Best Graphics Cards for 2023

We 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		RTX 4090	2565MHz 3 Fans 24GB VRAM 348mm long	9.5/10	Check Price Read Review »
AMD		RX 7900 XTX	2615MHz 3 Fans 16GB VRAM 344mm long	9.4/10	Check Price Read Review »
VALUE		RX 6800 XT	2310MHz 3 Fans 16GB VRAM 313mm long	8.9/10	Check Price Read Review »
BUDGET		RX 6600	2044MHz 3 Fans 8GB VRAM 282mm long	8.7/10	Check Price Read Review »
ENTRY		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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.