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Building or upgrading a gaming PC? The graphics card is the star of the show, directly impacting your frame rates. A better GPU usually means better performance, but it's not always that simple. With options like the Nvidia RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, choosing the right card requires careful consideration. Here's a look at the best graphics cards available now.
TL;DR: Top Graphics Cards
[See it at Amazon!]
[See it at Newegg!]
[See it at Amazon!]
[See it at Amazon!]
[See it at Amazon!]
High-end GPUs like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 (over $1999) are luxury items, but excellent gaming experiences are achievable at lower price points, especially at 1440p or 1080p. My experience reviewing GPUs over four generations informs these recommendations.
Feel free to comment below with your gaming needs for personalized recommendations.
Choosing the Right Graphics Card
Selecting a GPU requires careful consideration beyond raw power. Your target resolution is paramount. A 4K powerhouse might underperform at 1080p due to CPU bottlenecking (e.g., the RTX 5090). For 1080p, consider the Intel Arc B580; for 1440p, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT or Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super are strong contenders.
Budget is a major factor. Prices start around $200-$250 for solid 1080p performance. Around $1000 gets you a top-tier 4K experience (AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX or Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080), with the choice depending on your ray tracing priorities. For raw performance, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX often excels.
High-end cards demand powerful power supplies. Check your PSU against the card's requirements. The Intel Arc B580 might suffice with a 450W PSU, but the Radeon RX 7800 XT needs significantly more.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super
This Zotac RTX 4070 Super offers excellent value, delivering strong 1440p performance and capable 4K gaming in many titles. While 12GB VRAM is a limitation, its 7168 CUDA cores provide a significant boost over the original RTX 4070.
Benchmarks show a 12-13% performance increase over the RTX 4070 in Cyberpunk 2077 and a 30% increase in Forza Horizon 5 at 4K. It's a great all-around choice.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090
The current performance king. While the generational leap isn't as dramatic as previous iterations, the RTX 5090's 21,760 CUDA cores and 32GB GDDR7 memory deliver unmatched gaming performance, particularly with DLSS multi-frame generation.
Its 578W power draw necessitates a robust cooling solution, which the Founders Edition delivers impressively. Benchmarks show roughly 26% improvement over the RTX 4090 at 4K, though gains diminish at lower resolutions. This card is for dedicated 4K gamers.
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
A strong 4K competitor to the RTX 4080 Super. It delivers excellent 4K performance, even in ray tracing-heavy titles like Cyberpunk 2077 (though it trails the RTX 4080). In games with less demanding ray tracing, it often matches or surpasses the RTX 4080 Super.
AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT
The 1440p champion, offering excellent performance for its price. It often outperforms the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, particularly in games without heavy ray tracing. Keep in mind its higher power consumption (312W).
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060
The best sub-$300 1080p option. It handles most games at over 60fps at 1080p with max settings, even with ray tracing. While slightly underperforming compared to the RTX 3060 Ti in some tests, DLSS 3.0 adds value.
Upcoming GPUs
2025 promises exciting new releases. Nvidia's RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti (February) and AMD's Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT (March) are on the horizon, offering more choices across different price points.
Graphics Card FAQ
AMD, Nvidia, or Intel? It depends on your needs and budget. Intel offers affordability, Nvidia boasts top-tier power, and AMD provides a balance. Consider features like DLSS (Nvidia) and its AMD equivalents.
Power Supply? High-end cards demand substantial power (some over 450W). A 1000W PSU is advisable for top-tier cards.
GTX vs. RTX? RTX cards (newer) offer superior performance due to Tensor and RT cores (ray tracing). GTX cards are becoming obsolete.
UK Graphics Card Availability
Here are some UK retailers for the featured cards:
[See it at Currys PC World!]
[See it at Amazon!]
[See it at Amazon!]
[See it at Nvidia]
