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If you’re in the market for the best value GPU options then we’re here to help. For as much as we praise the bleeding edge hardware made by the likes of Nvidia and AMD, the simple fact of the matter is not everyone has deep pockets to max out their games in all resolutions. That’s why we’re here to offer competitively priced options for gaming in 1080p, 1440p, and 4K that don’t break the bank, which is especially pressing given the current economic times we’re all living through.
Price and performance are the two most important factors when considering the best value GPU on the market. These options won’t exactly rival the best graphics cards in terms of raw processing power, but for their target resolutions and asking rates, you won’t find better than these three choices. We can even look to the data, such as the Steam Hardware survey which suggests the bulk of its users are running entry-level cards. Let’s get into it.
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01Best value GPU for 1080p
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02Best Value GPU for 1440p
1. Nvidia RTX 4060 – The best value GPU for 1080p gaming
ZOTAC Gaming RTX 4060 8GB Twin Edge OC
CUDA cores
3072
VRAM
8GB GDDR6
Memory bus width
128-bit
GPU processor
AD107
- Stellar in 1080p
- Support for DLSS 3
- Enough VRAM for Full HD
- Slower VRAM type
- Struggles in other resolutions
The RTX 4060 is our number one pick for the best value GPU for 1080p gaming. This is for a number of reasons, most crucially its humble price point and powerful performance when targeting the most mainstream resolution. Armed with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM and built on a 128-bit memory bus, there’s enough grunt under the hood to play even the most demanding PC games in High and even Ultra settings with ray tracing enabled.
What’s more, the RTX 4060 is bolstered by Nvidia DLSS 3’s Frame Generation which allows for a serious framerate boost when compared to native rendering. We love this video card for its starting price around the $299 / £289 which offers an aggressive price-to-performance ratio. Considering the specs here, you will able to play lighter titles in 1440p but it’ll play happiest with the resolution scaled down to 1080p.
2. AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT – The best value GPU for 1440p
PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT 12GB
Stream processors
3456
VRAM
12GB GDDR6
Memory bus width
192-bit
GPU processor
Navi 32
- Large amount of VRAM
- Thrives in 1440p
- Competitively priced
- Not ideal for 4K
- Higher refresh rates are temperamental
If you’re looking for a humbly priced performer for 1440p gaming then the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT has you covered. With its starting rates of $449 / £449, this current-generation RDNA 3 GPU is built with 2K gaming firmly in mind. It’s armed with 12GB GDDR6 VRAM and built upon a 192-bit memory bus which should provide framerates of 60fps and above in demanding software.
The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT achieves its more modest goals of 1440p at 60fps with ray tracing enabled, if you’re in the market for higher framerates in this target resolution, you may need to up your budget. Considering its price point and added VRAM overhead, we think it’s a great option to really push those ultra textures in some of the most visually pleasing titles.
3. Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti – The best value GPU for 4K
Gigabyte RTX 4070 Ti WindForce OC 12GB
CUDA cores
7680
VRAM
12GB GDDR6X
Memory bus width
192-bit
GPU processor
AD104
- Excels in 4K
- Faster VRAM
- Bolstered by DLSS 3
- VRAM may limit this GPU’s future
- On the pricier end of things
If you’re after the best value GPU for 4K gaming then the Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti is where you should turn your attention to. This mid-range graphics card is built with 4K gaming in mind and able to provide playable framerates of 4K60 and above depending on the intensity of the game in question. Thanks to Nvidia DLSS 3’s Frame Generation technology, you’ll be able to push the hardware’s AI-powered Tensor cores to its limits, giving you significant overhead for the future.
The Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti features 12GB of GDDR6X memory which is significantly faster than the older memory type found in the prior cards. Coupled with its staggering 7680 CUDA cores, you’re essentially getting 80-class performance without the eye-watering price tag of company’s flagship models when gaming. Prices start at $799.99 / £799.99 which is on the higher side, but offers strong value for money when compared to upper-end options on the market retailing above $1,000 / £1,000.
Best value GPU – Frequently asked questions
We’re here to answer any burning questions you may have regarding the best value GPU options at this point in time. That’s because graphics cards are an investment so it’s important to make the right choice for you.
What’s the best budget GPU right now?
We think that the Nvidia RTX 4060 is the best budget GPU on the market right now. Paired with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM with support for Nvidia DLSS 3 and ray tracing, it’s a video card that lets you enjoy the benefits of PC gaming in 1080p without the eye-watering prices of flagship models.
What’s the most worth it GPU right now?
Considering the popularity of 1440p gaming on PC right now, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is the most worth it GPU for those wanting high resolution and high refresh gaming without breaking the bank.
Is RTX or GTX better?
While there’s still merit in older GTX cards, we recommend buying a current-generation GPU so that your games will run well for many years to come instead of a video card that’s outdated and showing signs of struggling.
