One of many trickiest components of any new laptop construct or improve is discovering the suitable video card. In a gaming PC, the GPU is definitely an important part, and you’ll hamstring your expertise by shopping for the incorrect mannequin. The shopping for course of may be irritating, with many producers promoting their fashions above their recommended retail worth. On this information, we’ll enable you to navigate the market and discover the suitable GPU on 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 far 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 methods 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 reference to decision, it would not make sense to spend some huge cash on a 4K monitor solely to pair it with an affordable GPU. That is a recipe for a nasty expertise. As you are purchasing for a brand new video card, it’s best to take into consideration the decision and body charge you wish to play your video games. Should you’re out there for each a GPU and show, you should definitely try our information to the best gaming monitors.
In case your finances permits, a very good guess is to purchase a midrange card that may comfortably render all however probably the most demanding video games at 1440p and no less than 144 frames per second. Put one other approach, you need a GPU that may saturate a monitor at its native decision and refresh charge in as many video games as doable. That provides you with the smoothest doable expertise when it comes to movement readability, and permit you to dabble in each aggressive shooters and the most recent single-player video games because the temper strikes you.
NVIDIA vs AMD and Intel
One of many complicated elements of the GPU industry are all the players involved. What you might want to know is that there are three major gamers: AMD, Intel and NVIDIA. They design the playing cards you should buy, however delegate the manufacturing of them to so-called add-in board (AIB) companions like ASUS, XFX, Gigabyte and others.
As you possibly can in all probability think about, this creates some complications. Probably the most annoying of which is that AMD, Intel and NVIDIA will typically set really helpful 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 worth (MSRP). For instance, NVIDIA’s web site lists the RTX 5070 with a beginning worth of $549. On Newegg, there aren’t any 5070s listed at that price. The one fashions wherever near $549 are open field specials. If you need one which comes sealed, that may value you at least $600.
As for what firm you can purchase your new GPU from, earlier than 2025, NVIDIA was the undisputed king of the market. Particular GeForce playing cards could haven’t provided the most effective rasterization efficiency of their worth vary, however between their efficiency in video games with ray tracing and the very fact NVIDIA was forward on options like DLSS, an RTX GPU was a secure guess.
Nevertheless, with this yr’s RTX 50 collection launch, aside 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 era. Should 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 longer term. That stated, there are nonetheless a number of causes you may think about an NVIDIA GPU, beginning with ray tracing.
Ray tracing
For many years, builders have used rasterization methods to approximate how gentle behaves in the actual world, and the outcomes have been commendable. But when what to search for, it is simple to see the place the phantasm falls aside. For that motive, real-time ray tracing has been a purpose 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 international illumination are transformational. Sadly, these options are costly to run, typically coming at a big frame-rate drop with out upscaling. Since ray tracing was elective in lots of video games earlier than 2025, you may get monetary savings 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 typically cheaper to purchase, had extra onboard VRAM and was pretty much as good or higher rasterization efficiency in lots of video games.
Nevertheless, you possibly can’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 more likely to comply with 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 motive, if ray tracing is vital to you, NVIDIA playing cards are nonetheless the best way to go.
Refresh charges and body charges
Should 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 charge of a monitor, the extra instances it could possibly replace the picture it shows on display screen each second, thereby producing a smoother transferring image.
For instance, transferring parts on a monitor with a 240Hz refresh charge will look higher than on one with a 120Hz refresh charge. Nevertheless, that is all contingent in your GPU with 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, however it’s a very good baseline to purpose for when purchasing for a brand new GPU.
Upscaling and latency
I’ve talked about DLSS a number of instances already. Alongside FSR and Intel XeSS, DLSS is an instance of what is generally known as a picture reconstruction know-how. Increasingly more, native rendering goes out of trend in recreation design. With ray tracing and different fashionable results enabled, even probably 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 approach to output video games in 4K. What’s totally different now’s how fashionable GPUs go about it. With DLSS, NVIDIA pioneered an method that makes use of machine studying to recreate a picture at a better decision, and within the course of, addressed a few of the pitfalls of previous upscaling strategies. Should you’re delicate to those kinds of issues, there’s nonetheless blur and shimmer with DLSS, FSR and XeSS, however it’s a lot much less pronounced and may result in vital efficiency positive aspects.
To DLSS, NVIDIA later added single and multi-frame era. DLSS is barely accessible on NVIDIA playing cards, and following the latest launch of DLSS 4, broadly thought-about to supply the most effective picture high quality. That is one more reason why you may select an NVIDIA card over considered one of its rivals. Nevertheless, if you happen to resolve to go together 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 assist and picture high quality, it is a main leap over FSR 3 and FSR 2.
Whereas with reference to DLSS, I am going to additionally point out NVIDIA Reflex. It is a latency-reducing know-how NVIDIA launched in 2020. AMD has its personal model referred to as Radeon Anti-Lag, however right here once more Crew Inexperienced has a slight edge because of the latest launch of Reflex 2. Should you’re critical about aggressive video games, Reflex 2 can considerably cut back enter lag, which is able to make it simpler to nail your pictures in Counter-Strike 2, Valorant and different shooters.
Driver assist
Beforehand, one of many causes to choose an NVIDIA GPU over the competitors was the corporate’s strong observe document of driver assist. With one of many firm’s video playing cards, you have been much less more likely to run into stability points and video games failing to launch. In 2025, NVIDIA’s drivers have been abysmal, with folks 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 totally 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, comparable to 8GB, you are more likely to run right into a efficiency bottleneck.
In case your finances permits for it, at all times go for the mannequin with extra VRAM. Contemplate, as an illustration, 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 loads for some folks, however it’s the distinction between a card that’s barely enough for any latest launch and one that may final you for a number of years, and all of it comes right 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 totally 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 opinions of the fashions you are evaluating to see how they carry out in several video games.
Measurement and energy draw
Fashionable GPUs are massive. Most new playing cards will take up no less than two PCI slots on the again of your motherboard. They will additionally fluctuate dramatically in size, relying on the variety of followers the AIB has added to chill the PCB. To be secure, you should definitely examine the size of the cardboard you wish to purchase towards the utmost clearance listed by your case producer. When you’ve got a radiator on the entrance of your case, additionally, you will have to 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, you should definitely examine the really helpful energy provide for the cardboard you need. As a rule of thumb, until what you are doing, it is best to only keep on with the producer’s suggestion. As an illustration, NVIDIA suggests pairing the RTX 5070 with a 750 watt PSU. So if you happen to’re presently working a 650 watt unit, you will have to issue within the worth of a PSU improve along with your new GPU.
Must you purchase a used GPU?
It relies upon. If yow will discover a deal on an previous RTX 40 collection GPU, then sure. NVIDIA’s RTX 50 collection do not supply enormously improved efficiency over their predecessors, and with most fashions promoting for greater than their recommended retail worth, it is not a good time to purchase a brand new NVIDIA card.
That stated, I believe discovering a very good deal on a used GPU might 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 previous card.
Chances are 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 kind of corporations because the generational positive aspects provided by their newest playing cards are far more spectacular. Merely put, the 9070 XT and B580 are two of the most effective playing cards you should buy proper now.
Something older than a card from NVIDIA’s 40 collection or AMD’s RX 6000 household isn’t value contemplating. Until your finances 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 may final you longer.
When is an effective time to purchase a brand new GPU?
Should you’ve learn up up to now, you are in all probability questioning if it is even value shopping for a GPU proper now. The reply is (unsurprisingly) difficult. There are a handful of nice playing cards just like the Intel B580 and Radeon 9070 XT which are completely value shopping for. The issue is discovering any GPU at costs approaching these set by AMD, Intel or NVIDIA is basically powerful. To make issues worse, uncertainty round President Trump’s tariff insurance policies is more likely to push costs even larger. Should you personal a comparatively latest GPU, you are in all probability greatest off attempting to carry onto your present card till issues quiet down.
Nevertheless, in case your GPU is not chopping 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 laptop, it is value exploring your choices there because you may find yourself saving cash on a video card when it is bundled along with all the opposite parts you want.
The perfect 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 perfect decision in relation to sharpness, many avid gamers choose it because it’s simpler to achieve larger framerates. And it additionally helps that 1080p gaming monitors, 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 doubtless 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 possibly can 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.
Intel
With a $250 checklist worth and 12GB of RAM, it is arduous to go incorrect with the B580 on paper. Sadly, its worth has shot up considerably, and it is typically arduous to seek out it in inventory. Nonetheless, it delivers glorious 1080p efficiency, and it could possibly additionally play some video games in 1440p nicely. (Try our Intel Arc B580 review.)
AMD / Newegg
Whereas it is a last-gen card, the RX 7600 continues to be highly effective sufficient to deal with primary shooters.
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 most effective stability between sharpness and excessive framerates. It appears noticeably higher than 1080p, and would 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 worth right now, you possibly can nonetheless snag one for a slight premium. (Try our AMD Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT review.)
Excessive-end (4K) GPUs
If you need probably the most of what fashionable PC video games have to supply, together with 4K and the entire advantages of ray tracing, then be able to spend massive bucks on a high-end GPU. Should you’re going this route, although, make sure 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 glorious 4K gaming efficiency for a launch worth that was nicely under the RTX 5080. Whereas its worth has jumped considerably since then, it is nonetheless the most effective general NVIDIA card if you wish to play in 4K at 120Hz or past. (Try our NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti review.)
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 worth.
Tremendous high-end/Cash is not actual GPUs
Pay attention, there’s just one selection right here and it is NVIDIA’s enormously highly effective and fantastically expensive RTX 5090. It is an absolute beast, with 32GB of VRAM and probably the most {hardware} NVIDIA has ever stuffed right into a client GeForce GPU. The RTX 5090 would 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 worth — however you probably have the money to spare, it will definitely earn you bragging rights. (Try our NVIDIA RTX 5090 review.)
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