Between Nvidia's powerful Turing and Ampere GPUs and AMD's designs using a 7nm process, the graphics card market may be the most competitive it's been in some time. That competition means good value for you as a consumer, especially considering there's a graphics card to fit just about every need. So, if you're looking to outfit your gaming PC with one of its most crucial parts, you've come to the right place.

TL;DR – These are the Best Graphics Cards:

1. MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Ventus XS

Best Graphics Card

Our Pick MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Ventus XS On Amazon See It

CUDA Cores/Stream Processors 1,536 ● Base Clock: 1,770MHz ● Boost Clock: 1,830MHz ● Video Memory: 6GB GDDR6 ● Memory Speed: 12Gbps ● Memory Bus: 192-bit ● Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin ● Outputs: 1 x HDMI 2.0b, 3 x DisplayPort 1.4 ● Size: 8.03" x 5.04" x 1.7"

2. Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Founders Edition

Best 4K Graphics Card

Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Founders Edition On Amazon See It

CUDA Cores/Stream Processors 8,704 ● Base Clock: 1,440MHz ● Boost Clock: 1,710MHz ● Video Memory: 10GB GDDR6X ● Memory Speed: 19Gbps ● Memory Bus: 320-bit ● Power Connectors: 1 x 12-pin ● Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1 x HDMI 2.1 ● Size: 11.2" x 4.4" x dual-slot

3. XFX RX 5700 XT Thicc III Ultra

Best 1440p Graphics Card

XFX RX 5700 XT Thicc III Ultra On Amazon See It

Stream Processors: 2560 ● Base Clock: 1,810MHz ● Boost Clock: 2,025MHz ● Video Memory: 8GB GDDR6 ● Memory Speed: 14Gbps ● Memory Bus: 256-bit ● Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin ● Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0 ● Size: 12.4" x 5.16" x 2.24"

4. XFX RX 5600 XT Thicc II Pro

Best 1080p Graphics Card

XFX RX 5600 XT Thicc II Pro On Amazon See It

Stream Processors: 2304 ● Base Clock: 1,560MHz (Game Clock) ● Boost Clock: 1,620MHz ● Video Memory: 6GB GDDR6 ● Memory Speed: 12Gbps ● Memory Bus: 192-bit ● Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin ● Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0b ● Size: 11.02" x 5.83" x 1.73"

5. MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z

Best Nvidia RTX Graphics Card

MSI RTX 2060 Gaming Z On Dell See It

CUDA Cores/Stream Processors 1920 ● Base Clock: 1,365MHz ● Boost Clock: 1,830MHz ● Video Memory: 6GB GDDR6 ● Memory Speed: 14Gbps ● Memory Bus: 192-bit ● Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin ● Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0b ● Size: 9.72" x 5.08" x 2.05"

6. EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Black

Best for High-End Gaming for Most Gamers

EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Black On Amazon See It

CUDA Cores: 3072 ● Base Clock: 1,650MHz ● Boost Clock: 1,815MHz ● Video Memory: 8GB GDDR6 ● Memory Speed: 15.5Gbps ● Memory Bus: 256-bit ● Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin, 1 x 6-pin ● Outputs: 1 x USB-C, 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0b ● Size: 10.62" x 4.38" x 1.54"

7. MSI RX 5500 XT Mech 8G OC

Kick-Off Your Esports Career with this Graphics Card

MSI RX 5500 XT Mech 8G OC On Dell See It

CUDA Cores/Stream Processors 1408 ● Base Clock: 1,647MHz ● Boost Clock: 1,845MHz ● Video Memory: 8GB GDDR6 ● Memory Speed: 14Gbps ● Memory Bus: 128-bit ● Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin ● Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0b ● Size: 8.5" x 5" x 1.6"

8. Nvidia Titan RTX

The Out of Your Mind Graphics Card

Nvidia Titan RTX On Amazon See It

CUDA Cores/Stream Processors 4608 ● Base Clock: 1,350MHz ● Boost Clock: 1,770MHz ● Video Memory: 24GB GDDR6 ● Memory Speed: 14Gbps ● Memory Bus: 384-bit ● Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin ● Outputs: 1 x USB-C, 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0b ● Size: 9.4" x 5" x 1.65"

9. PNY GeForce GTX 1650 Super

Best HTPC Graphic Card

PNY GeForce GTX 1650 Super On Amazon See It

CUDA Cores/Stream Processors 1280 ● Base Clock: 1,530MHz ● Boost Clock: 1,725MHz ● Video Memory: 4GB GDDR6 ● Memory Speed: 12Gbps ● Memory Bus: 128-bit ● Power Connectors: 1 x 6-pin ● Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0b, 1 x DVI-D ● Size: 6.61" x 4.96" x 1.57"

You can find graphics cards for a little over $200 that will make short work of 1080p gaming, and you won't break the bank to enjoy 1440p at high frame rates or even a perfectly playable 4K. Thanks to the many GPU variants there are, such as Nvidia's Super GPUs or AMD's XT models, you can find a graphics card that will truly find the performance you need to make the most of your gaming monitor . We'll walk you through the best options, so you can pick out exactly what you need to make your computer hum – and for those of you in the UK, click here to see where you can get them Whether you want a modest resolution and fast frame rates or a high resolution at a playable frame rate, this GTX 1660 Ti graphics card can hit the sweet spot. It costs less than $400, but it's ready for buttery 1080p and even smooth 1440p gaming. If you want to jump up to 4K gaming, it won't dazzle but can deliver a playable 30fps in some games. It's even capable of keeping up with VR gaming.You'll miss out on some of the fancy features Nvidia offers only on its RTX cards, but this card can offer performance close to the RTX 2060 without costing as much. Because of the balance this card strikes for affordability and performance, it's our top pick.There's a new king when it comes to high-performance gaming, and that's the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Founders Edition ( read our review ). At just $700, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Founders Edition jumps over the performance threshold of the previous reigning champ, the RTX 2080 Ti ( read our review ), which was much more expensive. The RTX 3080 achieves this thanks to a new achitecture that allowed Nvidia to pack 8,704 CUDA (double that of the RTX 2080 Ti) cores onto the chip and run them at up to 1,710MHz.Though the RTX 3080 has less VRAM than the 2080 Ti, it's now a faster GDDR6X memory. There's enough power under the shroud to let the RTX 3080 achieve 4K gaming at 60fps with ray-tracing enabled. There's something to be said of the new cooling shroud as well, as it manages to keep the RTX 3080 cooler than the RTX 2080 Super and 2080 Ti in our testing. So, if you're looking for the best option for 4K gaming, this is it, and the inclusion of HDMI 2.1 means you'll even have the option of pairing this with some 4K/120Hz gaming TVs AMD's Radeon RX 5700 XT ( see our review ) was already a phenomenal graphics card for 1440p gameplay and even a touch of 4K, and a budget-friendly option at that. But, XFX has made the RX 5700 XT even more appealing by taking the clock speeds up a notch. The XFX RX 5700 XT Thicc III Ultra manages an heightened 1,810MHz base clock, which is 205MHz faster than the base frequency of the stock RX 5700 XT. And, it gives the graphics processor a solid 120MHz uptick to its boost clock.With the extra speed and ample cooling provided by a triple-fan shroud, this graphics card is ready to keep pace with graphically demanding games even at the higher 1440p resolution. Even with those upgrades over stock, this card doesn't get overly expensive.If you're looking to get the most out of 1080p gaming, then look no further than the XFX RX 5600 XT Thicc II Pro. This graphics card takes the Radeon RX 5600 XT, adds a capable cooling shroud onto it, and keeps it running along at a tidy 1,560 MHz game clock. That heightened game clock gives it consistently higher performance over the stock model, as it should be able to maintain that speed over long periods of time.This card comes kitted with plenty of VRAM and and ample memory bandwitch, making sure you don't need to go with low-res textures in your favorite games. So, if you want to dial up the graphics settings and enjoy fast frame rates at 1080p, this graphics card is a solid bet.Nvidia's RTX 2060 ( read our review ) might have you thinking it's a 1080p graphics card because of the pricing and mid-range placement of it, but we've seen in our benchmarks that it's more than up to the task of offering playable frame rates at 1440p even with in-game settings maxed. The slightly reduced memory capacity and bandwidth compared to its bigger siblings may hold it back from 4K gaming, but this card has some wiggle room to go faster with settings dialed down.Our experience with the RTX 2060's performance was also based on the Founder's Edition, but this MSI Gaming Z model has boost speeds that are 150MHz higher, giving it some extra performance headroom. If you want a card that's good to go for just about whatever game you want to throw at it while also having the ability to dip your toes into ray tracing, this is the card.If you're looking to game at 4K or are trying to really push your 144Hz monitor (or faster) to the limit, then an RTX 2080 Super ( read our review ) is one of the strongest options you can get without breaking the bank by going with an RTX 2080 Ti or Titan RTX.EVGA's GeForce RTX 2080 Super Black may not offer a signficant speed boost over Nvidia's reference model, but it will give you all the power you're looking for with a bit less of the noise that can come along with high-power components. That's thanks to specially designed cooling and fan bearings that keep the noise level down while still providing the temperature regulation needed to game at full throttle. So, if you want a load of power without paying the premiums associating with buying the absolute best of the best, this card is for you.AMD's RX 5500 XT ( read our review ) is very much a 1080p graphics processor. It can keep around the 60fps ballpark even at Ultra settings. It even musters acceptable performance at 1440p in some titles, and could put up some decent speed in 1080p or 1440p if settings were dialed down.That makes it particularly well suited toward budget builds with esports in mind. If you're willing you balance your in-game settings a bit, you should be able to hit the high frame rates that make competitive play that much easier. Thanks to the compact size of the MSI RX 5500 XT Mech 8G OC, you can even build this into a smaller PC that's ready for travel to LAN parties and back.When you absolutely, positively need the most powerful graphics card money can buy, you should look no farther than the Nvidia Titan RTX . For the kingly price of $2,500, the Titan RTX is fully loaded with an absurd 4,608 CUDA cores, 24GB of GDDR6 video memory, and 1,770 MHz boost clock. With these supreme specs, it offers 4K Ultra gaming at frame rates well above 60 fps that no other single GPU can offer.But honestly, buying this card just to play games would be a waste, as it's also rendering powerhouse for video editing, 3D rendering, and other creative pursuits. If you have the money and the need for a GPU this powerful, the Nvidia Titan RTX is the graphics card of your dreams.The GTX 1650 Super is hardly a slightly boosted GTX 1650 but more like a lower-spec GTX 1660, especially on account of its implementing the same TU116 GPU. This graphics processor offers substantially more CUDA cores, higher clock speeds, and better memory than the standard GTX 1650. Those upgrades translate to an excellent 1080p gaming experience.If you were in the market for a GTX 1650, the upgrade to the Super model is definitely worthwhile. The extremely compact size of the PNY GTX 1650 Super graphics card also makes it great for small PC builds, so you can build a home theater PC that won't stand out in your living room next to your TV but will be ready to kick in for gaming or media.

Where to Get the Best Graphic Cards in the UK

What to Look for in a Graphics Card

There isn't too many differences when it comes to the graphics cards you can pick up in the UK, but the main takeaway is where you can purchase them. All of the following links have been updated with UK vendors, saving you some time and money if you're interested in picking up any of the graphics card we've mentioned. Don't see the graphic cards below? Click here.

Another Variable

Graphics card variants

Below we explain how to pick the GPU for the display you have, why there are so many variants of the same Nvidia and AMD graphics cards, and a few factors you should consider when buying a GPU. Above all, you should buy the graphics card you need for the display you’re using.If you’re gaming on a Full HD monitor, it would be a huge waste to buy a graphics card designed to play games at 2160p or 1440p. Likewise, you’ll want a powerful graphics card to drive games playing on that premium 4K gaming monitor or 4K TV We’ve laid out what are the best graphics cards to play games at 1080p, 1440p, and 2160p resolutions above, but here are some more general rules. For a decent to high-frame-rate Full HD experience, you should look at GPUs ranging from the GTX 1650 to the GTX 1660 Ti on Nvidia’s end. If you’re looking at AMD’s graphics card family, you’ll want a Radeon RX 5500 or up.Jumping up to QHD resolutions will require a more capable graphics card, ideally an Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 5600 and up. 4K gaming using a single card is still a tough proposition, but thanks to recent developments it’s actually approachable with the latest graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 2080 Super and AMD Radeon VII.Another thing to keep in mind when choosing the right graphics card for your gaming monitor (or vice versa) is what kind of variable refresh rate technology can you take the most advantage of. For the uninitiated, variable refresh rate (VRR) technology basically syncs the number of frames shooting out of your GPU to the frame rate of your display.This way the GPU isn't overworking itself for nothing while also helping to eliminate screen tearing on your monitor. Without this VRR tech, your GPU might end up clogging the frame bugger with two ore more frames, which your display might then try and display two different shots of gameplay at the same time. If you have a TV and gaming monitor that supports FreeSync, you should get an AMD graphics card.Alternatively, if you happen to be playing primarily a G-Sync gaming monitor or one of the latest LG CX OLED TVs then you'll want an Nvidia GPU. Luckily for you, the line separating G-Sync and Freesync is quickly disappearing as more and more displays that offer the latter are adding support for the former.G-Sync-compatible gaming monitors are all the rage now because they offer a tear-free and smooth gameplay experience when connecting to either an AMD and Nvidia graphics card.Ok, you’ve decided which graphics card you want, great! However, even with this monumental decision out of the way, the world of GPUs isn’t done being confusing and daunting just yet. Although there are only two companies—Nvidia and AMD—that actually manufacture GPUs, there are dozens of different variants of the same graphics cardFor example, when the most recent graphics card launched, the Nvidia GTX 1650, there was a multitude of different versions from Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, EVGA and the list goes on. In this case, while Nvidia may have introduced only one new GPU model, vendors or board partners will introduce their own versions featuring different overclock settings, cooling systems, and other differentiating factors we will explain below.One of the number one factors you should consider before plopping down cash for that shiny new graphics card is whether it will actually fit. If you’re building your PC in a Mini ITX case , you should be looking at the smallest or mini graphics cards that will actually fit inside.Most third-party cards—and even Nvidia’s own Founders Edition cards—will often come factory overclocked, and this means the graphics card has been tuned to operate above its rated maximum clock speed. As you might expect, the higher the number the faster it will perform.At this point, you won’t find many, including the entry-level cards, without some amount of ‘overclocking from the factory.’ However, even without a factory overclock, it’s easy enough do it yourself using software such as EVGA Precision X or MSI Afterburner.In your quest for the best graphics card, you might have noticed that some models come with one, two, or up to three fans. As you might expect, more fans equal better cooling, but there are also two distinct ways of keeping your graphics card chilled. GPUs equipped with a single fan often use a blower-style cooler, which means the card sucks in air and blows it out the back like a leaf blower.Dual and triple fan setups are often used in conjunction with 'open-air cooling systems,' which are designed to move cool air through the open heatsinks and exhaust heat in every direction.Blower style coolers are typically most useful for PCs built into small Mini ITX cases because they help exhaust heat out of a compact chassis with restricted airflow. If the system you're building is in a Micro ATX PC case or a larger Mid tower chassis, you’d be better off with an open-air cooled graphics card, as there are more mounting points for multiple case fans to do the brunt of cooling while the GPU's own two (or three) fans blow heat off the card itself.With Turing, Nvidia didn’t just introduce better, faster graphics cards it also debuted RTX GPUs with hardware designed to support real-time ray tracing, and AI-powered supersampling and anti-aliasing (known as Deep Learning Super Sampling). So far, Nvidia premium RTX 20-series cards—including the RTX 2080 Ti , RTX 2080 Super, RTX 2080, RTX 2070 Super, RTX 2070, RTX 2060 Super, RTX 2060, and all their mobile counterparts—are the only GPUs to feature these dedicated components.Thankfully, Nvidia decreed in early April 2019 that you don’t need an RTX card with dedicated RT Cores to process real-time ray tracing. So any of the GTX 16-series cards and (most) older 10-series cards can run games with ray tracing turned on. DLSS is still an RTX exclusive since it requires Tensor cores to function, but it’s a niche performance smoothing feature compared to the strikingly realistic reflections and complex shadows effects that ray tracing produces.

Bargain your way to getting a graphics card

Strangely, one of the more affordable ways to get yourself the latest graphics card is to buy a gaming PC while it’s on sale. Gaming PCs from brands like Asus, Dell, MSI, Acer, and HP will often see discounts for hundreds of dollars off, so not only are you saving a ton of money, you’re also avoiding potential headaches that can accompany a DIY build—and you also get a warranty.Prebuilt PCs have come a long way, too. They aren't proprietary machines with randomly soldered-on components. They're mostly as upgradeable as anything you might put together on your own.Another way of enjoying the latest graphics cards is through gaming laptops. There are plenty of Nvidia RTX 20- and GTX 16-series gaming laptops out there right now. New GTX gaming laptops have also hit the streets and they’re far more affordable than the RTX-equipped models thanks to the laptops introduced during IFA 2019 like the new Acer Predator Triton 300.Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark