While looking at graphics cards produced by NVIDIA, you may have come across the terms GTX and RTX. So, what is the difference between GTX and RTX, and which one should you choose?
NVIDIA introduced the GTX series, which stands for Giga Texel Shader eXtreme, as a series of graphics cards.
In this naming convention, the term “Texel” refers to the fundamental unit of texture mapping. Textures in video games consist of arrays of texels, just like other images consist of pixels. NVIDIA released the first graphics card under the GTX brand in 2005, and since then, it has increasingly spread.
Setting aside some modern GTX models like the GTX 1630 introduced in 2022, NVIDIA has been using the RTX brand for high-end graphics cards since 2018 instead of the GTX brand.
NVIDIA introduced the RTX series, which stands for Ray Tracing Texel eXtreme, as a newer series of graphics cards since 2018.
The RTX series consists of mid-range and high-end graphics card models of its era. The most fundamental difference between the GTX series and the RTX series is that the RTX series has support for Ray Tracing (RT). Ray Tracing is a rendering technique used to create highly realistic graphics by simulating how light interacts with objects and surfaces in a virtual environment. It involves tracing the path of light rays as they bounce off objects and calculating how other objects absorb, reflect, or refract them.
While there may be different opinions on this matter, it is generally accepted that ray tracing technology has significantly improved the appearance of video games. Real-time ray tracing has prompted NVIDIA to change its GPU brand, considering it a significant breakthrough.
NVIDIA currently introduces mid-range and high-end graphics cards under the RTX brand instead of GTX. Therefore, it can be said that the RTX series consists of more powerful graphics card models in addition to being newer.
Furthermore, RTX series graphics cards support new-generation features such as Ray Tracing (RT) and DLSS, while the GTX series does not have such support.
GTX is a brand that is currently preparing to retire, and most of its models are now at least a few years old.If playing games is your goal, there is no reason to look at GTX models unless budget constraints limit you.
Today, it would be reasonable to say that choosing the RTX series, if your budget allows, is more sensible.
With the release of the RTX 4000 series, previous generation mid-range to high-end models like the RTX 3050, RTX 3060, and RTX 3070 may become available at more affordable prices soon.
Additionally, if your budget has a wider range, especially with the striking correlation between power consumption and performance, you can confidently choose the RTX 4000 series.
However, if your primary goal is not gaming, if the games you want to play do not have high system requirements, or if you are limited by budget constraints, GTX models will suffice to meet your basic needs.
Of course, on the other end of the equation, we must not forget about the presence of AMD. You can also consider their offerings if you wish, which you can read more about in our article.
In this guide we’ve prepared for you, we’ve examined the fundamental differences between GTX and RTX. I hope this guide has helped you in making your decision.
So, which one do you find more sensible between GTX and RTX models, and which one would you prefer?
Don’t forget to share your opinions on the matter with us and our other readers in the comments section below.
