RTX 50 vs RX 9000: Every Graphics Card Compared (2026)

Shopping for a graphics card in October 2026 is strange: there are no new ones. NVIDIA's RTX 50 series and AMD's RX 9000 series both came out in 2025, the RTX 50 Super refresh has reportedly slipped to 2027, and memory shortages are pushing prices up instead of down. So the question is simple: of the cards you can buy today, which one gives you the most for your money?

Quick answer: at almost every price, AMD gives you more raw performance per dollar right now. The RX 9060 XT is the best value under $450, and the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT beat the RTX 5070 on price and performance. NVIDIA is the pick if you want the strongest ray tracing, DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, or the very top end (RTX 5080 and 5090).

Why there are no new graphics cards in 2026

According to a report from The Information, picked up by The FPS Review in March 2026, NVIDIA planned no new gaming GPUs for 2026 because of the memory chip shortage, and the RTX 60 series is now expected around 2028. NVIDIA did not confirm the timeline, but said memory supply is constrained. In October 2026, Tech Times reported that GDDR6 memory prices had roughly tripled since late 2025 and that AMD raised memory prices for its board partners from October 1.

What it means for you: the cards below are the latest you will get for a while, and waiting is unlikely to make them cheaper soon.

All current GPUs compared

Prices are typical US street prices for a new card, from the price data our tools use (new-card survey of August 2026, checked again in October). With memory costs rising, expect them to move. Performance is the FpsGen score our tools use, where a GTX 1060 6GB = 100: a card at 300 is about three times as fast in games without ray tracing.

Graphics card	VRAM	Power	FpsGen score	New price	Score per $100
RTX 5090	32 GB GDDR7	575 W	650	$4,700	14
RTX 5080	16 GB GDDR7	360 W	470	$1,500	31
RX 9070 XT	16 GB GDDR6	304 W	420	$720	58
RTX 5070 Ti	16 GB GDDR7	300 W	410	$1,100	37
RX 9070	16 GB GDDR6	220 W	380	$650	58
RTX 5070	12 GB GDDR7	250 W	360	$900	40
RTX 5060 Ti	8 or 16 GB GDDR7	180 W	280	$650	43
RX 9060 XT	8 or 16 GB GDDR6	160 W	260	$420	62
RTX 5060	8 GB GDDR7	145 W	240	$470	51

Want to put any two cards side by side, including older ones like the RTX 3060 or RX 6600? Use our Compare Hardware tool: it shows specs, prices and which one is faster.

Head to head, by budget

Under $500: RX 9060 XT vs RTX 5060

The RX 9060 XT is a little faster (260 vs 240) and about $50 cheaper. Both are great for 1080p. The thing to watch is memory: the RTX 5060 only comes with 8 GB, and the RX 9060 XT and RTX 5060 Ti exist in 8 GB and 16 GB versions. More and more new games use over 8 GB at high settings, so if you can, take a 16 GB version. Check the label before you pay, because the 8 GB and 16 GB models often share the same name.

Pick: RX 9060 XT 16 GB.

Around $650: RX 9070 vs RTX 5060 Ti

At the same price, the RX 9070 is in another class: 380 vs 280, with 16 GB of memory as standard. The RTX 5060 Ti only makes sense if you find it much cheaper, or if you need an NVIDIA feature.

Pick: RX 9070, a strong 1440p card.

$700 to $900: RX 9070 XT vs RTX 5070

The RX 9070 XT is faster (420 vs 360), has 16 GB instead of 12 GB, and costs less. The RTX 5070 keeps NVIDIA's advantages: better ray tracing and DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, which can multiply FPS in the games that support it.

Pick: RX 9070 XT for raw performance, RTX 5070 if you play a lot of ray-traced games.

$1,100 and up: RTX 5070 Ti, 5080 and 5090

The RTX 5070 Ti lands about level with the RX 9070 XT in games without ray tracing, but costs around $380 more. It pulls ahead with ray tracing and DLSS. Above it, AMD has no answer: the RTX 5080 is the fastest card you can buy at a still-sane price, and the RTX 5090 is the fastest card of all, with prices far above its $1,999 launch price.

Pick: RTX 5080 if you want 4K with ray tracing and have the budget.

NVIDIA or AMD: what the scores do not show

• Upscaling and frame generation: NVIDIA has DLSS 4, and RTX 50 cards add Multi Frame Generation. AMD's RX 9000 cards have FSR 4, a big step up from older FSR. DLSS is still supported in more games.
• Ray tracing: RX 9000 is much better at it than older Radeon cards, but NVIDIA is still ahead, and the gap grows with heavy path tracing.
• Memory: AMD gives you 16 GB from the RX 9070 up. NVIDIA's RTX 5070 has 12 GB.
• Power: check your power supply. The RX 9070 XT and RTX 5070 Ti draw about 300 W, the RTX 5080 360 W and the RTX 5090 575 W.

Is my current card worth replacing?

It depends on what you have. As a rule of thumb, an upgrade feels worth it when the new card is at least about 50% faster. With an RTX 3060 (score 170), an RX 9060 XT is about 50% faster, and an RX 9070 more than doubles it.

Three of our free tools help you decide:

• Compare Hardware: your current card against any new one.
• FPS Estimator: the FPS each card should get in your games.
• PC Price Estimate: what your current card is worth if you sell it.

FAQ

Will GPU prices drop soon?

Probably not in 2026. Memory makers are moving their production to data center chips, and reports point to more price increases in the coming weeks rather than cuts.

Should I wait for the RTX 50 Super?

Reports now place it in 2027, and NVIDIA has not announced it. If you need a card now, buying today makes more sense than waiting a year for a card that may cost more.

Is 8 GB of VRAM enough in 2026?

For 1080p on medium to high settings, mostly yes. For 1440p, high textures and new big releases, 8 GB is becoming a limit. Take 12 or 16 GB if your budget allows.

Is the FpsGen score the same as FPS?

No. It is a relative score: a card with twice the score is about twice as fast. To see real expected FPS in a game, use the FPS Estimator.

Prices are typical US street prices from our price data (August 2026 survey, checked in October 2026), and they are moving quickly. Specs are from NVIDIA and AMD. Scores are FpsGen estimates of performance without ray tracing. Sources: The FPS Review, Tech Times, PC Gamer.