What’s the greatest graphics card for gaming? Searching for a brand new GPU can imply wading by means of an usually baffling set of numbers in specs lists, in addition to weighing up the professionals and cons of the completely different characteristic units from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel. That’s the place we may also help, as we’re not solely real PC {hardware} fanatics who know our stream processors from our stream decks, however we’re additionally avid gamers.
Your alternative of GPU could have a much bigger influence in your gaming expertise than every other PC element and by a protracted, good distance. Sure, it’s all the time value ensuring you may have one of the best gaming CPU in your system, in addition to one of the best gaming RAM you possibly can afford, nevertheless it’s the mighty graphics card that actually sits on the throne in your gaming rig, so you want to be sure to nail this alternative.
Your GPU is the first driving power behind the body price in your video games, and it additionally determines the decision and graphics settings you’ll be capable to use, together with ray tracing and a few GPUs are a lot better at dealing with these settings than others. There are additionally options which are unique to Nvidia GeForce and AMD Radeon GPUs, akin to Nvidia DLSS and AMD FSR, which additionally should be thought of.
We’ve examined all of the graphics playing cards listed on this information in quite a lot of completely different video games ourselves, so we will say authoritatively which GPU you should purchase to your wants, and why. There are additionally some new GPUs looming on the horizon, with Nvidia’s new RTX 5090 quickly anticipated to be the brand new king of the graphics card world, and the brand new RTX 5080 hopefully providing respectable 4K gaming efficiency for a less expensive value when it launches.
The brand new AMD RDNA 4 GPU lineup can be anticipated to launch later in 2025, though AMD is rumored to be primarily specializing in mid-range efficiency fairly than high-end 4K gaming with this vary.
Within the meantime, these graphics playing cards are the easiest ones you should buy for gaming proper now, with costs beginning at simply $249.99 for an excellent 1080p card, and going all the way in which as much as the mammoth Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 if you wish to play video games at 4K with all the attention sweet enabled.
Why you possibly can belief our recommendation ✔ At , our specialists spend hours testing {hardware} and reviewing video games and VPNs. We share sincere, unbiased opinions that will help you purchase one of the best. Discover out how we check.
Finest graphics card in 2024:
Finest graphics card for many
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous specs: | GPU die | AD104 |
| CUDA cores | 7,168 |
| Tensor cores | 224 |
| RT cores | 56 |
| Base clock | 1,980MHz (1.98GHz) |
| Increase clock | 2,475MHz (2.48GHz) |
| VRAM | 12GB GDDR6X |
| Reminiscence Bandwidth | 504GB/s |
| TDP | 220W |
Causes to purchase - RTX 4070 Ti-like efficiency for $600
- Higher worth than RTX 4070
- DLSS 3 assist
Causes to keep away from - Rasterization efficiency may very well be higher
- Can’t fairly deal with 4K gaming
The GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous is a outstanding midrange graphics card. It offers you unparalleled ray tracing efficiency for its value and isn’t unhealthy at rasterization both. Naturally, body charges for each kinds of rendering get considerably boosted due to Nvidia DLSS 3, to say nothing of its unbeaten picture high quality through upscaling.
The non-super GeForce RTX 4070 continues to be in the stores for much less, however going for the GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous will finally present extra bang to your buck. You’re getting GeForce RTX 4070 Ti-like efficiency, which is difficult to argue with.
The principle pitfall of the GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous is its VRAM capability, topping out at simply 12GB. That is as a rule sufficient for each 1080p and 1440p, however it may possibly sadly current issues at increased resolutions, akin to 4K.
Learn our GeForce RTX 4070 Tremendous assessment.
Finest graphics card beneath $500
AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT specs: | GPU die | Navi 32 XT |
| Stream processors | 3,840 |
| RT cores | 60 (Second Gen.) |
| Base clock | 1,624MHz (1.62GHz) |
| Recreation clock | 2,124MHz (2.12GHz) |
| Increase clock | 2,430MHz (2.43GHz) |
| VRAM | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Reminiscence bandwidth | 624GB/s |
| TBP | 263W |
Causes to purchase - Unparalleled reminiscence bandwidth for $500
- Smashes the GeForce RTX 4070 in rasterized situations
- Higher worth than the Radeon RX 7700 XT
Causes to keep away from - Massive ray tracing efficiency gaps vs the RTX 4070
- Nonetheless no signal of FSR 3 body era
- Some generational downgrades
The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT might have been a very long time coming, nevertheless it was actually well worth the wait. For individuals who aren’t too fussed about ray tracing, that is the graphics card to get.
With 16GB of VRAM connected to a 256-bit reminiscence interface, you get an honest reminiscence configuration for the cash. This uniquely positions the 7800 XT as the one card on the $500 mark that’s able to 1080p, 1440p, and even some 4K gaming.
It’s the extra smart purchase vs the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, on condition that there’s solely $50 separating the 2. In our testing, the RX 7800 XT really beat the dearer RTX 4070 at each decision as much as 4K with ray tracing disabled, generally by as a lot as 17% on common. Nonetheless, as quickly as ray tracing results enter the body, it falls behind and has no reply for DLSS 3 both.
Learn our AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT assessment.
Finest mid-range graphics card
AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE specs: | GPU die | Navi 31XL |
| Stream processors | 5,120 |
| RT cores | 80 |
| Recreation clock | 1,880MHz |
| Increase clock | 2,245MHz |
| VRAM | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Reminiscence bandwidth | 256-bit |
| TBP | 260W |
Causes to purchase - Wonderful value for the spec
- Beats RTX 4070, even in ray tracing
- 16GB of reminiscence
Causes to keep away from - Not vastly faster than RX 7800 XT
- FSR can’t compete with high quality of DLSS
- Tremendous is quicker at ray tracing
Beforehand unique to the Chinese language market, the sudden worldwide launch of the Radeon RX 7900 GRE (the GRE stands for Golden Rabbit Version) has shaken up the mid-range GPU enviornment. This graphics card relies on the identical Navi 31 GPU utilized in AMD’s top-end Radeon RX 7900 XT and XTX, however with among the components disabled, and it’s an immensely highly effective GPU for the value, even when it has a lot decrease clock speeds than AMD’s two entrance runners.
At $550, it has the identical MSRP because the Nvidia RTX 4070, however the 7900 GRE eats the RTX 4070 for breakfast in each approach, even together with ray tracing in most of our recreation assessments. If you happen to don’t activate ray tracing, the RX 7900 GRE is even sooner than the dearer RTX 4070 Tremendous. AMD has priced this GPU aggressively, and the result is a $550 GPU that nails all our recreation assessments at 2,560 x 1,440 and may deal with some 4K gaming, due to its 16GB of VRAM.
The one downer is that AMD’s FSR upscaling know-how can’t compete with Nvidia’s DLSS Tremendous Decision relating to picture high quality, and AMD’s FSR 3 body era tech isn’t supported by almost as many video games as Nvidia’s DLSS 3 body era. Plus, the market is now very crowded on this value section. If you happen to can’t go increased than $550, the Radeon RX 7900 GRE is the cardboard to purchase proper now.
Learn our AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE assessment.
Finest ray tracing graphics card
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 specs: | GPU die | AD102 |
| CUDA cores | 16,384 |
| Tensors cores | 512 (Fourth Gen.) |
| RT cores | 128 (Third Gen.) |
| Base clock | 2,235MHz (2.24GHz) |
| Increase clock | 2,520MHz (2.52GHz) |
| VRAM | 24GB GDDR6X |
| Reminiscence bandwidth | 1,008GB/s |
| TDP | 450W |
Causes to purchase - Unmatched ray tracing efficiency
- 24GB GDDR6X VRAM
- Glorious 4K gaming possibility
Causes to keep away from - Intimidatingly costly
- Requires a suitably huge PC case
- Worse worth than RX 7900 XTX in rasterization
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is an absolute monstrosity of a graphics card, in each sense of the phrase. There isn’t a different GPU on the market that may compete with its value, efficiency, or measurement.
If you happen to’re the type of one that desires to play one of the best PC video games on the highest settings, on the largest decision, and with minimal fuss, the RTX 4090 is for you. That’s, in fact, should you can abdomen its staggeringly excessive $1,599 MSRP and have room sufficient in your case to deal with it.
Ray tracing or rasterization, the RTX 4090 can’t be crushed, particularly when mixed with the body price boosting powers of DLSS 3. It isn’t one of the best worth possibility within the RTX 40 collection, however that’s nothing new relating to flagships.
Learn our Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 assessment.
Finest graphics card beneath $1,000
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Tremendous specs: | CUDA cores | 10,240 |
| RT cores | 80 |
| Base clock | 2.29GHz |
| Increase clock | 2.55GHz |
| VRAM | 16 GB GDDR6X |
| Reminiscence bandwidth | 256-bit |
| TBP | 320W |
Causes to purchase - Finest ray tracing velocity beneath $1,000
- Glorious rasterization body charges
- Helps DLSS 3
Causes to keep away from - Barely slower than RX 7900 XTX exterior ray tracing
- Small positive aspects vs unique RTX 4080
- Massive generational value leap
The RTX 4080 Tremendous replaces the unique RTX 4080, offering a barely increased degree of efficiency however, extra importantly, a considerably extra reasonably priced price ticket. With an MSRP of $999, there’s merely no higher GPU on the market for lower than a grand.
The one graphics card able to outperforming the RTX 4080 Tremendous in ray tracing is the rather more costly RTX 4090, making it the only option for RT results should you’re hoping to spend round $1,000. This does nonetheless make it rather more costly than the RTX 3080, however its worth stays excessive.
The RTX 4080 Tremendous is slower than the RX 7900 XTX in customary rasterization, however this hole isn’t almost as large as when ray tracing enters the image for these two playing cards. Mixed with DLSS 3, although, we’re speaking an entire new degree of efficiency.
Learn our GeForce RTX 4080 Tremendous assessment.
AMD Radeon RX 7600 specs: | Stream processors | 2,048 |
| RT cores | 32 (Second Gen.) |
| Base clock | 1,720MHz (1.72GHz) |
| Recreation clock | 2,250MHz (2.25GHz) |
| Increase clock | 2,655MHz (2.66GHz) |
| VRAM | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Reminiscence bandwidth | 288GB/s |
| TBP | 165W |
Causes to purchase - Lower than $300
- Surprisingly good rasterization efficiency
- Respectable TBP
Causes to keep away from - 8GB of VRAM
- Subpar ray tracing efficiency
- No reply to DLSS Body Era
In case your price range can’t stretch to a midrange graphics card, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 is the way in which to go. There isn’t an ideal GPU within the price range area proper now, however the Radeon RX 7600 is the least compromised possibility for the cash.
Each the RX 7600 and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 include simply 8GB of VRAM. This capability is ok for esports titles at 1080p however can create issues when higher-resolution textures are enabled. Naturally, 1440p and 4K are off the desk for this GPU.
Given its low value, we’re stunned how perky this pixel pusher is in the suitable circumstances. Body charges are spectacular at 1080p with ray tracing disabled, largely beating the GeForce RTX 4060, though we don’t advocate turning on ray tracing results in demanding video games with this graphics card.
Learn our AMD Radeon RX 7600 assessment.
How to decide on a graphics card
Step one to determining which graphics card is best for you is identical as each different element: price range. The RTX 4090 is barely the quickest possibility to your system should you can afford it, and realizing how a lot you possibly can spend on a pixel pusher will assist tremendously slender down your choices.
Your goal decision, body charges, and rendering priorities also needs to information you. Whereas Nvidia GeForce graphics playing cards will provide superior ray tracing efficiency, AMD Radeon GPUs might present larger worth in customary rasterization.
You will get a common sense of what body charges you possibly can anticipate from every graphics card acting at completely different resolutions by studying our opinions. Listed below are some guiding rules although, to get you began:
- 1080p: 60 and 600 class graphics playing cards (e.g. RTX 4060 and RX 7600).
- 1440p: 70 and 700/800 class graphics playing cards (e.g. RTX 4070 and RX 7800 XT)
- 4K: 80/90 and 900 class graphics playing cards (e.g. RTX 4090 and RX 7900 XTX)
FAQs
What does a graphics card do?
Graphics playing cards are an integral part of any PC, particularly gaming PCs. It’s your graphics card that permits your PC to render and show photos. They play an enormous function in a PC’s capacity to play any particular recreation.
The extra highly effective graphics playing cards use ray tracing know-how and AI to course of info as shortly as attainable and make your video games visually gorgeous.
What’s VRAM?
VRAM is an acronym for ‘video random entry reminiscence’ and refers back to the built-in reminiscence utilized by graphics playing cards. Its function is to supply your GPU with a separate, high-speed pool of reminiscence that it may possibly use to retailer information.
Extra VRAM at your disposal is all the time a optimistic because it makes your system much less reliant on customary RAM to plug any gaps ought to your graphics card’s capability turn out to be saturated, thereby lowering the prospect of stutters. Nonetheless, capability is barely a part of the story, with the velocity of your GPU’s reminiscence and its bus width influencing reminiscence bandwidth.
Most trendy graphics playing cards now include at the least 8GB of VRAM which is normally sufficient for 1080p gaming, with some exceptions. Larger-quality results and textures demand increased swimming pools of video reminiscence, although, so we’d counsel choosing a 12GB possibility should you can afford it.
For these of you gaming at 1440p, 16GB is good however 12GB will swimsuit you for essentially the most half. Likewise, 20GB is really helpful for 4K, however 16GB will serve.
What’s ray tracing?
Ray tracing refers to real-time gentle tracing to supply extra life like and higher-quality lighting results than typical rasterized methods. It has a number of use circumstances, together with improved shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, and world illumination.
The primary ray-tracing-capable graphics playing cards arrived in 2018, with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 20 collection. AMD joined in on the enjoyable with its Radeon RX 6000 collection in 2020, with Intel following with its Arc discrete GPUs in 2022.
Toggling on ray tracing choices tremendously will increase GPU load and may dramatically influence body charges. As such, it’s usually sensible to make use of them along side performance-enhancing instruments akin to Nvidia DLSS, AMD FSR, or Intel XeSS.
What’s rasterization?
Rasterization is the method by means of which 3D fashions are transformed into the pixels you see on the screens of one of the best gaming screens. The higher a graphics card is at doing this, the smoother your expertise of enjoying your favourite video games – when achieved nicely, video games will look incredible, when achieved poorly, video games can look blurry and washed out.
Is a GTX or RTX graphics card higher?
GeForce RTX graphics playing cards provide a extra feature-rich expertise than these sporting a GTX badge and present superior efficiency. Evaluating GPUs of the identical class (e.g. a GTX 1080 in opposition to an RTX 2080) will all the time favor the newer RTX mannequin.
The principle distinctions between GTX and RTX graphics playing cards are ray tracing and DLSS assist. Each RTX GPU is able to utilizing DLSS Tremendous Decision to spice up body charges through upscaling, along with enhancing visuals by means of ray-traced results. In the meantime, GTX pixel pushers don’t have entry to both.
As such, we don’t advocate selecting up a GTX graphics card if it may be helped as RTX choices present higher worth.
Does ray tracing work on all video games?
Actual-time ray tracing has solely been part of video games since 2018, that means that each recreation launched earlier than then received’t characteristic the know-how except it’s been patched in since then. Nonetheless, it’s not a given that each recreation launch after that point will characteristic ray-traced results.
Many huge video games, akin to Fortnite and Cyberpunk 2077 provide ray-tracing choices, and the variety of examples continues to develop. With the arrival of RTX Remix, it received’t be lengthy earlier than many classics be a part of newer releases in basking within the gentle of ray tracing.
