How to make modern games work: Top graphics cards

The visual fidelity of video games continues to advance, blurring the lines between reality and virtual worlds. This impressive leap in graphics, while inspiring countless online memes, also significantly increases system requirements. Upgrading your PC, especially the graphics card, is often a necessity for gamers. But with so many options, choosing the right card can be daunting. This article reviews the top graphics cards of 2024 and offers insights for 2025. For a visual guide to the games pushing these graphics to their limits, check out our article on the most beautiful games of 2024.

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 classic and popular choice among casual gamers, the RTX 3060 remains a reliable workhorse. Offering memory capacities from 8GB to 12GB, ray tracing support, and decent performance under pressure, it's starting to show its age but still holds its own in many scenarios. While it might struggle with the most demanding modern titles, its legacy remains strong.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080

The RTX 3080, the older sibling of the 3060, continues to impress. Its power and efficiency make it a flagship contender for many, outperforming even newer models in some benchmarks. A slight overclock significantly boosts its capabilities, making it an excellent value option in 2025.

AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT

The RX 6700 XT surprisingly remains a top contender in terms of price-to-performance. It handles modern games with ease and provides a compelling alternative to NVIDIA's offerings, particularly the RTX 4060 Ti. Its larger memory and bus interface contribute to smooth gameplay at 2560x1440 resolution.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

Unlike its less successful counterpart, the RTX 4060, the 4060 Ti delivers solid performance. While not drastically superior to AMD's options or the RTX 3080, it provides a noticeable improvement over its predecessor, particularly with the Frame Generation feature.

AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT

The RX 7800 XT significantly outperforms the more expensive NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 in many games, boasting an average 18% advantage at 2560x1440 resolution. Its 16GB of VRAM ensures future-proofing, and its ray tracing performance surpasses the RTX 4060 Ti at QHD.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super

NVIDIA responded to competition with the 4070 Super, offering a 10-15% performance boost over the standard 4070. This makes it a top choice for 2K gaming, especially when undervolted for enhanced performance and lower temperatures.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080

This card offers ample performance for virtually any game, making it a popular choice for 4K gaming. Its substantial VRAM and improved ray tracing capabilities ensure longevity. Many consider it NVIDIA's flagship, though the 4090 holds that title for some.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

NVIDIA's true flagship, the RTX 4090, provides unparalleled performance and future-proofing. While not dramatically better than the 4080, its potential longevity makes it a top choice for high-end builds, especially considering the upcoming 50-series.

AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX

AMD's top-tier offering rivals NVIDIA's flagship in performance while offering a significant price advantage. It's a powerful card capable of meeting demanding gaming needs for years to come.

Intel Arc B580

Intel's late 2024 entry, the Arc B580, made a splash. Its impressive performance, exceeding the RTX 4060 Ti and RX 7600 by 5-10%, coupled with its 12GB of VRAM and budget-friendly price, quickly sold out. This signals a potential shift in the market.

In conclusion, despite rising prices, a range of graphics cards cater to various budgets and performance needs. Even budget-friendly options provide solid gaming experiences, while high-end cards offer future-proof performance.