10 great graphics cards that support ray tracing

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Windows Central)

Ray tracing allows game developers to light in-game environments with a level of depth and realism that previously wasn't possible, and ray tracing can also be used in graphics-related workflows as well. However, to actually use ray tracing, you'll need to be equipped with a ray tracing-compatible graphics card (GPU). GPUs that can handle ray tracing are some of the best graphics cards on the market, but knowing which one to choose can be a little tricky. Here's an overview of 10 awesome ray-tracing graphics cards.

If we had to choose

All of these graphics cards are excellent, but if we had to choose just one, it would be the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080. Equipped with the power to handle ray tracing and 4K resolution comfortably and priced at a level most PC users serious about ray tracing can reach, it's our pick for best graphics card right now.

For folks who want something more affordable, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is a fantastic option. It's a lot less expensive than the more expensive options on the list, but the performance is still excellent, especially at the 1080p level.

Finally, if you're looking at elite GPUs that can push into 8K territory, look no further than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 or the AMD RX 6900 XT. Both cards are great options, with the 3090 offering much higher ray tracing performance and the 6900 XT offering more value on the dollar overall.

Brendan Lowry

Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. He's been writing for Team WC since the summer of 2017, and you'll find him doing news, editorials, reviews, and general coverage on everything gaming, Xbox, and Windows PC. His favorite game of all time is probably NieR: Automata, though Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Team Fortress 2 are in the running, too. When he's not writing or gaming, there's a good chance he's either watching an interesting new movie or TV show or actually going outside for once. Follow him on X (Twitter).