The Best RTX 2070 Graphics Cards (2023 Reviews)

The RTX 2070 graphics card is an underappreciated card that comes in with some strong performance at a reasonable price.

Most models come in right around the same prices as a GTX 1080, but they’re designed for a slightly different user experience. If you’re looking for a graphics card that can give you a little extra visual fidelity for the price, the RTX 2070 is what you’re looking for.

Chief among the advantages that the RTX line of cards provides is their real-time ray tracing capabilities. However, RTX cards come with a bevy of other performance-boosting specs, too.

The RTX 2070 offers a good midpoint between price and performance among Nvidia’s Turing cards, and in this buying guide, we’ll give you a detailed comparison of the best RTX 3070 graphics cards out there to help you make an informed decision between them.

About The Graphics Card

The ASUS ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2070 Gaming OC holds its own as a robust and power-packed contender on our list. This graphics card ends up at a high point in most specs, including price, but that’s typical of three-fan cards. The ASUS ROG STRIX is capable of giving you an excellent show of what the RTX 2070 has to offer if you’re willing to pay a few extra dollars.

The ROG STRIX is one of only two triple-fan cards featured in our current lineup, so if you’re looking for that extra bit of cooling power, this will be an option to consider. However, the card needs the extra fan, as it does tend to become hot when worked hard. This is something to consider, too.

However, the ROG STRIX 2070 has historically had some issues. During the early manufacturing of the card, there were some severe artifacts and crashing issues that were thought to be linked to a Micron memory module on the card.

Thankfully, these cards are now manufactured without the problematic module, but that means that you, as a customer, need to be careful to buy one of the new cards instead of the ones manufactured before January of 2019.

Specifications

Base Clock	1410 MHz
Boost Clock	1845 MHz
Connectivity	2x DisplayPort 1.4   2x HDMI 2.0B 1x USB-C
TDP	185W
Recommended PSU	550W

Our Thoughts

In our opinion, the ROG STRIX is an excellent all-rounder as far as graphics cards go. If you’re looking to buy an RTX 2070 but don’t have time to sift through them all, this card might just be your best bet. However, as we said, you will need to watch out for graphics cards that were manufactured before 2019, as these might be defective.

Despite that hurdle, the card itself is nothing to scoff at. The design of it, both in LED placement and in the shape of the card itself, is attractive and blends into almost any PC build, though it’s not any different from the previous generation.

We’re especially big fans of the LED-lit backplate, which is uncommon among these cards. However, some users may not like that this backplate LED is in the shape of the ROG logo.

The card is also quite quiet for the most part, and it can be set to performance mode or silent mode if desired. Like most RTX 2070 cards, the ROG STRIX is also VR-ready, complete with a USB-C connection for ease of use.

About The Graphics Card

EVGA brings their GeForce RTX 2070 XC Ultra Gaming to the table with excellent specs and a near-unbeatable light show. Several of EVGA’s RTX 2070 cards make a design departure from their usual full-bodied black plastic to a partially-clear aesthetic. This, when coupled with RGB LEDs, makes for a light show that few other cards can compete with.

As a dual-fan card, this model’s boost clock can’t compare with triple-fan models like the one we looked at above, but its specs are still nothing to scoff at. EVGA’s cards in this line tend to be excellent coolers thanks to an enormous heatsink.

However, despite the inclusion of bright LEDs and a transparent portion, the design of this line of cards could either be called “tired” or “classic” depending on who you ask.

Specs-wise, this card is middle-of-the-pack for a dual-fan RTX 2070. However, its unobtrusive design means that it can fit into many mid-level builds. Unfortunately, the included software to change the LED colors is not particularly user-friendly, but this won’t be a deal-breaker for most users.

Specifications

Base Clock	1410 MHz
Boost Clock	1710 MHz
Connectivity	3x DisplayPort 1.4   1x HDMI 2.0B 1x USB-C
TDP	185W
Recommended PSU	550W

Our Thoughts

While the EVGA XC Ultra Gaming doesn’t really bring anything new or exciting to the table, that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked. This card is not a budget card; depending on who you purchase it from, its price can come near that of some triple-fan cards. However, if you’re a fan of EVGA’s usual dual-fan card design and want a light show, this card will definitely please you.

If you are not a fan of the light show for some reason, EVGA does offer a black edition of this card that puts the light show away in exchange for an unobtrusive, nearly-invisible black card. We’re not sure how many PC builders would willingly exchange their LEDs for an un-lighted card, but it’s worth mentioning that the option exists.

All in all, if you’re looking for something with an average price tag but decent performance, this card is definitely a winner. While the design offers nothing new, its clear top and plentiful LEDs make for a card that can blend into any color scheme. Keep in mind, though, that this card is very thick – it takes up 2.75 slots!

About The Graphics Card

The MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Armor is a budget card, and unfortunately, this does show a bit in the design and feel of the card. However, if you’re not bothered by this or potentially even looking for a budget card, it’s still a good option. The specs of the card also reveal it as a budget choice.

However, the aesthetic design of the card is nice, even if it feels a bit flimsy. Surprisingly, the card does have a decent amount of aftermarket overclocking potential. However, the card also has issues with the DDR6 memory that can cause crashing, artifacting, and other problems.

Similarly to the ROG STRIX above, this is likely an issue that was repaired by MSI in subsequent releases of the card, so if this is the card you decide to pick, try to find a card that was manufactured relatively recently. This should alleviate or at least mitigate any production issues associated with the card.

For a budget card, the Armor has a rather eye-catching design. It features a white-on-black theme in a sleek, textured plastic housing, and it even has a small RBG LED area on the card.

Specifications

Base Clock	1410 MHz
Boost Clock	1620 MHz
Connectivity	3x DisplayPort 1.4   1x HDMI 2.0B 1x USB-C
TDP	185W
Recommended PSU	550W

Our Thoughts

If you’re looking for an attractive budget card and you don’t care too much about the bells and whistles, the MSI Armor should be on your radar. While this card has some of the lowest out-of-box specs on our list, its aftermarket overclocking potential is apparently quite high, meaning looks can be deceiving. Honestly, for a budget card, its appearance isn’t that bad, either.

Prospective buyers who like the white-on-black look will appreciate its ability to blend into either color scheme, and the LED area on the side is nice to have, even if it’s rather small.

While this card is beaten out by its big brother, the Gaming Z, in nearly every metric except price, this card makes an excellent option for someone looking to get their RTX feet wet without overbuying or breaking the bank.

About The Graphics Card

ZOTAC brings a different style of graphics card to the 2070 lineup with a blower-style card. While the founders-style design on this card won’t suit everyone’s tastes, the card is no-nonsense, simple, and subtle in a PC build. Of course, it doesn’t have much in the way of fancy add-ons, but this is part of the appeal of a simple card.

Even if the design of this card is straightforward, the fact that it’s a blower fan makes it worth reviewing. While the blower-style itself hits a smaller market, there are builds and PCs that it is well-suited for.

If you have a modestly-sized computer or one that experiences heat issues, a blower-style graphics card will help draw some of the heat out of your case and away from your PC’s essential components.

The ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 2070 Blower sits about middle-of-the-pack when it comes to specs. However, it is important to note that this card doesn’t come with a backplate. Since the price on this card is neither low nor high, having to purchase a backplate on top of that might put you a bit above where you’d like to be financially.

It’s also worth noting that, unlike the other RTX 2070 cards in this lineup, the ZOTAC Blower does not come with a VirtualLink USB-C port, but with a DVI port instead. Why ZOTAC made this design choice is unclear, but if you’re looking to purchase an RTX 2070 for VR use, this might knock the ZOTAC blower out of the running.

Specifications

Base Clock	1410 MHz
Boost Clock	1620 MHz
Connectivity	3x DisplayPort 1.4   1x HDMI 2.0B 1x DVI
TDP	185W
Recommended PSU	550W

Our Thoughts

Overall, the ZOTAC RTX 2070 Blower card is not bad at all. If you’re willing to pay a bit extra for a blower fan, the specs on this entry-level card won’t disappoint you. However, it’s only worth buying if you specifically enjoy the simple design or need a blower-style card.

The MSI Armor, for example, which we reviewed above, has the same specs as the ZOTAC at a much lower price, comes with its own backplate, and has a couple of attractive LEDs, too – none of which the ZOTAC has. The lack of a USB-C port on the ZOTAC Blower card is also disappointing, but it won’t be a deal-breaker for everyone.

About The Graphics Card

The Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2070 Gaming OC graphics card delivers on Gigabyte’s usual black, angular style and three-fan model. While the look of it is nothing new, it’s a design that has aged well, and the design will fit well into any case – that is, if the card itself does. As a triple-fan card, it’s quite long, but its cooling capabilities will benefit from that third fan.

Just like the RTX 2060 from Gigabyte, this card is also available in a black and white model that many fans will appreciate. This white option, while not right for everyone, will entice any PC builders pursuing a white rig. Functionally, the white model is no different than the black, but you may need to pay a premium for it – it’s much harder to find than the black model, and that’s often reflected in the price.

If you don’t mind overclocking yourself and want to save a little money, you can buy the non-overclocked version of this card for slightly less. However, the price difference is minimal, and the factory overclocked version does seem to be more reliable. We would recommend going for the OC version instead.

Specifications

Base Clock	1620 MHz
Boost Clock	1740 MHz
Connectivity	3x DisplayPort 1.4   1x HDMI 2.0B 1x USB-C
TDP	185W
Recommended PSU	550W

Our Thoughts

Overall, the Gigabyte Gaming OC card isn’t a bad option. However, when compared to the ASUS ROG STRIX that we reviewed earlier, the Gigabyte falls short in design. Its low price does make up for this a bit, though. While their specs are identical, the ROG STRIX just looks and feels nicer, but it’s possible that the Gigabyte runs cooler than the hot-blooded ROG STRIX, so that’s something else to keep in mind.

However, the ROG STRIX does have the memory module issue to watch out for. If you don’t feel comfortable purchasing a ROG STRIX because of that, you might feel safer going with the Gigabyte card instead. Do keep in mind, though, that the memory issues that plagued the ROG STRIX in its early days were common across many of the RTX 2070 cards, so getting a different card may not spare you.

Bottom line, our opinion is as follows: despite some manufacturing issues, the ROG STRIX is just a nicer card overall if you’re willing to shell out a bit extra. If you’re concerned with cooling and price, the Gigabyte might be able to edge the ROG STRIX out there, but not in any other respects.

About The Graphics Card

The MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Gaming Z makes a return to the lineup for RTX cards once again, but this time in the 2070 version. The Gaming Z is the big brother to the Armor that we featured earlier in this article, and it upgrades on almost everything but the number of fans. The Gaming Z features a bigger boost clock, more LEDs, a flashier design, and a bigger price tag, too.

The Gaming Z has high innate overclocking potential, but overclocking and working this card can cause it to run hot and loud. That aside, the LEDs on it are attractive and eye-catching, and the steel-on-black color scheme will complement most PC builds.

Cost-wise, this card competes with EVGA’s XC Ultra Gaming that we reviewed earlier, but it beats the EVGA slightly in terms of overclocking potential.

Specifications

Base Clock	1410 MHz
Boost Clock	1830 MHz
Connectivity	3x DisplayPort 1.4   1x HDMI 2.0B 1x USB-C
TDP	185W
Recommended PSU	550W

Our Thoughts

While the Gaming Z is undeniably an attractive and fully-featured card, we feel that it gets beat out by some of its competitors in the RTX 2070 bracket. The ROG STRIX is only slightly more expensive than the Gaming Z for a three-fan upgrade, and Gigabyte’s triple-fan Gaming OC card actually starts cheaper than the Gaming Z.

Unless your build is too small for a triple-fan card and you specifically need a dual-fan model, you can squeeze a bit more performance out of these similarly-priced cards.

Additionally, EVGA’s XC Ultra Gaming gives the Gaming Z a run for its money in this bracket with its upgraded light show at a similar price. If you’re looking for an ultra-premium RTX 2070 with two fans, this card fits that definition to a T, but it might be overkill otherwise.

The Best GeForce RTX 2070 Graphics Card For 2023

The RTX 2070 offers a decent compromise between the budget specs of the 2060 and the high price of the 2080, but the card has unfortunately been plagued by some performance issues since its release. While Nvidia seems to have mostly cleaned up the mess now, purchasers of cards from the 2070 line will need to be careful to find cards that were manufactured after the cleanup.

That being said, the RTX 2070 line definitely has some standout picks available. Our favorite in this line of cards is the ASUS ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2070 Gaming OC, but keep in mind that this is a premium pick and is one of our more expensive cards. However, if you’re willing to pay just a bit more than the competition, that extra will return in both design and performance.

If you’re looking to save your money instead, honorable mention goes to the MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Armor card for both being extremely easy on the wallet and surprisingly good with overclocking. Depending on the card you get, you may be able to squeeze a surprising amount of performance out of this little powerhouse.

With that, this RTX 2070 buying guide is about wrapped up, but don’t let that stop you from doing more research! We have many more buying guides available here, and if the manufacturing defects of the RTX 2070 line of cards worry you, there are plenty of alternatives available instead.