Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Minecraft Shaders
We weighed five graphics cards on video memory and cooler thickness, and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge costs the least.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Shader packs and RTX lean on ray tracing. Every pick is an NVIDIA RTX card with 8GB+ that cost $800 or less.
Rankings weigh GPU, VRAM and memory as the makers state them; we did not test these graphics cards ourselves, and if a maker skips thickness, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Also Consider
PNY GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB Verto Dual FanA dual-fan cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want dual-fan cooler.
Check price for PNY GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB Verto Dual Fan on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GBA 2.5-slot design.
Best for: Buyers who want 2.5-slot design.
Check price for ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
PNY GeForce RTX 4070 12GB XLR8 Gaming Verto Epic-X RGBA triple-fan cooler with Epic-X RGB lighting.
Best for: Buyers who want triple-fan cooler with Epic-X RGB lighting.
Check price for PNY GeForce RTX 4070 12GB XLR8 Gaming Verto Epic-X RGB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5070 12GB OC EditionThe highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with 0dB fan stop at light loads.
Best for: Buyers who want 0dB fan stop at light loads and can spend more than the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB costs.
Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5070 12GB OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OCThe lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing.
Best for: Getting two 90mm BladeLink fans for the least money.
Check price for ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Also Consider1 of 5
PNY GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB Verto Dual Fan
The PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto is built around a dual-fan cooler, with a 2535MHz boost clock on top.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual-fan cooler.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 16GB video memory. It matches the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB on video memory (16GB). It is the only pick here with an RTX 4060 Ti gpu; the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB has an RTX 5060 Ti gpu instead.
It shares GDDR6 memory with the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge; the PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto goes with GDDR6X memory. A 2535MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASUS Dual 5070 OC uses a 2572MHz (OC mode) boost clock. No dimensions are published for the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto with the maker. Its price falls between the PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto and the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 4060 Ti
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 2535MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Dual-fan cooler
- 2535MHz boost clock
- RTX 4060 Ti gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge at the time of writing
The catch
Buyers who need a confirmed cooler thickness should compare it with the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge, which comes in at 2-slot.
Strong Alternative2 of 5
ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
The ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB is built around a 2.5-slot design, with a dual BIOS switch on top.
Best for
- Buyers who want 2.5-slot design.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 16GB video memory and offers a 2.5-slot cooler thickness. It matches the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto on video memory (16GB). It is the only pick here with an RTX 5060 Ti gpu; the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto has an RTX 4060 Ti gpu instead.
It shares GDDR7 memory with the ASUS Dual 5070 OC; the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto goes with GDDR6 memory. The ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB with the maker.
SFF-Ready is NVIDIA's size guideline, not a guarantee the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB fits every small case. Its price falls between the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto and the ASUS Dual 5070 OC, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5060 Ti
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- SFF-Ready
- Yes
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- 2.5-slot design
Cons
- Costs more than the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge at the time of writing
Worth a Look3 of 5
PNY GeForce RTX 4070 12GB XLR8 Gaming Verto Epic-X RGB
The PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto is built around a triple-fan cooler with Epic-X RGB lighting, with a 2475MHz boost clock on top.
Best for
- Buyers who want triple-fan cooler with Epic-X RGB lighting.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 12GB video memory. On video memory it ties with the ASUS Dual 5070 OC at 12GB. An RTX 4070 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB uses an RTX 5060 Ti gpu.
It is the only pick here with GDDR6X memory; the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto has GDDR6 memory instead. No dimensions are published for the PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto with the maker. It was priced above the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge and below the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 4070
- VRAM
- 12GB
- Memory
- GDDR6X
- Boost clock
- 2475MHz
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Triple-fan cooler with Epic-X RGB lighting
- 2475MHz boost clock
- RTX 4070 gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge at the time of writing
The catch
There is no published cooler thickness figure, whereas the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge comes in at 2-slot.
Premium Pick4 of 5
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5070 12GB OC Edition
The ASUS Dual 5070 OC stands out for 0dB fan stop at light loads, and it adds a dual BIOS switch.
Best for
- Buyers who want 0dB fan stop at light loads and can spend more than the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB costs.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 12GB video memory. It matches the PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto on video memory (12GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RTX 5070 gpu; compare the PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto, which has an RTX 4070 gpu.
It shares GDDR7 memory with the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB; the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge goes with GDDR6 memory. You get a 2572MHz (OC mode) boost clock here, which sets it apart from the PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto and its a 2475MHz boost clock. No dimensions are published for the ASUS Dual 5070 OC; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS Dual 5070 OC with the maker. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB and the rest.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5070
- VRAM
- 12GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Boost clock
- 2572MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- 0dB fan stop at light loads
- Dual BIOS switch
Cons
- Costs more than the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its cooler thickness; if that figure matters, the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge comes in at 2-slot.
Lowest Price Here5 of 5
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OC
Zotac's RTX 5050 Twin Edge is a two-slot, SFF-Ready card with two 90mm fans and one 8-pin plug.
Best for
- Getting two 90mm BladeLink fans for the least money.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games is a problem.
Why we like it
It is the smallest NVIDIA option here for a compact case. Its 8GB video memory is the smallest in this group; the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto leads at 16GB. It is the only pick here with an RTX 5050 gpu; the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto has an RTX 4060 Ti gpu instead.
It shares GDDR6 memory with the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto; the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB goes with GDDR7 memory. You also get a pass-through airflow design and a metal backplate. The Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case.
SFF-Ready is NVIDIA's size guideline, not a guarantee the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge fits every small case. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto was the next step up.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5050
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Thickness
- 2-slot
- Power connector
- 1 x 8-pin
- SFF-Ready
- Yes
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 2.1b, 1 x HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A single 8-pin power connector
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- Two 90mm BladeLink fans
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory trails the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto (16GB)
The catch
If video memory is your priority, the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto (16GB) is the stronger choice.
How We Chose
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- The figures behind the order
- We compared five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and cooler thickness as the makers state them. These are research figures, not bench results: 3 of 5 picks leave out cooler thickness.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto to the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge, state GPU, video memory and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto, the PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto and the ASUS Dual 5070 OC give no cooler thickness; the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge give no boost clock.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge ($250 to $500) to the ASUS Dual 5070 OC ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Minecraft Shaders
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
The PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto tops video memory at 16GB and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge sits lowest at 8GB; 2 picks share the top figure. The PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto is the pick for video memory.
Cooler thickness
Here cooler thickness runs from 2.5-slot on the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB to 2-slot on the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge, a 20% spread. Start with the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge if cooler thickness decides it. The PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto, the PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto and the ASUS Dual 5070 OC give no cooler thickness figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
A graphics card's bare circuit board around the GPU die Memory
The PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge list GDDR6; the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB and the ASUS Dual 5070 OC list GDDR7; the PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto lists GDDR6X.
Boost clock
The PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto lists 2535MHz; the PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto lists 2475MHz; the ASUS Dual 5070 OC lists 2572MHz (OC mode). Sort out boost clock before price: it splits 3 stated picks into groups of 1, 1 and 1.
Setup checks
No dimensions are published for the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. The ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case.
How to Choose a GPUs for Minecraft Shaders
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who want dual-fan cooler | PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto | A dual-fan cooler |
| Buyers who want 2.5-slot design | ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB | A 2.5-slot design |
| Buyers who want triple-fan cooler with Epic-X RGB lighting | PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto | A triple-fan cooler with Epic-X RGB lighting |
| Buyers who want 0dB fan stop at light loads and can spend more than the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB costs | ASUS Dual 5070 OC | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with 0dB fan stop at light loads |
| Getting two 90mm BladeLink fans for the least money | Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge | The lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB at 16GB. "Not listed" marks cooler thickness where the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto, the PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto and the ASUS Dual 5070 OC leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto | RTX 4060 Ti | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB | RTX 5060 Ti | 16GB | GDDR7 | 2.5-slot |
| PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto | RTX 4070 | 12GB | GDDR6X | Not listed |
| ASUS Dual 5070 OC | RTX 5070 | 12GB | GDDR7 | Not listed |
| Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge | RTX 5050 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 2-slot |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge was the lowest-priced pick ($250 to $500) and the ASUS Dual 5070 OC the highest ($500 to $1000) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $250 to $500 | Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge |
| About $500 to $1000 | PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto, PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto, ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB, ASUS Dual 5070 OC |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge ahead of the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB on cooler thickness?
The Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge comes out best at 2-slot, with the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB at 2.5-slot. No cooler thickness figure is published for the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto, the PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto and the ASUS Dual 5070 OC, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
What does the ASUS Dual 5070 OC add over the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge?
The spec sheets show video memory (12GB against 8GB) in its favour. On our last price check the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge was in the $250 to $500 tier and the ASUS Dual 5070 OC in the $500 to $1000 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if video memory decides your purchase.
Why is the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge our Lowest Price Here pick?
The label rests on the lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing. It is aimed at getting two 90mm BladeLink fans for the least money.
Do the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto and the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB differ on GPU?
The PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto uses RTX 4060 Ti; the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB uses RTX 5060 Ti; the PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto uses RTX 4070; the ASUS Dual 5070 OC uses RTX 5070; the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge uses RTX 5050.
Will the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB work with my setup?
The ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB with the maker. In this guide it ranks second of 5, and second of 5 on video memory (16GB).
What extras do the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto and the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB include?
The PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto: a dual-fan cooler. The ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB: a 2.5-slot design. The PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto: a triple-fan cooler with Epic-X RGB lighting.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the PNY 4060 Ti 16GB Verto, chosen for a dual-fan cooler. Look at the ASUS Prime 5060 Ti 16GB for a 2.5-slot design, the PNY 4070 XLR8 Verto for a triple-fan cooler with Epic-X RGB lighting and the ASUS Dual 5070 OC for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with 0dB fan stop at light loads if those matter more to you.
Allocate more RAM to Minecraft for big shader packs.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards for 1440p Gaming
- Related guideThe Best Budget Graphics Cards
- Lower budgetThe Best GPUs Under $300
- Higher budgetThe Best High-End GPUs
- ExplainerHow Much VRAM Do You Need?
- ExplainerGPU Power Connectors Explained
- Check compatibility: power suppliesHow Much PSU Wattage Does Your PC Need?
- Similar guideThe Best GPUs for Minecraft
- Topic hubAll graphics cards guides
About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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