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Enthusiastic gamers need everything to be perfect, including video resolution, system's speed, lighting effects, and performance. For this, they look for quality GPUs to enhance the monitor's output and uplift their gaming experience.
The world of GPUs has come up with numerous opportunistic technologies that are dedicated to serving gamers. We also find a plethora of GPUs appropriate for i7 8700k.
To get hands on the best GPU for i7 8700k, have a look at our picks reviewed in detail for your help.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for GPU For i7 8700K
- OUR TOP PICK: EVGA RTX 2070 XC Ultra Gaming
- RUNNER-UP: ASUS ROG Strix RTX 2070
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: EVGA RTX 2060 KO Ultra Gaming
Comparison of the Best GPUs For i7 8700k
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When is it Time to Replace My GPU?
A GPU will work best only if it is in good condition. When it starts losing its full capability, it shows some signs that you can identify to take immediate action or replace it with a new one.
When you notice changes in the image quality like faded resolution, it is a good sign that your card is not meeting your resolution needs. You might as well replace the card when you want to switch to better graphics for next-level gaming.
If your present GPU cannot run the desired number of systems simultaneously, it is recommended to buy a new one. Abnormal behavior in the performance, like overheating, higher noise production, and intermittent game crashing indicate it's high time to invest in a new unit.
How to Choose a Compatible GPU for i7 8700k
As a powerful processor, the i7 8700k demands functional graphic cards to yield the best results. That's why you need to keep some fundamentals in mind while purchasing a GPU compatible with i7 8700k. These include:
Heat Controlling Potential
The GPU you select should be equipped with some special cooling mechanism to actively manage the heat dissipation. It can be in the form of a heat sinker, absorber, or fan blade assembly.
Clock Rate
To boost the processor's performance and speed, a graphics card must offer an optimum boost frequency of up to 1600 MHz, at the minimum. Moreover, users must be given the option to set the desired value and overclock the processor.
4K Resolution
A good GPU should be able to improve the visual quality and allow you to play games and stream videos in 4k. If the GPU does not support videos or games at 1080p at the very least, then it’s best to look for another one that is appropriate for heavy-duty, professional gaming.
Compatibility with the Number of Monitors
If you plan on connecting multiple monitors at a time, whether it is for gaming or for tasks like Photoshop, make sure the GPU can cater to your needs. It should have enough ports for the number of monitors you want to connect.
Review of the Best GPUs For i7 8700k
When looking for the best GPU for a particular processor, such as the i7 8700k, you will come across several options with different features and advantages. The more the options, the more the confusion.
So, check out our shortlisted products and choose the one best unit that suits your needs.
Best Overall:
EVGA RTX 2070 XC Ultra Gaming
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
People are quite impressed by the performance of the EVGA RTX 2070. What they liked the most was the ultra-fast clock rate. Buyers also liked the versatile software that enabled them to manage and personalize the card. All of them were content with their purchase and had no complaints about the product.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This EVGA model incorporates dual HDB fans and a 2.75 slot cooler to reduce the emission of heat. These features also eliminate the chances of noise production to a great extent. In turn, the unit works for long hours without disturbing the user's peace and overheating any component.
With the ability to surpass the appointed speed, this product gives access to EVGA Precision x1 software that allows users to alter the card's running speed. It has the potential of reaching the clock speed up to 1725 MegaHertz.
It also features customizable RGB lighting effects and modes, allowing the user to create a more engaging environment, especially when gaming.
Bottom Line
Equipped with dual HDB fans, this unit is a wonderful pick for those who want to game for long hours without the fan’s disturbing their session. If you want to customize your gaming setup and have access to heavier games, this GPU will be a good pick for you.
Runner-up:
ASUS ROG Strix RTX 2070
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Customers who were in search of unprecedented technologies in a GPU were satisfied with this product. It improved their gaming expertise. Buyers loved the picture quality and crisp screen output that is provided. They also reported that they never faced temperature fluctuations in the unit, which allowed them to use it for long hours.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The dense heat sink in this unit is more closely located with the card's chip to instantly absorb all the heat. Besides this, the fans have a built-in sensor, innovated with 0dB technology that detects the heat spreader's temperature.
As soon as the spreader drops below 55-degree Celsius, the fans stop running. They come into action again when the temperature rises above the given value.
Innovated with an all-new Tweak II, this GPU gives everything, including core clocks, memory settings, and monitor's grain density in your control. As a result, you can tune the settings as per your requirement and get the most out of it.
Bottom Line
The six RGB patterns, combined with a million-color range, make this GPU's overall look more thrilling and attractive. Plus, it is capable of handling four monitors at a time, making it great for a multitude of uses.
Best for the Money:
EVGA RTX 2060 KO Ultra Gaming
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The construction and inclusion of EVGA Precision x1 software received superb feedback from buyers. People reported that it was very easy to use and install it. According to buyers, it stood tall on almost all the claims. This is the reason why most customers recommended it to others.
Why it Stands Out to Us
In order to provide super-fast speed, this product includes an excellent memory space of about 6144 MB GDDR6. It also has an impressive clock rate of 1680 MHz. As a result, you are highly unlikely to experience any lags.
Moreover, it comes with the EVGA Precision x1 pre-installed. Users get an opportunity to monitor the functionality of this GPU and adjust various built-in features. This software is convenient to use, even for beginners.
Bottom Line
Besides being user-friendly, this EVGA unit is budget-friendly as well. However, the ray tracing system and memory space make it ideal for pro gamers. Since it is inexpensive, sturdy, and has a warranty that lasts for three years, it seems quite a good pick.
4. MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Ventus
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers had many good things to say about the heat suppressing capability of the unit. The majority of buyers reported that they have no complaints regarding the cooling mechanism. Many tech enthusiasts also used it with heavy workloads and were impressed by its smooth and reliable performance.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Equipped with fan blades with a curved style to increase air circulation, this MSI model is truly impressive. It has six mm copper pipes installed inside it through which heat is efficiently removed out of the unit.
With the NVIDIA chipset, the unit has G-Sync and HDR features. It makes sure that there is no time delay between the input and the output. It comes with a six GB memory capacity to execute tasks more quickly and accurately. All of this seems to fulfill the needs of fast-action games and intensive workloads.
Bottom Line
From 4K image output to undistorted synchronization and a well-organized cooling system, MSI RTX 2060 has all the features that will enhance your gaming experience. It also has the RTX 2060 VR technology, which makes it highly advanced.
5. ZOTAC RTX 2070 SUPER
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The NVLINK bridge helped customers in gaining video results far better than they had expected. Buyers also reported that its construction kept it safe from dust, dirt, and other particles from the surrounding. As a result, the card proved to be low-maintenance but well-performing.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Featuring aesthetically-pleasing Spectra lighting sequences, this card can take your setup to the next level. It can accommodate three monitors at a time and comes with a user-friendly software interface. You can also check the working status of the unit through the same interface.
The whole unit is covered with a metal jacket-like case and has a metal backplate. Hence, no dust build-up takes place, and heat dissipation is also not affected. Inside the unit, there are sturdy fan blades responsible for maintaining the optimum temperature of the components.
Bottom Line
With the NVLINK bridge, this GPU zeroes out the possibility of video buffering and provides an outstanding picture quality. Also, it tends to sink in the heat released after heavy loaded usage. To summarize, it would be an ideal pick for avid gamers and video editors.
Advantages of Investing in a Quality GPU For i7 8700k
The users of i7 8700k earnestly invest in a top-notch GPU because of the advantages they get in return. Let's find out the perks of having a quality GPU for the i7 8700k.
Improved Graphics
A gamer always looks for ways to enhance the already existing screen resolution. So, a 4k or 1080p GPU is the best thing to go for to obtain improved image results. Cards with longer life, good refresh rates, and advanced technology provide improved graphics.
Faster Frame Rates
These cards have refresh rates above 1600 MHz, which, when coupled with the processor's speed, result in amazing image quality and processing speeds. This characteristic alleviates lagging or desynchronization from the monitor.
Reduces the Load on CPU
A GPU has its separate RAM to share the load of the operating system. The temperature of the processor is also controlled by the GPU. As a result, your CPU enjoys better health and long-lasting life.
Supports More Than One Monitor
Some GPUs are integrated with multiple ports to build a sustainable connection with more than one gaming system. In some models, there are ports for the VR headset. So, you can quickly upgrade to a pro-level gamer by investing in a good-quality GPU for i7 8700k.
EVGA RTX 2070 XC Ultra Gaming
Overclocking the Intel Core i7 8700k
Overclocking the i7 8700k is a little challenging and can be tricky for a beginner. But we have broken down the entire procedure into simple steps, which you can follow to easily change the processor's boost rate.
- First of all, go to the BIOS menu and find "Advanced Frequency Settings." Tap on it.
- A new menu will appear from which you have to move the cursor to the "CPU Clock Ratio". Set 50 as its value to overclock the system to 5GHz.
- Tip: The base clock is 100MHz. When we set the clock ratio to 50, the base clock number gets multiplied to the ratio value. Hence it becomes 5000MHz or 5GHz.
- Below this option, look for "Advanced CPU Core Settings." By clicking it, you will see another sub-menu.
- Now, change power-saving states for which you have to search for "State Support settings", towards the bottom.
- Select "Disable" for all these State Support options.
- Then go back to the menu that contains advanced frequency options. Click "Advanced Voltage Settings".
- Enter "Advanced Power Settings".
- Change "Auto" to "Turbo" for CPU VCore Loadline Calibration.
- Now go into the "CPU Core Voltage Control" panel present in the previously visited sub-menu.
- Set the value to "1.340" for CPU VCore.
- Move to the main menu and choose "Advanced Memory Settings" from there.
- Verify if the memory profile is enabled.
- Lastly, save these configurations by pressing the "F10" key.
Now you are ready to play your games with an overclocked processor. For more details, be sure to refer to the video below for a full overview of what was just described.
Conclusion
High-quality GPUs have made speed, efficiency, and higher resolution possible for all gamers. The products mentioned and reviewed in this article should be enough to convince you to invest in a new card that is suitable for the i7 processor. Make sure to look for features and factors, such as the number of ports and backplate design when buying a GPU.
People Also Ask
GPUs can propose some troubles and may take some time to get used to them, especially for beginners. If you are unable to understand these devices properly, then this section will be of great help. Read the questions and answers below to learn more about the best GPUs for i7 8700K.
My i7 8700k Onboard Graphics is Not Letting the GPU Run, How Do I Fix This?
The inbuilt graphics of i7 8700k may interfere in the performance of GPU. You must turn off the integrated graphics by accessing the option from the Windows management menu in such cases. Also, make sure you have successfully installed the GPU and enabled the card in the BIOS menu.
Will i7-8700k Integrated Graphics Take a Load Off My GPU?
The load on the RAM of the processor gets divided when we use a graphic processing unit. Ultimately, the load on integrated graphics will also be shared by the GPU. The reason for this is the separate RAM of the GPU, which increases the overall capacity and makes a huge difference in the efficiency of the system.
Does an i7-8700k Have a Built-in GPU?
This processor has an Intel UHD Graphics 630 chips installed that handles the graphics of the system. However, these graphics can be too heavy and be more than the Intel chip's capacity. Therefore, we use external GPUs as a source of additional memory and frame rate to accomplish desired resolutions and speeds.
Can You Use i7-8700k Integrated Graphics and a GPU at the Same Time?
Yes, it is possible to use i7-8700k Integrated graphics along with a GPU only if the GPU supports two graphic cards.
Can I Use an Older GPU For i7 8700k?
i7 8700k works with all GPUs provided that the compatibility standards are not compromised. If a GPU doesn't show issues like flaws in the graphics, cooling system, or frame rate, then old or new models don't make much difference.
