Zotac is one of the graphics card brands authorized to build, manufacture, and sell graphics cards with Nvidia graphics chips and architecture. Zotac competes with other brands such as ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI when it comes to Nvidia graphics cards. Each one of these graphics card brands have their own pros and cons, but everyone of them is a trustworthy brand.
But is Zotac a good brand overall? How does it actually compete with the likes of MSI, Gigabyte, and EVGA GPUs?
That’s what we’ll be talking about in this article…
On a personal note, prior to my graphics card upgrade, I was running an Nvidia ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1660.
What Exactly Is Zotac?
Zotac is a PC hardware manufacturer located in Hong Kong. The company was founded in 2006 and expanded to Japan, Germany, and South Korea when the business operations grew.
Zotac produces graphics cards for Nvidia, but they also produce motherboards and prebuilt PCs together with their parent company, PC Partner. PC Partner manufactures all of Zotac’s products in Chinese factories.
Why Is Zotac A Good Brand?
Zotac graphics cards are known for their quality and affordability, and it comes as no surprise that Zotac cards are highly recommended by a lot of PC builders and enthusiasts. Because it produces budget friendly graphics cards, their quality is decent enough for what you’re paying for.
Here are some of the reasons why people would recommend Zotac cards.
Reputation and Affordability
A Zotac graphics card is relatively more affordable than the other brands of Nvidia cards without losing a lot of quality. Of course, bigger brands such as MSI and Gigabyte will always rank higher in terms of quality.
Reviews of Nvidia cards from Zotac are also positive as seen on Amazon and other computer hardware stores such as NewEgg.
Zotac Cards Are Slightly Smaller
The Zotac brand is known for producing smaller graphics cards, making them a prime choice for mini ITX builds or mini PCs in general. Despite its size, the Zotac brand still provides superior performance without breaking the bank.
High Speed Boost Clocks
Zotac video cards are equipped with the Firestorm program, resulting in higher boost clock speeds than other video cards.
Just don’t expect too much. EVGA offers higher base and boost clock speeds than the Zotac cards within the same price range. If you’re particular about which brand provides better performance, then EVGA GPUs might be a more solid choice.
No Heating Issues
On my Zotac GTX 1660, I only ran the basic cooling solutions such as large case fans and I was able to overclock for a good hour without running into heating issues.
Those on a tight budget, a.k.a. those with no money for water cooling systems or custom loop cooling solutions, can use and overclock any Zotac GPU when the feature is available.
Makes Better GPUs
Because of building a better GPU system, the windows will run at 2X faster and can play games at 90 to 100 fps on the COD modern warfare latest update.
Is Zotac Cheaper Than Any Other Brand?
Affordability is what makes Zotac famous, but does it mean that it comes at a cost of losing performance, warranties, and longevity?
Zotac is a lot more affordable than let’s say MSI, ASUS, or Gigabyte graphics cards. And the main reason why is because of their brand name value. They’re the go-to GPUs for people who want to go for mini ITX builds.
Think of it this way. Apple and Samsung are two of the biggest smartphone manufacturers in the world. That means any other smartphone manufacturer producing the same specs as Apple or Samsung will have a hard time competing against these giants. So they make their smartphones cheaper than Apple or Samsung. Some of the brands provide better value overall than either Samsung or Apple.
The same thing can be applied to Zotac. MSI and EVGA GPUs are slightly more expensive than a Zotac GPU. Better performance might be guaranteed by either of the brands, but it doesn’t mean that Zotac is lacking in that aspect.
Zotac cards are still known for their high performance, good warranty, and affordability. Graphics cards under the Zotac brand work fine.
What Are Common Complains About Zotac GPUs?
Not every review you see about Zotac GPUs are positive. Some people have concerns about a specific GPU, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that the entire brand is bad.
As an owner of a Zotac Geforce GTX 1660, here are some common complaints that I share with the majority of the Zotac owners.
Loud Fans
Most of the bad reviews circulating a Zotac specific GPU focus on their loud fans. I’ve also had this issue, with my Zotac GPU but it wasn’t that bad. Granted, my GPU was already 3 or 4 years old and maintenance was done on it twice a year.
The fans make a loud “wheezing” noise when it boots up or when I’m playing a graphically intensive video game. Most of the time, the noise level is manageable and doesn’t really wake people up.
Higher Temperatures
Not my experience but from people with mini PCs running a Zotac GPU. Zotac GPUs have slightly higher temperatures than normal when installed into a mini case because of the fans.
Your cooling system plays a huge role on how well your Zotac graphics card, or any other graphics card, can manage its temperatures. Even when I’m overclocking, I’ve never had to go past 90-degrees Celsius, even without the airconditioning unit on.
Is Zotac a Good Brand?
Zotac products are great in their own right. They have lower price tags compared to other manufacturers but they’re capable of competing in terms of performance and value. With my GeForce GTX 1660, I was able to do some heavy gaming, video editing, and even streaming without worrying about temperatures. I also availed of extended warranties from the computer hardware manufacturer, which gave me more value in the long run.
A GeForce GTX 1660 today would probably be a bit overpriced due to the graphics cards shortage, but nothing that would be too exaggerated. Zotac GeForce RTX cards have more reasonable prices compared to the othe brands, but it depends on where you’re getting them from. High end models from Zotac are also in demand because of their excellent performance and lower price point.
Their heating issues can be easily solved if you have a bigger PC case with access to the better cooling system and fans. The loud fans aren’t a deal breaker too, mostly because the fans are noisier when they’re overworked. Aagin, easily solved with access to a decent cooling solution.
Zotac is a good GPU brand, all in all and you can’t go wrong with picking up one.
