Tests of Nvidia DLSS 2.0, RTX and other features for gamers

Graphics cards overview

Nvidia RTX 2000 graphics cards are slowly but surely approaching the end of their production cycle, and new models are expected in the near future. But that doesn’t mean they have nothing to offer anymore, quite the opposite. Their main strengths, such as RTX and DLSS, have undergone several revisions, so let’s look at how well these technologies are doing and how they affect performance, whether positively or negatively.

A graphics card for everyone

Before we start the tests, we will first look at what we are actually going to test. Personally, I’m a fan of the top notch models and the best you can buy at a given moment, but most gamers don’t think that way and, especially, don’t have the budget. We conceived the test a little differently, and we will look at the representative of the mid-end in the form of the RTX 2060 Super, but also the high-end with the RTX 2080 Super, although we know that there is the RTX 2080 Ti as well. However, it has not received a refreshed „Super“ version and still has a significantly higher price tag than the tested 2080 Super.

Specifically, we will look at a pair of Asus graphics cards, namely the Dual RTX 2060 Super EVO V2 OC and the ROG Strix 2080 Super. The cards have a lot of differences but also a bunch of things in common. Let’s start with obvious differences and therefore their dimensions. Of course, the more powerful 2080 Super in the ROG Strix configuration is significantly longer and offers three fans, while the Dual 2060 Super has only two and is thus more compact. Hence it offers better compatibility with smaller cases, where the 30 cm long 2080 Super may be a problem. Surprisingly, however, both cards are almost equally thick with a difference of only 10 mm in favor of the 2060 Super.

Both graphics cards offer a new generation of axial fans with a round rim around the blades, allowing them to increase air pressure and direct it away from the card itself. Until recently, these fans have been the privilege of ROG products, now we see them in the more affordable Dual version. It is also gratifying that the 0 dB mode is available on both models, which means that if the GPU temperature does not exceed 55 °C, the fans will not rotate (the Quiet mode is required for the 2080 Super).

Both cards have a protective backplate which, again, was not common in mainstream models. There is also no lack of RGB backlighting with Aura Sync. The Dual cards offer just a decent stripe which can be seen from the side view, while the ROGs go full RGB “90s disco” with a backlight around the fans and logos on the backplate. Also, 100% automated production with Auto-Extreme technology is common here, which uses top standards in the production of graphics cards using automated production lines. Graphics cards are soldered in one step and also offer quality control so that each piece of the card meets the most strict requirements.

Quality of the produced graphics card is also verified in a 144-hour validation program, in which stress tests are performed in benchmarks such as 3D Mark, as well as in real games such as Fortnite, League of Legends, Overwatch and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. The goal, of course, is to ensure that the graphics card you buy works fully without any problems.

Indeed, the ROG 2080 Super is also equipped with other premium features, such as dual BIOS with Performance and Quiet modes, a MaxContact coldplate for a GPU die, a strengthened frame and connectors for fans, and RGB accessories in the front. There is also no doubt about the performance difference between the cards, which is expected given that they do not have the same GPUs. In this article, however, we are not going to focus on comparing the RTX 2060 Super and the 2080 Super, but on what technologies both graphics offer and what performance can be expected in specific conditions.

Before we start the tests, let’s have a brief look at the testing rig.

Enough said, let’s dive into RTX, DLSS and other features that both graphics cards offer.

• Contents
• Graphics cards overview
• RTX
• DLSS
• NVENC
• DX12 Ultimate