How to make modern games work: Top graphics cards

The visual fidelity of video games continues to improve, blurring the lines between reality and virtual worlds. This trend fuels countless online memes and significantly increases system requirements. Upgrading your PC, particularly the graphics card, becomes a frequent necessity for gamers. But with so many options, which graphics cards reigned supreme in 2024, and what should you consider for 2025? Let's explore the top contenders. For a visual showcase of the games these cards powered, check out our article on the most beautiful games of 2024.

Table of Contents

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
• AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
• AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
• AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
• Intel Arc B580

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060

A classic workhorse, the RTX 3060 has been a popular choice for everyday gamers for its ability to handle most tasks. Offering memory capacities from 8GB to 12GB, ray tracing support, and decent performance under load, it's starting to show its age but remains a solid performer. While it might struggle with some demanding modern titles, its legacy remains strong.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080

The RTX 3080, the elder sibling of the 3060, continues to impress. Its power and efficiency make it a flagship card for many, outperforming even newer models like the 3090 and 4060 in some cases. A slight overclock further enhances its capabilities. Its price-to-performance ratio makes it an excellent budget-conscious upgrade option in 2025.

AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT

The RX 6700 XT surprisingly maintains a top spot in price-to-performance. It handles modern games with ease and has challenged NVIDIA's market dominance, particularly impacting sales of the RTX 4060 Ti. Its larger memory and bus interface provide smooth gameplay at 2560x1440 resolution, making it a formidable competitor even to higher-priced cards.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

Unlike its less successful counterpart, the RTX 4060, the 4060 Ti has proven itself. While not significantly outperforming AMD offerings or the RTX 3080, it delivers solid results. It boasts a 4% performance increase over its predecessor at 2560x1440 resolution, further enhanced by the Frame Generation feature.

AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT

The RX 7800 XT surpasses NVIDIA's more expensive RTX 4070 in many games, offering an average 18% performance boost at 2560x1440. Its 16GB of video memory ensures longevity, and it outperforms the RTX 4060 Ti by 20% in ray-traced QHD gaming.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super

NVIDIA responded to competition with the 4070 Super, offering a 10-15% performance improvement over the standard 4070. It’s a strong contender for 2K gaming, and undervolting can further boost performance and lower temperatures.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080

The RTX 4080 provides ample performance for any game, often considered optimal for 4K gaming. Its substantial video memory and enhanced ray tracing capabilities ensure future-proofing. Many view it as NVIDIA's flagship, although the 4090 exists.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

NVIDIA's true flagship for high-end systems, the RTX 4090 offers unparalleled performance. While not drastically better than the 4080, its longevity and the anticipated pricing of the 50-series make it a compelling choice for top-tier builds.

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX

AMD's top-tier offering rivals NVIDIA's flagship in performance but with a significant price advantage. It's a powerful, cost-effective option that meets the needs of demanding gamers for years to come.

Intel Arc B580

Intel's surprise entry, the Arc B580, quickly sold out due to its impressive performance. Outperforming the RTX 4060 Ti and RX 7600 by 5-10% with 12GB of memory at a $250 price point, it signals a potential shift in the market.

Despite rising prices, the market offers a range of graphics cards catering to various budgets and performance needs. Even budget-friendly options provide solid performance, while high-end cards ensure a future-proof gaming experience.