Top GPUs for 2025: Choose the Best for Your Gaming PC %v

When building or upgrading a gaming PC, the graphics card is often the first component that comes to mind due to its significant impact on frame rates. A better graphics card typically translates to improved performance, and with the latest Nvidia RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 on the market, choosing the right GPU can enhance your gaming experience significantly.

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, graphics cards like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, priced at around $1,999, have become luxury items. However, you can still achieve a solid gaming experience at a lower cost, especially if you're comfortable with gaming at 1440p or 1080p resolutions.

Having reviewed graphics cards over the last four generations, I've personally benchmarked and used each GPU on this list. If you're looking for something specific, feel free to comment below, 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 one. It's essential to consider your gaming needs, such as the resolution you play at and your budget. For instance, a card like the Nvidia RTX 5090 excels at 4K but might not be the best choice for 1080p due to CPU bottlenecking. For 1080p gaming, a more budget-friendly option like the Intel Arc B580 could be ideal. If you're targeting 1440p, consider the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT or the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super.

Budget plays a critical role, with entry-level GPUs starting around $200-$250. The Nvidia RTX 4060, for example, offers access to Nvidia's exclusive features at a more affordable price. For those willing to invest around $1,000, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 deliver exceptional 4K performance, with the choice depending on your preference for ray tracing.

Power consumption is another crucial factor, especially for high-end cards. Ensure your power supply meets the card's requirements. While a card like the Intel Arc B580 can operate with a 450W PSU, more powerful cards like the Radeon RX 7800 XT demand more robust power solutions.

What do you look for in a graphics card? ----------------------------------------

Has to be cheaper than buying a PS5Excellent performance at 4K and beyondA nice balance of performance and priceRay tracing

AnswerSee Results### Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super Unboxing

5 Images1. 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 an impressive dual-fan cooler and solid performance for the price. It's an excellent choice for 1440p gaming and can even handle 4K in certain games.

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 VRAMWhile the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super, priced at $599, might not be considered affordable, it offers excellent value for mid-range gamers. It boasts 7,168 CUDA cores, a 21% increase over the original RTX 4070, resulting in a significant performance boost, particularly in demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Forza Horizon 5.

Nvidia RTX 4070 Super Benchmarks

3 ImagesIn Cyberpunk 2077, the RTX 4070 Super achieves a 12% performance increase over the RTX 4070 at 1440p and a 13% increase at 4K. In Forza Horizon 5 at 4K, it delivers an impressive 123 fps, a 30% jump over the original RTX 4070. This makes it an excellent choice for gamers looking to enjoy high-quality gaming at 1440p and beyond.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos

5 Images2. Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090

The Best Nvidia Graphics Card

### Gigabyte Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090

2The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 stands out as the most powerful consumer GPU currently available. Despite a modest generational improvement, its performance at 4K is unmatched, particularly with the help of DLSS multi-frame generation.

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 features 21,760 CUDA cores and 32GB of GDDR7 memory, with a peak power draw of 578W. Its innovative dual-slot cooler design helps manage this high power consumption efficiently, maintaining temperatures at around 87°C during intense gaming sessions.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Benchmarks

14 ImagesOn average, the RTX 5090 is about 26% faster than the RTX 4090 at 4K, though its performance advantage diminishes at lower resolutions. It's designed for high-end 4K gaming with minimal upscaling, making it a top choice for those seeking the best possible performance.

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT – Photos

6 Images3. AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX

The Best AMD Graphics Card

### Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX

1This Radeon RX 7900 XTX from Gigabyte offers competitive performance at 4K, with a robust triple-fan cooler to keep temperatures in check.

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 is a strong contender in the 4K gaming space, offering performance that rivals Nvidia's RTX 4080 Super. It excels in games with lighter ray tracing demands, such as Forza Horizon 5 and Far Cry 6, making it a great option for those prioritizing raw gaming performance over ray tracing.

AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT – Benchmarks

4 Images4. 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, making it a cost-effective choice for gamers looking to maximize their gaming experience at this resolution.

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 Radeon RX 7700 XT is a powerhouse at 1440p, offering competitive performance against the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti at a similar price point. It excels in games like Forza Horizon 5 and Total War: Warhammer 3, though it falls short in ray tracing-heavy titles.

Nvidia RTX 4060

5 Images5. Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060

The Best GPU for 1080p

### MSI Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060

0This RTX 4060 from MSI is an excellent choice for 1080p gaming, offering solid performance and ray tracing capabilities at a budget-friendly price.

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 gamers who prefer 1080p gaming, delivering smooth gameplay with ray tracing enabled. It's an affordable option under $300, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious gamers.

RTX 4060 benchmarks

7 ImagesIn my testing, the RTX 4060 achieved over 60 fps in demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p, even with ray tracing enabled. While it may not outpace the previous generation RTX 3060 Ti in raw performance, its support for DLSS 3.0 adds significant value, enhancing performance in supported titles.

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 performance under $1,000. Meanwhile, AMD is set to release the Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT in March 2025, with early benchmarks suggesting strong competition 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 affordable GPUs but lacks in performance compared to its competitors. Nvidia provides the most powerful options but at a higher cost. AMD strikes a balance, offering competitive performance at more reasonable prices, though it may not have access to all of Nvidia's exclusive features.

What power supply should I get?

High-end graphics cards require significant power. For a new build or upgrade, consider a power supply with at least 1,000W, especially if you're using a card like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090.

GTX vs. RTX

Nvidia's RTX series offers superior performance over the GTX series thanks to Tensor and RT cores, which enhance AI tasks, upscaling, and ray tracing. GTX cards, while more budget-friendly, lack these advanced features and are becoming outdated.