What’s the finest graphics card? It’s laborious to recollect a time when the gaming GPU scene was stuffed to the brim with so many choices, as AMD, Nvidia, and now even Intel all supply compelling graphics card fashions for frugal and large spenders alike. As such, it may be troublesome to establish the proper pixel pusher on your system, however our hands-on expertise with the newest GeForce, Radeon, and Arc playing cards will make it a lot simpler.
Relating to maximizing your gaming efficiency, an awesome graphics card must be your prime precedence. A GPU is the first driving pressure behind your body price, but it surely additionally determines what decision and graphics settings you’ll be capable to use, together with the likes of ray tracing. Every producer additionally has its personal set of strengths, together with unique options, equivalent to DLSS Body Era, which additionally have to be thought of when weighing up your choices.
Whereas the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 overview is undoubtedly the quickest graphics card on the market, it’s additionally the most costly. Fortunately, there are many choices that provide higher worth, with notably fierce competitors within the mid-range and funds area.
Whereas it’s straightforward to really feel like it’s good to purchase one of many newest GPUs, you’d be doing your self a disservice by not giving earlier generations a glance too. You’ll be able to usually discover what have been lately flagship ranges of efficiency at a sizeable low cost, however you’ll have to act quick earlier than inventory dries up.
Listed here are the perfect graphics playing cards in 2023:
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 – finest GPU for most individuals
- AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT – finest GPU underneath $500
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 – finest ray tracing GPU
- AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX – finest GPU underneath $1,000
- AMD Radeon RX 7600 – finest low-cost GPU
1. Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070
The perfect graphics card for most individuals.
| Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 specs | |
| GPU die | AD104 |
| CUDA colours | 5,888 |
| Tensor cores | 184 (Fourth Gen.) |
| RT cores | 46 (Third Gen.) |
| Base clock | 1,920MHz (1.92GHz) |
| Enhance clock | 2,475MHz (2.48GHz) |
| VRAM | 12GB GDDR6 |
| Reminiscence Bandwidth | 504GB/s |
| TDP | 200W |
Execs:
- Nice 1440p and 1080p efficiency
- Higher worth than different RTX 4000 GPUs
- DLSS Body Era vastly boosts body charges
Cons:
- 12GB of VRAM could make 4K gaming troublesome
- Loses to the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT in rasterization
- Dearer than predecessors
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 packs nearly all of the efficiency that the common gamer may need. It’s greater than able to dealing with each ray tracing and rasterized workloads, and its pixel-pushing powers can stretch even additional because of Nvidia DLSS 3.
Whereas its $600 MSRP does make it dearer than earlier 70-class GeForce graphics playing cards, the RTX 4070 nonetheless presents nice worth for midrange builds. Its 12GB of VRAM makes it ideally suited to 1080p and 1440p setups, however you’ll need extra reminiscence bandwidth and GPU energy in the event you’re seeking to sport at 4K.
In our testing, the RTX 4070 pulls forward of its closest competitors, the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT, by 30-39% in ray tracing workloads (relying on the decision). It does fall behind in rasterization, however this hole virtually evaporates in video games that assist DLSS Body Era.
Learn our Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 overview.
2. AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
The perfect graphics card for underneath $500.
| AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT specs | |
| GPU die | Navi 32 XT |
| Stream processors | 3,840 |
| RT cores | 60 (Second Gen.) |
| Base clock | 1,624MHz (1.62GHz) |
| Recreation clock | 2,124MHz (2.12GHz) |
| Enhance clock | 2,430MHz (2.43GHz) |
| VRAM | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Reminiscence Bandwidth | 624GB/s |
| TBP | 263W |
Execs:
- Unparalleled reminiscence bandwidth for $500
- Smashes the GeForce RTX 4070 in rasterized situations
- Higher worth than the Radeon RX 7700 XT
Cons:
- Giant ray tracing efficiency gaps vs the RTX 4070
- Nonetheless no signal of FSR 3 body era
- Some generational downgrades
The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT might have been a very long time coming, but it surely was actually definitely worth the wait. For individuals who aren’t too fussed about ray tracing, that is the graphics card to get.
With 16GB of VRAM hooked up to a 256-bit reminiscence interface, you get an honest reminiscence configuration for the cash. This uniquely positions the 7800 XT as the one card on the $500 mark that’s able to 1080p, 1440p, and even some 4K gaming.
It’s the extra smart purchase vs the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, provided that there’s solely $50 separating the 2. In our testing, the RX 7800 XT really beat the dearer RTX 4070 at each decision as much as 4K with ray tracing disabled, typically by as a lot as 17% on common. Nonetheless, as quickly as ray tracing results enter the body, it falls behind and has no reply for DLSS 3 both but.
Learn our AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT overview.
3. Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
The perfect ray tracing graphics card.
| Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 specs | |
| GPU die | AD102 |
| CUDA colours | 16,384 |
| Tensor cores | 512 (Fourth Gen.) |
| RT cores | 128 (Third Gen.) |
| Base clock | 2,235MHz (2.24GHz) |
| Enhance clock | 2,520MHz (2.52GHz) |
| VRAM | 24GB GDDR6X |
| Reminiscence bandwidth | 1,008GB/s |
| TDP | 450W |
Execs:
- Unmatched ray tracing efficiency
- 24GB GDDR6X VRAM
- Wonderful 4K gaming possibility
Cons:
- Intimidatingly costly
- Requires a suitably massive PC case
- Worse worth than RX 7900 XTX in rasterization
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is an absolute monstrosity of a graphics card, in each sense of the phrase. There isn’t any different GPU on the market that may compete with its value, efficiency, or measurement.
If you happen to’re the type of one who desires to play the perfect PC video games on the highest settings, on the greatest decision, and with minimal fuss, the RTX 4090 is for you. That’s, in fact, in the event you can abdomen its staggeringly excessive $1,599 MSRP and have room sufficient in your case to accommodate it.
Ray tracing or rasterization, the RTX 4090 can’t be overwhelmed, particularly when mixed with the body price boosting powers of DLSS 3. It isn’t the perfect worth possibility within the RTX 40 collection, however that’s nothing new in terms of flagships.
Learn our Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 overview.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080
The perfect different to the GeForce RTX 4090.
| Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 specs | |
| GPU die | AD103 |
| CUDA colours | 9,728 |
| Tensor cores | 304 (Fourth Gen.) |
| RT cores | 76 (Third Gen.) |
| Base clock | 2,205MHz (2.21GHz) |
| Enhance clock | 2,505MHz (2.51GHz) |
| VRAM | 16GB GDDR6X |
| Reminiscence bandwidth | 717GB/s |
| TDP | 320W |
Ought to the GeForce RTX 4090 be, understandably, too wealthy on your blood, then the GeForce RTX 4080 is your subsequent finest guess. That is all of the extra true given how laborious Nvidia’s flagship is to come up with proper now with worldwide inventory shortages.
Regardless of the cutbacks to its specs relative to its dearer sibling, the GeForce RTX 4080 will deal with virtually something you throw at it. You’ll be able to count on nice efficiency, even at 4K with ray tracing enabled, particularly with DLSS 3 enabled.
It’s price noting that at its MSRP of $1,200, its most precious to these seeking to play video games with ray tracing. If rasterized efficiency is your precedence, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX will be the higher purchase.
Learn our Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 overview for extra particulars.
4. AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
The perfect graphics card for underneath $1,000.
| AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX specs | |
| GPU die | Navi 31 XTX |
| Stream processors | 6,144 |
| RT cores | 96 (Second Gen.) |
| Base clock | 1,900MHz (1.90GHz) |
| Recreation clock | 2,300MHz (2.30GHz) |
| Enhance clock | 2,500MHz (2.50GHz) |
| VRAM | 24GB GDDR6 |
| Reminiscence bandwidth | 960GB/s |
| TBP | 355W |
Execs:
- Unbelievable rasterized efficiency for underneath $1,000
- 24GB of VRAM is greater than sufficient for years to come back
- Doesn’t require a 12VHPWR connector
Cons:
- Ray tracing efficiency is behind GeForce competitors
- No DLSS Body Era equal
- Barely much less environment friendly than the earlier era
The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX was nice when it first arrived on the scene again in 2022, and stays the highest GPU for lower than $1,000 regardless of the arrival of would-be challengers and competitors from the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT.
It packs all the facility that the RDNA 3 structure has to supply, full with a humungous 24GB of VRAM and a close to 1TB/s of reminiscence bandwidth. Suffice to say, the 7900 XTX specs are constructed for 4K gaming and past.
Naturally, the 7900 XTX additionally carries ranges of efficiency that cement itself as a correct flagship. It punches above its weight in opposition to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 with ray tracing disabled, beating or coming inside spitting distance of the dearer GPU in nearly all our rasterized benchmarks.
That mentioned, like different pixel pushers within the Radeon RX 7000 collection, the 7900 XTX can’t fairly sustain with its workforce inexperienced competitors when ray tracing results are enabled. That is compounded by the absence of AMD FSR 3 body era, which will hopefully be resolved within the coming months.
Learn our AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX overview.
5. AMD Radeon RX 7600
The perfect low-cost graphics card.
| AMD Radeon RX 7600 specs | |
| GPU Die | Navi 33 XL |
| Stream processors | 2,048 |
| RT cores | 32 (Second Gen.) |
| Base clock | 1,720MHz (1.72GHz) |
| Recreation clock | 2,250MHz (2.25GHz) |
| Enhance clock | 2,655MHz (2.66GHz) |
| VRAM | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Reminiscence Bandwidth | 288GB/s |
| TBP | 165W |
Execs:
- Lower than $300
- Surprisingly good rasterization efficiency
- Respectable TBP
Cons:
- 8GB of VRAM
- Subpar ray tracing efficiency
- No reply to DLSS Body Era
In case your funds can’t stretch to a midrange graphics card, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 is the best way to go. There isn’t an ideal GPU within the funds area proper now, however the Radeon RX 7600 is the least compromised possibility for the cash.
Each the RX 7600 and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 include simply 8GB of VRAM. This capability is okay for esports titles at 1080p, however can create issues when increased decision textures are enabled. Naturally, 1440p and 4K are off the desk for this GPU.
Given its low value, we’re shocked how perky this pixel pusher is in the proper circumstances. Body charges are spectacular at 1080p with ray tracing disabled, largely beating the GeForce RTX 4060, though we don’t suggest turning on ray tracing results in demanding video games with this graphics card.
Learn our AMD Radeon RX 7600 overview.
What’s VRAM?
VRAM is an acronym for ‘video random entry reminiscence’ and refers back to the built-in reminiscence utilized by graphics playing cards. Its objective is to supply your GPU with a separate, high-speed pool of reminiscence that it will probably use to retailer knowledge.
The quantity of VRAM your GPU has at its disposal, in addition to its velocity, straight influences its capability to supply secure body charges, devoid of stutter. In recent times, the dimensions of sport textures has grown exponentially, making VRAM capacities all of the extra vital.
Most graphics playing cards now include at the very least 8GB of VRAM, however we’d suggest choosing 12GB at the least in the event you can afford it. Increased resolutions demand increased swimming pools of VRAM, and we advise rocking 16GB for 1440p and 20GB for 4K.
What’s ray tracing?
Ray tracing refers back to the real-time tracing of sunshine to supply extra life like and better high quality lighting results than typical rasterized strategies. It has quite a lot of use circumstances, together with improved shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, and international illumination.
The primary ray tracing succesful graphics playing cards arrived on the scene in 2018, with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 20 collection. AMD joined in on the enjoyable with its Radeon RX 6000 collection in 2020, with Intel following with its Arc discrete GPUs in 2022.
Toggling on ray tracing choices vastly will increase GPU load, nonetheless, and might have a dramatic influence on body charges. As such, it’s sometimes smart to make use of them together with efficiency enhancing instruments equivalent to Nvidia DLSS, AMD FSR, or Intel XeSS.
