SOVLED! Is a 6GB Graphics card good for gaming?

With the evolution of computational tech, the gaming industry’s advancement is just atrociously baffling, to say the least. I still remember my good old days, when I would be back from my school and in no time sat on my computer with a bag of chips and coke- all set to burst into the streets of Road Rash. 

From the simple, yet iconic 2D Pacman to the most hyper-realistic CyberPunk 2077, I have seen it all. For the record, almost all high-end games of today with high resolutions are mainly based on the graphic card that your computer uses. Also, the quality of visuals the game will produce is primarily dependent on the graphics card spec you own and the VRAM present in your system.

Let’s take an example here. CyberPunk 2077 has a minimum 3GB VRAM requirement. 6GB is recommended for the best results. On the other hand, GTA-V can run perfectly with a GTX 660 2GB graphics card. So, the selection of a graphics card will depend on your desired game’s requirement. But, generally, most of the popular games can be played with any 6GB graphics card. Now, if you are an enthusiast and want to hit 4K resolutions, you will definitely need more VRAM.

Moreover, we all understand how much impact a small variation in the graphics card capacity can bring to your gaming experience. Let’s discuss this further…. Keep scrolling to unveil everything…

What does a graphics card do?

A graphics card, better known as a GPU or Graphics Processing Unit is an electronic peripheral that can increase the pace of editing and rendering content. All in all, it takes up the task of dealing with the graphics and animations and thus relieves the CPU drastically. Asa result, your CPU can focus on its typical tasks and there is systematic segregation of work. 

For the record, there are two main types of graphics cards in existence. First, we have integrated graphics cars. An integrated graphics card can share the memory with the CPU, so the term ‘integrated’. Integrated graphics is a system where a single chip is responsible for looking after the functions of both CPU and GPU, as integrated graphics is a unit that is fused onto the CPU by default. As a result, the same chip is responsible for the CPU tasks and processes. Furthermore, it is simultaneously accountable for handling the graphics of the system. 

On the flip side, a discrete GPU works with independent memory without associating with the CPU. A GPU plays a vital role in accelerating performance, especially when it comes to gaming. It can give the user a smooth gaming experience by supporting the system during high-end games that require excessive graphics rendering. 

What is VRAM? How is it related to Graphics?

You can think of VRAM to be a kind of RAM, not physical but virtual. Also, VRAM is also known as video RAM. What makes VRAM significant and different from the usual RAM is that video RAM specially handles the tasks related to graphics. For the record, all the photo and video content are stored inside the video RAM. It significantly helps in the smooth processing and display of graphics on the screen. 

To sum it up, a higher VRAM scope will naturally mean a better display of graphics. It also implies better frame rates and faster rendering of content. Different GPUs come with varying capacities of video RAM. Higher the VRAM capacity, the better the display of graphics. 

The amount of VRAM required to play any game will vary as per the game’s requirements. However, 6GB is enough to play most of the games at decent FPS.

What is the best 6GB graphics card available in 2022?

In case you don’t have a graphics card yet, and you’re planning to get a 6Gigs card for your system, I have shortlisted the best yet most affordable graphics card that money can buy you in 2022. By the end of this, I’m sure you will be clear about what you need and the money you can afford to invest in a GPU. You will then be able to decide on the one you want. 

1. Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 OC

This excellent competitor rolled out by Nvidia reports great performance and speed. To start things off, it has as many as 1408 stream processors. This is a perfect graphics card for those who want to reap the benefits of playing at 1080p without the trouble of lags and jitters. Furthermore, the memory clock is 14 Gbps and the core clock is 1785 MHz. 

The most attractive part of the deal is the worthiness of the price. It delivers considerably great performance without being too harsh on your pocket. It is very reasonably priced when you analyze the performance you get. Moreover, it can work without producing much noise. 

With that said, there are a few drawbacks too. This GPU doesn’t work well when you overclock it. To put it simply, it doesn’t deliver the same efficiency when it is overworked. Also, I tend to see overheating issues in this piece. Nevertheless, it is great for budget-conscious gamers. 

2. MSI GeForce RTX 2060

If you are looking for a decent graphics card that has good performance, especially with 1080p or 1440p gaming, this is a great option to consider. It is affordable and reasonably priced which makes it apt for the average buyer who is on a strict budget. It has 2176 stream processors. The memory clock is 14 Gbps and the core clock is 1335 MHz. The best part is the efficiency it reports even at a high resolution. Moreover, you will find a VirtualLink port coming with the MSI GeForce RTX 2060.

One setback with this model is that it is not compatible with a  USB Type-C port, which decreases usability drastically. As a result, it is difficult to use it with VR headsets. However, according to my tests, it reports enhanced performance even when you overclock it.  

3. Asus GeForce GTX 1660

This is our last pick for a fast-paced and decent 6 GB graphics card in the market, but certainly not the least. It speaks for amazing performance, especially when you play on the 1080p resolution. It is quite improved as compared to the 1660 Ti piece of the series. It has 1408 stream processors. The core clock is 1530 MHz and the memory clock is 8 Gbps. 

Furthermore, I can safely say that you will not have to deal with any overheating issues. Also, the efficiency is surprisingly good when being overclocked. 

However, the ray-tracing performance is comparatively poor. And it comes with a single HDMI port. With that out of the way, affordability is an attractive part of the deal owing to its performance and features. It is again a great option worth checking out for those with a tight pocket.

How can we increase the gaming performance of our laptops otherwise?

Right off the bat, the optimum way to increase the gaming performance is to increase the RAM and have a good graphics card of about 4GB at least. It may, however, turn out to be a bit expensive for most gamers. 

With that said, most laptops of today come with a 2GB graphics card at least, and almost all moderate games work on it pretty well. But factors like graphic-intense games may slow down the experience a bit. So, to minimize the obstacles as much as possible, we may perform the following-

1. Make sure you at least have a decent graphics card that has a maximum VRAM. Just keep in mind that VRAM is the brain here!
2. Try plugging in the laptop while playing to get good access to continuous energy.
3. Close down all other applications that may put unnecessary pressure on the RAM
4. Use virtual memory to store the excess files and make the game run on the main memory. It can surely be customized in the settings of some computers.
5. Keep your laptops out of the reach of viruses by performing a weekly scan.

Wrap Up

The final verdict is YES. 6 Gigs of graphics is sufficient for gaming unless you aren’t an esports player or a game streamer. Remember, the perfect GPU can accelerate your gaming performance to a huge extent. So you must not compromise in this respect. 

Chalk out your requirements and most importantly, your budget, if you’re in the market to pick a graphics card. How much you are willing to invest in your GPU will majorly decide what you are about to get, and that’s a no-brainer. I hope my solutions would help you to make the most informed choice!