When deciding on parts for a new rig, the graphics card is now the most integral component of a gaming PC given that it is the key driver of gaming-centric performance on a PC. Processors, memory, and storage do have a say in the overall cost of a PC, but they are often overshadowed by the cost of the accompanying GPU in the system.

A key decision that you must make when it comes to a modern gaming PC is whether you want to go with AMD or Nvidia as your de facto gaming partner on your rig with Nvidia leading on the software front thanks to more refined tech in play such as DLSS 3.0, better ray tracing support and better hardware encoders on the new RTX 4000 series GPUs, while some users go AMD as they feel it offers better value for money thanks to more aggressive pricing from Team Red for its own offerings.

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For Gamers who simply wish to experience the best possible visual fidelity or need the highest frame rates possible, Nvidia simply can't be beaten thanks to its mammoth RTX 4000 series offerings at the top end with the RTX 4090 offering a pricey but extremely premium offering that has no equivalent from competing AMD (and Intel to a lesser extent). If you are, however, more cash-strapped or wish to get a more middle-of-the-road solution for gaming, there are options for gamers on a budget as well.

The Asus TUF RTX 4070TI is an excellent SKU of the Nvidia RTX 4070TI GPU that focuses more on deliverables than aesthetics. That is not to say that it looks inelegant by any measure. It looks and feels premium, but skips some of the extensive RGB lighting that most of its direct competitors used to cater to gamers, leaving the light show to its more premium Strix sibling that is priced to match.

It focuses on delivering an excellent experience to its audience in terms of a quiet, powerful GPU that boosts well compared to the competition and has a much better build quality than many of its peers while keeping nearly in line (+$50) with the MSRP pricing of Nvidia's own FE despite having a clear advantage over the stock unit. It comes with dual HDMI ports unlike the competition and a tri-fan cooling system that also has an embedded vapor chamber keeping things both, cool and quiet simultaneously.

The ASUS TUF RTX 4070TI also features as one of our candidates for the best RTX 4070 TI SKUs in the market as a clear favorite from our team when it comes to productivity-related use cases even as it offers strong gaming-centric performance thanks to a mix of build quality, cooling and clock speeds.

To hold onto the crown of the best RTX 3000 series GPU on offer, the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming OC has to provide performance that pleases the vast majority of gamers. While most buyers are perfectly content with the RTX 3070 Founders Edition, Gigabyte supercharges the stock NVIDIA card even further with a higher clock frequency of 1815 Mhz and an effective cooling system to deal with higher-than-normal temperatures. As an added bonus, the card is commonly found in stock with small discounts over its original MSRP.

To combat the elevated temperatures that an overclocked RTX 3070 runs at, Gigabyte employs its own system of 3 fans and an extended heatsink that makes direct contact with the GPU to maximize cooling. If some gamers don't want to take any chances, the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming OC has a handy dual bios switch that toggles between an OC and Silent mode, with the latter running at a slightly lower clock speed and much lower fan speeds.

The Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming OC is a card that is best suited for competitive games at up to a 1440p resolution. While it's powerful enough to test the waters at 4K, the RTX 3070 will struggle to maintain 60 fps in some games at this resolution with medium to high detail settings with its limited memory becoming a crippling factor. Regardless, 1440p remains the sweet spot for many gamers, and the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3070 Gaming OC 8G also performs admirably with UltraWide monitors with this resolution.

At least as far as gaming-oriented graphics cards, the GeForce RTX 4090 is the most powerful option currently on the market. Besides generating some insane framerates even at 4K resolutions, one of the most important additions is support for DLSS 3. DLSS is a feature that often causes confusion about what it does and how it benefits the typical gamer. Essentially, DLSS boosts the framerates of games by rendering frames at a lower resolution and then using AI to upscale these frames to a steadier higher resolution. Framegen builds onto this by creating AI-generated frames between two GPU-rendered frames to give a more smooth experience to the end user and enabling gaming smoother at higher resolutions with current-gen graphics cards or playing newer games with older GPUs.

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While support for DLSS 3.0 is growing over time, gamers can immediately benefit from the incredible raw power of the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition by pushing resolutions and frame rates that would not otherwise be possible. Playing games at 4K 120 fps is now a very real possibility with this graphics card, without compromising on lower texture or reflection settings. Although monitors and TVs to test games at 8K are scarce, early benchmarks have cards like the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 performing surprisingly well at this resolution.

Compared to the stock NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, Asus has made a massive piece of hardware that looks more like a box than a card. Performance compared to the Founders Edition is even better, with a maximum clock speed of 2640 MHz, and the Aura Sync RGB lighting effects are stunning. Buyers will need a beefy power supply to run the card, with an 850-watt PSU a safe bet. Measuring over 14 inches long, the ASUS card will also be a challenge to put in many smaller PC cases. That being said, the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition is the most performant variant of the fastest NVIDIA graphics card on the planet and that alone makes it a solid contender for and the ultimate winner of our best-performance Nvidia GPU title.

It's easy to forget a time when graphics cards weren't more expensive than a top-tier CPU or any other PC component. Today, gamers putting together a new rig often decide first on what NVIDIA or AMD graphics card they can afford and build the rest of a rig around that choice. Fortunately, some budget options are still available, at least for buyers not interested in gaming in higher than 1080p resolution. The PNY GeForce GTX 1650 doesn't support any fancy features like ray-tracing or DLSS, but it's a great option for a highly-compact gaming PC, or as a reliable graphics card for office work.

The PNY GeForce GTX 1650 isn't much to look at, but its minimalist design allows it to fit into the tight chassis of mini ITX cases. Additionally, the graphics card does not require an additional power connector, simplifying the already difficult cable management in smaller systems. The total power usage of the card is a mere 75 watts. In the past, some stock GTX 1650 cards have lacked DisplayPort connections, but fortunately, the PNY GeForce GTX 1650 offers 2 of these ports along with 1 HDMI 2.0 connection.

PNY's GeForce GTX 1650 is a perfectly acceptable card for running games at 1080p with high detail settings. 60 fps gaming is a sure bet, with the card adequate for 120 fps in some moderately demanding titles. For anything more than that, gamers will have to step up to a more expensive alternative like the RTX 3050. Nevertheless, the PNY GeForce GTX 1650 is the top NVIDIA graphics card for budget shoppers.

A mid-range graphics card today is a substantial investment, costing as much or more as some seriously powerful CPUs. However, the Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC allows gamers to enjoy the features of the NVIDIA Ampere architecture introduced in the 30 series, without the significant jump in price seen with the RTX 3070 and higher. The RTX 3060 graphics cards ship with 12 GB of DDR6 memory, which is actually more than the RTX 3060 Ti packs, albeit with a slower memory bus.

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With the Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC, the clock speed of the stock RTX 3060 is boosted to 1807 MHz. To combat higher temperatures, Zotac uses its IceStorm 2.0 system, which takes advantage of new 11-blade fans for increased airflow and cooling coverage. The length of this card is worth nothing since it measures under 9 inches. The Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC is almost as wide as it is long, but its shape allows compact PCs to experience some high-end gaming performance.

The Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC is among the best graphics cards for running games at 1080p resolutions and should age better than older cards with newer more demanding titles. 1440p is a riskier proposition with the Twin Edge OC, but its main advantages are its support for Ray Tracing and DLSS at lower resolutions. 3 1.4a DisplayPorts and 1 HDMI 2.1 connector will ensure that the card can connect to any modern monitor or TV. With superior 1080p performance, NVIDIA Ampere compatibility, and a surprisingly compact shape, the Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC ranks among the best NVIDIA GPUs.

The best high-end Nvidia Graphic card on our list is surprisingly an RTX 4080. The PNY GeForce RTX 4080 16GB XLR8 Gaming GPU currently trades at a discount compared to most RTX 4080 SKUs as well as the Founder's Edition, shaving off $70 from its nearest competition that it does tend to outperform somewhat thanks to better cooling, better clocks, aesthetic and more.

While it isn't the fastest RTX 4080 out there, it doesn't need to be given its unique value proposition as both the cheapest RTX 4080 on the block and its mid-range performance tier within its own GPU class. With subtle lighting, solid build quality, and adequate RTX 4080-tier performance at a price point that doesn't make the RTX 4080 feel like a bad tradeoff, it is our pick for the best high-end Nvidia Graphic Card you can currently pick. If you do plan to spend more or are looking for a more premium RTX 4080 SKU, consider looking at the now-cheaper RTX 4090 SKUs that are pushing downwards towards the sub $1500 mark for a relative bargain instead.

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FAQ:

Q: What is the #1 GPU in the world?

A: In terms of gaming, NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4090 series of GPUs far outclasses any of the competitors, including NVIDIA's other offerings. But for the size of nearly an Xbox Series S, it's no wonder this graphic card can output FPS like no other.

Q: What is the best graphics card for 4K gaming?

A: The RTX 4080 or higher is the ideal GPU for 4K gaming. It can sustain 4K games at high frame rates thanks to DLSS 3. However, the RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 also provide stable 60 fps framerates at 4k resolutions for many games.

Q: What is the difference between NVIDIA GTX and RTX graphics cards?

A: NVIDIA's RTX graphics cards provide ray tracing support and tend to have higher amounts of VRAM, CUDA Cores, and GPU speeds than their older GTX series. In fact, besides the GTX 1650, the rest of the line has halted production in favor of the RTX series.

This isn't to say this card isn't viable any longer, but as the VRAM capacity for GPUs increases over the years, 4GB is no longer cutting it.