Best graphics card 2023

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Picking up the best graphics card is going to make a difference, particularly if you’re aiming to build a high end gaming PC. That’s not to say you have to splash out on a GPU that costs the same as an entire pre-built rig, but shiny Nvidia and AMD new-gen options are going to boost fps higher than ever and elevate your Steam library. Thankfully, cheaper options than the monstrous RTX 4090 are now available, so you won’t necessarily miss out on AI upscaling.

Yes, that’s right, many of the best graphics cards in 2023 use AI to increase fps and provide a smoother experience. No, you don’t have to worry about your gaming PC gaining sentience, as GPU features like Nvidia DLSS simply use machine learning to dynamically scale your on screen resolution and fill in frame rate gaps. The end result? Well, you’ll find that enabling ultra settings and ray tracing in demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 without as many performance caveats. Just keep in mind that the tech isn’t going to magically help your RTX 3060 perform like an RTX 4090, and the latter can perform additional tricks thanks to DLSS 3 and Frame Generation.

To save you any hardware hassle during your GPU quest, we’ve tested the best graphics cards available right now and whipped up a list of our favourites. Whether you’re looking for unadulterated gaming PC performance or something that can gracefully handle the latest PC games without a hitch, we’ve got you covered. It might also be a great time to start thinking about a new graphics card, as Prime Day PC deals are already starting to pop up ahead of Amazon's big sale. Just keep in mind that you probably won't see RTX 4060 discounts during the event, as the GPU is still fresh faced.

Quick list

Best overall

The best graphics card bar none

Specifications

GPU cores: 16,384
Graphics processor: AD102
Base clock: 2235 MHz
Boost clock: 2520 MHz
Memory: 24GB GDDR6X
Memory clock: 1313 MHz
Memory bandwidth: 21 Gbps
Memory bus: 384-bit

Reasons to buy

+
Best in class performance
+
Not as expensive as the RTX 3090 Ti
+
DLSS 3 with Frame Generation is incredible

Reasons to avoid

-
Still wildly expensive
-
12VHPWR power connection
-
CPU might throttle real-world performance

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is simply put, the best consumer graphics card on the market by a pretty wide margin. It runs circles around the last-gen flagship RTX 3090 Ti and easily chews through any game we throw at it, no matter the settings. 

Thanks to a 4nm GPU, the RTX 4090 packs in 52% more graphics processing CUDA cores than the RTX 3090 Ti, and it also runs 43% faster than the RTX 3090 Ti as well — all while drawing the same amount of power as the last-gen card.

In terms of gaming performance, it’s the only graphics card that can confidently game at a native 4K resolution with ray tracing without the help of DLSS. It’s more than 50% faster on average than the RTX 3090 Ti, and with DLSS 3 with full frame generation, the RTX 4090 can get as much as double the frame rate achieved with last gen’s DLSS 2.0.

This is the kind of card that will be able to keep up with the latest titles for many years to come, making it a worthwhile investment. Performance like this doesn’t come cheap, by any means, but if you want the absolute best graphics card out there in terms of raw performance, you won’t find better.

Read more: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 review

Our second favourite new-gen GPU

Specifications

GPU cores: 7680
Graphics processor: AD104
Base clock: 2310 MHz
Boost clock: 2610 MHz
Memory: 12GB GDDR6X
Memory clock: 2500 MHz
Memory bandwidth: 20 Gbps
Memory bus: 192-bit

Reasons to buy

+
Decent 4K performance
+
Even better 1440p performance
+
DLSS 3.0 and Frame Generation

Reasons to avoid

-
DLSS 3.0 does some heavy lifting
-
Still very pricey
-
12GB is swallowed up easily in 4K

The PNY variant of the RTX 4070 Ti offers a decent price point for this controversial GPU. Although it's harder to recommend this card over the regular 4070, or indeed its AMD rivals that have more VRAM, this is the most affordable high-end Nvidia RTX 40 series card, so it currently offers an affordable route into the best ray tracing performance and DLSS 3.

Initial pricing controversies aside, the 4070 Ti performs great at 1440p, with some fairly manageable 4K performance thanks to its reliance on DLSS. With only 12GB, 4K performance isn't going to be the best without DLSS - Control in 4K, max settings barely scrambled up to 30fps. 

While we can recommend the 4070 Ti as a strong graphics card for gaming, we'd do so with the caveat that it might give an inadvertent vote with your wallet. If you think GPUs are too expensive, a purchase of the 4070 Ti will only tell Nvidia that you support its high prices. For those who don't know, this board was originally the 12GB model of the RTX 4080. When it was "unlaunched" and repurposed into the 4070 Ti, it was given a $100 price drop despite having completely unchanged specs. This exposed Nvidia a bit, seeing as it could still make a profit after charging $100 under what it originally wanted to.

We'd recommend AMD's flagships over this any day, but the 4070 Ti still offers high-end in-game performance for much cheaper than last generation.

Best high end GPU

The best high-end GPU for gamers

Specifications

GPU cores: 6144
Graphics processor: Navi 31
Base clock: 1855 MHz
Boost clock: 2499 MHz
Memory: 24GB GDDR6
Memory clock: 2500 MHz
Memory bandwidth: 20 Gbps
Memory bus: 384-bit

Reasons to buy

+
Insane performance for money
+
Extremely powerful GPU
+
More affordable than the competition
+
Isn't obnoxiously large

Reasons to avoid

-
Ray Tracing isn't as good as the competition
-
No DLSS

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX had a lot of pressure on its shoulders when it hit the shelves. The latest flagship from Nvidia's biggest competitor needed to be strong to reinstate AMD as a genuine option. After all, PC gamers have heard nothing but demand for Nvidia's 30 Series for the last two years.

AMD's latest flagship is undoubtedly one of the best graphics cards you can buy right now. It undercuts the price RTX 4080 and more importantly, outperforms it. Where Nvidia's cards are pricey, the AMD Radeon 7900 XTX is remarkably affordable in comparison. Where the RTX 4090 is inconveniently large, AMD's heaviest hitter is compact and practical. In all honesty, if it weren't for the obscene power of the RTX 4090, the RX 7900 XTX would be the best GPU out there. 

For under a grand (or slightly over when you get to any given retailer), this GPU is pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Yes, there are added bonuses to getting a 40 Series GPU that has superior ray tracing and DLSS 3. But with something this powerful, you won't miss those Nvidia benefits in the slightest.

Don't skip this. Most people, especially gamers, won't need an RTX 4090, so there's no point spending all that money on one. For that type of buyer, this is the graphics card to get.

Best value GPU

The best value high-end GPU

Specifications

GPU cores: 5376
Graphics processor: Navi 31
Base clock: 1500 MHz
Boost clock: 2394 MHz
Memory: 20GB GDDR6
Memory clock: 2500 MHz
Memory bandwidth: 20 Gbps
Memory bus: 320-bit

Reasons to buy

+
Great 4K performance
+
More affordable than the RTX 4080

Reasons to avoid

-
The 7900 XTX offers better performance for only ~$150 more

At an MSRP of only $899 in the US and a lowest price of £859 in the UK, the 7900 XT comes in ~$150 cheaper than the XTX. That means it's significantly cheaper than the RTX 4080 while offering similar performance. In short, this is an amazing graphics card for folks who want the best gaming performance on the market at the lowest possible price.

Reviewing the RX 7900 XT was a joy, albeit a bit repetitive after the 7900 XTX. They have a lot of the same strengths, weaknesses, and in truth, the 7900 XT suffers by being in its beefier sibling's shadow. At the higher end of the GPU price range, it's hard to imagine someone not being willing to save just $100 more to get superior performance in the form of the XTX. Regardless, if budgets are just too tight, this is probably the best value performer you'll find. 

This GPU has amazing 4K capabilities for the money and smashes 1440p frame rates out of the park. Its ray tracing is strong too, although there obviously isn't DLSS or Nvidia's RT cores here. Regardless, this outperforms the 4070 Ti in terms of raw power and doesn't have to rely on those things to stay competitive.

Best budget GPU

RX 6600 XT graphics card

(Image credit: AMD)

5. AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT

The best budget graphics card

Specifications

GPU cores: 2,048
Graphics processor: Navi 23
Base clock: 1968 MHz
Boost clock: 2589 MHz
Memory: 8GB GDDR6
Memory clock: 16 Gbps
Memory bandwidth: 256.0 GB/s
Memory bus: 128-bit

Reasons to buy

+
Holds its own against RTX 3060
+
Seriously fast clock speeds
+
Built for high FPS in 1080p

Reasons to avoid

-
Still using 8GB VRAM
-
Its ray tracing isn't great

The RX 6600 XT is built first and foremost with being one of the best graphics cards for PC gamers aiming for fast frame rates in 1080p. It's been geared in the marketing primarily towards the Esports crowd, as the competitive games in the circuit may not be too visually demanding, but require super-high FPS to compensate. The RX 6600 XT is a decent rival to Nvidia's base RTX 3060 model, however, if you're thinking of picking this GPU up for 1440p performance then you may need to cast a wider net in the field of AMD. 

While the RTX 3060 Ti generally does ray tracing in Full HD better, the benchmarks for the RX 6600 XT really do speak for themselves. AMD published the full list online, where the GPU managed well above 70 FPS in the likes of Far Cry 6, Hitman 3, Resident Evil Village, Deathloop, and more. If you've wanted to max out the latest titles in Full HD, then this video card will serve you well. 

Best 1440p GPU

Best 1440p GPU

Specifications

GPU cores: 5888
Graphics processor: AD104
Base clock: 1920 MHz
Boost clock: 2475 MHz
Memory: 12GB GDDR6X
Memory bandwidth: 504 Gbps
Memory bus: 192-bit
TDP: 200W

Reasons to buy

+
Great in-game performance
+
Some respectable 4K frame rates
+
Lovely design
+
Performance is not far off a 4070 Ti and it's way cheaper

Reasons to avoid

-
PNY model is one of the more expensive ones
-
4060 Ti is on the way with more VRAM

PNY's Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 feels like an authentic entry in the Lovelace line-up that was overdue after the unattainable prices of the last few years. With the 60 family so close to launch though, and more VRAM being a tempting prospect for less money, there's an interesting buying decision to be made here. That said, the 4070 blows any reason to buy the 4070 Ti out of the water.

Being the centre of the 40 Series family, it'd be all too easy for the 4070 to suffer from middle child syndrome - identity crises where it's the jack-of-all-resolutions and master of none. I don't see it that way at all though, and just in case my last sentence didn't have enough cliches for you, here's another. The RTX 4070 feels like a happy medium in the Lovelace line-up, and to me, that means it's a success. 

The RTX 4070 is capable of excellent gaming performance at 1440p, and is probably the best value prospect for that resolution until we get our hands on the RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti. More than that, it'll give you really respectable 4K frame rates for your money. Even when that 12GB of GDDR6X VRAM gets swallowed up, the classic Ray Tracing Cores and DLSS tricks Nvidia has up its sleeve will bail it out when needed.

I think it might end up being one of the best of the Lovelace lot when the full range is accounted for. 

Best 1080p GPU

MSI RTX 4060 GPU sitting on white desk next to mascot plush

(Image credit: Future / Phil Hayton)
The best 1080p graphics card

Specifications

Graphics processor: AD106
GPU cores: 3840
Memory type: GDDR6
Memory: 8GB
Memory bus width: 128-bit

Reasons to buy

+
8GB memory 
+
Great 1080p performance
+
Can handle some 1440P and 4K games

Reasons to avoid

-
Reliant on DLSS for higher resolutions and frame rates 

Coming in at $299, the Nvidia RTX 4060 is the cheapest of the Lovelace bunch yet. However, don't let its lower price fool you, as it's a punchy 1080p GPU that can actually handle a bit of 1440p and 4K with DLSS 3 enabled. You could say it relies on Frame Generation and fancy AI upscaling a bit too much, but the results speak for themselves when you can technically play demanding ports like Returnal without performance caveats.

We put the RTX 4060 through our usual benchmarks, and it managed to outpace the RTX 3060. We even ran specific RTX 4060 Cyberpunk 2077 tests and enjoyed around over 100fps at 1080p with all the ray tracing trimmings using DLSS 3. The GeForce tool even makes 4K possible on the entry-level card, as it achieved 72fps in Hitman 3, albeit with ray tracing set to one side.

Overall issues with Nvidia's RTX 4000 pricing and reluctance to offer more than 8GB RAM at entry-level, the RTX 4060 is a solid 1080p option that isn't going to disappoint. It may lose its spot on our list when the AMD Radeon RX 7600 eventually gains its own take on DLSS 3 (FSR 3.0), but until then, it's our little budget soldier that offers new-gen gaming PC tricks for less.

Read more: RTX 4060 review

Best last-gen GPU

Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 AMP Holo

(Image credit: Future)
The best last-gen graphics card

Specifications

GPU cores: 8,704
Graphics processor: GA102
Base clock: 1440 MHz
Boost clock: 1710 MHz
Memory: 10GB GDDR6X (FE)
Memory clock: 1188 MHz
Memory bandwidth: 19 Gbps
Memory bus: 320-bit

Reasons to buy

+
Built with 4K firmly in mind
+
Far more affordable than RTX 3080 Ti
+
Now available in 10GB and 12GB versions

Reasons to avoid

-
Harder to find since RTX 3080 Ti launch

Until we're done testing the new 4080, the RTX 3080 is still a big one to beat. Having said that, it's getting harder to recommend with every minute that passes given that the RTX 4080 is readily available. As long as you're aware of that, we can proceed.

This Ampere GPU proved super-fast 4K gaming on PC, and gives the best performance for your money against the 3090. With the 4080 now on the shelves you may find it start to get cheaper, and more discount-prone, so that's something to keep an eye on. 

Even in 2022, there's nothing that the RTX 3080 can't achieve in 4K, especially when factoring in the benefits of DLSS for the less-well optimized titles on the platform. The numbers are suitably self-evident too. If the RTX 3070 base model could outperform the RTX 2080 Ti (at least in many conditions) then the RTX 3080 absolutely decimates those figures.

RTX 3060 Ti graphics card

(Image credit: Nvidia)

9. Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti

The best last-gen graphics card for most gamers

Specifications

GPU Cores: 4,864
Graphics processor: GA104
Base Clock: 1,410 MHz
Boost Clock: 1,665 MHz
Memory: 8GB GDDR6
Memory clock: 14 Gbps
Memory bandwidth: 448.0 GB/s
Memory bus: 256-bit

Reasons to buy

+
Takes advantage of 8GB memory
+
Outperforms the RTX 2080 models
+
Makes the most of ray tracing

Reasons to avoid

-
Don't expect top-performance in 4K

The RTX 3060 Ti offers performance that was previously thought impossible from an entry-level graphics card only three years ago. The benchmarks don't lie; this video card runs circles around the RTX 2080 Super (the previous high-end GPU to beat) while costing half as much. It really is that simple. If you want to marry price to performance up and down this list, this is honestly one of the best options to go for. the 3050 is solid for budget buyers, but if you can stretch to the 3060 or 3060 Ti, we'd recommend doing so, since it will give you a bit more futureproofing.

Now, 4K is more than possible, but won't be the RTX 3060's strong suit. While achieving UHD visuals is doable, it's geared more towards higher frame rates in 1440p and steamrolling through Full HD games pushed to their absolute limit. Again, that's not to say that the GPU can't benefit from Ultra HD, especially with the benefits of DLSS, but it's not a card built with it this resolution in mind.

If you can find the RTX 3060 Ti for a fair price online, then it's going to be ideal for the vast majority of PC gamers. 

How we test graphics cards

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

At GamesRadar, we take an encompassing approach to testing the best graphics cards with a strict set of benchmarking tools before the GPUs end up on our list. First and foremost, we use the likes of 3DMark for quantified and comparable figures in our extensive write-ups. Secondly, and arguably most importantly, we use demanding games with ray tracing enabled, if applicable, to see how the graphics cards hold up in real-world performance. 

You can find out how we test graphics cards in our full GamesRadar Hardware Policy.

Best graphics cards: Frequently asked questions

How many gigabytes of RAM do graphics cards need in 2022?

Our advice is that 8GB GDDR6 memory should be considered the absolute minimum for graphics card gaming performance in 2022. This is because many modern games are pushing the VRAM to new limits due to increased texture sizes, game worlds, and reliance on the speeds afforded by newer storage drives. A good middle ground for futureproofing would be 12GB GDDR6/GDDR6X VRAM, which you can find in some of the best graphics cards from both AMD and Nvidia. This would give you enough overhead for high-FPS 1440p gaming as well as 4K60 in most instances.

What graphics card is best to buy?

The newly crowned best graphics card on the market is the RTX 4090. It's a behemoth that's capable of incredible performance at 4K, and if you're looking to pin the #1GPU in the world medal on something, the 4090 is tough to beat. It is undoubtedly the most expensive, though, so that's worth keeping in mind. For mere mortals, the RTX 3080 will do the trick. For budget buyers, an RTX 3060 Ti is the one to look for, with the 3050 being a strong fall-back.

How many types of graphics cards are there?

There are two types of best graphics cards when you consider gaming PCs, integrated graphics and dedicated graphics cards. The former is weaker, and usually baked onto the processor chip in the form of an APU or SOC. Dedicated graphics cards, like all of those models listed above, as discrete models that are slotted into your computer's PCIe Express port, most being two-slot, but some taking up three-slots depending on size, to deliver far greater visual prowess. There are two main manufacturers, Nvidia, and AMD Radeon. Nvidia is definitely the most popular, and its GPUs can come in many forms from a lot of different gaming brands out there. Intel is also making its plays into the GPU market with the Intel Arc cards.

Is RTX better than GTX?

If you've followed Nvidia's graphics cards for some time then you may not that the company's GeForce lines have rebranded from GTX to RTX. The latter delegation refers to the ray tracing potential of the video cards, which was first seen in the RTX 20-series (Turing) in 2018. Now, since late 2020, with the RTX 30-series (Ampere), the ray tracing performance has been vastly improved. It's currently unknown as to what the successor generation will be known as. 


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Phil Hayton
Hardware Editor

I’ve been messing around with PCs, video game consoles, and tech since before I could speak. Don’t get me wrong, I kickstarted my relationship with technology by jamming a Hot Wheels double-decker bus into my parent’s VCR, but we all have to start somewhere. I even somehow managed to become a walking, talking buyer’s guide at my teenage supermarket job, which helped me accept my career fate. So, rather than try to realise my musician dreams, or see out my University degree, I started running my own retro pop culture site and writing about video games and tech for the likes of TechRadar, The Daily Star, and the BBC before eventually ending up with a job covering graphics card shenanigans at PCGamesN. Now, I’m your friendly neighbourhood Hardware Editor at GamesRadar, and it’s my job to make sure you can kick butt in all your favourite games using the best gaming hardware, whether you’re a sucker for handhelds like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch or a hardcore gaming PC enthusiast.

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