How to make modern games work: Top graphics cards

The visual fidelity of video games continues to advance, blurring the line between reality and virtual worlds. This impressive leap in graphics, while generating countless memes, also significantly increases system requirements. Upgrading your PC, particularly the graphics card, becomes a frequent necessity for gamers. Let's explore the top graphics card choices of 2024 and consider the best options for 2025. (See our companion article on the most visually stunning games of 2024 to see where your upgraded PC's power can shine!)

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 legendary model transitioning into classic status, the RTX 3060 has held the title of most popular card among casual gamers for years. Its ability to handle most tasks, memory options (8GB-12GB), ray tracing support, and decent performance under load have cemented its place. While showing its age on some modern titles, it remains a strong contender.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080

The RTX 3080, the elder sibling of the 3060, continues to reign supreme. Its power and efficiency remain impressive, often considered NVIDIA's flagship by many. Outperforming even newer models like the 3090 and 4060 (with a little overclocking), it offers exceptional price-to-performance, even in 2025.

AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT

The RX 6700 XT surprisingly maintains a top spot in price-to-performance. It handles modern games flawlessly and has challenged NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4060 Ti sales. Its higher memory and wider bus interface provide smooth gameplay at 2560x1440, competing strongly even against the more expensive 4060 Ti (16GB).

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

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

AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT

The RX 7800 XT significantly outperforms NVIDIA's more expensive RTX 4070, showing an 18% average lead at 2560x1440. Its 16GB of VRAM ensures longevity, and it surpasses the 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 boost over the 4070. A strong 2K gaming choice, its power consumption increase is minimal (200W to 220W), and undervolting can further enhance performance and lower temperatures.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080

Sufficient for any game, the 4080 is often considered the best for 4K. Its ample VRAM ensures future-proofing, and improved ray tracing makes it highly adaptive. Many see it as NVIDIA's flagship, though the 4090 exists.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

NVIDIA's true flagship for high-end systems. While not drastically outperforming the 4080, its longevity and the anticipated pricing of the 50-series make it a top choice for high-end NVIDIA setups.

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX

AMD's top-tier contender, rivaling NVIDIA's flagship in performance but with a significant price advantage. A compelling option for gamers seeking top performance without the premium cost.

Intel Arc B580

Intel's late 2024 entry, the Arc B580, surprised the market. Its 5-10% performance advantage over the RTX 4060 Ti and RX 7600, combined with 12GB of VRAM at $250, led to immediate sellouts. This signals potential serious competition for NVIDIA and AMD.

In conclusion, despite price increases, gamers have access to powerful graphics cards across various budgets. High-end models offer years of future-proof gaming experiences.