NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Review: Entry-Level Ray Tracing

Introduction

The GeForce RTX 2060 represented NVIDIA's first attempt to bring ray tracing technology to a more mainstream price point. As the entry-level RTX card of its generation, it aimed to provide a taste of next-generation features while maintaining strong traditional gaming performance.

Design and Build Quality

The Founders Edition demonstrates NVIDIA's commitment to quality even at lower price points, featuring a compact dual-fan design that efficiently manages thermals.

Gaming Performance

The RTX 2060 delivers strong performance at 1080p resolution, though modern titles may require some settings adjustments for optimal framerates.

1080p Gaming Performance

• Cyberpunk 2077 (Ray Tracing Medium): 55 FPS
• Microsoft Flight Simulator: 68 FPS
• Red Dead Redemption 2: 82 FPS
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III: 98 FPS

Ray Tracing and DLSS

As an entry-level RTX card, ray tracing performance is modest, but DLSS support helps maintain playable framerates in supported titles at 1080p.

Content Creation

The RTX 2060 provides adequate performance for basic content creation:

• Video Editing: Good performance with 1080p footage
• Streaming: Reliable NVENC encoding
• 3D Rendering: Basic capabilities for hobby work

Thermal and Power Performance

The cooling solution proves effective for the card's modest power requirements:

• Load Temperatures: 68°C average under full load
• Fan Noise: 32dB under typical gaming loads
• Power Draw: 160W typical gaming power draw

Memory Configuration

The 6GB GDDR6 memory provides:

• Memory Bandwidth: 336 GB/s
• Memory Interface: 192-bit
• Memory Type: GDDR6

Overclocking

The RTX 2060 shows decent overclocking potential:

• Core: +120 MHz boost clock typical
• Memory: +700 MHz effective typical
• Power Limit: 106% maximum

These overclocks typically result in a 4-6% performance improvement.

Value and Conclusion

While superseded by both the SUPER variant and newer generations, the RTX 2060 represented an important milestone in bringing ray tracing technology to a more accessible price point. Its performance remains adequate for 1080p gaming in most scenarios.

Long-term Considerations

The 6GB VRAM capacity may become limiting in modern titles, particularly at higher resolutions or texture settings. However, DLSS support helps maintain the card's relevance for 1080p gaming.