When you're planning to build or upgrade your gaming PC, selecting the best graphics card is crucial, as GPUs significantly impact your system's frame rates. Higher-end graphics cards like Nvidia's RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 lead the market today, delivering top-tier performance.
TL;DR: These Are the Best Graphics Cards:
Our Top Pick### Zotac Gaming Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super
2See it at Amazon
### Gigabyte Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090
2See it at Newegg
### Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
1See it at Amazon
### Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT
0See it at Amazon
### MSI Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060
0See it at AmazonIn today's market, GPUs are often seen as luxury items, with high-end cards like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 priced at around $1,999. These prices are significantly higher than those of earlier models like the GTX 970, even when accounting for inflation. However, you can still achieve a strong gaming experience at 1440p or 1080p without breaking the bank.
Having reviewed graphics cards over the last four generations, I've benchmarked and used every GPU listed here for gaming. If none of these options meet your needs, feel free to share your gaming preferences in the comments, and I'll help you find the perfect card for your setup.
What to Look for in a Graphics Card
Choosing the right graphics card involves more than just picking the most powerful model. Your gaming resolution plays a critical role. If you're set on 4K gaming, the Nvidia RTX 5090 excels, though it may underperform at 1080p due to CPU limitations. For 1080p gaming, consider the Intel Arc B580 for a cost-effective solution. At 1440p, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT or Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super are ideal choices.
Budget is another key factor, with graphics cards becoming increasingly expensive. A solid 1080p card can be found for around $200-$250. Stepping up to the Nvidia RTX 4060 will give you access to Nvidia's advanced features, albeit at a higher price. For those willing to invest around $1,000, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX or Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 offer excellent 4K performance, with the choice depending on your interest in ray tracing.
Power consumption is crucial with high-end cards. Ensure your power supply meets the card's requirements; while the Intel Arc B580 needs a 450W PSU, the Radeon RX 7800 XT demands more power.
AnswerSee Results### Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super Unboxing
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1. Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super
The Best Graphics Card for Most People
Our Top Pick### Zotac Gaming Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super
2This RTX 4070 Super from Zotac is the best graphics card for most people, offering a robust dual-fan cooler and solid performance. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsCUDA Cores/Stream Processors7168Base Clock1,980MHzBoost Clock2,475MHzVideo Memory12GB GDDR6XMemory Bandwidth504.2GB/sMemory Bus192-bitPower Connectors1 x 16-pinOutputs1 x HDMI 2.1, 3 x DisplayPort 1.4 Size10.5 x 4.4 x 1.7 inches (L x W x H)PROSGood power for the moneyCan break into 4K in some gamesCONSShould have had 16GB of VRAMAt $599, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super is considered mid-range yet delivers impressive 1440p gaming performance and can even handle 4K in select games. It boasts a significant upgrade over its predecessor, with 7,168 CUDA cores compared to the original RTX 4070's 5,888, which results in notable performance gains.
Nvidia RTX 4070 Super Benchmarks
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In games like Cyberpunk 2077, the RTX 4070 Super achieves a 12% performance increase at 1440p and a 13% boost at 4K over the RTX 4070. In Forza Horizon 5 at 4K, it reaches 123 fps, a 30% improvement over the original's 94 fps. This card excels at 1440p and often performs well at 4K, making it an excellent choice for gamers looking to upgrade to this popular resolution.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos
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2. Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090
The Best Nvidia Graphics Card
### Gigabyte Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090
2The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 stands as the most powerful consumer GPU available, though its performance gains are less dramatic compared to previous generations. See it at NeweggProduct SpecificationsCUDA Cores/Stream Processors21,760Base Clock2.01GHzBoost Clock2.41GHzVideo Memory32GB GDDR7Memory Bandwidth1,792 GB/sMemory Bus512-bitPower Connectors1 x 16-pinOutputs1 x HDMI 2.1b, 3 x DisplayPort 2.1bSize (Founders Edition)11.9 x 5.39 x 1.9 inches (L x W x H) (Dual Slot)PROSThe most powerful consumer GPU out there, period. DLSS 4 multi frame gen will help further boost frame rates.CONSGeneration-on-Generation improvement not very excitingThe RTX 5090, with its 21,760 CUDA cores and 32GB of GDDR7 memory, is a powerhouse. It consumes up to 578W, necessitating a robust cooling solution. Nvidia has introduced a new dual-slot cooler for its Founders Edition, showcasing innovative thermal engineering. My benchmarks showed the RTX 5090 to be about 26% faster than the RTX 4090 at 4K, though this advantage decreases at lower resolutions. It's best suited for high-end 4K gaming with minimal upscaling.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Benchmarks
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3. AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
The Best AMD Graphics Card
### Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
1The Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX offers competitive performance at a lower price point, featuring an efficient triple-fan cooler. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsCUDA Cores/Stream Processors6,144Base Clock1,929MHzBoost Clock2,365MHzVideo Memory24GB GDDR6Memory Bandwidth960 GB/sMemory Bus384-bitPower Connectors2 x 8-pinOutputs1 x HDMI 2.1a, 2 x DisplayPort 2.1, 1 x USB-CSize11.3 x 4.3 x 2 inches (L x W x H) (Dual Slot)PROSExcellent 4K performanceCompetitive pricing with RTX 4080CONSCan lag behind in some games with ray tracingThe AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX offers strong 4K performance, often matching or surpassing the Nvidia RTX 4080 in games with lighter ray tracing demands. In Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K with FSR, it achieves 58 fps, while in Forza Horizon 5, it reaches 158 fps, closely matching the RTX 4080 Super. It's an excellent choice for 4K gaming, particularly for those prioritizing raw performance over ray tracing.
AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT – Benchmarks
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4. AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT
The Best GPU for 1440p
### Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT
0With its triple-fan cooler, the Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT delivers excellent performance at 1440p while keeping your system cool. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsCUDA Cores/Stream Processors3,456Base Clock1,435MHzBoost Clock2,171MHzVideo Memory12GB GDDR6Memory Bandwidth432 GB/sMemory Bus192-bitPower Connectors2 x 8-pinOutputs1 x HDMI 2.1a, 2 x DisplayPort 2.1, 1 x USB-CSize10.5 x 5.3 x 2 inches (L x W x H) (Dual Slot)PROSExcellent performance for the moneyGreat at 1440pCONSLags behind in ray tracing gamesThe AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT excels at 1440p, offering great performance at a reduced price. It competes well against the Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti, with strong results in games like Forza Horizon 5 and Total War: Warhammer 3. However, it consumes more power, requiring a 550W PSU.
Nvidia RTX 4060
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5. Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060
The Best GPU for 1080p
### MSI Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060
0The MSI Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 offers solid 1080p performance and a compact design, keeping the price under $300. See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsCUDA Cores/Stream Processors3,072Base Clock1,830MHzBoost Clock2,460MHzVideo Memory8GB GDDR6Memory Bandwidth272 GB/sMemory Bus128-bitPower Connectors1 x 12-pinOutputs1 x HDMI 2.1, 3 x DisplayPort 1.4 Size9.4 x 4.4 x 1.6 inches (L x W x H) (Dual Slot)PROSAffordableSolid 1080p performance with ray tracingCONSOnly 8GB of memoryThe Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 is ideal for 1080p gaming, handling even the most demanding titles with ray tracing enabled. It benefits from DLSS technology, allowing it to stretch to higher resolutions in supported games. In my review, it achieved over 60 fps in most games at 1080p, though it closely matches the performance of the older RTX 3060 Ti, which may be a better option for those not interested in DLSS 3.0.
RTX 4060 benchmarks
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Upcoming GPUs
With the release of Nvidia's RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, 2025 promises to be an exciting year for graphics cards. Nvidia plans to launch the RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti in February, offering high-end performance under $1,000. AMD's Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are set to launch in March 2025, with preliminary benchmarks suggesting competitive performance against the Radeon RX 7900 XT and RTX 4080.
Best Graphics Cards FAQ
AMD or Nvidia? Or Intel?
Choosing between AMD, Nvidia, or Intel depends on your preferences and needs. Intel offers the most budget-friendly options, though they are not the fastest. Nvidia provides the highest performance but at a premium price. AMD strikes a balance, though it lacks some of Nvidia's exclusive features like DLSS. For more details, see our guide on AMD vs. Nvidia GPUs.
What power supply should I get?
High-end graphics cards demand more power, with some consuming over 450W alone. For a new build or upgrade, consider a 1,000W power supply, especially for cards like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090.
GTX vs. RTX
Nvidia's RTX series offers superior performance and features over the older GTX series, thanks to Tensor and RT cores for AI tasks, upscaling, and ray tracing. GTX cards are more budget-friendly but will soon become outdated.
Where to Get the Best Graphics Cards in the UK
In the UK, the following links direct you to local vendors for purchasing the recommended graphics cards:
### Best Graphics Card Asus TUF Gaming RTX 4070 Ti OC Edition
0See it at Currys PC World
### Best Budget Graphics Card MSI Geforce RTX 3050 Gaming X
0See it at Amazon
### Best AMD Graphics Card XFX Speedster MERC310 RX 7900XT
0See it at Amazon
### Best 4K Graphics Card Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080
1See it at Nvidia
