough juice for power users

Lacks some of NVIDIA's RTX features

Runner-Up: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super

If you'd like to land about the same performance as the AMD RX 5700 XT but also want to take advantage of NVIDIA RTX features like ray tracing and DLSS 2.0 when gaming on a standard monitor, the RTX 2070 Super should make a great choice. It does cost quite a bit more, but it is a stellar graphics card for VR. You shouldn't have any issues powering modern VR headsets and their games and experiences. The Founders Edition version of the RTX 2070 Super that we recommend includes 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM, 448GB/s memory bandwidth, a 256-bit memory bus, and a boost clock speed up to 1,770MHz. It is based on a 12nm process, but it's about as efficient as AMD's 7nm cards. When not enjoying high-quality VR experiences, the RTX 2070 Super will easily handle QHD monitors at a high framerate for even modern AAA games. It will also be able to hit the low end of 4K, though, for true 4K, you might want to check out something like the RTX 2080 Ti. Add a G-Sync monitor for less stuttering and screen-tearing when not in VR. Pros: Will deliver a high-quality VR experience

Ray tracing and DLSS 2.0 for 2D gaming

Power for smooth 1440p gaming

DisplayPort and HDMI connection

NVIDIA G-Sync tech Cons: More expensive than AMD hardware

Still not the top in terms of performance

Best Mid Range: AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT

Getting into mid-range best graphics cards for VR, AMD's RX 5600 XT is an excellent option that rivals NVIDIA's RTX 2060 Super in terms of raw performance. It doesn't include RTX benefits like ray tracing and DLSS 2.0, but it does come at a more affordable price. If you're not concerned with pushing the upper limits of modern VR headsets but still want a great experience, this card should be a great addition to your PC. The Sapphire Pulse version we recommend includes 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM, 336GB/s memory bandwidth, a 192-bit memory bus, and a boost clock speed up to 1,750MHz. When not enjoying VR, this GPU will be able to handle 1440p on a standard monitor, though it's better to cut out to deliver a top-tier 1080p experience. Pros: Will power any modern VR headset

Excellent value

Suitable for standard 1080p or 1440p gaming

Includes HDMI and DisplayPort

AMD FreeSync tech Cons: No extra RTX benefits

Best Entry Level: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super

Quality sub-$300 graphics cards for VR include NVIDIA's GTX 1660 Super. It's still based on the same Turing architecture as the modern RTX cards, though it doesn't offer dedicated ray-tracing cores or DLSS 2.0 for standard gaming. In any case, it's still going to deliver a quality VR experience for most games and headsets, if at reduced quality or frame rates. The MSI Gaming X version we recommend includes 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM, 336GB/s memory bandwidth, a 192-bit memory bus, and a boost clock speed up to 1,830MHz. Those are rather impressive numbers for the price these cards cost, and they run at a rather efficient 125W. When not enjoying VR, the GTX 1660 Super will power smooth 1080p gaming on a monitor. NVIDIA G-Sync tech helps cut down on tearing and stuttering. Pros: Attractive price

Uses Turing architecture

Powerful enough for quality VR

NVIDIA G-Sync tech

Smooth 1080p performance on standard monitor Cons: No dedicated ray-tracing cores or DLSS 2.0

Not for those concerned with top-tier VR

Best Overkill: Gigabyte RTX 2080 Ti