RTX 4090 ($1800)

If you're looking to build a machine with exceptional graphical performance, then look no further than the Nvidia RTX 4090; it beats the lower echelons of graphics cards by a clear and discernible margin. But it's worth pointing out that its price-to-performance ratio is also one of the worst among all recent consumer-grade graphics cards.

Builders who want the best should choose this card . . . but only after seriously asking themselves whether the ~25% difference in performance between this card and the RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XTX is worth the additional $700.

Runner Up: RX 7900 XTX ($1100)

This is a bit of an odd category at the moment. The AMD RX 7900 XTX, though a terrific high-tier GPU, is nowhere near as powerful as the 4090. Now, this graphics card from AMD has a much more attractive price, and a somewhat better price-to-performance ratio. So it’s a better value in every sense of the word. Just not a better graphics card.

It also just barely edges out the RTX 4080 for this spot (which performs slightly worse and costs slightly more). But the real choice to be made here remains obvious: the very noticeable gulf between this card and the one above it, in both price and performance, will drive the decision made by a high-end builder.

RX 7900 XT ($900)

Those of us on some semblance of a budget, but one that’s not too restrictive, should strongly consider the AMD RX 7900 XT. This would still put you near the top of the gaming machine pile, and should be capable of running most games at smoother frame rates at 4K resolution.

It’s less than 10% ahead of the runner-up in the category, though, so folks with slightly tighter budgets and those who favor Nvidia GPUs should strongly consider the 4070 Ti.

Runner Up: RTX 4070 Ti ($800)

Initially, Nvidia made the bonehead move of attempting to release this graphics card under the name ‘4080’ with lower VRAM, which was simply misleading as this GPU is slower and sports less cores than the real 4080 (in addition to the lower VRAM). But with the rebrand, reprice, and re-release of the GPU as the AMD RTX 4070 Ti . . . it is a lot more palatable.

In fact, it’s good enough to be the second best choice for folks looking for a graphics card below $1000! That’s not bad, even if it’s still outperformed by the RX 7900 XT. The 7900 XT also happens to be $100 more expensive, so that’s natural.

RX 6950 XT ($700)

With their AMD RX 6950 XT, AMD begins a run of temporary dominance over the middle sections of this article. At the time of writing this, Nvidia has yet to release proper midrange graphics cards in their 4000-series RTX lineup, so this dominance may be shaken in the future. In the meantime, Nvidia’s major prioritization of their top-tier flagship products keeps them siloed toward the top of this list.

At any rate, for folks building in the here and now, the RX 6950 XT should be considered a very strong option for powering an upper-mid-tier gaming rig; think smooth fun at 1440p.

Runner Up: RX 6900 XT ($690)

When it released, the AMD RX 6900 XT was a slight improvement over Nvidia’s RTX 3080 while costing several hundred dollars more. Now the price of the 6900 XT has dropped considerably (while the price of the 3080 has actually risen quite a bit), so it’s a far more enticing option. This win gives AMD their only section of this article with exclusive victory other than the ultra-budget tier at the bottom.

Now, it’s also noticeably worse than the newer 6950 XT . . . which only costs $10 more. So, assuming no budget could possibly be specific enough to force someone to choose this GPU over that one, we’d have to recommend the 6900 XT only in the event that all 6950 XT models are either out-of-stock or substantially inflated in price.

RX 6750 XT ($470)

Another of AMD’s promising upgrades to their 6000 series, the AMD RX 6750 XT seizes the win here as we get into the true midrange options. This card would be suitable for smooth 1080p gaming on brand new AAA games, now and into the near future.

As in the $1000 bracket earlier in this article, this GPU outperforms its runner-up to a degree that is reasonably proportional to the price difference between them. So, folks who want something a tad cheaper can safely opt for the 3060 Ti while still getting reasonable value for their money. But those budgetarily capable of maxing out this category will find themselves better positioned to avoid upgrading for a longer span.

Runner Up: RTX 3060 Ti ($420)

Last generation’s best midrange option, the Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti, remains a solid choice for PC gaming. This is a good graphics card for people who are interested in dipping their toes into the realm of DLSS and ray-tracing, although it should not be expected to max out modern games with all ray-tracing options enabled.

Budget permitting, it still makes the most sense to go for the 6750 XT at this level. But the 3060 Ti is no slouch, and if found even cheaper than it’s listed here, should absolutely be given serious consideration.

RX 6600 ($230)

As we approach budget build territory, we become thankful that AMD continues to cater to the lower-end builders better than their competition. The AMD RX 6600 is not just noticeably better (and cheaper) than the runner-up in this category, it’s also roughly two years newer. This graphics card should be able to provide a fairly nice 1080p gaming experience, especially if the builder in question is not too fussed about playing the absolute newest games and using the absolute highest graphics settings.

Yes, Nvidia has failed to produce a worthwhile budget or low-end GPU offering in . . . four years. Which gives AMD yet another easy victory in this article. Maybe they’re trying to be considered a luxury brand? That would certainly explain some of their recent pricing strategies.

Runner Up: GTX 1660 Super ($250)

If the RX 6600 is out-of-stock, and you want a reasonably solid GPU around this level, then the Nvidia GTX 1660 Super is a competent alternative. It’s not exactly stellar, but it’ll still get the job done for a low-end gaming machine.

Like our description for the 6600 says above, graphics cards at this level are good for 1080p, provided the user is willing to explore indie games, older AAA titles, and/or the wide wonderful world of low and medium graphics settings.

Radeon Graphics in the R5 5600G CPU (CPU cost: $120)

The best graphics processor for under $100 is the integrated graphics processor of the AMD R5 5600G CPU. Confused by this choice? Read on:

Every one of the above graphics cards will require pairing with a balanced CPU option. The fact that you're taking advantage of an iGPU here means that the proportion of your CPU/GPU build purchases that is dedicated to your graphics processor is well below $100. This is not only some of the best value for money in the budget building world, it is also some of the best integrated graphics performance that has ever been available.

The iGPU of this chip should be capable of 60ish FPS in most games at resolutions below 1080p with medium or lower settings.

Runner Up: RX 550 ($99)

Not exactly an amazing graphics card—in fact, the RX 550 has similar overall gaming performance to the integrated GPU that won this category. But if you already have a low-end or older CPU and no GPU, and you just want to add a discrete graphics card to maximize its potential as a modest gaming machine, then this is a reasonable choice.