Short answer: the best gaming graphics cards right now are the RTX 5090 and RTX 4090 (S tier, 4K). For 1440p, the RX 9070 XT, RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 (A tier) are the best value at the top. For 1080p, most players should look at the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, RX 9060 XT 16GB or Arc B580 (C tier).
This tier list ranks 76 graphics cards from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel, from the RTX 5090 down to the GT 1030. Every card links to a side-by-side comparison, so you can check two cards in one click.
How we ranked the graphics cards
- Score: average gaming performance, with the RTX 3060 = 100. A card with 200 is about twice as fast. Scores come from published review averages (like TechPowerUp's relative performance) and are the same numbers our Compare Hardware, FPS Estimator and Can I Run It tools use.
- Tiers: based on what each card can really do in 2026 games: S = 4K, A = high refresh 1440p, B = 1440p, C = 1080p Ultra, D = 1080p Medium, E = esports and older games.
- No ray tracing: GTX cards and the RX 400/500/5000 series have no hardware ray tracing. A growing list of games needs it, like Gears of War: E-Day, so these cards cannot run them at all.
GPU tier list at a glance
| Tier | Best for | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| S | 4K Ultra | RTX 5090, RTX 4090, RTX 5080, RX 7900 XTX |
| A | 1440p Ultra, high refresh | RX 9070 XT, RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 4080 Super, RX 9070 |
| B | 1440p High | RTX 5070, RTX 4070 Super, RX 7800 XT, RTX 3080 |
| C | 1080p Ultra | RTX 5060 Ti, RX 9060 XT, RTX 5060, Arc B580, RTX 3060 Ti |
| D | 1080p Medium | RTX 4060, RX 7600, RTX 3060, RX 6600, RTX 2060 |
| E | Esports, older games | GTX 1660 Super, RX 580, GTX 1060, GTX 1650 |
S tier: 4K Ultra
The fastest gaming graphics cards: 4K Ultra and high refresh rate 1440p.
| Graphics card | Score (RTX 3060 = 100) | VRAM | Year | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 382 | 32 GB | 2025 | RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090 |
| RTX 4090 | 318 | 24 GB | 2022 | RTX 5080 vs RTX 4090, RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090 |
| RTX 5080 | 276 | 16 GB | 2025 | RTX 5080 vs RTX 4090 |
| RX 7900 XTX | 276 | 24 GB | 2022 | vs RTX 4080 Super |
A tier: 1440p Ultra, high refresh
1440p Ultra at high frame rates, and 4K with DLSS or FSR.
| Graphics card | Score (RTX 3060 = 100) | VRAM | Year | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 4080 Super | 252 | 16 GB | 2024 | vs RX 9070 XT |
| RX 9070 XT | 247 | 16 GB | 2025 | RX 9070 XT vs RTX 5070 Ti, RX 9070 XT vs RTX 5070 |
| RTX 4080 | 247 | 16 GB | 2022 | vs RTX 5070 Ti |
| RTX 5070 Ti | 241 | 16 GB | 2025 | RX 9070 XT vs RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5070 Ti vs RTX 5070 |
| RX 7900 XT | 235 | 20 GB | 2022 | vs RTX 4070 Ti Super |
| RTX 4070 Ti Super | 231 | 16 GB | 2024 | vs RTX 3090 Ti |
| RTX 3090 Ti | 228 | 24 GB | 2022 | vs RX 9070 |
| RX 9070 | 224 | 16 GB | 2025 | RX 9070 XT vs RX 9070, RX 9070 vs RTX 5070 |
B tier: 1440p High
1440p High to Ultra, or 1080p at very high frame rates.
| Graphics card | Score (RTX 3060 = 100) | VRAM | Year | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 4070 Ti | 218 | 12 GB | 2023 | vs RTX 5070 |
| RTX 5070 | 212 | 12 GB | 2025 | RX 9070 XT vs RTX 5070, RTX 5070 vs RTX 4070 Super |
| RTX 3090 | 212 | 24 GB | 2020 | vs RX 6900 XT |
| RX 6900 XT | 205 | 16 GB | 2020 | vs RX 7900 GRE |
| RX 7900 GRE | 203 | 16 GB | 2023 | vs RTX 4070 Super |
| RTX 4070 Super | 200 | 12 GB | 2024 | RTX 5070 vs RTX 4070 Super, RTX 4070 vs RTX 4070 Super |
| RTX 3080 Ti | 200 | 12 GB | 2021 | vs RX 7800 XT |
| RX 7800 XT | 194 | 16 GB | 2023 | RTX 4070 vs RX 7800 XT |
| RX 6800 XT | 194 | 16 GB | 2020 | vs RTX 3080 |
| RTX 3080 | 182 | 10 GB | 2020 | RTX 3080 vs RTX 3070 |
| RTX 4070 | 176 | 12 GB | 2023 | RTX 4070 vs RTX 4070 Super, RTX 4070 vs RX 7800 XT |
| RX 6800 | 171 | 16 GB | 2020 | vs RTX 5060 Ti |
C tier: 1080p Ultra
1080p High to Ultra: the sweet spot for most gamers.
| Graphics card | Score (RTX 3060 = 100) | VRAM | Year | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5060 Ti | 165 | 8 / 16 GB | 2025 | RTX 5060 Ti vs RTX 4060 Ti, RX 9060 XT vs RTX 5060 Ti |
| RX 7700 XT | 159 | 12 GB | 2023 | vs RX 9060 XT |
| RX 9060 XT | 153 | 8 / 16 GB | 2025 | RX 9060 XT vs RTX 5060 Ti |
| RTX 3070 Ti | 153 | 8 GB | 2021 | RTX 3070 vs RTX 3070 Ti |
| RTX 2080 Ti | 147 | 11 GB | 2018 | vs RX 6750 XT |
| RX 6750 XT | 147 | 12 GB | 2022 | vs RTX 3070 |
| RTX 3070 | 144 | 8 GB | 2020 | RTX 3070 vs RTX 3060 Ti, RTX 3070 vs RTX 3070 Ti |
| RTX 5060 | 141 | 8 GB | 2025 | RTX 5060 vs RTX 4060 |
| RX 6700 XT | 141 | 12 GB | 2021 | vs RTX 4060 Ti |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 138 | 8 / 16 GB | 2023 | RTX 5060 Ti vs RTX 4060 Ti, RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 4060 |
| Arc B580 | 135 | 12 GB | 2024 | RTX 4060 vs Arc B580 |
| RTX 2080 Super | 131 | 8 GB | 2019 | vs RTX 3060 Ti |
| RTX 3060 Ti | 126 | 8 GB | 2020 | RTX 3060 Ti vs RTX 3060, RTX 3070 vs RTX 3060 Ti |
| RTX 2080 | 124 | 8 GB | 2018 | vs RX 7600 XT |
| RX 7600 XT | 121 | 16 GB | 2024 | vs GTX 1080 Ti |
| GTX 1080 Ti (no ray tracing) | 118 | 11 GB | 2017 | vs RTX 4060 |
D tier: 1080p Medium
1080p Medium to High. New games need upscaling.
| Graphics card | Score (RTX 3060 = 100) | VRAM | Year | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 4060 | 115 | 8 GB | 2023 | RTX 4060 vs RTX 3060, RTX 5060 vs RTX 4060 |
| RTX 2070 Super | 115 | 8 GB | 2019 | vs RX 7600 |
| RX 7600 | 115 | 8 GB | 2023 | RTX 4060 vs RX 7600 |
| RX 5700 XT (no ray tracing) | 112 | 8 GB | 2019 | vs RX 6650 XT |
| RX 6650 XT | 112 | 8 GB | 2022 | vs Arc A770 |
| Arc A770 | 109 | 8 / 16 GB | 2022 | vs RX 6600 XT |
| RX 6600 XT | 107 | 8 GB | 2021 | vs RTX 2070 |
| RTX 2070 | 103 | 8 GB | 2018 | vs RTX 3060 |
| RTX 3060 | 100 | 12 GB | 2021 | RTX 4060 vs RTX 3060, RTX 3060 Ti vs RTX 3060 |
| Arc A750 | 100 | 8 GB | 2022 | vs RTX 2060 Super |
| RTX 2060 Super | 100 | 8 GB | 2019 | vs RX 6600 |
| RX 6600 | 97 | 8 GB | 2021 | RX 6600 vs RX 580 |
| GTX 1080 (no ray tracing) | 91 | 8 GB | 2016 | vs RX 5600 XT |
| RX 5600 XT (no ray tracing) | 88 | 6 GB | 2020 | vs RTX 2060 |
| RTX 2060 | 88 | 6 GB | 2019 | RTX 2060 vs GTX 1660 Super |
| GTX 1070 Ti (no ray tracing) | 82 | 8 GB | 2017 | vs RTX 3050 |
E tier: Esports and older games
1080p Low in new games, or esports games like CS2, Valorant and Fortnite. Time to upgrade.
| Graphics card | Score (RTX 3060 = 100) | VRAM | Year | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 3050 | 76 | 8 GB | 2022 | RTX 3050 vs GTX 1650 |
| GTX 1660 Ti (no ray tracing) | 75 | 6 GB | 2019 | GTX 1660 Super vs GTX 1660 Ti |
| GTX 1660 Super (no ray tracing) | 74 | 6 GB | 2019 | RTX 3060 vs GTX 1660 Super, GTX 1660 Super vs GTX 1660 Ti |
| GTX 1070 (no ray tracing) | 74 | 8 GB | 2016 | vs GTX 1660 |
| GTX 1660 (no ray tracing) | 68 | 6 GB | 2019 | vs RX 590 |
| RX 590 (no ray tracing) | 68 | 8 GB | 2018 | vs RX 580 |
| RX 580 (no ray tracing) | 62 | 4 / 8 GB | 2017 | GTX 1650 vs RX 580, GTX 1060 6GB vs RX 580 |
| GTX 1060 6GB (no ray tracing) | 59 | 6 GB | 2016 | GTX 1060 6GB vs RX 580 |
| RX 480 (no ray tracing) | 59 | 4 / 8 GB | 2016 | vs GTX 1650 Super |
| GTX 1650 Super (no ray tracing) | 56 | 4 GB | 2019 | vs GTX 970 |
| GTX 970 (no ray tracing) | 56 | 4 GB | 2014 | vs RX 570 |
| RX 570 (no ray tracing) | 56 | 4 / 8 GB | 2017 | vs GTX 1060 3GB |
| GTX 1060 3GB (no ray tracing) | 55 | 3 GB | 2016 | vs RX 470 |
| RX 470 (no ray tracing) | 53 | 4 GB | 2016 | vs RX 6500 XT |
| RX 6500 XT | 50 | 4 GB | 2022 | vs GTX 1650 |
| GTX 1650 (no ray tracing) | 44 | 4 GB | 2019 | RTX 3050 vs GTX 1650, GTX 1650 vs RX 580 |
| GTX 1050 Ti (no ray tracing) | 38 | 4 GB | 2016 | vs GTX 1050 |
| GTX 1050 (no ray tracing) | 32 | 2 GB | 2016 | vs RX 560 |
| RX 560 (no ray tracing) | 32 | 2 / 4 GB | 2017 | vs GT 1030 |
| GT 1030 (no ray tracing) | 18 | 2 GB | 2017 | vs RX 560 |
Which graphics card should you buy?
If you are buying new in 2026, these are the cards that make the most sense:
| You play at | Our pick | Also good | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4K | RTX 5080 | RTX 5090 (if money is no problem) | RTX 5080 vs RTX 4090 |
| 1440p, high refresh | RX 9070 XT | RTX 5070 Ti | RX 9070 XT vs RTX 5070 Ti |
| 1440p | RX 9070 | RTX 5070 | RX 9070 vs RTX 5070 |
| 1080p Ultra | RTX 5060 Ti 16GB | RX 9060 XT 16GB | RX 9060 XT vs RTX 5060 Ti |
| 1080p on a budget | Arc B580 | RTX 5060 | RTX 4060 vs Arc B580 |
Is 8 GB of VRAM still enough?
For 1080p in most games, yes, but it is getting tight. New games like Gears of War: E-Day can use around 10 GB at high settings, and 8 GB cards then stutter unless you lower textures. If you can, pick the 16 GB version of the RTX 5060 Ti or RX 9060 XT, or a 12 GB card like the Arc B580. More in How Much VRAM Do You Need for Gaming?
NVIDIA or AMD?
- NVIDIA: better ray tracing, DLSS (the best upscaler) and Multi Frame Generation on RTX 50 cards.
- AMD: usually more VRAM and more FPS for the money. FSR 4 on RX 9000 cards is now close to DLSS.
- Intel Arc: the B580 is a strong budget card with 12 GB, but older games can run less well than on NVIDIA or AMD.
Before you upgrade
- Check your processor. A fast graphics card with an old processor will not reach its full FPS: test your combo with the Bottleneck Calculator.
- Check your power supply and that the card fits in your case.
- See what you have now with Check My PC, then compare it with the card you want on Compare Hardware.
- Check your games: Can I Run It? shows if your PC runs a game and at what settings.
FAQ
What is the best graphics card for gaming in 2026?
The RTX 5090 is the fastest, followed by the RTX 4090. For most people, the RX 9070 XT or RTX 5070 Ti gives the best mix of 1440p performance and price, and the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB or RX 9060 XT 16GB is the best choice for 1080p.
What tier is the RTX 3060?
D tier: good for 1080p at Medium to High settings. It is our reference card (score 100) and still runs every current game, with upscaling in the newest ones.
What tier is the RTX 4060?
D tier, just above the RTX 3060. It is good for 1080p, but its 8 GB of VRAM can limit it in the newest games.
Is the GTX 1660 Super still good in 2026?
It is fine for esports games like CS2, Valorant and Fortnite, but it has no hardware ray tracing, so some new games, like Gears of War: E-Day, will not run at all.
What is the best budget graphics card?
The Intel Arc B580 (12 GB) and the RTX 5060 are the best new budget cards for 1080p. On the used market, an RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6700 XT is often good value.
Scores are FpsGen's average gaming performance index (RTX 3060 = 100), based on published review averages such as TechPowerUp's relative performance charts. Real FPS depends on the game, settings, resolution and your processor. Use the FPS Estimator for game-by-game numbers. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Gaming writer at FpsGen. Guides and reviews are built on official sources, patch notes and real player data.
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