## Choosing the Best Graphics Card (GPU) for Your PC: A Comprehensive Guide to Nvidia, AMD, and Intel
The graphics card, often referred to as the GPU, is arguably the most exciting component in any PC build. Alongside the processor, your graphics card significantly impacts your PC’s overall performance, making it a crucial investment. This is especially true considering that GPUs can get pretty expensive.
Fortunately, the GPU market offers a diverse range of options catering to various needs and budgets. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly card for light browsing or a powerhouse capable of handling the most demanding games, you have numerous choices. This guide will equip you with the knowledge to choose the best GPU that aligns with your budget and gaming requirements.
## Nvidia, AMD, or Intel: The GPU Landscape
Consumer graphics cards are primarily categorized into two types: integrated and discrete. Since you’re here, you’re likely seeking a discrete (or dedicated) GPU, which is what we’ll focus on. While integrated graphics are typically part of the processor or a system-on-a-chip (SoC), a discrete GPU is a standalone component you install within your PC case or find built into your laptop.
In the world of discrete GPUs, you have three major players: Nvidia, AMD, and Intel. AMD and Nvidia offer a wide range of cards, while Intel’s offerings are relatively limited. Regardless of the manufacturer, you’ll find cards that vary significantly in performance, price, and performance per dollar – essentially, how much value you’re getting for your money.
Choosing between Nvidia, AMD, and Intel goes beyond simply liking a particular brand. The GPUs have fundamentally different architectures, and each manufacturer uses distinct supporting software. Let’s delve into the differences between these three GPU giants to provide you with a clearer understanding of their offerings.
### Nvidia: The Performance Leader
Nvidia reigns as the market leader by a considerable margin. They produce GPUs for both PCs and laptops, ranging from affordable options to high-end models. Compared to AMD, Nvidia is often praised for its superior GPU performance or, at the very least, its ability to push the boundaries further. While AMD predominantly targets the mainstream market, Nvidia fills the gap and serves the high-end sector with powerful GPUs like the RTX 4090.
This doesn’t mean Nvidia lacks mid-range graphics cards; they have a robust lineup. However, not all GPUs are worth their price, and some should be avoided. Over the years, Nvidia has introduced several generations of graphics cards, but if you’re shopping now, you’ll likely be choosing between the RTX 30-series and the RTX 40-series. Older generations still offer some affordable options, like the GTX 1650. However, due to significant performance improvements, newer cards are generally better investments.
The RTX 40-series cards range from $300 to $1,600 at their base prices, but they often sell for more – for instance, the RTX 4090 can cost upwards of $2,000. Remember that GPU prices can fluctuate significantly, so keeping an eye on price trackers is crucial to finding the best deals.
Nvidia’s GPUs are renowned for their performance in gaming, content creation, and even AI-related tasks, such as machine learning. In fact, Nvidia is often considered the superior option for AI applications. They’re also widely known for their excellence in handling ray tracing, a graphics technique simulating how light behaves in the real world. Ray tracing enhances the visual fidelity of games, but it’s a resource-intensive process.
Nvidia GPUs also feature Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), a technology leveraging AI to enhance gaming performance and visuals by upscaling lower-resolution images. By generating additional pixels, DLSS creates higher-resolution images. The RTX 40-series graphics cards offer even better versions of DLSS – DLSS 3 and DLSS 3.5, which can generate entire frames instead of just pixels, significantly boosting frame rates in many games. This has become a major selling point for Nvidia’s latest graphics cards.
Nvidia is on the verge of releasing a new generation of GPUs, with the RTX 50-series expected to debut in early 2025.
### AMD: The Budget-Friendly Challenger
In recent years, AMD has emerged from the shadows and become a formidable competitor, though Nvidia still holds over 80% of the market share. AMD boasts some compelling GPUs in its lineup, and while Nvidia receives more attention, AMD plays a crucial role in ensuring Nvidia doesn’t completely dominate the market. AMD is also often the more budget-friendly option, although the latest generation has blurred those lines somewhat.
It’s difficult to make general statements about AMD’s advantages and disadvantages compared to Nvidia based solely on their latest generation, the Radeon RX 7000 series. However, these GPUs tend to be cheaper while offering comparable rasterization performance to their Nvidia counterparts. AMD lags behind in ray tracing and doesn’t offer DLSS 3 to boost frame rates in the same way as Nvidia.
Similar to Nvidia, when buying an AMD card, you should consider the last two generations, the RX 6000 and RX 7000. The RX 6000 lineup is still an excellent option if you’re seeking the best value for your money. The latest generation, RX 7000, features cards ranging from $240 to $1,000 and above. This generation marks a step up for AMD in ray tracing performance, though Nvidia remains the undisputed leader in this area, as well as in AI tasks. Nonetheless, AMD has made significant improvements in ray tracing, so you can confidently purchase an AMD card and expect good results.
AMD’s answer to Nvidia’s DLSS is called FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), now in its third iteration (FSR 3.0). Unlike Nvidia, AMD doesn’t restrict FSR to a single generation of its GPUs, and FSR offers cross-vendor support. AMD has three versions of FSR available simultaneously, not all of which appear in the same games. FSR 1.0 and FSR 2.0 work differently, but both use an algorithm to upscale the image and apply a sharpening filter. FSR 1.0 does this after anti-aliasing, while FSR 2.0 does it beforehand, resulting in significantly better image quality. AMD’s latest FSR 3.0 is closest to Nvidia’s DLSS 3, but not quite the same – it inserts an additional frame between two already rendered frames. However, FSR 3.0 adoption has been slow, but in the few titles that support it, the technology performs well. FSR 2.0 is more widely available but doesn’t offer the same performance gains.
Similar to Nvidia, AMD is working on its next-gen GPUs. RDNA 4, or RX 8000 series, is expected sometime in the first half of 2025.
### Intel: The Rising Challenger
Intel produces some of the best processors, but in the GPU arena, they’re a small fish in a large pond. While they have ambitious plans for the future with Intel Battlemage, they currently have a minimal market share. Intel’s market share is estimated to be 0%, largely due to a lack of new releases in recent years. Nevertheless, if you’re seeking a budget GPU and don’t need the absolute best, Intel shouldn’t be overlooked.
For years, Intel’s only foray into graphics was through integrated GPUs on their processor chips. However, in 2022, they launched Arc Alchemist, a small lineup of discrete graphics cards. This includes the Arc A380, Arc A580, Arc A750, and Arc A770.
Many had low expectations for Intel’s first attempt at making GPUs, but the results were surprisingly decent. In our testing, we found the Arc A770 and Arc A750 to perform well in gaming scenarios, surpassing GPUs like the RTX 3060 and coming close to competing against the RTX 3060 Ti. Of course, those are last-gen GPUs, and with the next generation on the horizon, the Alchemist cards are becoming increasingly outdated. However, performance was never the primary objective, and Intel has been clear from the start that they weren’t aiming to beat Nvidia and AMD in that regard. Instead, they aggressively targeted performance per dollar, keeping product pricing relatively competitive.
All of Intel’s GPUs are becoming increasingly outdated; however, for a budget-oriented build, Intel offers a good alternative to Nvidia, with their more expensive graphics card costing around $280 to $350. Intel Arc performs better in newer games, and the Intel driver team is continuously working to improve the performance of their GPUs in DirectX 9 and DirectX 11-based games. To give credit where it’s due, Intel has been improving by leaps and bounds, making them a largely safe pick. Surprisingly, Intel also performs better than AMD in terms of ray tracing, but this only applies to comparable GPUs from the same generation. The RX 7000 series is already better in this regard.
Intel has its own version of DLSS and FSR called Intel Xe Super Sampling (XeSS). Similar to the other two, it’s an upscaling feature, and it’s only available on Arc Alchemist GPUs. It renders your game at a lower resolution and then uses machine learning and AI to upscale the image. The result is increased frame rates without significantly compromising image quality.
## Resolution: 1080p, 1440p, or 4K?
For gamers, one of the primary considerations is whether to play games at 1080p, 1440p (2K), or 4K. This applies to other users as well, as a higher display resolution means more screen real estate, which is beneficial for anyone. Whether for productivity or entertainment, the switch from 1080p to 1440p is noticeable, and scaling up to 4K has an even greater impact. Screen resolution is crucial when shopping for a GPU.
Imagine buying a 1440p graphics card, like the RTX 4070 Ti, hoping to use it for gaming. Unless you also purchase a monitor that matches the resolution, you’ll essentially be wasting some of the performance your card can deliver. The same applies to monitor refresh rates – if your GPU can run above 60 frames per second (fps), buying a matching monitor that goes up to 75Hz or even 144Hz is a wise decision. Conversely, using a high-end monitor with a budget GPU doesn’t make much sense, as your graphics card won’t be powerful enough to drive that expensive display. It ultimately comes down to your preferences and budget, but let’s quickly go over the options to give you a better idea of what to choose.
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Casual Users:
Casual users don’t need to go beyond 1080p. Higher resolutions make things more expensive, both for the GPU itself and the monitor. There are plenty of decent 1080p GPUs in this generation and the previous one, including cards like the AMD Radeon RX 7600 or the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, as well as Intel’s last-gen Arc A770.*
Gamers:
1440p is becoming increasingly popular for gamers, and this will require a slightly better graphics card. Fortunately, this current generation is packed with 1440p GPUs. AMD has the edge in this category with the excellent RX 7800 XT, but the RX 7700 XT is a viable alternative. The RX 7900 GRE is an even better but slightly pricier option. Nvidia also has a lot to offer. We recommend the RTX 4070 Ti, as Nvidia’s RTX 40 Super refresh has led to a significant price drop, making it one of the most recommended GPUs right now. However, the RTX 4070 Super and RTX 4070 Ti Super are also solid choices.*
High-End Gamers:
Gaming at 4K is the next level of visual fidelity, and only the most powerful GPUs can run this resolution seamlessly. For Nvidia, the sensible options right now include the RTX 4080, the RTX 4080 Super, and the RTX 4090, although the RTX 4070 Ti Super can also handle 4K gaming with some compromises on settings. If you prefer AMD, you can choose between the RX 6950 XT and the newer duo: the RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT.## Budget: Finding the Right Balance
The bells and whistles of various GPUs don’t matter if they don’t fit your budget. Most of us are constrained by financial limitations, and deciding how to allocate your PC building budget significantly affects its performance. You might be tempted to adopt a “go big or go home” approach and buy the best GPU you can afford while skimping on other components. However, it’s better to strike a balance and choose a decent processor paired with a solid graphics card. Don’t try to save money on the power supply and cooling either. Ultimately, your PC is only as strong as its weakest link.
Let’s explore various GPU options based on price:
### Under $300: Budget-Friendly Options for 1080p
At $300 and under, you’re looking for a 1080p graphics card. It can be used for gaming or simply to support daily work and entertainment. While you won’t get insane performance, it’s perfectly possible to play most AAA games on these GPUs as long as you don’t need maximum settings. These graphics cards have another advantage besides being cheap – they also don’t consume much power, meaning you won’t need a powerful PSU and can save some money there too.
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Nvidia:
We recommend the RTX 4060, which costs around $280 to $320 and gives you access to DLSS 3. This is a massive performance boost in some games. The RTX 3060 is slightly cheaper but lacks DLSS 3 and is increasingly difficult to find, so it’s best to avoid it at this point. There are also cheaper options, like the GTX 1650 priced around $150, but it’s a pretty dated card, so steer clear unless you’re on a very tight budget.*
AMD:
AMD has several GPUs available at this price point, and they’re some of the best if you’re looking for the most value for your money. The RX 6600, RX 6650, and the recent RX 7600 are all good options, with the latter being your best pick. There’s also the RX 6600 XT, which has significantly more VRAM but offers similar performance to the non-XT version and costs up to $70 more.*
Intel:
Don’t overlook Intel here. The Arc A380 is around $240, and the Arc A580 is a bit pricier at $300. Both are decent options that will provide you with solid performance. You can even get the Arc A310, which is sufficient for 1080p, for around $180 to $200.### Up to $1,000: Mid-Range and High-End Options
Increasing your budget to up to $1,000 opens up many doors when shopping for a GPU. Of course, there’s a significant gap between, say, $400 and $1,000, and this is reflected in the performance of these cards. Let’s start near the lower end.
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Nvidia:
The RTX 4060 Ti costs around $400, but it’s not an outstanding GPU – in fact, it’s one of the three GPUs we currently recommend avoiding. Instead, you could grab the RTX 4070 Super or the RTX 4070 (not-so-Super, but still great), at around $600 for the Super version and approximately $530 to $570 for the regular RTX 4070. The RTX 4070 Ti offers a performance boost but is also pricier, hovering near the $700 to $770 mark. The RTX 4070 also fits within this range and is now stable at around $800 to $850. The RTX 40 Super refresh brought us a new option in the under $1,000 bracket in the form of the RTX 4080 Super. Although this GPU is essentially the RTX 4080 with a new name, the price cut makes it fall under that $1,000 mark, with the cheapest models starting at $900. This is the most affordable Nvidia GPU that provides stable gaming at 4K on maximum settings in most titles.*
AMD:
AMD also has some fantastic contenders in this price range, which is good news for you as the buyer. There’s the RX 7800 XT, which used to be the best-value GPU in this entire generation until the RX 7900 GRE came along. Next, there is the RX 7900 XT for around $900, followed by the RX 7900 XTX for around $1,000. Both can be considered 1440p and 4K graphics cards.### Over $1,000: High-End Performance
In the current GPU landscape, only one option is really available at this price point unless you buy an overclocked card. The RTX 4080 used to be an option to consider, but it’s now hard to find, and the RTX 4080 Super is cheaper and performs just as well. That leaves us with the RTX 4090.
The RTX 4090 is the best GPU in this generation by a landslide, but it’s currently terribly overpriced. Launched at $1,600, it was never cheap, but it’s now significantly pricier. You might be able to find it at $1,800, but most models cost above $2,000. Despite its outrageous price, the RTX 4090 delivers performance that can somewhat justify the hefty price tag. It can effortlessly handle all of the most demanding games, assuming you’re playing at 4K, with ultra settings, and ray tracing enabled. The RTX 4080, while solid in its own right, doesn’t offer the same level of performance. The RTX 4080 (and Super) is still an improvement over the RTX 4070 Ti. It also offers comparable rasterization performance to the RX 7900 XTX, but access to DLSS 3 and superior ray tracing give it an edge.
## Essential Considerations for Your GPU Purchase
Before you embark on your shopping spree, here are a couple more things to watch out for when buying a new graphics card. These factors are particularly relevant for PC builders. Laptop users can skip this section if they’re simply looking for a model with decent graphics.
### Power Consumption: PSU Requirements
Modern graphics cards consume electricity like candy, so it’s crucial to ensure your PC is prepared to handle the power demands. This is where the power supply (PSU) comes into play. A PSU is often overlooked, but having one that’s too weak can lead to various problems, including poor performance, crashes, and even permanent damage to your system. That’s why it’s essential to research beforehand and choose a quality PSU.
Each graphics card comes with a recommendation for its power consumption. Nvidia calls this total graphics power (TGP), while AMD refers to it as total board power (TBP). Both essentially mean the same thing. For example, the RTX 4090 has a TGP of 450 watts and can be overclocked beyond that, but the more power-efficient RTX 4060 only requires 115 watts. Manufacturers will specify the recommended PSU for a particular graphics card. However, you need to account for the other components in your PC. If you’re using one of Intel’s best processors, for example, which can consume a lot of power, you may need to add extra wattage to be safe. The general rule of thumb is always to get a better PSU than you need – this way, if you upgrade in the future, you can be sure your PC will handle it just fine. If you’re unsure which PSU to buy, Newegg has a handy calculator that helps you add up and pick the right one.
### VRAM: Future-Proofing Your Investment
If you’re a gamer looking for a GPU that will last you several years, VRAM is a crucial specification to pay close attention to. This is the memory on your GPU, responsible for storing and rapidly accessing data related to graphics. It plays a critical role in your GPU’s performance, storing textures, shaders, frame buffers, and other data needed to render high-resolution images, videos, and 3D graphics. As is often the case with PC gaming, the more VRAM you have, the better. However, it’s not as simple as that anymore.
Some of the latest games have demonstrated that the VRAM capacity on some graphics cards is simply not enough, meaning that even if they’re okay for now, they’ll struggle in a few years. This is why we advise against buying the RTX 4060 Ti, for instance. While it’s a decent card in its own right, it only has 8GB VRAM across a 128-bit memory bus – this is simply not enough to justify its price tag. It’s safer to buy GPUs with more VRAM, and there are plenty of options. Even the RTX 4070 has 12GB VRAM. Many AMD cards do too – for example, the RX 7800 XT boasts 16GB. If you’re a casual gamer who primarily plays indie titles, this won’t be an issue, but if you want to play games like Cyberpunk 2077, even the base game now requires 12GB VRAM. This situation is unlikely to change anytime soon, so for future-proofing purposes, opt for 12GB or more.
## Choosing the Right GPU for You
Ultimately, instead of solely focusing on the manufacturer, try to think about buying a GPU in terms of what you want and how much you’re willing to spend. If you want the best possible performance and money is no object, Nvidia is still the way to go. If you desire a good balance of performance and affordability, AMD is a solid choice. Even then, it’s not as straightforward as that because if you’re more budget-conscious but want to try out DLSS 3, you’ll need to stick with Nvidia. AMD cards often offer better value but aren’t dirt cheap, so it’s all about weighing the pros and cons and deciding what matters most to you. Intel is currently only suitable for budget-oriented builds, but with the next generation coming out, they might become more competitive.
With all that said, most, if not all, of the GPUs in the last two generations will run modern games at an acceptable level. The cheapest options will require some compromises on settings, but they will still run them. Don’t worry too much and try to choose what works best for your budget.
