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Best Graphics Card 2024: The top GPUs we’ve tested
In This Article
The GPU is the single most important component for gaming, and is very important for content creation too. But which is the best graphics card you can buy for your specific needs?
We’ve created this guide to help you find the best graphics card option, with our team of experts reviewing all of the latest cards from the likes of AMD, Nvidia and Intel.
During our testing, we make sure to use industry-standard benchmarks, as well as using popular modern games to determine the average performance. We then compare all of the results to find which graphics cards represent the best value for your money. The top rated cards are picked for this very list, making it easier for you to come to a final decision.
We also make sure to evaluate other areas, such as the power consumption of each card, and the available features such asray tracing,DLSSand more.
If you’re loyal to a specific brand, it’s also worth checking out ourBest Nvidia Graphics Cardroundup. And if you’re looking to upgrade your PC in other areas, then have a look at ourBest Gaming CPUguide. Otherwise, check out our best graphics card recommendations below.
Best graphics cards at a glance
How we test
Every graphics card we review goes through a series of uniform checks designed to gauge key things including performance, features, thermals, power consumption and overclockability.These include formal synthetic benchmarks with third-party software, plus a series of in-games tests from some of the most recent AAA PC titles, with optimised picks for both AMD and Nvidia.We also make sure to use the GPU for everyday tasks and gaming to make sure there are no real-time performance issues.
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT
Pros
Cons
TheAMD Radeon RX 7900 XTis the best graphics card we’ve reviewed, striking a sweet balance between price and performance for those who want to play in 4K.
Our benchmark results with this card were highly impressive. With the highest graphics preset setting and resolution cranked up to 4K, the RX 7900 XT was able to hit 99fps in Horizon Zero Dawn, 90fps in Borderlands 3 and 56fps in CyberPunk 2077. What’s more, the card supportsray tracingfor high fidelity visuals, and the use of FSR 2 provides a welcome boost to performance.
Nvidia clearly still has the edge when it comes to AI performance boosting however, withDLSS 3.5able to provide a far greater uplift, while also seeing improvements made to the ray tracing quality. But since such technology is limited to a modest selection of games, we still feel that the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is the more appealing option for the vast majority of gamers.
If you want an even better 4K performance, then it’s worth checking out the slightly more expensiveAMD Radeon RX 7900 XTXtoo, which also saw a glowing review. Otherwise, we feel that the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT offers up the best balance of price and power.
Reviewer:Gemma RylesFull Review:AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT review
AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE
Pros
Cons
Although the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE spent some time as a China-only exclusive, the GPU has now made its way to the rest of the world and frankly, we’re all better off for it. Simply put, if you’re looking to get the best value 4K gaming experience possible then this is the option to go for.
Even though it’s technically meant to sit between AMD’s 7800 XT and 7900 XT, its specs are something of an amalgamation of the two. For instance, the performance is closer to the 7800, but it’s based on the Navi 31 superstructure which is also found within the 7900 range.
When putting performance to the test, the 7900 GRE did incredibly well by scoring an average of 58fps in 4K gaming across six titles, while we were able to achieve roughly 111.67fps running those same games at 1440p.
For consistent frame rates and detail, you can’t ask for much more than that, although we did find the GPU’s ray tracing abilities to be eclipsed by similarly priced options from Nvidia. On that same thread, AMD’s FSR upscaling technology just isn’t quite up to the same standard as Nvidia’s DLSS. Still, for what you do get here (particularly at the price offered), there’s plenty to like about the RX 7900 GRE.
Reviewer:Zak StoreyFull Review:AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE review
AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
Pros
Cons
If you’re looking for the best graphics card for a 1440p gaming performance, but don’t want to spend over the odds, then theAMD Radeon RX 7800 XTis your best bet.
According to our 1440p tests, AMD’s mid-range card was able to play Horizon Zero Dawn at 137fps, Borderlands 3 at 130fps and Red Dead Redemption II at 106fps. These are all remarkable speeds, especially for a graphics card that priced at just $499 at launch.
This card does have some limitations, as running Cyberpunk 2077 in 1440p with ray tracing activated sees the performance fall down to 27fps. For such use cases, theNvidia RTX 4070 Superis a more tempting option, as it’s able to run Cyberpunk at 43fps with the same settings, while the use of DLSS boosts the performance even further.
If you’re not too fussed about ray tracing though, then we think the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is a fantastic graphics card choice, representing outstanding value for money.
Reviewer:Zak StoreyFull Review:AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT review
Intel Arc A750
Pros
Cons
Even though the likes of Nvidia and AMD have come to dominate the conversation surrounding GPUs (as well most of the spots on this list), the Intel Arc A750 proves that the CPU giant shouldn’t be overlooked in this category.
Where the Arc A750 excels is in delivering outstanding value for money performance when running games at 1080p. If you’re desperate to make the jump to 4K then theRadeon RX 7900 GREis the one to go for, but for those who have no issues with 1080p gaming, or would rather spend money elsewhere, this is your best bet.
Part of the A750’s magic is down to the fact that it utilises TSMC’s N6 7nm manufacturing process which results in a combination of traditional rasterisation hardware and ray tracing/tensor hardware, allowing it to work seamlessly with AI upscaling to deliver impressive results.
Speaking of results, when put through our rigorous testing process, the A750 was able to comfortably reach between 70-80fps when gaming at 1080p. 1440p is available here but just expect the frame rate to take a hit if you do go down this route.
Reviewer:Zak StoreyFull review:Intel Arc A750 review
AMD Radeon RX 7600
Pros
Cons
Let’s be honest, the biggest issue with PC gaming is the cost of updating all of your components. A graphics card can cost more than a PS5 console after all. This is why we’re such a big fan of theAMD Radeon RX 7600, which offers fantastic performance at an affordable price.
When testing the budget card in 1080p, it was able to run Horizon Zero Dawn at 122fps, Borderlands 3 at 114fps and Red Dead Redemption 2 at 76fps. That said, the card can sometimes struggle with demanding games, as we found it to fall as low as 6fps when testing Red Dead Redemption. These were just minor hiccups, but it does show the AMD card doesn’t offer quite as smooth of a performance as pricier alternatives.
Ray tracing is basically a no go here too, as running Cyberpunk 2077 in 1080 with ray tracing activated saw the performance plummet to 11fps which isn’t playable.
But if you accept this graphics card’s shortcomings, it still delivers a great Full HD performance that should satisfy the vast majority of gamers. If you’re on a strict budget, then this is the best graphics card to go for.
Reviewer:Zak StoreyFull Review:AMD Radeon RX 7600 review
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
Pros
Cons
TheNvidia GeForce RTX 4090was the very first graphics card to launch from the newRTX 4000 Series, and it’s also the most powerful GPU we’ve ever tested.
In the vast majority of games we tested, it was capable of hitting over 100fps at a 4K resolution. It’s even more impressive for eSports games such as Overwatch 2, as it nearly reached a 500fps performance. You can’t get these kinds of speeds anywhere else.
We also found that theDLSS 3software helps to boost frame rates even further for compatible games, allowing for a smoother performance inCyberpunk 2077when set to a 4K resolution with ray tracing activated. And while the RTX 4090 is arguably overkill for most gamers, it’s a fantastic option for content creators that need to render 3D models at a lightning pace.
The RTX 4090 won’t be for everyone since it costs an absolute fortune and also has a high power consumption to boot. But if you’re craving the fastest performance possible from a graphics card, then this is your very best option.
Reviewer:Ryan JonesFull review:Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 review
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FAQs
Ray tracing is an advanced rendering technology that can create realistic lighting and shadow effects. Only modern GPUs and select games support this technology.
DLSS is Nvidia’s temporal image upscaling technology which boosts the frame rate performance of supported games without compromising on the image quality. Only Nvidia’s RTX 20-Series, 30-Series and 40-Series GPUs support the technology.
We also considered…
A lower price isn’t enough to make the RTX 4080 Super super exciting.
A formidable 4K graphics card
The latest mid-range Nvidia graphics card
We’ve reviewed
218
Graphics Cards
Comparison Specifications
Trusted Reviews test data
After graduating with an MA in History from University College London and cutting his teeth for several years as a journalist in the film and TV industries, Tom joined the Trusted Reviews team as a Co…
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
