New GPU generations usually feature smaller process nodes, revised architectures, larger caches, improved shaders and additional memory. What we didn't anticipate was an unexpected arrival like the RTX 5090 that would completely upend everything in its path.
But its four-figure price tag makes it difficult to justify. What alternatives exist?
Best GPU for Gaming
Gaming-grade GPUs are often the first component that come to mind when upgrading or building a PC, yet selecting an ideal GPU requires much more thought than simply selecting the fastest available.
Nvidia's RTX 5090 GPU is currently the most powerful consumer GPU available and provides top-of-class performance at a premium cost of $2,000 MSRP (or higher for AIB cards). That said, Nvidia's Blackwell-based RTX card makes an excellent investment for gamers looking for incredible 4K and 8K gaming experiences with cutting-edge ray tracing effects enabled.
However, before investing that kind of money in ray tracing technology, make sure it truly matters to you. For those simply interested in 1080p gaming experiences with minimal expense involved, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX provides superior performance at an even more economical cost - plus G-Sync/FreeSync technologies provide smooth visual experiences and can synchronize frame rates to monitor refresh rates for an enhanced visual experience.
RTX 5090 vs. RX 7900 XTX
The Nvidia RTX 5090 is their top-of-the-line graphics card for gaming, offering great value if purchased now based on our tests and current prices. Ideal for anyone who wishes to game at 4K resolution but doesn't wish to spend over $800 for an RTX 2080 Ti or higher card.
AMD's RX 7900 XTX graphics card may be ideal if you're on a tight budget, competing well against the RTX 5090 in our tests; it requires a higher-refresh rate monitor and fast CPU to take full advantage of it; however, its significantly cheaper price point makes it an attractive option if ray tracing isn't an important feature for you.
The RTX 5090 proves itself highly capable in our rasterized testing. Here, it leads the 4080 Super by 24% at 1080p and even more at 1440p - although this advantage lessens when looking at demanding DXR games. Furthermore, its smaller margin of error than its older predecessor makes this card much more consistent during these tests.
Budget GPUs
At first glance, Nvidia's RTX 4060 may have seemed like the budget champion it has become; with its competitors still outstripping it in standard benchmarks. Yet with only minor performance gains generation-on-generation it still makes for an excellent choice; though AMD's RX 7600 currently stands out as being especially excellent value at this price bracket; generally delivering faster gaming performance than the previous generation RX 6650 XT and featuring superior AI performance as well. Plus it comes equipped with a much higher thermal capability; its main competitor has only 115 W TBP while 12GB VRAM instead compared to 8GB VRAM.
Intel's Arc B580 is another worthy option; just make sure your PC can support it by having a high-end CPU and an adequate PSU.
If ray tracing is out of the question, another viable choice could be the AMD Radeon RX 7600 for around $200. It provides excellent gaming performance and efficiency at a much more reasonable cost, rivalling that of Nvidia RTX 4060 benchmark scores and being even more budget friendly than its RTX 3070 Ti counterpart - perfect for budget gamers! Jacob has reviewed multiple generations of both Nvidia and AMD GPUs over time; regularly testing out the latest technologies as they emerge - from PCs with integrated graphics to top-of-the-line supercomputers!