In the ever-evolving world of PC gaming, selecting the perfect graphics card is akin to choosing the heart of your gaming rig. And with the market constantly growing, navigating through the sea of GPUs can be daunting.
But fear not, as we are here to help demystify this process and assist you in finding the optimal graphics card tailored to your needs. From budget constraints to compatibility concerns with your existing setup, from the graphical demands of the latest AAA titles to your preferred resolution and graphical settings, every decision plays a crucial role in determining the ideal GPU for your specific requirements.
First, which GPUs are ‘better’?
The debate over which brand’s GPUs reign supreme, Nvidia or AMD, has long been a cornerstone of PC gaming discourse. Each camp boasts its own array of strengths and innovations, making the choice between them a matter of personal preference and specific requirements.
Overall, Nvidia's offerings often lead the pack in terms of raw performance, with flagship cards renowned for their cutting-edge technology, blistering frame rates, and extensive software support through features like ray tracing and DLSS. This is still the case with the current 40 Series generation of cards, with Nvidia’s offerings pulling ever so slightly ahead in raw power rankings.
Nvidia’s DLSS technology has also been more widely integrated into modern games than AMD’s FSR technology, as they arrived a tad late to the party in that area. It’s also reported to perform better overall. However, AMD has been putting the work in to improve its competing software and has recently released the third iteration, FSR 3.0. But again, it’s only available in a small selection of games compared to the plethora under the DLSS umbrella.
On the other hand, AMD GPUs have often provided compelling value propositions, offering highly competitive performance at more accessible price points, along with features like Radeon Anti-Lag and Radeon Boost aimed at enhancing gaming experiences. With AMD’s graphics technology improving with each generation, the difference in performance between the two camps is dwindling.
One area of contention though is ray tracing, with Nvidia still outperforming AMD on this front rather considerably. So if ultra-level ray tracing is something you are looking to play with, Nvidia would be your best bet.
Ultimately, the decision between Nvidia and AMD hinges on factors such as budget, desired performance levels, and individual preferences regarding software ecosystems and additional features. Either option will provide a great gaming experience.
Making sure it’s compatible with your current PC
One other aspect to consider, however, is making sure your new GPU is compatible with all your PC’s remaining parts if it’s just the GPU you want to upgrade.
The worst mistake to make is buying a top-of-the-range GPU that costs more than the rest of your PC combined and having it be bottlenecked by lower-performance parts that can’t keep up. To avoid this, one of the easiest ways to check if it will work well in your system is by inputting your parts into a configurator such as PCPartPicker or our own custom PC designer.
These tools provide reliable overviews of which parts work well together and will alert you to any performance issues, clashes or bottlenecks.
What are your options and what are they good for?
Current Gen Top of the Stack Options
As stated previously, there is a wide array of GPU options on the market (hence the difficult decision), but it’s Nvidia's latest 40 series range and AMD's 7000 series GPUs that represent the pinnacle of innovation, offering unprecedented levels of performance and visual fidelity.
Nvidia's GeForce RTX 40 series, including flagship models like the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090, redefine gaming experiences with groundbreaking advancements in ray tracing, AI rendering, and computational power. These cards excel in delivering buttery-smooth gameplay at 4K resolutions, pushing the boundaries of graphical realism and immersion to new heights.
The RTX 4080 is often the more viable option of the two, though, coming in at roughly £600 less than the RTX 4090.
It offers a compelling balance between performance and affordability, making it an attractive choice for gamers and professionals alike. While the RTX 4090 may boast ungodly performance levels, the price difference may not justify the marginal gains for many users. Therefore, for those seeking exceptional performance without overspending, the RTX 4080 remains the preferred option.
If you do have the desire to play on the best of the best graphics card and have deep enough pockets to fund it, then of course go all out on a shiny RTX 4090 and live your unhindered gaming dreams.
Recently though, Nvidia released their range of RTX 40 Series Super cards to the lineup and these add yet another set of options for those looking for 1440p or 4K gameplay. They’ve been designed to mostly replace their existing non-Super offerings, with the RTX 4080 Super and RTX 4070 Ti Super supplanting them entirely, leaving the RTX 4070 available alongside the new RTX 4070 Super.
These new RTX Super cards have also been priced more competitively with AMD’s top offerings, with Nvidia actually cutting prices compared to their predecessors. So for a slightly lower price than the stock RTX 4080, you can instead get a better-performing RTX 4080 Super.
A PC we’d recommend that features an RTX 4080 Super is the Chillblast Onyx AMD Ryzen 7 RTX 4080 SUPER Gaming PC. It’s the perfect combination of style and substance and features parts that will give you a super-fast buttery-smooth experience.
Similarly, AMD's Radeon RX 7000 series continues the company's tradition of delivering high-performance GPUs tailored for gamers and content creators at affordable prices.
With models like the RX 7800 XT and RX 7900 XT, AMD showcases its RDNA 3 architecture, boasting significant improvements in performance per watt and advanced features like FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) for enhancing frame rates without compromising image quality.
These GPUs are engineered to deliver uncompromising gaming experiences at resolutions up to 4K, making them ideal choices for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
They are much more affordable than the top-tier Nvidia offerings though, coming in at £1000 less in some cases. Although, this does mean that they fall slightly short on performance levels in comparison to Nvidia, with the RTX 4090 in a league of its own, and the top-of-the-stack AMD RX 7900 XT providing a similar performance to the RTX 4080.
Still, they are perfectly great options for those wanting to play at 4K on a lower budget and don’t care as much about turning ray tracing to ultra.
A PC we’d recommend featuring one is the Apex AMD Ryzen 7 RX 7900 XT Gaming PC.
Current Gen Mid-to-Low-Range Options
For mid-range and budget-conscious consumers, there are several GPU options available from both Nvidia's RTX 40 Series and AMD's RX 7000 series.
From Nvidia, the RTX 4060 and RTX 4070 range offer solid performance at more accessible price points compared to their higher-end counterparts. These GPUs provide sufficient power for gaming at 1080p and even 1440p resolutions, making them ideal choices for gamers on a budget or those prioritising value.
As mentioned previously though, Nvidia also has both Ti and Super offerings within this lineup, making the choice between them all that bit harder. Ultimately, the decision comes down to whether or not you want to stick with 1080p gaming or increase performance to hit 1440p instead, alongside the available budget you have.
One PC we’d recommend to hit 1080p at its sweet spot is the Evolution Intel Core i5 RTX 4060 Ti Mini Gaming PC. Plus, it’s mini form factor is perfect for those that don’t have a lot of room for their setup.
On the AMD side, the RX 7600 XT and RX 7700 XT are popular choices for mid-to-low-range gaming rigs. These cards offer competitive performance at affordable prices, making them appealing options for budget-oriented gamers looking to build capable gaming setups without breaking the bank.
An AMD RX 7600 PC we’d recommend is the Onyx AMD Ryzen 5 RX 7600 Gaming PC.
Overall, these lower-tier GPU options from both Nvidia and AMD provide compelling choices for consumers looking to strike a balance between performance and affordability.
Older Gen Options
For those who don’t necessarily want the newest cards, and would rather save some money by buying a previous-generation card, the Nvidia RTX 30 series cards are also a decent option.
Nvidia's GeForce RTX 30 series, such as the RTX 3060 and RTX 3070, continue to offer exceptional value with features like ray tracing and DLSS support. AMD's Radeon RX 6000 series, including the RX 6600 XT and RX 6700 XT, provide formidable competition in this segment, delivering impressive performance at 1080p and 1440p resolutions without breaking the bank.
Although, the issue of value and performance does start to arise as you approach the higher-end 30 series cards. At the time of writing, an RTX 3080 can cost roughly £500 which is only slightly cheaper than an RTX 4070, or even a 4070 Ti (if you can find a good deal). And with the RTX 4070 Ti reportedly being 23% faster than the 3080, the benefits of saving money by buying an older card start to diminish.
The RTX 30 Series cards are also no longer being sold as new (only in pre-builds) and while this isn’t a bad thing if you want the ease of a pre-built system, for those wanting to upgrade an old system or build a new one, the only options available are second-hand. Buying a card this way can be quite the gamble as you won’t know for sure what it's been used for or whether it’s on its last legs.
A PC we’d recommend at this level is the Evolution AMD Ryzen 5 RTX 3060 Gaming PC.
If your budget really is tight, there is also the option of pre-builds that feature Nvidia GTX 16 Series cards. These are very much showing their age now, as they don’t have the capacity for DLSS or ray tracing, but they can still get a lot of modern games running at 1080p with decent frame rates, albeit with graphical settings on low.
So if you want to spend as little as possible and don’t mind the compromise on visuals, then an older system such as the Ignition Intel Core i3 GTX 1650 Gaming PC could be a good choice for you.
Conclusion
Selecting the best GPU for gaming is a nuanced process that requires careful consideration of various factors, including budget, performance requirements, and desired features. From Nvidia's cutting-edge 40 series to AMD's innovative 7000 series, the market is teeming with options designed to cater to every gamer's needs and preferences. Whether you're aiming for uncompromising 4K gaming experiences, seeking maximum value for your budget, or prioritising advanced features like ray tracing and AI rendering, there's a GPU out there to fulfil your gaming aspirations.
Ultimately, the key is to assess your individual needs and preferences, weighing factors such as resolution, frame rates, and graphical settings against your budget and existing hardware configuration. By doing so, you can make an informed decision that not only maximizes your gaming enjoyment but also future-proofs your gaming rig for years to come.
As technology continues to evolve and new advancements emerge, the landscape of GPU gaming is bound to undergo further transformations. However, with a solid understanding of the current market offerings and a clear sense of your gaming priorities, you can confidently navigate the ever-expanding sea of GPUs, ensuring that your gaming experiences remain immersive, exhilarating, and visually stunning for years to come.
