Data and measurements from our catalog, checked against each manufacturer's spec sheet.
- Choose the graphics card for your monitor: its resolution (1080p, 1440p or 4K) and its Hz.
- In 2026, 8 GB of VRAM is the bare minimum for 1080p; for 1440p, look for 12 or 16 GB.
- If a model comes in 8 and 16 GB (RTX 5060 Ti, RX 9060 XT), the 16 GB version ages better.
- Check the power supply the maker asks for and whether the card uses 8-pin or 12V-2x6 connectors.
- Measure your case: many triple-fan graphics cards are longer than 300 mm.
1How to choose a graphics card for your resolution and monitor
The more pixels on screen, the harder the graphics card works: 1440p is almost twice the pixels of 1080p, and 4K is four times 1080p. And the more Hz your monitor has, the more frames per second you need to make the most of it. That's why a high-end card makes no sense on a 60 Hz office monitor, and an entry-level card makes no sense on a 4K monitor.
These are the graphics cards we use at each tier of our gaming builds:
| Tier | What it handles | Graphics cards |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | 1080p high/ultra in most current games. | RTX 5060 / RX 9060 XT |
| Mid | 1440p high/ultra at high refresh rates. | RTX 5070 / RX 9070 |
| High | 4K high/ultra in many titles, high refresh rate. | RX 9070 XT / RTX 5070 Ti |
| Extreme | Aggressive 4K with ray tracing and content creation. | RTX 5080 |
You can see each one fully built, with its price and every part, in Budgets.
2How much VRAM do you need in 2026?
VRAM is the graphics card's own memory: it holds the textures and scene data. When it fills up, the game has to fall back on system memory, which is much slower, and you get stutters or blurry textures. More VRAM doesn't add FPS on its own, but running short definitely takes FPS away.
| Use | Recommended VRAM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 8 GB (12 or more is better) | With 8 GB you already have to lower textures in some recent games |
| 1440p | 12 to 16 GB | 16 GB to play on ultra with room for the next few years |
| 4K | 16 GB or more | The RTX 5090 goes up to 32 GB |
| Local AI (Ollama, LM Studio) | 16 GB or more | The size of the model you can load depends on VRAM |
When the same chip is sold with two memory sizes, like the RTX 5060 Ti or RX 9060 XT (8 and 16 GB), the 16 GB version costs a bit more but holds up better in the games of the next few years.
3NVIDIA or AMD: DLSS, FSR and ray tracing
In raw performance, both brands are close at every price point. What changes are the extra technologies:
- NVIDIA (RTX 50): DLSS 4, which upscales with AI and can generate extra frames (Multi Frame Generation); the best ray tracing performance; NVENC for streaming; and CUDA, the best-supported option for local AI tools.
- AMD (RX 9000): FSR 4, its AI upscaling, exclusive to the RX 9000 series; much better ray tracing than the previous generation; and often more VRAM for the money.
- Intel (Arc B580 and B570): budget options with 12 and 10 GB of VRAM and XeSS upscaling, good for 1080p on a tight budget.
If you play with ray tracing, stream or want to try local AI, NVIDIA has the edge. If you want the best price per FPS without ray tracing, compare against AMD in your price range.
4Which power supply your graphics card needs
Each maker lists the minimum power supply for its graphics card and which power connector it uses. Here's the data for the graphics cards in our catalog (it varies a little by each brand's model):
| Chip | VRAM | Power draw | PSU the maker asks for | Power connector | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 3050 | 6 GB | 70 W | 250 W | — | 189–201 mm |
| RX 7600 | 8 GB | not published | not published | 8-pin | 287 mm |
| Arc B580 | 12 GB | 200 W | 450 W | — | 315 mm |
| RTX 5050 | 8 GB | 94 W | 300 W | 8-pin | 201–203 mm |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 8 GB | 160 W | 400 W | 8-pin | 308 mm |
| Arc B570 | 10 GB | 170 W | 400 W | — | 242 mm |
| RX 9060 XT | 8 / 16 GB | 151–167 W | 550 W | 8-pin | 202–320 mm |
| RTX 5060 | 8 GB | 109 W | 550 W | 8-pin | 208–228 mm |
| RTX 5060 Ti | 8 / 16 GB | 135–180 W | 550–600 W | 8-pin / 12V-2x6 | 208–306 mm |
| RX 9070 | 16 GB | not published | 650–700 W | 8-pin | 288–325 mm |
| RX 9070 XT | 16 GB | not published | 800–850 W | 8-pin | 288–330 mm |
| RTX 5070 | 12 GB | 250 W | 650 W | 12V-2x6 | 290–332 mm |
| RTX 5070 Ti | 16 GB | 300 W | 750 W | 12V-2x6 | 303–332 mm |
| RTX 5080 | 16 GB | 360 W | 850 W | 12V-2x6 | 303–348 mm |
| RTX 5090 | 32 GB | 575–600 W | 1000 W | 12V-2x6 | 330–342 mm |
Cards with a 12V-2x6 connector need that cable on the power supply (ATX 3.1 units include it) or the adapter that comes in the box. Push it all the way in and don't bend it right at the plug. The full wattage math is in the power supply guide.
5Will the card fit in your case? Length and thickness
In our catalog, graphics cards are 189 to 348 mm long. Compare the length of the one you like with the maximum GPU length your case supports, and subtract the space for a front radiator or fans if you'll install them.
Check the thickness too: many cards take up 2.5 or 3 slots and can block the slot below or sit very close to the power supply. And if it's very heavy, use the support bracket in the box (or a separate one) so the slot doesn't bend over time.
The rest of the case measurements are in the compatibility guide.