The Intel Core i9 11900k ( Amazon ) is the leading processor considering value for money and leading performance in the single-core arena. It is part of the 11th generation of Intel processors with support for PCIe 4.0. It opens up new high-end component options for Intel, and with the Z590 supporting high-speed connectivity for GPUs and M.2 drives, essential for modern gaming applications. As a gamer, you would need the best graphics card for i9 11900K. Because it is a high-end CPU, the GPUs we have selected are also high-end, which will be the best match for your gaming rig.
The latest GPUs offered by both AMD and Nvidia are based on PCIe 4.0. The RTX 3000 series is leading the industry with its ray-tracing technology and resolution upscaling options. AMD is providing alternate options that perform better raw than ray-tracing. We will discuss all these minute details in our review to help you decide what is best for you. Manufacturers have developed innovative ways to power these GPUs and provide a powerful cooling system to keep the GPU running at top performance. We have selected the best manufacturers for the best GPUs to make your decision-making process easy.
Quick Shopping Tips:
GPU and Graphic Card: Often, new buyers, do not know the difference between GPU and GFX card, which leads to purchasing a product that is sometimes not entirely as per user requirement. GPU is the crucial component of the graphic card which processes all the geometries within the gaming environment. The graphic card acts as a base on which the building blocks are set: the GPU, memory, cooling system, power supply, and connectivity.
Ray-Tracing: It is a graphical method developed by GPU manufacturers in which they simulate the properties of light incorporated into the gaming atmosphere similar to that of real life. It creates natural shadows and reflection, but this requires intense processing power, which GPU manufacturers have successfully achieved using their hardware. Nvidia’s is now on to their 2nd generation of ray-tracing, and AMD has just entered the market with their all-new ray-tracing enabled GPUs.
Cooling: GPUs are cooled by different techniques, and manufacturers have developed unique designs to make the heat removal process efficient. They can be liquid-cooled or air-cooled, depending on the load that they have to bear. The new Nvidia 3000 series and AMD RX 6000 series are giant cards mainly due to the heat load that GPUs put on them. The temperature needs to remain under 90oC for stable operation and long life.
Aesthetics: It could be the most vital decision-making for some users. Graphic cards stand out due to their large size, and manufacturers have used the available space on top of graphic cards efficiently to incorporate different styles of RGB and logos. Graphic cards can be vertically mounted using a riser to make them more visible and avoid physical stress caused by the GFX card being mounted horizontally.
Best Graphics Cards for i9 11900K at a glance:
- Radeon RX 6800
- Nvidia RTX 3070
- XFX RX 5600 XT THICC II Pro
- Radeon RX 6900 XT
- GeForce RTX 3090
- Radeon RX 6800 XT
- GeForce RTX 3080
- ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 OC
The Best Graphics Cards for i9 11900K You Can Buy Today
Radeon RX 6800
Best Mid-Range Graphics Card for i9 11900K
SPECIFICATIONS
GPU: AMD | GPU Cores: 3840 Units | Boost Clock: 1925 MHz | Video RAM: 16 GB | TDP: 250W
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Zone-based cooling
✓ Anti-Bending brackets
✓ 100+ fps performance @1440p
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No dual BIOS switch
✗ No AMD PRO manageability
Radeon RX 6800 is the best mid-range graphics card for i9 11900K. It’s not only mid-range, but it also has great value for money. It provides above 100 fps performance at 1440p resolution on top gaming titles like Borderlands 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, and The Witcher 3. MSI also did an incredible job manufacturing and designing a graphic card that uses this GPU and provides proper world-class performance in gaming, making it the best graphics card for i9 11900K. It uses the latest Torx Fan 4.0, consisting of 10 fins, out of which two are fused in pairs to form a shroud.
There is no dual BIOS physical switch option on this GPU; it can only be overclocked using the MSI software. It has no choice of connecting USB-C on the IO panel and has four display ports with one HDMI port, allowing five simultaneous display devices. The HDMI is version 2.1, which supports 4K@120Hz. Gamers need to have 120Hz enabled on their ports to utilize the FreeSync capability of this graphic card properly.
MSI has carefully designed the graphic card using high-end fans and heat transfer tubes. The tubes are flattened and come in direct contact with the surface of the GPU to ensure maximum heat is transferred, and a minor delay in response is achieved. The Tri fan works in a manner to target specific heat-loaded areas at varying speeds. The rotations are also carefully set to make sure that there is the least turbulent flow.
Nvidia RTX 3070
Best Mid-Price Graphics Card for i9 11900K
SPECIFICATIONS
GPU: Nvidia | GPU Cores: 5888 Units | Boost Clock: 1755 MHz | Video RAM: 8 GB | TDP: 220W
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Zero fan speed under IDLE
✓ Second generation Ray-Tracing
✓ High heat transfer Graphene backplate
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No RGB Lighting
✗ Not suitable for small chassis
Nvidia RTX 3070 is the highest value for money graphic card that you can buy with stable ray-tracing capability. It features the PCIe 4.0 interface for high-speed connectivity required for ray-tracing enabled GPUs, and these properties make it the best mid-price graphics card for i9 11900K. The power consumption is moderate compared to other graphic cards with similar GPUs. The 5888 cores are high enough for processing the realistic effects of light reflecting off the surface. The massive generation on generation frame rate improvements has made this GPU a hot favorite of gamers and crypto miners.
Graphics card availability is a big problem due to its feasibility in the mining industry; the scalpers have bought all the GPUs off the shelves. There is also no RGB on the graphic card, making it an attractive choice for some users and might turn down for some buyers. We have selected another MSI-based graphic card due to its high manufacturing quality and reasonable pricing. It is fitted with a graphene backplate that reinforces the whole graphic card but has high heat transfer properties required for cooling. They have used the TORX FAN 3.0 for this graphic card providing better flow at lower noise levels. The zero frozr stops the fan completely when not under loaded conditions.
XFX RX 5600 XT THICC II Pro
Best Entry-Level Graphics Card for i9 11900K
SPECIFICATIONS
GPU: AMD | GPU Cores: 2304 Units | Boost Clock: 1620 MHz | Video RAM: 6 GB | TDP: 220W
REASONS TO BUY
✓ 1080p gaming king
✓ Clocked higher than FE
✓ PCI Express 4.0 compatible
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No support for G-Sync
✗ No reinforced backplate
XFX RX 5600 XT THICC II Pro is the best entry-level graphics card for i9 11900K. If you are a casual person who wants to explore the latest AAA titles and play them with FreeSync enabled at 60fps running at 1440p resolution, then this graphic card is a perfect choice. The 6 GB RAM is enough for all the latest games available in the market. Power consumption is low due to the RDNA architecture utilizing the 7nm technology.
It’s a 5000 series Radeon card which does not feature ray-tracing technology. If you are looking to play CyberPunk 2077 at its highest potential aesthetics, you should go for the more expensive 6000 series. The graphic card is somewhat built, but we did not see a metallic backplate supporting the graphic card structure and solid. XFX has smartly included the most required features on the video card.
The key feature which makes this graphic card stand out is the frame rate while running games in 1080p resolutions. The display is gorgeous and considering that it’s the most played gaming resolution as per steam, it’s not a bad option for any gamer. PUBG and Overwatch run at above 60+fps on 1440p resolution, which is high enough for professional games. It is backed by three years of warranty for long-term reliability.
Radeon RX 6900 XT
Best 1440p Graphics Card for i9 11900K
SPECIFICATIONS
GPU: AMD | GPU Cores: 5120 Units | Boost Clock: 2365 MHz | Video RAM: 16 GB | TDP: 325W
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Dual BIOS ready
✓ FidelityFX & Anti-Lag
✓ Supports up to 6 displays
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No AMD Infinity Guard
✗ No direct contact of heat pipes
Radeon RX 6900 XT is the best 1440p graphics card for i9 11900K considering that it can run games at higher frame rates without the ray-tracing enabled. The GPU is powerful enough to provide 200+fps gaming performance on top AAA titles. The GPU has incredible 5120 cores to power your gaming rig. The GPU consumes only 325W under peak load conditions. XFX Speedster MERC 319 is the best graphics card for i9 11900K available in the market for this GPU.
The first generation of ray-tracing is an incredible achievement by AMD. Still, we couldn’t help but notice that the frame rates drastically drop, making any game unplayable with ray-tracing. There is no RGB sync on the board, and the hefty and long graphic card makes it difficult to fit in small enclosures. The motherboard slot’s additional reinforcement would be required if planned to be mounted horizontally; otherwise, purchasing a support bracket for durability and prolonged lifetime would be feasible.
This XFX graphic card model has unique features like the dual bios ready physical button for rapid switching. The 14+2 VRM is an incredible resource that can be utilized by an AMD processor if used to improve performance. An aluminum backplate makes the graphic card solid, and a three-year warranty speaks for its durability. They have included an LED bar for visibility and identification of this beast, and the complete frame is made using aluminum to provide long-lasting performance.
GeForce RTX 3090
Best 4K Graphics Card for i9 11900K
SPECIFICATIONS
GPU: Nvidia | GPU Cores: 10496 | Boost Clock: 1700 GHz | Video RAM: 24GB | TDP: 350W
REASONS TO BUY
✓ RV ready
✓ Excellent for 8k gaming
✓ DLSS and Ansel are capable
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No USB-C output port
✗ No option to utilize VRM
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 is the best 4K graphics card for i9 11900K that a user can buy in the market. There is no competition to the power that RTX 3090 holds. With 10496 GPU cores, it can power 8k gaming with playable 30+fps. It has industry-most leading features like DLSS, G-Sync, Ansel, and NVLink for unprecedented gaming performance. DLSS can drastically improve gaming frame rates and make 8k playable at 60fps and 4k gaming above 100fps.
We picked the founders edition(FE) graphic card for this GPU since it’s a considerable investment. It is priced higher than any other GPU in the market, and being the king of all GPUs makes it worth the money. The GPU draws 350W of power from the PSU and dissipates significant heat into the air requiring a massive cooling system. The size is enormous and requires a careful selection of chassis as not all chassis can fit this humongous card.
Features like Ansel can make realistic screenshots of games and through AI-based enhancement or user base. Nvidia uses its Ampere architecture featuring the 2nd generation of ray tracing technology. The graphic card is FE, the most stable version in the market, featuring three display ports and one HDMI port that is 8k enabled. It takes up three slots, so users should carefully install micro-ATX motherboards in a chassis.
Radeon RX 6800 XT
Best 1080p Graphics Card for i9 11900K
SPECIFICATIONS
GPU: AMD | GPU Cores: 4608 Units | Boost Clock: 2360 MHz | Video RAM: 16 GB | TDP: 330W
REASONS TO BUY
✓ USB-C output port
✓ 14+2 Power Phase VRM
✓ Supports OpenGL & OpenCL
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No anti-bending bracket
✗ No SmartShift Technology
AMD’s Radeon RX 6800 XT is an incredible choice for users looking for maximum value for money and powerful raw performance without the ray-tracing. The powerful RDNA 2 architecture results in massive frame rates in top AAA titles like 100+fps on the Horizon Zero Dawn at 1440p resolution with maxed-out settings. It is the best 1080p graphics card for i9 11900K. We have selected XFX Speedster MERC 319 as the graphic card for this GPU.
Like any other XFX Speedster graphic card bundle, it also does not include the anti-bending device. It does not feature the direct contact heat pipe resulting in a sluggish response to changing heat demands. The GPU has an LED to make the GPU name shine through your side window. It’s a massive card, so ensure that your PC case can accommodate a lengthy card—the recommended 450mm to 600mm space horizontally at the PCIe x16 slot.
Being the best graphics card for i9 11900K is also aesthetically one of the best-made graphic cards in the market. There is a lot of thought in designing the graphic card backplate with enough perforations to let air pass through and remain visually pleasing. The white and black combination makes the graphic card stand out. The dual BIOS switch is an effortless way of changing profiles for the graphic card. This graphic card can take the clock speed of the GPU to an incredible 2340MHz, which is above the FE version.
GeForce RTX 3080
Best Competitive Graphics Card for i9 11900K
SPECIFICATIONS
GPU: Nvidia | GPU Cores: 8704 Units | Boost Clock: 1815 MHz | Video RAM: 10 GB | TDP: 300W
REASONS TO BUY
✓ GPU Tweak II
✓ Powered by AI algorithms
✓ TUF customizable RGB logo
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No USB-C connection
✗ No Adaptive VSync compatible
ASUS has been making gaming products for decades, and they have mastered their capabilities in making graphics cards. We selected the Asus TUF series for GeForce RTX 3080 GPU as the graphic card. It has reasonable pricing compared to the other series and is the best competitive graphics card for i9 11900K. The 8704 units of GPU cores are enough to power through the rays that are simulated in high-end games like CyberPunk 2077.
The build quality in terms of the body is much more open than other graphic card versions of this GPU. The main highlight of the TUF series is the hardware onboard, which makes it the best graphics card for i9 11900K. The shroud does not cover the whole body and exposes fins. However, the heat contact plate has been made with superior quality and finish to improve the contact area. The fans also spin in opposite directions to maximize flow with minimum noise levels.
10GB of gaming memory is more than enough to support even the most memory-intensive open-world games. It runs any esports game like a breeze with stable 200+fps at 1440p resolution. It also features high-end features like ray-tracing and G-Sync. You can also use the upscaling technique to improve the frames on high resolutions such as 4k or 8k. This GPU can run 60+fps 4k resolution on all AAA games.
ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 OC
Best White Graphics Card for i9 11900K
SPECIFICATIONS
GPU: Nvidia | GPU Cores: 5888 Units | Boost Clock: 1935 MHz | Video RAM: 8 GB | TDP: 365W
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Axial-tech fan design
✓ White aesthetics with RGB
✓ GeForce Game Ready Driver
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No support for NVlink
✗ No GDDR6X compatible
ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 OC is an excellent value-for-money graphic card. The availability compared to other graphic cards is better in the market. It is the best white graphics card for i9 11900K. RTX 3070 can play power games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Metro Exodus, CyberPunk 2077, and Rise of the Tomb Raider at above 60+fps running at 1440p resolution. The performance of this graphic card beats Nvidia’s own RTX 2080 Ti from the previous generation, which makes it an excellent choice for upgrading.
ROG products are meant to make a statement when it comes to aesthetics. The RGB has been smartly incorporated into the competing product, but we did not see backlighting of the logo. There is also no mention of the GPU on the sides. We did expect a dual BIOS switch, considering that this product is meant to be overclocked. It has a solid backplate, but the front shroud looks weak.
Asus has used premium alloy chokes and power components to ensure that the GPU remains powered for an extended time. The fans are axial flow type, and the center fan turns in the opposite direction to the other two fans so that minimum restriction to flow is created. Display output has been manufactured to support up to 8k resolutions, which is the trademark of the RTX 3000 series.
Conclusion
We have featured some of the top GPUs in the market and handpicked the best graphics card for i9 11900K a user can buy for that GPU. We took into account the GPU price bracket and decided on the top graphic card quality and price so that you don’t have to go through decision-making trouble. Scarce graphic cards in the market have led gamers to change their decision-making tactic. As reviewers, we recommend that our readers buy a graphic card that runs ray-tracing and has DLSS enabled for upscaling resolutions for large displays.
If you are a high fps fan, then DLSS is worth it because of the minor difference in aesthetics and massive performance boost. Nvidia graphic cards have been behind in featuring a USB-C port as a port on the IO panel, but AMD 6000 series has the option. AMD offers better GPUs if you are looking for a low-cost solution with ray-tracing enabled and better raw performance. In the end, it is all about user preference, and we hope you find the right graphic card for your gaming or creative needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPU goes with i9 11900K?
No processor is better in performance when compared with i9 11900k, and a suitable pair for it will be GeForce RTX 3090 due to its unprecedented top performance. I9 11900k is overkill for most games, leading to GPU being the bottleneck in top ray-tracing enabled games, but it’s definitely worth the money.
Is i9 11900K good for gaming?
i9 11900K is an incredible processor for gaming. It is overkill for most gaming titles, even one of the most powerful GPUs like the Radeon RX 6900 XT bottlenecks compared to this processor. It is a future-proof investment, and i9 11900k will last long due to its compatibility with PCIe 4.0.
What GPU is best for i9 11900K?
Radeon RX 6800 is the best choice for i9 11900k because of its price and performance ratio. The availability is also better compared to Nvidia 3000 series GPUs. The 7nm technology is also better in TDP and overall power consumption due to the RDNA 2 structure. It also features ray-tracing and SAM for improved overall performance.
