GPU Buying Guide
Everything you need to pick the right graphics card — for 1080p, 1440p, or 4K gaming. Updated with current pricing and benchmarks
QUICK PICKS
Best GPU for…
THE BASICS
What actually matters when buying a GPU
VRAM
How much you need
12GB is the floor for 1440p. 16GB for 4K or mod-heavy
libraries. 8GB is legacy-tier now
RESOLUTION
Match the card to your monitor
Buying more GPU than your monitor
can use just burns money — check your target resolution first
RAY TRACING & UPSCALING
DLSS vs FSR
NVIDIA leads on ray tracing and DLSS 4 multi-frame gen. AMD
leads on raster value and VRAM per dollar
POWER & COOLING
What it costs to run
Flagship cards draw 300W+ — check your PSU headroom
before you buy, not after
GPU Comparison Table
GPU | Price | VRAM | TBP | Best for |
Intel Arc B580 | $249 | 12GB | 190W | Budget 1080p |
RX 9060 XT | $349 | 16GB | 160W | 1080p / entry 1440p |
RTX 5070 | $549 | 12GB | 250W | 1440p, DLSS ecosystem |
RX 9070 XT — Best Value | $599 | 16GB | 330W | 1440p raster value |
RTX 5070 Ti | $749 | 16GB | 300W | 1440p high / light 4K |
RTX 5080 | $999 | 16GB | 360W | 4K, ray tracing |
RTX 5090 | $1,999 | 32GB | 575W | Native 4K path tracing / AI |
