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Best Graphics Cards for 2023

Best Graphics Cards for 2023We rated, reviewed, & compared some of the best graphics cards for gaming across various budgets. These top GPUs are perfect for gamers who are looking to max out their favorite games.

There is no component that has a bigger direct impact on your gaming experience than your video card will. And, if you’re looking to build a gaming computer and you want to really take your gaming experience to the next level, then you definitely need to make sure you get yourself a high-end GPU.

A graphics card (or video card) basically acts like a second processor. However, the video card is only responsible for processing graphics-related tasks.

Therefore, having a high-end video card not only helps your system by improving the quality of visual effects that it can display, but also by relieving your main processor of the responsibility of having to carry out graphics-related tasks. This gives your computer a significant increase in performance in gaming over system’s that rely on the integrated graphics on their performance.

When building a new gaming computer, you want to put a good portion of your budget towards getting the best video card for gaming possible. It’s generally recommended to put at least 20-30% of your total budget into your graphics card.

In this post, we will take a look at the best graphics cards for gaming at various price ranges.

Our Top Picks for the Best GPUs for Gaming

The table below gives you a quick-look at our top picks for the best video cards for gaming across a range of categories.

NAME SPECS RATING
EXTREME
ASUS TUF RTX 4090

RTX 4090

  • 2565MHz
  • 3 Fans
  • 24GB VRAM
  • 348mm long
9.5/10

Check Price

Read Review »

AMD
XFX Speedster MERC310 RX 7900 XTX

RX 7900 XTX

  • 2615MHz
  • 3 Fans
  • 16GB VRAM
  • 344mm long
9.4/10

Check Price

Read Review »

VALUE
Sapphire RX 6800 XT

RX 6800 XT

  • 2310MHz
  • 3 Fans
  • 16GB VRAM
  • 313mm long
8.9/10

Check Price

Read Review »

BUDGET
Gigabyte Radeon RX 6600 Eagle

RX 6600

  • 2044MHz
  • 3 Fans
  • 8GB VRAM
  • 282mm long
8.7/10

Check Price

Read Review »

ENTRY
Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile

GT 1030

  • 1544MHz
  • 1 Fan
  • 2GB VRAM
  • 150mm long
7.9/10

Check Price

Read Review »

*To check out our full overviews on our top GPU choices, just click the “Read Review »” button. You can also scroll down on this post to find more options based on your specific budget.

1. ASUS TUF RTX 4090

The best extreme graphics card

ASUS TUF RTX 4090
  • 2565MHz Clock Speed
  • 24GB GDDR6 VRAM
  • Triple Fan Cooling
  • 348mm Long

Our Rating: 9.5/10

Check Price on Amazon

If money is no object to you and you have to have the absolute best performance possible, then an RTX 4090 is what you’re looking for. Be forewarned, though, with a pricetag of over $1,500, an RTX 4090 costs more right now than what it costs to build a complete high-end system.

Also Read: Best Gaming PC Build Under $1,500

If you’ve got the money for it, though, the RTX 4090 is a monster of a graphics card and it will deliver extreme performance. So, whether you’re looking to get a new 4K 144Hz monitor, or you’re a hardcore competitive gamer that wants to maximize their framerate on a 360Hz display, the RTX 4090 will give you as much performance as you can handle.

And, of the RTX 4090s out there, we like the ASUS TUF edition for its advanced cooling configuration and its extreme factory overclock.

All-in-all, the elevated pricetag of the RTX 4090 won’t be for everyone. But, if you’re budget allows for it, you won’t be disappointed.

2. XFX Speedster MERC310 RX 7900 XTX

An extreme AMD graphics card

XFX Speedster MERC310 RX 7900 XTX
  • 2615MHz Clock Speed
  • 16GB GDDR6 VRAM
  • Triple Fan Cooling
  • 344mm Long

Our Rating: 9.4/10

Check Price on Amazon

If you’re an AMD fanboi through and through and you want the best graphics card they have to offer, then an RX 7900 XTX is what you’re looking for.

Of the RX 7900 XTXs out there, the XFX Speedster MERC310 strikes a nice balance between how much it costs and the features it comes with. The Speedster MERC310 comes with a boost clock of 2615MHz, 16GB of VRAM, and a triple fan cooling array.

Also Read: 7900 XT vs 7900 XTX: Which AMD GPU is Better Value?

It is a beefy graphics card, though, as it measures in at 344mm long. That should still fit in most standard ATX cases, but you’ll want to be sure to check for clearance issues with your case before choosing the graphics card.

The RX 7900 XTX is an excellent option for gamers who have an extreme budget and who are looking to hop into 4K gaming, or who want to run a 1440P 240Hz monitor with good results.

3. Sapphire Pulse RX 6800 XT

The best value graphics card

Sapphire RX 6800 XT
  • 2310MHz Clock Speed
  • 16GB GDDR6 VRAM
  • Triple Fan Cooling
  • 313mm Long

Our Rating: 8.9/10

Check Price on Amazon

The RX 6800 XT is an excellent graphics card for people who have a moderate budget and who want to be able to max-out games on a 1080P/1440P monitor. This card is more moderately priced when compared to the extreme options listed above and it can also serve well for anyone looking to jump up to 4K gaming.

Also Read: Is 4K Worth it for Gaming?

The Sapphire Pulse stands out among other RX 6800 XTs due to its lower pricetag. It also comes with a triple fan cooling array and at 313mm long it should fit in the majority of cases out there.

In the end, if you’re looking for a graphics card that will easily allow you to max-out games at 1080P and also offer the ability to handle games at 1440P (and 4K as well), then this RX 6800 XT is a great option.

4. Gigabyte WINDFORCE RX 6600

The best budget graphics card

Gigabyte Radeon RX 6600 Eagle
  • 2044MHz Clock Speed
  • 8GB GDDR6 VRAM
  • Triple Fan Cooling
  • 282mm Long

Our Rating: 8.7/10

Check Price on Amazon

If you have a moderate budget and you’re looking for a powerful graphics card, then, as of right now, your best bet is an AMD Radeon RX 6600. And, of the RX 6600 options available, Gigabyte’s WINDFORCE is the most affordable.

At just a little over $200, the Gigabyte RX 6600 will deliver ideal in-game performance on a 1080P monitor. It is strong enough to max out even the most demanding games with no problems.

It offers a triple fan cooling array and, at 282mm long, it is small enough to fit inside of most cases.

Overall, if you’re looking for a more affordable new graphics card option Gigabyte’s WINDFORCE RX 6600 is worth considering.

5. Gigabyte GT 1030

Entry-level graphics card option

Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
  • 1544MHz Clock Speed
  • 2GB GDDR6 VRAM
  • Single Fan Cooling
  • 150mm Long

Our Rating: 7.9/10

Check Price on Amazon

The Gigabyte GT 1030 competes with the RX 550 in that both are super budget-friendly graphics cards that will work well if you are building a barebones entry-level system, or if you have an older system that needs to be upgraded in order to keep up with some of today’s newer games.

The 1030, like the RX 550, should be able to handle most games on a 1080P monitor on at mediumish (or lower) settings. Although, for more demanding games, you will likely have to turn the settings down to low.

As of right now, you can grab a GT 1030 for ~$80, wheras an RX 550 will cost at least ~$120. The RX 550 will provide a bit more performance, though, so if you can affor the jump in price, it might be worth considering.

Ultimately, this card isn’t a long-term solution, but it will serve well as a last resort option if you have a super low budget.

Which Graphics Card is Right for You?

This is not a list of every graphics card on the market. And, while NVIDIA has held the high-end of the market on lockdown for the past few generations, it is always at least worth looking into newer architecture before you make your decision.

However, the performance difference, if any, is usually negligent between AMD and NVIDIA’s offerings at the same price level. And, so if you’re ready to build now, the options listed here should fit your needs based off of the price range you are looking to choose from.

In the end, the graphics card you choose for your gaming computer will be the biggest determining factor in what games you can play, at what resolution you can play them at, and how high you can turn up the settings.

Hey, I’m Brent. I’ve been building computers and writing about building computers for a long time. I’m an avid gamer and tech enthusiast, too. On YouTube, I build PCs, review laptops, components, and peripherals, and hold giveaways.

3 thoughts on “Best Graphics Cards for 2023”

  1. With the graphics card shortage it the would help to know a base price the review things is good value for that card.

    How does one keep up with performance and current available price? How do I know what price the value Pick is still a value Pick!

    Reply
  2. Brent Hale did a great job with this article. Well organized and the active links made it easy to comparison shop the items, which I realize was the reason behind doing the article. With that said, I am building/ rebuilding my old Cooler Master Tower and have spent all week and week end catching up and educating myself of where the PC technology is today and where it is heading. It’s been a mind bending experience as I pulled out my old parts of a Sound Blaster Card from 2007 and a later addition XFX Radeon R7 240 Graphic Card with 4 1 GB Memory sticks.
    It’s been a tough challenge to absorb how much peripherals have advance and seeing how quickly the industry in general progresses. Articles from 2014 forward educate and enlighten one appreciation for all of the innovation. I’ve added much from this article to my Research Note Files in WORD & Excel as I fill in my charts and graphs as I edge towards my purchases. Thank You.

    Reply

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