OVERALL
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
REVIEWS
ALTERNATIVES

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z Review | 118 Data compared

double-arrow
  • Avg. price in UK: ~£370
  • Avg. price in US: ~$390
  • VRAM: 6 GB
  • Memory bus width: 192 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 190 W

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

5.7

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

5.2

Technical Score

10.0%

9.5

User score

Good
5.2

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

3.9

Performance

24.0%

3.7

Memory

12.0%

8.5

Power & Cooling

11.0%

8.7

Platform & Features

5.0%

6.8

Design

4.0%

8.1

Connectivity & Media

Good
9.5

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

9.3

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.7
(1031)
amazon
4.6
(554)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
(1062)
Amazon_logo.png
4.6
(550)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Exceptional
  • 2.6
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.8

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.2

    VRAM

    20.0%

    2.4

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.0
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    ?

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    2.2

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.8

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.5
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.8

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.2

    VRAM

    10.0%

    2.4

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.3
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.8

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    2.2

    VRAM

    15.0%

    2.4

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.4
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.8

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    2.2

    VRAM

    20.0%

    2.4

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
  • msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
  • msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
  • msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
  • msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
  • msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
  • msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
  • msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
  • msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z
msi-geforce-rtx-2060-gaming-z

Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z is a premium mid-range graphics card powered by the Turing architecture, featuring 1920 CUDA cores and 6GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus. It boasts a high factory overclock with a boost clock of 1830 MHz and utilizes the Twin Frozr 7 thermal design with Torx 3.0 fans for superior cooling. Main pros include its exceptionally quiet operation, idle-fan-stop technology (Zero Frozr), and robust build quality with a brushed metal backplate. On the downside, it carries a significant price premium over the Founders Edition, lacks a USB-C port, and its 6GB VRAM can be a limiting factor in modern, memory-intensive titles.

Technical Specifications of MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

3.9

Performance

24.0%

3.7

Memory

12.0%

8.5

Power & Cooling

11.0%

8.7

Platform & Features

5.0%

6.8

Design

4.0%

8.1

Connectivity & Media

5.2
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a technical score of 5.24 points, which is lower than that of 75.2% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

9.3

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.7
(1031)
amazon
4.6
(554)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
(1062)
Amazon_logo.png
4.6
(550)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

9.5
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a user score of 9.53 points, which is higher than that of 96% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
10
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a popularity of 10 points, which is higher than 77.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

5.7

Overall score

40.0%

8.6

Price

6.5
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.5 points, which is lower than 61.8% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

?
3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

?
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

?
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

?
Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

7.03 TFLOPS
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z delivers 7.03 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 83.5% of graphics cards.
Show more
VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

6 GB
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has 6 GB of VRAM, which is less than 82.7% of graphics cards and equal to 5.1% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR6
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

?
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

192 bit
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z uses a 192 bit memory bus, which is narrower than that of 50.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 18.8% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

336 GB/s
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z reaches 336 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 63.8% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1.9% of graphics cards.
Show more
PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

3.0
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z supports PCIe 3.0, which is older than on 77.6% of graphics cards and equal to 20.3% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

x16
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 31.5% of graphics cards and equal to 68.6% of graphics cards.
DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

?
Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

1.3
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z supports Vulkan 1.3, which is older than on 73.5% of graphics cards and equal to 22.5% of graphics cards.
OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.5
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z supports OpenGL 4.5, which is older than on 95.2% of graphics cards and equal to 3.3% of graphics cards.
Show more
Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

4
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z supports up to 4 displays, which is more than 7.8% of graphics cards and equal to 89.2% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

7680x4320
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320, which is higher than that of 44.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 55.6% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

3
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z offers 3 DisplayPort outputs, which is more than 20.9% of graphics cards and equal to 77.3% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

1.4
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z supports DisplayPort 1.4, which is older than on 77.3% of graphics cards and equal to 16.2% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

8.1 Gbps
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z supports DisplayPort link rates up to 8.1 Gbps, which is slower than on 50.4% of graphics cards and equal to 40.5% of graphics cards.
Show more
Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

190 W
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a TDP of 190 W, which is lower than that of 55.3% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.9% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

190 W
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z draws 190 W under peak load, which is lower than 56.4% of graphics cards and equal to 0.7% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

500 W
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z recommends a 500 W PSU, which is lower than that of 76.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 9.6% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

200 W
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a board power limit of 200 W, which is lower than that of 54.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 3.4% of graphics cards.
PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

?
Show more
Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

?
Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

247 mm
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z is 247 mm long, which is shorter than 70.7% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.8% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

129 mm
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z is 129 mm tall, which is taller than 53.4% of graphics cards and equal in height to 0.7% of graphics cards.
Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

?
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

957 g
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z weighs 957 g, which is lighter than 55.9% of graphics cards and equal in weight to 0.2% of graphics cards.
Show more

MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z vs the average graphics card

  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
    What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
    When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.500 W vs 650 W
  • 38.37 mm shorter card length
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z is shorter than the average graphics card (247 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
    What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
    When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z is shorter than the average graphics card (247 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.247 mm vs 285.37 mm
  • 19.2% higher user score
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a higher user score than the average graphics card (9.53 vs 8.000).
    What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.
    When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a higher user score than the average graphics card (9.53 vs 8.000).9.53 vs 8
  • 5 °C higher thermal ceiling
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a higher thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (88 °C vs 93 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 93 °C.
    What it is: Maximum safe junction temperature of the GPU die
    When it matters: When you are evaluating thermal headroom and want to know how close the GPU can run to its official ceiling before throttling behavior becomes a concern.

    Importance: LOW

    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a higher thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (88 °C vs 93 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 93 °C.88 °C vs 93 °C
  • 48 more AI cores
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has more AI cores than the average graphics card (240 vs 192). The average graphics card has 192 AI cores.
    What it is: Number of tensor or AI processing cores
    When it matters: When AI features, frame generation, or creator tools use dedicated matrix hardware.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has more AI cores than the average graphics card (240 vs 192). The average graphics card has 192 AI cores.240 vs 192
  • 4.34x more popular
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z is more popular than the average graphics card (10.00 vs 2.303).
    What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
    When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z is more popular than the average graphics card (10.00 vs 2.303).10 vs 2.3
  • 48 more AI cores
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has more AI cores than the average graphics card (240 vs 192). The average graphics card has 192 AI cores.
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 5 °C higher thermal ceiling
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a higher thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (88 °C vs 93 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 93 °C.
  • 38.37 mm shorter card length
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z is shorter than the average graphics card (247 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.

Total
Overall
Performance
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 26.8% lower boost clock speed
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,830 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • 18 fewer ray tracing cores
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (30 vs 48). The average graphics card has 48 ray tracing cores.
  • 28.9% lower base clock speed
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,365 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 64 fewer TMUs
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (120 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 10 fewer compute units
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (30 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 41.7% lower texture rate
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (219.6 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 46.8% lower pixel rate
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (87.8 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 16 fewer ROPs
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (48 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 52.4% lower FP16 performance
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a lower FP16 performance than the average graphics card (14.1 TFLOPS vs 29.5 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP16 performance of 29.5 TFLOPS.
  • 2,432 fewer FP32 units
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (1,920 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 69.6% lower compute throughput
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (7 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 6 GB less VRAM
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (6 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 64 bit narrower memory bus
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (192 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
  • 26.3% slower memory speed
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (14,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 90.6% smaller L2 cache
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (3 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • 25% lower memory bandwidth
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (336 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 50% smaller L1 cache
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (64 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 2.4x larger process node
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a higher process node than the average graphics card (12 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • Older PCIe version
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • 4 older
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,019 vs 2,023).
  • Older Vulkan version
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z supports an older Vulkan version than the average graphics card (1.3 vs 1.4).
  • Older OpenGL version
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z supports an older OpenGL version than the average graphics card (4.5 vs 4.6).
  • Older encoder generation
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z uses an older encoder generation than the average graphics card (7 vs 8). The average graphics card uses encoder generation 8.
  • 46.3% larger GPU die
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a higher GPU die size than the average graphics card (445 mm² vs 304.25 mm²). The average graphics card has a GPU die size of 304.25 mm².
  • No AV1 decoding
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • Older DisplayPort version
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.4 vs 1.4a).
  • Older HDMI version
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (2.0b vs 2.1).
  • Older HDCP version
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (2.2 vs 2.3).
  • 1 fewer fans
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
  • 13 °C higher idle temperature
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a higher idle temperature than the average graphics card (51 °C vs 38 °C). The average graphics card has an idle temperature of 38 °C.
  • 26.8% lower boost clock speed
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,830 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
    What it is: Maximum boost frequency the GPU can reach under load
    When it matters: When you want a rough idea of peak advertised frequency, while knowing real sustained clocks still depend on cooling and power limits.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,830 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.1830 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 6 GB less VRAM
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (6 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
    What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
    When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (6 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.6 GB vs 12 GB
  • 2.4x larger process node
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a higher process node than the average graphics card (12 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a higher process node than the average graphics card (12 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.12 nm vs 5 nm
  • 64 bit narrower memory bus
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (192 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
    What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
    When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (192 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.192 bit vs 256 bit
  • 1 fewer fans
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).2 vs 3
  • 18 fewer ray tracing cores
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (30 vs 48). The average graphics card has 48 ray tracing cores.
    What it is: Number of dedicated ray tracing processing cores or units
    When it matters: When you care about ray-traced lighting, reflections, and shadows in newer games.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (30 vs 48). The average graphics card has 48 ray tracing cores.30 vs 48
  • 28.9% lower base clock speed
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,365 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
    What it is: Base operating frequency of the GPU core under standard conditions
    When it matters: When you want to understand the card's guaranteed starting frequency instead of looking only at optimistic boost figures.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,365 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.1365 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 10 fewer compute units
    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (30 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
    When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.

    Importance: HIGH

    MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (30 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.30 vs 40
Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling

Graphic comparison of MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z and

Attribute category
Attribute
No results found

Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.7
1031 Reviews
amazon
4.6
554 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
1062 Reviews
Amazon_logo.png
4.6
550 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z?

  • Excellent cooling performance with Twin Frozr 7 design keeping temps around 65-70°C
  • Extremely quiet operation, including a zero RPM 'idle-fan-stop' mode
  • Strong out-of-the-box factory overclock (1830 MHz boost)
  • Premium build quality featuring a brushed metal backplate
  • Attractive, customizable Mystic Light RGB lighting
  • Solid 1080p and 1440p gaming performance, comparable to high-end previous-gen cards

What customers dislike about MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z?

  • Higher price point compared to entry-level RTX 2060 models
  • 6GB of VRAM can be a bottleneck for newer, more demanding titles
  • Triple-slot thickness may limit compatibility in smaller PC cases
  • Lacks a USB-C/VirtualLink port present on the Founders Edition
  • Relatively high power consumption due to the factory overclock and increased power limit

Expert reviews

G
guru3d.com
15/01/2019
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z review - Guru 3d

The Guru3D review highlights the MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z 6G as a premium, highly effective mid-range graphics card built on NVIDIA's Turing TU106 architecture. A major pro of this specific edition is its aggressive factory overclock, boosting core clock frequencies up to 1830 MHz right out of the box to deliver considerably faster performance than the standard Founder's...Read more

B
bit-tech.net
05/03/2019
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z Review | bit-tech.net

The bit-tech review concludes that the MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z is the best third-party variant of the RTX 2060 tested by the publication. The core pros of this graphics card center on its exceptional out-of-the-box performance and brilliant thermal engineering. It features a generous factory overclock that boosts flawlessly to 1,980MHz under load without throttling, rendering...Read more

T
tektick.com
12/11/2019
MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z Review - TekTick Would you like to see a performance comparison between this specific Gaming Z model and the standard Founders E...

The MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z is a highly equipped, premium mid-range graphics card featuring a robust Twin Frozr VII cooling design. Built primarily for 1440p gaming or high-refresh-rate 1080p setups, it reliably hits over 100 FPS in modern titles. The card comes with a significant factory overclock, pushing a stock boost clock of 1830 MHz compared to the standard 1680 MHz model, which...Read more

N
notebookcheck.net
28/03/2019
MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z 6G Desktop Graphics Card Review - NotebookCheck

The MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z 6G is a budget-friendly Turing-based desktop graphics card that introduces features like ray tracing and DLSS at a lower price point than premium RTX models. Utilizing a non-reference design with a massive 2.5-slot cooler, it features three DisplayPort 1.4 connectors and one HDMI 2.0b port while requiring an 8-pin power connector. Built on a 12 nm TU106...Read more

T
tweaktown.com
01/02/2019
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 GAMING Z Review - TweakTown(bit-tech.net) | 5 March 2019 | MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z Review | bit-tech.net

The MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z is a highly rated graphics card that delivers exceptional out-of-the-box performance by utilizing the 12nm Turing-based TU106 GPU paired with 6GB of fast GDDR6 memory. MSI pushes this model to the limit with a 150MHz factory overclock on the boost clock, reaching 1830MHz, which makes it the fastest out-of-the-box RTX 2060 available on the market. To...Read more

I
igorslab.de
21/01/2019
Testing MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z | igorsLAB(overclock3d.net) | 24 January 2019 | MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z Review - OC3D

The MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z is a highly customized, factory-overclocked graphics card that significantly outperforms Nvidia's standard Founders Edition (FE) out of the box. Built on the Turing TU106 architecture, it features 1,920 CUDA cores, 6GB of GDDR6 memory, and an aggressive factory-boosted clock rate of 1,830 MHz (compared to the FE's 1,680 MHz). To sustain these higher speeds,...Read more

K
kitguru.net
18/01/2019
MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z 6G Review - KitGuru

The MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z 6G graphics card is a premium custom option that delivers excellent out-of-the-box performance thanks to its factory overclock. KitGuru awarded the card a 7.5 out of 10 rating, highlighting its impressive design and technical upgrades. It features a reference-beating boost clock of 1830MHz ( MHz increase from reference speeds) while keeping its 6GB of GDDR6...Read more

T
techpowerup.com
18/01/2019
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z 6 GB Review | TechPowerUp

The TechPowerUp review of the MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z identifies it as a premium, factory-overclocked card, delivering 4% higher performance than the reference model via an 1830 MHz boost. Key pros include the superior Twin Frozr 7 cooling system, which ensures extremely low temperatures, high power limits for overclocking, and a silent idle-fan-stop feature. Conversely, the...Read more

B
bit-tech.net
05/03/2019
MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z Review | bit-tech.net

The MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z is a premium graphics card featuring a factory-overclocked boost clock of 1,830MHz alongside 6GB of GDDR6 memory. Built using Nvidia's binned '-A' variant GPU, it features a 5 phase power configuration and relies on MSI's Twin Frozr 7 thermal design. This cooling system utilises dual Torx 3.0 fans with semi-passive "Zero Frozr" technology that...Read more

O
overclock3d.net
24/01/2019
MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z Review - OC3D

The MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z is a highly efficient mid-range card featuring a robust Twin Frozr cooling system that delivers quiet, high-speed performance, often exceeding 2 GHz. Key pros include excellent build quality with a brushed metal backplate, exceptional overclocking potential, and quiet thermal management. Conversely, the card lacks USB Type-C VirtualLink and DVI ports,...Read more

P
pcgameshardware.de
23/05/2019
[PLUS] Geforce RTX 2060 + 5 Custom-Designs im Test - PCGH and

PC Games Hardware evaluated five custom-design GeForce RTX 2060 cards, highlighting superior cooling, quieter operation, and higher factory overclocks compared to the reference design, particularly in premium models like the Asus ROG Strix and MSI Gaming Z. While delivering strong 1080p and 1440p performance with ray tracing, these custom cards are limited by higher...Read more

(Translated)Show original
T
tomshardware.fr
11/02/2019
Test : MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z, une carte graphique sous stéroïdes. Find more information on Tom's Hardware.

The MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z is a factory-overclocked graphics card featuring a robust, custom-engineered PCB that relies on an older 8-layer PG160 design rather than the standard 6-layer configuration. It is equipped with a TU106 Turing architecture GPU, delivering 1,920 CUDA cores, a boosted clock speed of 1830 MHz, and 6GB of GDDR6 memory. In performance testing, it runs roughly 5%...Read more

(Translated)Show original
T
techtesters.eu
08/04/2019
The Division 2 GPU & CPU Performance review Techtesters

The performance review for Tom Clancy's The Division 2 highlights substantial improvements over its predecessor, shifting into a faster, more engaging looter-shooter format with significantly reduced downtime and less tedious inventory management. On the pros side, the game stands out for its strong visual and audio quality, smooth performance optimization, and highly responsive...Read more

(Translated)Show original

Video reviews

Best alternatives

asrock-radeon-rx-7700-xt-challenger-oc
ASRock Radeon RX 7700 XT Challenger OC

Graphics cards

6.8
gigabyte-radeon-rx-9060-xt-gaming-oc-16gb
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 16GB

Graphics cards

6.6
zotac-gaming-geforce-rtx-5060-ti-twin-edge-16gb
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge 16GB

Graphics cards

6.6
gigabyte-geforce-rtx-4060-ti-eagle-oc-8gb
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Eagle OC 8GB

Graphics cards

6.5
zotac-gaming-geforce-rtx-4060-ti-twin-edge-8gb
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB

Graphics cards

6.5
No image
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4060 Ti WINDFORCE OC 8GB

Graphics cards

6.5
msi-geforce-rtx-4060-ti-ventus-2x-black-oc-8gb
MSI GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Ventus 2X Black OC 8GB

Graphics cards

6.4
asus-dual-radeon-rx-7700-xt-oc-edition
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 7700 XT OC Edition

Graphics cards

6.9
sapphire-pulse-radeon-rx-9060-xt-16gb
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

Graphics cards

6.2
gigabyte-geforce-rtx-4060-ti-eagle-8gb
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Eagle 8GB

Graphics cards

6.6
xfx-swift-radeon-rx-9060-xt-oc-gaming-edition-16gb
XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 16GB

Graphics cards

6.6
sapphire-pure-radeon-rx-9060-xt-16gb
Sapphire Pure Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

Graphics cards

6.2

Compare MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Gaming Z with

VS
VS

Compare