One of many trickiest components of any new pc construct or improve is discovering the appropriate video card. In a gaming PC, the GPU is definitely crucial element, and you may hamstring your expertise by shopping for the flawed mannequin. The shopping for course of could be irritating, with many producers promoting their fashions above their recommended retail value. On this information, we’ll allow you to navigate the market and discover the appropriate GPU to your wants.
It is all in regards to the video games
The primary query to ask your self is what sort of video games do you wish to play. Aggressive shooters like Valorant, Overwatch and Marvel Rivals have been designed to run on older {hardware}. As such, even entry-level GPUs just like the GeForce RTX 5060 can push these video games at 120 frames per second and above at 1080p (extra on why that is vital in a second).
In contrast, if you wish to play fashionable, single-player video games with ray tracing and different graphical extras, you will want a extra highly effective GPU. Simply how rather more highly effective will rely upon the decision of your monitor.
A 1440p monitor has 78 p.c extra pixels than a 1080p display screen, and a 4K show has greater than twice as many pixels as a QHD panel. In brief, working a recreation at 4K, particularly at something above 60 frames per second, is demanding, and most GPUs might want to use upscaling strategies like NVIDIA’s Deep Studying Tremendous Sampling (DLSS) and AMD’s FidelityFX Tremendous Decision (FSR) to push new video games at excessive refresh charges.
Whereas we’re with regards to decision, it does not make sense to spend some huge cash on a 4K monitor solely to pair it with a cheap GPU. That is a recipe for a foul expertise. As you are searching for a brand new video card, it’s best to take into consideration the decision and body price you wish to play your video games. In the event you’re out there for each a GPU and show, make sure to try our information to the perfect gaming displays.
In case your price range permits, a superb wager is to purchase a midrange card that may comfortably render all however essentially the most demanding video games at 1440p and a minimum of 144 frames per second. Put one other approach, you need a GPU that may saturate a monitor at its native decision and refresh price in as many video games as attainable. That offers you the smoothest attainable expertise when it comes to movement readability, and let you dabble in each aggressive shooters and the most recent single-player video games because the temper strikes you.
NVIDIA vs AMD and Intel
Picture by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
One of many complicated features of the GPU business are all of the gamers concerned. What it’s good to know is that there are three most important gamers: AMD, Intel and NVIDIA. They design the playing cards you should purchase, however delegate the manufacturing of them to so-called add-in board (AIB) companions like ASUS, XFX, Gigabyte and others.
As you may in all probability think about, this creates some complications. Probably the most annoying of which is that AMD, Intel and NVIDIA will usually set advisable costs for his or her graphic playing cards, just for their companions to promote their variations of these GPUs above the producer’s recommended retail value (MSRP). For instance, NVIDIA’s web site lists the RTX 5070 with a beginning value of $549. On Newegg, there aren’t any 5070s listed at that value. The one fashions anyplace near $549 are open field specials. In order for you one which comes sealed, that can value you a minimum of $600.
As for what firm you should purchase your new GPU from, earlier than 2025, NVIDIA was the undisputed king of the market. Particular GeForce playing cards might haven’t provided the perfect rasterization efficiency of their value vary, however between their efficiency in video games with ray tracing and the actual fact NVIDIA was forward on options like DLSS, an RTX GPU was a secure wager.
Nonetheless, with this yr’s RTX 50 sequence launch, apart from fashions just like the RTX 5080 and 5090 the place there is no competitors, it is secure to say NVIDIA missed the mark this technology. In the event you’re out there for an entry- or mid-level GPU, AMD and Intel supply higher worth, with playing cards that include sufficient VRAM for now and into the long run. That mentioned, there are nonetheless a couple of causes you would possibly take into account an NVIDIA GPU, beginning with ray tracing.
Ray tracing
For many years, builders have used rasterization strategies to approximate how gentle behaves in the true world, and the outcomes have been commendable. But when you recognize what to search for, it is simple to see the place the phantasm falls aside. For that cause, real-time ray tracing has been a aim of business for years, and in 2018 it grew to become a actuality with NVIDIA’s first RTX playing cards.
In some video games, results like ray-traced reflections and world illumination are transformational. Sadly, these options are costly to run, usually coming at a major frame-rate drop with out upscaling. Since ray tracing was optionally available in lots of video games earlier than 2025, you may lower your expenses by shopping for an AMD GPU. For instance, even when the RX 7800 XT was worse at ray tracing than the RTX 4070, the previous was usually cheaper to purchase, had extra onboard VRAM and was pretty much as good or higher rasterization efficiency in lots of video games.
Nonetheless, you may’t ignore ray tracing efficiency anymore. We’re beginning to see releases like Doom: The Darkish Ages the place the tech is an integral a part of a recreation’s rendering pipeline, and extra are prone to observe sooner or later. Fortunately, AMD’s latest playing cards are a lot better in that regard, although you will nonetheless get an edge working an NVIDIA mannequin. For that cause, if ray tracing is vital to you, NVIDIA playing cards are nonetheless the best way to go.
Refresh charges and body charges
In the event you’re new to the world of PC gaming, it may be difficult to wrap your head round refresh charges. In brief, the upper the refresh price of a monitor, the extra instances it might probably replace the picture it shows on display screen each second, thereby producing a smoother transferring image.
For instance, transferring components on a monitor with a 240Hz refresh price will look higher than on one with a 120Hz refresh price. Nonetheless, that is all contingent in your GPU having the ability to persistently render a recreation on the acceptable body charges. Within the case of a 120Hz monitor, you need a GPU with sufficient headroom to drive most video games at 120 fps. Realistically, most video playing cards will not be capable to obtain that in each recreation, nevertheless it’s a superb baseline to goal for when searching for a brand new GPU.
Upscaling and latency
I’ve talked about DLSS a couple of instances already. Alongside FSR and Intel XeSS, DLSS is an instance of what is generally known as a picture reconstruction expertise. Increasingly, native rendering goes out of vogue in recreation design. With ray tracing and different fashionable results enabled, even essentially the most highly effective GPUs can wrestle to render a recreation at 1440p or 4K and a playable framerate. That’s why many builders will flip to DLSS, FSR or XeSS to eke out further efficiency by upscaling a decrease decision picture to QHD or UHD.
Upscaling in video games is nothing new. For instance, the PS4 Professional used a checkerboard method to output video games in 4K. What’s completely different now could be how fashionable GPUs go about it. With DLSS, NVIDIA pioneered an strategy that makes use of machine studying to recreate a picture at the next decision, and within the course of, addressed among the pitfalls of previous upscaling strategies. In the event you’re delicate to those types of issues, there’s nonetheless blur and shimmer with DLSS, FSR and XeSS, nevertheless it’s a lot much less pronounced and may result in important efficiency positive aspects.
To DLSS, NVIDIA later added single and multi-frame technology. DLSS is simply obtainable on NVIDIA playing cards, and following the current launch of DLSS 4, extensively thought of to supply the perfect picture high quality. That is one more reason why you would possibly select an NVIDIA card over certainly one of its opponents. Nonetheless, if you happen to resolve to go along with an AMD GPU, do not feel such as you’re lacking out. The corporate lately launched FSR 4. Whereas it is not fairly on par with DLSS 4 when it comes to help and picture high quality, it is a main leap over FSR 3 and FSR 2.
Whereas with regards to DLSS, I am going to additionally point out NVIDIA Reflex. It is a latency-reducing expertise NVIDIA launched in 2020. AMD has its personal model referred to as Radeon Anti-Lag, however right here once more Staff Inexperienced has a slight edge because of the current launch of Reflex 2. In the event you’re severe about aggressive video games, Reflex 2 can considerably scale back enter lag, which can make it simpler to nail your photographs in Counter-Strike 2, Valorant and different shooters.
Driver help
Beforehand, one of many causes to select an NVIDIA GPU over the competitors was the corporate’s strong observe file of driver help. With one of many firm’s video playing cards, you have been much less prone to run into stability points and video games failing to launch. In 2025, NVIDIA’s drivers have been abysmal, with individuals reporting frequent points and bugs. So if you happen to care about stability, AMD has a slight edge proper now.
VRAM
As you are evaluating completely different GPUs, particularly these in the identical tier, pay shut consideration to the quantity of VRAM they provide. Fashionable video games will eat up as a lot VRAM as a GPU can supply, and in case your card has a low quantity, akin to 8GB, you are prone to run right into a efficiency bottleneck.
In case your price range permits for it, at all times go for the mannequin with extra VRAM. Contemplate, as an example, the distinction between the $299 RTX 5060 and $429 RTX 5060 Ti. I do know spending an additional $130 — near 50 p.c extra — on the 5060 Ti goes to be lots for some individuals, nevertheless it’s the distinction between a card that’s barely ample for any current launch and one that can final you for a couple of years, and all of it comes all the way down to the quantity of VRAM provided in every. Merely put, extra is healthier.
A slight caveat to that is when evaluating fashions which have completely different reminiscence bandwidths. A GPU that may entry extra of its reminiscence sooner can outperform one with extra reminiscence, even when it has much less of it outright. Right here, you will wish to learn evaluations of the fashions you are evaluating to see how they carry out in numerous video games.
Dimension and energy draw
Fashionable GPUs are massive. Most new playing cards will take up a minimum of two PCI slots on the again of your motherboard. They will additionally range dramatically in size, relying on the variety of followers the AIB has added to chill the PCB. To be secure, make sure to examine the size of the cardboard you wish to purchase in opposition to the utmost clearance listed by your case producer. When you have a radiator on the entrance of your case, additionally, you will must issue the dimensions of that in your measurements. The very last thing you need is to purchase a card that does not slot in your case.
Lastly, make sure to examine the advisable energy provide for the cardboard you need. As a rule of thumb, until you recognize what you are doing, it is best to simply keep on with the producer’s advice. As an example, NVIDIA suggests pairing the RTX 5070 with a 750 watt PSU. So if you happen to’re at present working a 650 watt unit, you will must issue within the value of a PSU improve along with your new GPU.
Must you purchase a used GPU?
Devindra Hardawar for Engadget
It relies upon. If you will discover a deal on an outdated RTX 40 sequence GPU, then sure. NVIDIA’s RTX 50 sequence do not supply tremendously improved efficiency over their predecessors, and with most fashions promoting for greater than their recommended retail value, it is not a good time to purchase a brand new NVIDIA card.
That mentioned, I think discovering a superb deal on a used GPU will likely be troublesome. Most individuals will know the worth of what they’ve, and contemplating the present market, will in all probability attempt to get as a lot as they will for his or her outdated card.
It’s possible you’ll discover higher offers on older AMD and Intel GPUs, however I believe you are higher off spending extra now on a brand new mannequin from a type of firms for the reason that generational positive aspects provided by their newest playing cards are rather more spectacular. Merely put, the 9070 XT and B580 are two of the perfect playing cards you should purchase proper now.
Something older than a card from NVIDIA’s 40 sequence or AMD’s RX 6000 household just isn’t value contemplating. Until your price range is extraordinarily tight otherwise you principally play older video games, you are a lot better off spending extra to purchase a brand new card that can final you longer.
When is an effective time to purchase a brand new GPU?
In the event you’ve learn up thus far, you are in all probability questioning if it is even value shopping for a GPU proper now. The reply is (unsurprisingly) sophisticated. There are a handful of nice playing cards just like the Intel B580 and Radeon 9070 XT which might be completely value shopping for. The issue is discovering any GPU at costs approaching these set by AMD, Intel or NVIDIA is de facto robust. To make issues worse, uncertainty round President Trump’s tariff insurance policies is prone to push costs even larger. In the event you personal a comparatively current GPU, you are in all probability finest off making an attempt to carry onto your present card till issues cool down.
Nonetheless, in case your GPU is not reducing it anymore, you face a troublesome determination: overpay now, or wait and doubtlessly pay much more later. As a lot as I am reluctant to advocate a prebuilt PC, if you happen to’re already planning to construct a brand new pc, it is value exploring your choices there because you would possibly find yourself saving cash on a video card when it is bundled along with all the opposite parts you want.
One of the best GPUs for 2025: Engadget suggestions
Entry-level (1080p) GPUs
As we talked about above, if you happen to’re solely aiming to play primary aggressive shooters like Valorant and Overwatch 2 in 1080p, an entry-level GPU could also be all you want. Whereas 1080p is not a super decision on the subject of sharpness, many avid gamers desire it because it’s simpler to achieve larger framerates. And it additionally helps that 1080p gaming displays, just like the AOC 24G15N 24-inch we advocate, have a tendency to supply speedy refresh charges for between $100 and $200. If you’re zipping by way of matches, you seemingly will not have time to take a breath and respect the element from larger resolutions.
Listed below are our suggestions for entry-level video playing cards.
GIGABYTE
Surprisingly sufficient, you may truly discover this contemporary NVIDIA GPU for $300. When you’ll should dwell with 8GB of RAM, that is greater than sufficient for 1080p gaming, and it additionally has the advantage of DLSS 4 upscaling.
$300 at Amazon
Intel
With a $250 listing value and 12GB of RAM, it is onerous to go flawed with the B580 on paper. Sadly, its value has shot up considerably, and it is usually onerous to search out it in inventory. Nonetheless, it delivers wonderful 1080p efficiency, and it might probably additionally play some video games in 1440p properly. (Try our Intel Arc B580 evaluation.)
$348 at Amazon
AMD / Newegg
Whereas it is a last-gen card, the RX 7600 continues to be highly effective sufficient to deal with primary shooters.
$280 at Newegg
Midrange (1440p) GPUs
Whereas entry-level playing cards can dabble with 1440p gaming, it is value stepping as much as one thing a bit extra highly effective if you happen to truly wish to obtain larger refresh charges. For many avid gamers, 1440p is the perfect steadiness between sharpness and excessive framerates. It seems noticeably higher than 1080p, and does not require the horsepower overhead of 4K. (And there is a good likelihood you will not actually see a visible distinction with the leap to 4K.)
Listed below are our suggestions for midrange GPUs.
Gigabyte / Finest Purchase
Sapphire Pulse / Newegg
AMD shocked us all with the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT, two midrange playing cards that provided comparable energy to and extra VRAM than NVIDIA’s costlier playing cards. When you will not see the RX 9070 for its $550 launch value right now, you may nonetheless snag one for a slight premium. (Try our AMD Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT evaluation.)
$700 at Newegg
Excessive-end (4K) GPUs
In order for you essentially the most of what fashionable PC video games have to supply, together with 4K and all the advantages of ray tracing, then be able to spend massive bucks on a high-end GPU. In the event you’re going this route, although, ensure you are additionally gaming on a high-end monitor that befits these highly effective GPUs.
Listed below are our suggestions for premium GPUs.
GIGABYTE
The RTX 5070 Ti shocked me with wonderful 4K gaming efficiency for a launch value that was properly beneath the RTX 5080. Whereas its value has jumped considerably since then, it is nonetheless the perfect general NVIDIA card if you wish to play in 4K at 120Hz or past. (Try our NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti evaluation.)
$1,030 at Amazon
NVIDIA
If the RTX 5070 Ti is not sufficient for you, the RTX 5080’s further energy and 24GB of VRAM ought to fit your fancy. Simply be ready to pay round $1,500 for it, a 50 p.c leap from its $999 launch value.
$1,495 at Amazon
Tremendous high-end/Cash is not actual GPUs
Pay attention, there’s just one alternative right here and it is NVIDIA’s enormously highly effective and wonderfully costly RTX 5090. It is an absolute beast, with 32GB of VRAM and essentially the most {hardware} NVIDIA has ever stuffed right into a shopper GeForce GPU. The RTX 5090 does not make sense for 99 p.c of avid gamers — particularly because it’s now going for $3,000, up from its $2,000 launch value — however you probably have the money to spare, it’s going to definitely earn you bragging rights. (Try our NVIDIA RTX 5090 evaluation.)
