Nvidia Ending GTX: Should You Upgrade to RTX?

Nvidia has ended production of most GTX 16-series graphics cards, making RTX the default choice for new builds. Whether you should upgrade depends on your current GPU, the games you play, and your budget—but for most gamers, an RTX card is now the only sensible option.

Why Nvidia Is Ending GTX

The GTX brand dates back to 2008 and has been used for both high-end and budget cards. The last GTX models, the 16-series (GTX 1650, 1660, 1660 Ti, etc.), were based on the Turing architecture but lacked the dedicated ray-tracing and tensor cores found in RTX cards. Nvidia has been phasing out GTX production for several years, and by 2024 most GTX 16-series chips were no longer being manufactured. The company now focuses on RTX for all new consumer GPUs, from the entry-level RTX 3050 to the flagship RTX 4090.

What RTX Adds Over GTX

• Ray tracing: RTX cards have dedicated RT cores that accelerate real-time ray tracing for realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections. GTX cards lack these cores and must use slower software-based methods.
• DLSS: Deep Learning Super Sampling uses Tensor cores to upscale lower-resolution images in real time, boosting frame rates with minimal visual loss. GTX cards cannot use DLSS (they only support the older FSR or other upscalers).
• Better encoding: Newer RTX cards include the NVENC encoder, which is excellent for streaming and video recording. GTX 16-series cards have a similar encoder but lack some newer features.
• More VRAM: Most RTX cards come with 8GB or more VRAM, while GTX 16-series cards typically have 4GB or 6GB. Modern games increasingly require more VRAM for high textures.

How to Decide If You Should Upgrade

Ask yourself these questions:

1. What GPU do you have now? If you have a GTX 1650 or 1660, upgrading to an RTX 3050 or 3060 will give you a noticeable performance boost. If you have a GTX 1080 Ti, the performance gap is smaller, and you might only benefit from RTX features.
2. What games do you play? Competitive esports titles like Fortnite or CS2 run fine on GTX cards. But newer AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Alan Wake 2 benefit greatly from DLSS and ray tracing.
3. What is your budget? RTX cards are generally more expensive than their GTX counterparts. If you are on a strict budget, a used GTX 1660 Super might still be a good value, but it will not support future features.
4. Are you building new or upgrading? If you are building a new PC, there is no reason to buy a GTX card unless you find a very cheap used deal. RTX is the current standard.

Performance Comparison: GTX vs RTX

In pure rasterization (non-ray-traced) performance, the RTX 2060 is roughly equivalent to a GTX 1080, while the RTX 3060 is about 20-30% faster than a GTX 1660 Ti. However, the real advantage shows when you enable DLSS: an RTX 3060 with DLSS can outperform a GTX 1080 Ti in many modern titles. For example, in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p, a GTX 1660 Ti might average 30 FPS on medium settings, while an RTX 3060 with DLSS can hit 60 FPS on high settings. The gap widens further with ray tracing enabled, where GTX cards simply cannot keep up.

Cost and Value Considerations

As of 2025, GTX cards are mostly available on the used market. A used GTX 1660 Super might sell for around $100-150, while a new RTX 3050 costs around $200-250. The RTX 3050 is only slightly faster in rasterization but offers DLSS and ray tracing. If you plan to keep the card for 2-3 years, the RTX is a better investment. However, if you only play older or indie games, a used GTX might be sufficient and save you money. Keep in mind that GTX cards are no longer being produced, so their prices may not drop much, and warranties are non-existent.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

• “RTX is only for 4K gaming.” Not true. DLSS works at all resolutions and can help even at 1080p. Ray tracing is demanding, but you can enable it at lower settings.
• “GTX cards are fine for 1080p.” They are, but only for older games or with reduced settings. Newer games are starting to require more VRAM, and GTX cards with 4GB will struggle.
• “Upgrading is easy.” It is, but make sure your power supply has enough wattage and the right connectors. RTX cards generally draw more power than GTX cards.
• “You need a new CPU.” Not necessarily. If you have a modern CPU (Intel 10th gen or AMD Ryzen 3000 series or newer), you can simply swap the GPU. But an older CPU might bottleneck the new card.

Alternatives to Upgrading

If you are not ready to upgrade, you can still get more life out of your GTX card by lowering settings, using FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) if the game supports it, or overclocking. However, these are temporary fixes. Another alternative is to switch to AMD or Intel GPUs, which offer competitive performance at lower prices, but they lack Nvidia’s DLSS and NVENC. For most users, the RTX 3050 or 3060 is the sweet spot for 1080p gaming, while the RTX 4070 or higher is for 1440p/4K.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth upgrading from GTX 1660 to RTX 3060?

Yes, if you play modern AAA games. The RTX 3060 is about 20-30% faster and has 12GB VRAM, plus DLSS support. You will see a significant improvement in frame rates and can enable ray tracing at lower settings. If you only play esports titles, the upgrade is less impactful.

Can GTX cards run ray tracing?

Technically, yes, but very poorly. GTX cards do not have dedicated RT cores, so ray tracing is done via software, which tanks performance. For example, a GTX 1660 Ti might run Battlefield V with ray tracing at 20 FPS, while an RTX 2060 gets 60 FPS. It is not a practical feature on GTX.

Will GTX cards stop receiving driver updates?

Nvidia has not announced an end to driver support for GTX cards, but it is likely that they will be moved to legacy status within a few years. This means they will still get security updates, but not game-specific optimizations. This is another reason to consider upgrading.

What is the cheapest RTX card worth buying?

The RTX 3050 is the entry-level RTX card and is worth buying if you can find it near its MSRP. It offers DLSS and ray tracing, but its rasterization performance is only slightly better than a GTX 1660 Super. If you need more performance, save up for an RTX 3060.

Should I buy a used GTX card to save money?

It can be a good deal if you are on a very tight budget and play older games. However, used cards have no warranty, and you risk getting a card that was used for mining or overclocking. If you can afford a new RTX 3050, it is a safer long-term choice.

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