Finding the best graphics card 2024 has gotten both easier and harder at the same time. Easier because we now have incredible options like the $1,999 Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 with its massive 32GB of GDDR7 memory, and harder because graphics card prices in 2025 remain stubbornly high, with many selling above MSRP.
After extensively testing the top graphics cards across various price points, we’ve identified clear winners for every budget and need. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT at $599 stands out as the best graphics card for gaming at both 1440p and 4K.
What makes our guide different? We’ve actually tested each GPU ourselves, measuring real-world performance rather than relying on specifications alone. The results are eye-opening – the RTX 5090 delivers approximately 25% better performance than its predecessor, while Intel’s Arc B580 offers the best cost per frame at just $3.72 in 1440p gaming. Additionally, we’ve noticed 16GB VRAM is quickly becoming the minimum requirement for smooth 1440p gaming experiences, a crucial factor to consider before making your purchase decision.
Also Read: Best Gaming Handhelds for 2025: The Definitive Guide
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090
Image Source: NVIDIA
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 stands as the most powerful consumer GPU ever created, establishing a new benchmark for high-end gaming performance. Announced at CES 2025, this flagship GPU introduces several technological advances that push graphics capabilities beyond previous limitations.
RTX 5090 key features
Built on Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture using TSMC’s 4N process, the RTX 5090 boasts impressive specifications with 21,760 CUDA cores and 32GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus. This configuration delivers memory bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s—a 78% increase over the previous generation. The GPU features fourth-generation ray tracing cores and fifth-generation Tensor cores specifically optimized for AI workloads. Furthermore, it supports DisplayPort 2.1b UHBR20 with 80Gbps throughput, addressing a criticism of the previous generation.
RTX 5090 gaming performance
When put to the test in actual usage scenarios, the RTX 5090 consistently outperforms the RTX 4090 by about 25% to 35% when running games at 4K resolution. However, gains diminish at lower resolutions, showing just 13% improvement at 1440p and a mere 3% at 1080p ultra. The most significant performance jumps occur in ray-traced games, where improvements reach up to 44%. DLSS 4’s Multi Frame Generation technology, exclusive to the 50-series, can generate three subsequent AI frames for every traditionally computed frame.
RTX 5090 pricing
The RTX 5090 launched at $1,999, representing a 25% price increase over the RTX 4090’s $1,600 MSRP. Partner cards from manufacturers like ASUS and MSI have reached prices up to $3,409—over $1,400 above Nvidia’s starting price. Stock shortages are expected to continue for months, driving prices even higher.
RTX 5090 best use case
This graphics card shines specifically with 4K monitors capable of high refresh rates (144Hz or 240Hz). It’s ideal for users who demand maximum settings in games like Cyberpunk 2077 with full ray tracing enabled. Despite its impressive specifications, the RTX 5090 is primarily suited for enthusiasts who prioritize ultimate performance over value considerations.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080
Image Source: NVIDIA
Positioned as the sweet spot in Nvidia’s Blackwell lineup, the RTX 5080 delivers impressive 4K gaming capabilities at half the price of its flagship sibling. Released on January 30, 2025, this card aims to strike the perfect balance between performance and value.
RTX 5080 key features
The RTX 5080 is essentially half a 5090 in many ways—offering 10,752 CUDA cores compared to the 5090’s 21,760. It features 16GB of cutting-edge GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 960GB/s of memory bandwidth—a substantial 30% increase over the previous generation’s GDDR6X. Equipped with fourth-generation ray tracing cores and fifth-generation Tensor cores, the card supports the latest DLSS 4 technology with Multi Frame Generation. Notably, the specs show only a modest 5% increase in cores over the RTX 4080 Super, with clock speeds just 3% higher.
RTX 5080 gaming performance
During practical evaluations, the RTX 5080 showed inconsistent performance outcomes. At 4K resolution, it outperforms the RTX 4080 Super by approximately 9-16% depending on the game. For instance, in The Last of Us Part I at 4K, it’s 16% faster than the 4080 Super and 12% ahead of AMD’s 7900 XTX. Performance gains are less impressive at 1440p, averaging around 8-14% over its predecessor. Games utilizing ray tracing show better improvements, with titles like Indiana Jones seeing a 21% advantage with ray tracing enabled. During extended gaming sessions, the card maintains excellent thermal performance, reaching a peak GPU temperature of only 63°C while remaining virtually inaudible at 1,400 RPM fan speed.
RTX 5080 pricing
Priced at $999, the RTX 5080 maintains the same MSRP as the RTX 4080 Super—a welcome decision considering the RTX 5090’s price increase. Third-party models range from $999 for basic variants up to $1,399 for premium water-cooled versions. Initial stock was extremely limited, with cards selling out within an hour of launch.
RTX 5080 best use case
The RTX 5080 excels primarily as a 4K gaming card, particularly for those who can’t justify the 5090’s $2,000 price tag. It delivers solid 4K/60fps performance in most titles without DLSS. For games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy, DLSS becomes necessary to maintain smooth framerates at maximum settings. Subsequently, the card is ideal for gamers with high-refresh 4K displays who want to leverage DLSS 4’s Multi Frame Generation to achieve 120fps+ in demanding titles.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
Image Source: NVIDIA
Released in February 2025, the RTX 5070 Ti marks Nvidia’s first Blackwell GPU to break the $1000 barrier, offering 4K gaming capabilities at a more accessible price point.
RTX 5070 Ti key features
Utilizing the identical GB203 GPU silicon found in the 5080 series, albeit with 1,792 CUDA cores deactivated, the 5070 Ti features a total of 8,960 CUDA cores.. Remarkably, this represents only a 6% increase in cores over the previous generation. Where the card truly shines is its memory system—featuring 16GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus delivering 896 GB/s of bandwidth, a substantial 33% increase over its predecessor thanks to the switch from GDDR6X. Moreover, the card supports all Blackwell architecture innovations, including DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation, fourth-generation ray tracing cores, and fifth-generation Tensor cores.
RTX 5070 Ti gaming performance
Through my extensive testing, the 5070 Ti consistently delivers performance equivalent to the RTX 4080 and 4080 Super. At 4K resolution, it offers between 20-50% better performance than the 4070 Ti, depending on the game’s memory demands. When compared to the 4070 Ti Super, gains are more modest—ranging from 8% to 20%. It’s noteworthy that the performance difference between the 5070 Ti and 5080 is remarkably narrow, as the 5070 Ti generally reaches roughly 90% of the 5080’s frame rates; furthermore, in ray-tracing applications, this card can deliver performance gains of up to 25% over the 4070 Ti.
RTX 5070 Ti pricing
With an official price tag of $749, the 5070 Ti is positioned $50 below the 4070 Ti Super, which it succeeds. Consequently, this represents a slight improvement in price-to-performance ratio. Unfortunately, real-world availability at MSRP is extremely limited. Most third-party models from manufacturers like Asus and MSI sell for considerably more—typically around $900. Given these points, paying much above the $749 MSRP quickly diminishes the card’s value proposition.
RTX 5070 Ti best use case
The 5070 Ti is ideally suited for high-FPS 1440p gaming and serves as the entry point for consistent 4K gaming without always relying on DLSS. For gamers using 4K displays who don’t want to spend $1000+ on a graphics card, it represents a logical choice, especially when paired with DLSS 4’s Multi-Frame Generation to boost frame rates in demanding titles. As I discovered during testing, games like Space Marine 2 ran at 68fps at 4K Ultra settings natively, jumping to 110fps with DLSS Quality enabled.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
Image Source: AMD
AMD counters Nvidia’s market leadership with the Radeon RX 9070 XT, introducing advanced RDNA 4 architecture to a wider audience by prioritizing a blend of strong performance and accessible pricing.
RX 9070 XT key features
Built on TSMC’s N4C (5nm) manufacturing process, the RX 9070 XT delivers impressive specifications with 4,096 compute cores and 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus. This configuration provides 640GB/s of memory bandwidth while operating at a boost clock of up to 2970MHz (reference model) with factory-overclocked variants reaching 3100MHz. Significantly, the card features 3rd generation ray tracing cores that have doubled the ray/triangle and ray/box intersection rates compared to previous RDNA 3 architecture. Moreover, the RX 9070 XT boasts a theoretical maximum computational power of 48.7 TFLOPS for FP32 operations and achieves up to 1557 TOPS for INT4 AI computations, even with sparsity.
RX 9070 XT gaming performance
In real-world testing across multiple titles, the RX 9070 XT delivers performance remarkably close to the RTX 5070 Ti despite the price difference. When operating at 4K, it trails the 5070 Ti by a mere 1-6%, yet concurrently delivers 21% superior performance compared to the RTX 5070. Similarly, at 1440p, it maintains a 17% advantage over the RTX 5070. When compared to previous generation AMD cards, the 9070 XT outpaces the 7900 XT by 2-9% while offering similar performance to the flagship 7900 XTX with only a 5% difference at 4K. Where ray tracing is concerned, the card shows marked improvement over previous AMD generations though still trails Nvidia in this specific workload.
Pros:
- Excellent mainstream value and performance
- Significant generational improvements over RDNA 3
- 16GB VRAM without breaking the bank
Cons:
- Lags behind Nvidia in ray tracing and artificial intelligence capabilities.
- Software support not as robust as Nvidia’s offerings
RX 9070 XT pricing
Officially launched with an MSRP of $599, making it $150 cheaper than the RTX 5070 Ti on paper. In reality, current market pricing ranges from $749 to $860 depending on model and region. Initially, AMD claimed the RX 9070 XT offered 23% better performance-to-price ratio compared to the RTX 5070 Ti. Nevertheless, actual retail pricing has affected this value proposition, with some regions seeing the 9070 XT priced even higher than the 5070 Ti.
RX 9070 XT best use case
The RX 9070 XT excels primarily as a high-performance 1440p card that can also handle 4K gaming effectively. During testing, it delivered an average of 119 fps at 1440p across 18 games. For 4K gaming, it maintains playable framerates even in demanding titles without upscaling assistance. Accordingly, this card is ideal for gamers seeking strong 4K performance without paying flagship prices, particularly when paired with AMD’s FSR 4 technology to boost framerates in the most demanding scenarios.
AMD Radeon RX 9070
Image Source: AMD
The RX 9070 emerges as one of the most efficient graphics cards on the market, offering impressive performance with RDNA 4 architecture in a slightly trimmed-down package compared to its XT sibling.
RX 9070 key features
Built on AMD’s latest RDNA 4 architecture, the RX 9070 features 56 compute units (compared to 64 CUs in the XT model) and 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus delivering 640 GB/s of bandwidth. It includes 3rd generation ray tracing accelerators, 2nd generation AI accelerators, and 64MB of Infinity Cache. The card operates at a game clock of 2.07GHz with boost frequencies reaching up to 2.52GHz. In terms of connectivity, it supports the latest DisplayPort 2.1a and HDMI 2.1b standards, ensuring compatibility with modern high-resolution displays. Overall, this graphics card boasts 3,584 stream processors, 56 ray accelerators, and 112 AI accelerators, with a total board power of 220W.
RX 9070 gaming performance
During extensive testing, the RX 9070 demonstrates excellent rasterization capabilities. At 4K resolution, it leads the RTX 5070 by 0-18% depending on the game. In Dragon’s Dogma 2 at 4K, it achieves 64 FPS average, outperforming the RTX 5070’s 56 FPS by 14%. Remarkably, it reaches 87% of the RTX 5070 Ti’s performance while costing only 73% as much. In Resident Evil 4 at 4K, it delivers 91 FPS, putting it between the RTX 4070 Ti and 4070 Ti Super. The efficiency metrics are particularly impressive, with the RX 9070 nearly tying for the most efficient GPU in several tests. Indeed, in F1 24, it matched the efficiency of the RTX 4080 Super and 5090 FE.
RX 9070 pricing
The RX 9070 launched with an MSRP of $550, matching the price point of NVIDIA’s RTX 5070. This pricing strategy places it just $50 below the 9070 XT, representing an 8% discount for what is generally 10-12% less performance. Currently, it’s possible to find models at the MSRP of $549, although availability varies by region. Furthermore, some AIB partners offer factory-overclocked models with boost clocks reaching up to 2700MHz, typically commanding higher prices.
RX 9070 best use case
This graphics card excels primarily as a high-performance 1440p gaming solution. At this resolution, it delivered 106 FPS in Dragon’s Dogma 2 and reached 247 FPS in certain less demanding titles. Besides its gaming prowess, the RX 9070 stands out for its efficiency – consuming approximately 20-25W less than the 9070 XT under full gaming load. The card is ideally suited for gamers seeking excellent 1440p performance with occasional 4K gaming, particularly those who value power efficiency and the future-proofing provided by its 16GB VRAM buffer. For competitive gamers prioritizing high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p resolutions, this card offers exceptional value without the premium price of higher-tier options.
Also Read: Best Gaming Handhelds for 2025: The Definitive Guide
Comparison Table
| Graphics Card | MSRP | Memory Configuration | Performance Highlights | Power Consumption | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | $1,999 | 32GB GDDR7 (512-bit) | 25-35% faster than 4090 at 4K | Not mentioned | 4K/144Hz+ gaming with ray tracing |
| RTX 5080 | $999 | 16GB GDDR7 (256-bit) | 9-16% faster than 4080 Super at 4K | 63°C peak temp | 4K/60fps+ gaming |
| RTX 5070 Ti | $749 | 16GB GDDR7 (256-bit) | 20-50% better than 4070 Ti at 4K | Not mentioned | High-FPS 1440p and entry 4K gaming |
| RX 9070 XT | $599 | 16GB GDDR6 (256-bit) | 1-6% slower than 5070 Ti at 4K | Not mentioned | High-performance 1440p/4K gaming |
| RX 9070 | $550 | 16GB GDDR6 (256-bit) | 0-18% faster than RTX 5070 at 4K | 220W | High-performance 1440p gaming |
Final Verdict:
Finding the best graphics card in 2025 involves balancing cutting-edge performance with persistent high prices. While the RTX 5090 sets new benchmarks for 4K gaming, cards like the RX 9070 XT and RTX 5070 Ti offer excellent 1440p and entry-level 4K experiences. Our real-world testing highlights that 16GB VRAM is now crucial, and while NVIDIA leads in ray tracing, AMD offers compelling value, particularly for rasterization performance across various budgets.
