Every computer needs a dedicated graphics card to meet its requirements. Without the graphics card, your PC would not be able to give the display output and you would not be able to see anything on your display screen.
Graphics Cards (GPU) deliver images to the monitor by converting data in the form of signals so that your monitor recognizes them.
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AutoCAD software requires a graphics card to deliver 3D graphics quickly on the screen.
Let us discuss some of the best AutoCAD graphics cards available based on performance, value, and specifications.
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Our Top Pick
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Best Value
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Best Budget
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4.7
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4.7
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4.7
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$191.48
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$289.96
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$189.85
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The PNY NVIDIA Quadro P2000 graphics card is our top pick that has 5GB GDDR5 memory and 1024 CUDA cores to quickly process AutoCAD with multi-monitor support up to 5120x2880 resolution. |
If you are looking for a value graphics card, then AMD Radeon Pro W5700 is an excellent choice. It comes with 8GB GDDR6 memory, 5 display outputs, 448GB/s bandwidth, and 205W power consumption for fast rendering. |
The PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6GB graphics card is a great option for your tight budget. It utilizes fast GDDR6 memory and an NVIDIA architecture to provide high-performance frame rates for smooth AutoCAD performance. |
The PNY NVIDIA Quadro P2000 graphics card is our top pick that has 5GB GDDR5 memory and 1024 CUDA cores to quickly process AutoCAD with multi-monitor support up to 5120x2880 resolution.
If you are looking for a value graphics card, then AMD Radeon Pro W5700 is an excellent choice. It comes with 8GB GDDR6 memory, 5 display outputs, 448GB/s bandwidth, and 205W power consumption for fast rendering.
The PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6GB graphics card is a great option for your tight budget. It utilizes fast GDDR6 memory and an NVIDIA architecture to provide high-performance frame rates for smooth AutoCAD performance.
10 Best Graphic Cards for AutoCAD in 2024
- PNY NVIDIA Quadro P2000 — Best overall Graphics Card for Balanced Performance (Editor’s Choice)
- AMD Radeon PRO W5700 — Best Graphics Card for Professional PC Workstation
- Asus GeForce Turbo GTX 1080 — Best Graphics Card for Power Gaming
- PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6 GB — Best Affordable Single Fan Graphic Card
- GeForce GTX 1050 Ti by Gigabyte — Best Graphical Card for Desktop PCs
- AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 — Best Budget Graphics Card for Virtual Reality
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 — Ferocious GPU for Ray Tracing
- ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2080 Ti — Best Advanced Gaming Graphics Card
- AMD Radeon VII 16 GB — Best Graphics Card for Content Creation
- VisionTek Radeon 7750 — Best High-Resolution 4K display
Also, see our feature on the best laptops for AutoCAD.
What Is the Best Graphics Card for AutoCAD?
PNY NVIDIA Quadro P2000 is the best graphics card for AutoCAD available. However, check for the full list below:
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Top 6 Most Popular Graphics Cards for AutoCAD
These are the three best-selling AutoCad graphic cards on Amazon right now:
10 Best AutoCAD Graphics Cards in 2024
1. PNY NVIDIA Quadro P2000 (Editor’s Choice)
Best overall AutoCAD graphics card for balanced performance
Specifications Boost Clock 1545 MHz | Memory 5GB GDDR 5 | Memory Speed 6008 MHz | Outputs 3x DisplayPort and 1x USB Type-C | TDP 160 W | Suggested PSU 450 W
PNY NVIDIA Quadro P2000 consists of the VCQ P2000 PB series, which is manufactured by the NVIDIA company.
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This graphics card comes with 5 GB of GDDR5 memory, which is enough to work with AutoCAD. The bandwidth is also around 140GB per second, which helps you deliver the pictures quickly.
One aspect that impressed us is that the 1024 CUDA core increases the input and output of the data processing without problems. It can support more than four display monitors with a resolution of 5120 x 2880 and a memory speed of 66 MHz.
It consumes only a maximum of 75 watts on the power supply, so you don’t need to worry about building a PC with a supercooling system. This is one of the best graphics cards for CAD because of its all-around performance.
One notable drawback of this graphic card is that its cooling fans and intricate hardware components can generate what many might consider a lot of noise.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕ Good bandwidth. | ➖ Quite loud. |
| ➕ Less power consumption | |
| ➕ Image rendering in a short period of time. |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Features DirectCompute API for supporting multiple hardware vendors to smartly perform general-purpose computing
- NVIDIA® Quadro® P2000 is known for its professional graphics that delivers rich-media quality and maneuvers complex graphics with perfection
- 5 GB GDDR5 VRAM to hold highly-textured images and perform the rendering at super-fast speed
- PCI Express 3.0 x16 interface is hot-swappable and easy to use
- Built-in low-power fan keeps the board cool and ensures a long-lasting usability
2. AMD Radeon Pro W5700
Best graphics card for professional PC workstation
Specifications Boost Clock 1545 Mhz | Memory 8 GB 256 bit GDDR6 | Memory Speed 448 Gbps | Outputs 5x Mini-DisplayPort 1.4 | TDP 205 W | Suggested PSU 400 W
One of the best graphic cards for AutoCAD is the AMD Radeon Pro W5700. It has a RAM size of 8GB GDDR6, which means that you need not worry about one of the primary things that bothers us the most, the storage space for your work.
However, one of the things we particularly love about this is that it supports five different 1.4 display Miniports and one type C port with power connectors of 1×6 pin and 1×8 pin.
With a good bandwidth of nearly 448GB per second, you can draw amazing images in the least amount of time possible. You also have cooling fans so that you don’t need to worry about damaging your card. It consumes 205 watts of power, which is not a lot to worry about.
One downside of this graphic card is its tendency to exhibit elevated fan noise levels when subjected to extensive multitasking or resource-intensive applications.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕ Impressive RAM size. | ➖ There are no built-in accelerators to compete with NVIDIA’s tensor and RT core |
| ➕ Supports cooling system. | ➖ Video encoding performance is not up to the mark. |
| ➕ DirectX Support. |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- OpenCL 2.0 API for map-free and fine-grained synchronization between the host and the SVM device
- 8 GB GDDR6 memory works well with most of the graphics-demanding games and with its nimble rendering, you can experience movies with crystal clear display
3. Asus GeForce Turbo GTX 1080
Best graphics card for power gaming and CAD
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Specifications Boost Clock 1733 MHz | Memory 8GB 256-Bit GDDR5X | Memory Speed 10Gbps | Outputs 1 x DVI-D 2 x HDMI 2.0 2 x DisplayPort 1.4 | TDP 180W | Suggested PSU 500 W
We consider the Asus Graphic Card one of the best graphics cards for AutoCAD. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics coprocessor was primarily developed for gaming but is now extensively used for AutoCAD programs.
It has an 8GB memory that works well with its 320.3 G per second bandwidth, which really helps with input and output transfer, thus leading to smooth processing.
It can support two display ports of 1.4, two HDMI ports, and 1 DVI connector. It also has effective cooling fans that decrease friction and use dual ball-bearing structures to increase their effect, which really lengthens the graphic card’s life as well.
One of the notable disadvantages of this graphic card is the lack of dedicated built-in accelerators akin to NVIDIA’s Tensor and RT cores.
This absence may impact the card’s ability to keep up with evolving software trends and emerging standards, potentially diminishing its competitiveness in the rapidly advancing field of graphics technology.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕ Less Expensive. | ➖ The sound of the fan increases when running a lot of applications. |
| ➕ Supports AutoCAD without issues. |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Asus Turbo-gtx1080-8g Geforce Gtx 1080 Graphic Card - 1.61 Ghz Core - 1.73 Ghz Boost Clock - 8 Gb Gddr5x - Pci Express 3.0 - Dual Slot Space Required - 256 Bit Bus Width - Sli - Fan Cooler - Opengl...
4. PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6 GB
Affordable single-fan graphics card
Specifications Boost Clock 1530 MHz | Memory 6 GB GDDR6 | Memory Speed 14 Gbps | Outputs 1.57” × 6.61” × 4.96”; Dual-Slot | TDP 125 W | Suggested PSU 450 W
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PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6 GB graphics card is faster than the original GTX 1660 and also one and a half times faster than its previous version.
It is powered by the NVIDIA architecture and ultra-fast GDDR6 memory. The GDDR6 memory helps it run much faster and performs better than the original GTX 16 series.
When used with a monitor that has some hardware installed in it, the monitor’s rate will sync and lock with the graphics card’s output frame rate. It removes the tearing and stuttering that can result from the conventional, fixed screen refresh rates.
It is a product of the PNY brand coupled with the super series NVIDIA GeForce GTX1660 which makes it a faster and more efficient graphics card while providing greater quality at an affordable rate.
The bandwidth makes the best video developing quality and the resolution makes it suitable for the fine work of AutoCAD designing and graphics. It has a single-fan cooling system that will help with power consumption efficiency.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕ Cheap for the features. | ➖ Only one HDMI and display port are available. |
| ➕ 4K Resolution. | ➖ No other extra features |
| ➕ No sound was found. |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Nvidia Turing architecture, with 1530MHz Core Clock and 1785MHz Boost Clock speeds to help meet the needs of demanding games.
- 6GB GDDR6 (192-bit) on-board memory, Plus 1408 CUDA processing cores and up to 336GB/sec of Memory bandwidth provide the memory needed to create striking visual realism.
- PCI Express 3.0 interface: Offers compatibility with a range of systems. Also includes DisplayPort, DVI-D and HDMI outputs for expanded connectivity.
- Turing Shaders: Featuring concurrent execution of floating point and integer operations, Adaptive shading technology, and a new unified Memory architecture with twice the Cache of its predecessor,...
- Nvidia GeForce experience: Capture and share videos, screenshots, and livestreams with friends. Keep your drivers up to date and optimize your game settings. Geforce experience lets you do it all,...
5. GeForce GTX 1050 Ti by Gigabyte
Best graphics card for Desktop PCs
Specifications Boost Clock 1506 MHz | Memory 4GB GDDR5 VRam | Memory Speed 7 Gbps | Outputs Dual-link DVI-D *1 HDMI-2.0b*1 Display Port-1.4*1 | TDP 75 W | Suggested PSU 350 W
This graphics card has 4 GB of onboard memory, one dual-link DVI port, one display connector, and a six-pin power supply connector. Two fans in it can be used for cooling purposes and run in opposite directions for better airflow.
This card comes with Gigabyte’s gaming software that lets you overclock and monitor the card, as well as adjust the fans and manage the LED lighting at the same time.
It also supports G-sync anti-tearing technology. It is covered with a three-year warranty. This card features the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti processor. This processor is the most important part of any graphics card.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕ Less Expensive. | ➖ Slower Clock speed. |
| ➕ Huge Memory. | |
| ➕ Exceptional Performance. |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 4GB of memory
- 2x 80 mm fans
- Dual-link DVI-D, HDMI, and Display ports
- 7680 x 4320 resolution
- One-click super overclocking
6. AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100
Best graphics card for virtual reality
Specifications Boost Clock 1243 MHz | Memory 8 GB GDDR5 | Memory Speed 7000 MHz | Outputs 4x DisplayPort 1.4 | TDP 130 W | Suggested PSU 300 W
The AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 runs with the minimum clock speed. It features acceleration options and can run up to 1243 MHz.
The manufacturer has equipped this particular graphics card with 8 GB of memory and excellent bandwidth. At 130 watts, the power consumption is also much lower than other graphics cards.
Radeon Pro WX has evolved from AMD FirePro. It has all the benefits of the evolution of the FirePro driver and includes optimization for a massive range of CAD tools.
There are minor differences between the two. AMD always points to the superior build quality of this GPU, which includes the more robust heat sinks for a better connection to the PCI slot.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕ Better performance. | ➖ Not suitable for gaming purposes. |
| ➕ Good design. |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Performance redefined
- Features for a truly immersive experience
- Bus Type: PCI Express 3.0 x16
7. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
Ferocious GPU for ray tracing
Specifications Boost Clock 1.70 GHz | Memory 24 GB GDDR6 | Memory Speed 19.5 GBPs | Outputs 1x HDMI 3x DisplayPort | TDP 350 W | Suggested PSU 750 W
The NVidia GeForce RTX 3090 rules the technical world, although AMD is trying to topple it. This particular graphics card has GDDR6X RAM, which acts as an absolute powerbox to it.
It delivers when it comes to 3D rendering. This card has replaced two previous generations with its high performance.
The NVidia GeForce RTX 3090 gives an amazing 4K performance and even handles games. The previous graphics card had set a high standard and this one also meets the challenge.
It handles PC games very well, but it delivers very attractive images with graphical enhancements of 3D animation and video rendering.
The NVidia GeForce RTX 3090 also comes at a premium price, making the more affordable graphics card, the RTX 3080, its direct rival.
If you are not bothered by the price and want the best for your project-related work, that requires very good hardware acceleration.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕ Gaming performance. | ➖ Expensive. |
| ➕ Quiet operation. | ➖ Triple-slot card. |
| ➕ Excellent cooling. |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 15. 6" 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) OLED InfinityEdge anti-reflective Non-Touch 100% DCI-P3 400-Nits Display
- 9th Generation Intel Core i7-9750h (12MB Cache, up to 4. 5 GHz, 6 Cores)
- 16GB DDR4-2666MHz, 2x8G
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5
- Sd card reader, Thunderbolt, USB 3. 0
8. ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
Best advanced gaming graphics card
Specifications Boost Clock 1665 MHz | Memory 11 GB GDDR 6 | Memory Speed 14000 MHz | Outputs HDMI DP 1.4 USB Type-C | TDP 250 W | Suggested PSU 600 W
The ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2080 Ti comes with 4532 CUDA cores that deliver unmatched images. The main selling point for this graphics card is real-time ray tracing.
The difference is the accuracy and the efficiency with which this card executes the technology. It doubles the graphics processing power. The memory bandwidth stands at 616Gbps, enabling it to fast transfer the data from the RAM to the GPU.
The available space is 11 GB of GDDR6 VRAM. The boost clock speed can be enhanced with a self-implemented overclock.
The most interesting point is that, even with such processing power, the power consumption is not as high.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕ High bandwidth. | ➖ Premium price. |
| ➕ Runs quietly. | |
| ➕ Offers 11GB of VRAM. |
Latest Price on Amazon:
9. AMD Radeon VII 16 GB
Best graphics card for content creation
Specifications Boost Clock 1750 MHz | Memory 16GB HBM 2 | Memory Speed 4 Gbps | Outputs Display port x 3(v1.4)/HDMI 2.0 B X 1 | TDP 250 W | Suggested PSU 650 W
The AMD Radeon VII is the graphics card that the entire world has been waiting for. It is a high-end graphics card that almost equalizes the NVidia GeForce RTX 2000 card, and beats them in a few areas as well.
It is one of the best graphics cards available for creative people. It has a high-end 16 GB of video memory (VRAM) and a high-boost clock of 1800 MHz.
It is an extremely powerful graphics card with an initial problem of DirectX12 incompatibility.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕ Attractive and compact. | ➖ Very loud. |
| ➕ Good computing performance. |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Memory Speed:16.0 Gbps.Digital Max Resolution:7680×4320
- Country Of Origin : China
- Package Weight : 5.5Lbs
- Stream Processor: 5121
- Game Clock: 2105Mhz (Oc) / 2015Mhz (Silent)
10. VisionTek Radeon 7750
Best high-resolution 4K display
The VisionTek Radeon 7750 is known for its high-resolution 4K display. The card can be used on Windows 10, 8, 8.1, 7, Vista, and XP.
Each DisplayPort transmits superb 7.1 surround-sound audio to each monitor independently. It also comes with a native display port that will allow you to connect to any monitor with one display cable.
Also, each display port comes with independent audio, which provides independent sound to each monitor. It is almost unavoidable to notice how well the product’s features shine.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕ Easy to Install | ➖Not suitable for hardware gaming. |
| ➕Smooth Running |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- The cutting-edge AMD Radeon HD 7750 lets you experience video games with realism
- With increased scalability, PCI Express x16 delivers high speed of data transfer
- With GDDR5 memory technology get efficient data transfer rate and enhanced computer's performance
- Plug-in Card form factor for your convenience and simplicity of usage
- 2 GB on-board memory renders detailed images in a flash
Types of Graphics Cards
There are two types of graphics cards
- Integrated Graphics
- Dedicated Graphics
Most computers come with an integrated graphics card embedded within them as it renders the images to the monitor.
Integrated Graphics
These graphics cards are built directly onto the motherboard or the processor of your computer or laptop. They are cost-effective because they come with computers, but they cannot be upgraded.
It is small in size, power-efficient, and less costly than the dedicated graphics card.
Intel and AMD come in a CPU with integrated Graphics. If you are using a laptop for day-to-day tasks, such as watching YouTube or browsing the internet, this is more than enough.
These graphics cards use the resources of the computer to process the graphics requirements.
Dedicated Graphics
A dedicated graphics card is a hardware part that is responsible for the graphics performance of the computer and is called a “discrete card”.
There are many different types of graphics cards. NVidia and AMD are pioneers when it comes to graphics cards. The advantage of a graphics card is that you can always find one to is powerful enough for the task.
The dedicated graphics card requires an expansion slot on the motherboard. You need to make sure you have the supported expansion slot in your motherboard before you buy a graphics card.
You can also read our blog on the best graphics cards for video editing.
How to Choose the Right Graphics Card for AutoCAD?
Resolution
Higher resolution refers to the pixels per inch. Having a graphic card for AutoCAD will give you high-quality images. To have a 4k resolution, you must look for a graphic card with high memory. You can also pick a computer with memory higher than 8 GB.
Performance
Performance is another important factor to look for when buying a graphic card. If you have a graphics card with fast performance, it will have a good impact on your high-resolution gaming. Along with these, the performance also depends on the hardware generations.
Within every two years, Nvidia and AMD bring a new series. This new series will include more advanced features like memory, bandwidth, and more cores. Since the rendering power depends upon the number of cores, these factors can give great results.
Output
Considering output and display will help you to choose the right AutoCAD graphics card. Most modern graphics cards include either HDMI or Display ports. If you are focusing on 4k and 5k displays, then it has connectivity for DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of a graphic card on a computer?
A graphic card is also called a video card or a graphics adapter. It is an expansion card that determines the kind of graphic output that is displayed on the monitor.
What is the necessity for a graphic card?
Some gaming and graphics programs can be tough on computers and create a greater chance of thermal trauma. In these cases, Graphics cards come in handy. An extensive graphics card is required to help the computer smoothly perform heavy tasks. It also reduces the load on the computer.
What is the difference between single, double, and triple fan graphics cards?
The difference is in the cooling ability that these cards provide. A triple fan graphics card is a well-suited option for cooling the card and helps to increase the work performance. Double fans also do the same operation but with less performance and more efficiency than a single fan.
Is a dedicated graphics card required for AutoCAD?
No, AutoCAD does not require a dedicated graphics card to run. AutoCAD is a CPU-intensive program, not a GPU-intensive program. It requires a VRam for about 128MB, which comes standard on practically all computers. However, depending on your requirements it is recommended to use good and high-speed RAM
Best Graphics Cards for AutoCAD
We prepared this list of the best graphics cards available on the market for your review. Each one of these graphics cards has the potential to perform well in rendering images and graphics on your display screen.
Now it depends on you to select the right graphics card for you based on your requirements and budget for your AutoCAD projects and other work.
