Best GPU For Gaming 2025

Trying to find the best GPU for gaming? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded up the best gaming GPUs for every price range. We also explain everything you need to know about frame rates and refresh rates, and how they affect your gaming experience. 

Best GPU For Gaming: Our Picks

In the section below, we have listed the best GPUs in every budget. Just remember that before buying a graphics card, be sure to look up your case specs to make sure that it will fit. 

Best Gaming GPU Overall: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is the most powerful GeForce GPU. It’s built for top-level gaming and creative work. It delivers insane speeds with 32GB of GDDR7 memory and the new Blackwell architecture. AI features boost performance in games and creative apps. Ray tracing makes lighting, shadows, and reflections look more real.

Experts say it’s the fastest gaming GPU ever. It runs even the most demanding games at high frame rates. For creators, it speeds up video editing, 3D rendering, and AI tasks. However, this power comes at a cost; it’s much more expensive than the last-gen RTX 4090. Some users also report coil whine (a high-pitched noise) with certain power supplies.

Pros:

• Blazing-fast AI performance
• Great for future games and creative work

Cons:

• Very expensive
• Might experience coil whine with some PSUs

Best Budget-Friendly GPU: AMD Radeon RX 7600

If you need a budget gaming GPU that can handle 1080p well, the RX 7600 is an excellent choice. It has 8GB of GDDR6 memory and uses RDNA 3 architecture for better efficiency. It includes ray tracing and AI acceleration, but its real strength is price.

This card is small, making it great for compact PC builds. It also has a good media engine, supporting AV1 encoding and DisplayPort 2.1 for high-resolution monitors. It runs most games at 60 FPS on max settings at 1080p, though it struggles with ray tracing. Compared to the previous RX 6650 XT, performance is only slightly better, but power use is lower.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Good media and display support
• Small size

Cons:

• Not great for ray tracing
• Just 8GB of VRAM

Best Gaming GPU From AMD: AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE

AMD’s RX 7900 GRE is a great mix of power and value, so it’s the best GPU for gaming from their lineup. It replaces the RX 7800 XT by offering about 10% more performance for roughly 10% more money, keeping it a solid option for 1440p gaming. Built on AMD’s latest architecture, it uses a larger GPU with more cores but slightly lower clock speeds to maintain efficiency. It also outperforms the previous-gen 6950 XT while using less power.

While it excels in traditional gaming, it still struggles with ray tracing compared to Nvidia. The RTX 4070 Super costs a bit more but offers better ray tracing and AI-based features. However, if you care more about raw gaming performance, the RX 7900 GRE delivers better value, especially with its 16GB of VRAM and wider memory interface. It’s also a good well-rounded choice with its AV1 encoding and DisplayPort 2.1 support.

Pros:

• Strong 1440p performance
• 16GB VRAM with a 256-bit interface

Cons:

• Ray tracing performance lags behind
• Not as power-efficient as Nvidia

Fastest Gaming GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090

The RTX 4090 is Nvidia’s most powerful GPU. It’s built for high-end 4K gaming and content creation. With 24GB of GDDR6X memory and DLSS 3, it delivers unmatched performance. This gaming GPU excels in ray tracing and AI-driven tasks.

However, that power comes at a cost. It’s massive, power-hungry, and overkill for anything below 4K. Prices have also surged beyond its $1,600 launch due to high demand.

Pros:

• The fastest GPU available
• Exceptional 4K and 8K gaming performance
• 24GB VRAM is great for content creation

Cons:

• Expensive and power-hungry
• Large size may not fit all cases

Best GPU for Gaming from $700-$900: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT

This gaming GPU’s 20GB of VRAM and 4K gaming supports offers solid performance, especially for rasterization. It’s a step up from AMD’s previous generation, and its RDNA 3 architecture brings notable improvements.

However, it lags behind in ray tracing compared to the RTX 4070 Ti and doesn’t perform as well in AI workloads due to its architecture. Still, it’s definitely an effective 4K gaming GPU.

Pros:

• Efficient cooling and design
• Strong performance for 4K gaming

Cons:

• Relatively slow AI performance

Best Gaming GPU for $500-$600: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super

The RTX 4070 Ti Super delivers the performance boost the original 4070 Ti needed, with 16GB of VRAM, a wider 256-bit memory interface, and more cores. It outpaces the RTX 3090 while being far more efficient, so it’s the perfect upgrade for older GTX users. It supports refresh rate 1080p and 1440p gaming, and thanks to DLSS 3 and Frame Generation, even 4K gaming is well within reach. Some AMD GPUs are a solid alternative, but Nvidia holds the edge in ray tracing and AI features. 

Pros:

• Strong performance boost over the 4070 Ti
• 16GB VRAM and 256-bit memory interface

Cons:

• MSI Ventus models had early BIOS issues

Best GPU for Gaming Under $500: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060

The RTX 4060 is Nvidia’s best budget-friendly option. It offers great 1080p performance and efficiency. While it’s a step up from the previous RTX 3060, some cuts hold it back. It features a reduced 128-bit memory interface and only 8GB of VRAM, which sort of limits its future-proofing. However, it still benefits from Nvidia’s latest architecture, including DLSS 3 and improved power efficiency. Meaning, it’s a quiet and cool choice for budget-conscious gamers.

Compared to AMD’s alternatives, this gaming GPU performs well in ray tracing but lags in raw rasterization power. It draws significantly less power, though, so it’s a good pick for compact builds. While the price feels a bit high for what it offers, it’s still a decent upgrade for those looking to game at 1080p without breaking the bank.

Pros:

• Efficient and runs cool
• Strong 1080p performance

Cons:

• Only 8GB of VRAM with a 128-bit interface

Everything to Know to Choose the Best Gaming GPU

In this section, we cover all the tech-talk you may not be familiar with so you can make an informed buying decision.  

Differences Between Resolutions When Gaming

Concerned about resolution? You should be. There are four main resolutions to know with PC gaming:

• 720p: Common for low-end, older machines, especially older laptops. The first resolution (HD) is 1280 x 720
• 1080p: Common for most PC monitors, gaming laptops, and most HDTVs manufactured before 2018. This resolution is FHD (Full HD) or True HD, and comes in at 1920 x 1080, over twice the pixels as 720p
• 1440p: A resolution fairly exclusive to PC gaming monitors, though some modern 4K TVs support it. This comes in at 2560 x 1440, and is sometimes mistakenly called 2K. It’s actually Quad HD, since it’s four times the pixels of 720p
• 4K: A resolution for high-end TVs and high-end PC monitors. This resolution of 3840 x 2160  is four times the pixels of 1080p and well well-respected by gamers
• 5K: 5120×2880 resolution, much more expensive but increasing in popularity
• 8K: 7680 × 4320 resolution. Very expensive and considered overkill by some as the price tag isn’t always worth it. Those with advanced needs, however, will disagree

Each iteration is about a 2x boost of raw pixel count. However, it’s important to discuss screen size and PPI, as resolution alone isn’t enough to determine clarity. Other factors to consider are your PPI, or pixels per inch. Determine these by combining your resolution and your screen size.

Usually, an image on a PC monitor at average viewing distance will look clear around 90 PPI, so your ideal minimum should be: 

• 90 Pixels Per Inch, or higher, if you want a clear image 
• A 24 inch monitor requires a 1080p resolution 
• A 27-inch monitor requires a 1440p resolution
• 4K can maintain this PPI at much higher sizes, but past 32 inches you’re flirting with TV territory, and you’ll need to sit further back to have your full screen in view

All About Refresh Rates And Frame Rates

When you’re gaming, frames per second (FPS, or frame rate) and refresh rate (measured in Hz) can massively impact your gaming experience. Here’s what to know:

• In-game frame rate and monitor refresh rate are similar, but two different things 
• The monitor refresh rate will always limit the maximum FPS you actually see. Extra frames will either be discarded (with some software V-Sync solutions) or create screen tears (where different parts of the screen display different frames)
• For your typical 60 Hz monitor, you won’t see a consistent/clear difference when your FPS exceeds 60. However, without V-Sync or an FPS limiter, you’ll experience the aforementioned screen tearing, which is very distracting

To benefit from high frame rates, you need a high refresh rate monitor to match. To get those high frame rates to begin with, you’ll need to either choose a higher-end graphics card (like the ones we’ve listed) or make a lot of optimizations to your in-game settings.

Here are common FPS/refresh rate targets:

• 30 FPS – Considered the bare minimum, and unacceptable to many players. This is where motion starts to look believable, but not very smooth. It’s about half of what a standard 60 Hz is capable of displaying
• 60 FPS / 60 Hz – Most displays run at 60 Hz, and many console games/ports are locked to 60 FPS. This is the “smooth” look most gamers are used to, but there is room for improvement
• 100 FPS / 120 Hz or 144 Hz – With a high refresh rate monitor, this is a nice number if you don’t have the power needed to push 120 or 144 FPS without compromising visuals. This is where you’ll see the most difference moving up from 60 FPS
• 120 FPS / 120 Hz or 144 Hz – Ultra-smooth to most gamers
• 144 FPS / 144 Hz or 240 Hz – Same as above- real-world difference should be marginal
• 165 FPS / 165 Hz or 240 Hz – Same as above
• 200 FPS / 240 Hz or higher – For gamers with insane reflexes, 200+ FPS begins to show improvements. Most people are unlikely to notice, but for hardcore competitors, this is the best choice
• 240 FPS / 240 Hz or higher – Same as above.
• 300 FPS / 300 Hz or higher – Same as above.

Ray Tracing

Real-time ray tracing refers to technology that allows for highly realistic calculation of lighting, shadows, and reflections. Historically, ray tracing has been a computationally intensive process, but new tech makes it more accessible. These graphics are far beyond rasterization, the usual rendering method. Ray tracing abilities depend on hardware.

Should You Overclock Your GPU?

As long as you can achieve a stable overclock, don’t flash a different BIOS, or exceed voltage limits, you can overclock your GPU to squeeze out extra performance without voiding your warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I consider when choosing a GPU for my specific PC case?

It’s important to check your case specs before buying a gaming GPU to ensure it will fit. Many GPUs, especially high-end ones, can be quite large, so be sure to measure the space in your case to avoid issues when installing. Or, check with your manufacturer if they assembled all the parts.

How can GPU availability fluctuations affect my purchase decision?

GPU availability can vary due to supply issues, especially during periods of high demand. To avoid scammers, always buy from reputable sources. It’s also worth keeping an eye on price trends since GPU costs can surge during these times.

What resolution should I aim for in a gaming monitor, based on my GPU?

Your GPU should align with the resolution you’re aiming for. If you’re gaming at 1080p, an entry-level GPU will work, but for 4K or 1440p, you’ll need more powerful options to handle the higher pixel count.

Is ray tracing performance a major factor in choosing a GPU for gaming?

If you’re focused on traditional gaming performance, ray tracing may not be as critical. But if you want the most realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows, a GPU with strong ray tracing support will offer a visually enhanced experience.