Detailed graphics card specifications and reviews are great, assuming you have the time to do the research. But at the end of the day, a gamer needs to know what the best graphics card is for their money. So, if you don’t have the time to research the benchmarks, or if you don’t feel confident enough in your ability to pick the right card, then fear not. We've compiled a simple list of the best gaming cards offered in any given price range.
October Updates:
We are impressed with Nvidia's "second-generation" Maxwell architecture, not just because of its impressive pixel-pushing prowess and low power usage, but because the company launched its desktop flagship at a price point low enough to disrupt the market. The GeForce GTX 980 boasts 2048 CUDA cores, 128 texture units, 64 ROPs, 1750 MHz GDDR5 RAM on an aggregate 256-bit memory interface, and a 165W TDP. Its performance is on par with the GeForce GTX 780 Ti, despite a significantly lower $550 MSRP. The other model is the 145W GeForce GTX 970, which hosts 1664 CUDA cores and 104 texture units, but features the same ROP count and memory bandwidth as Nvidia's 980. This results in Radeon R9 290X-class performance with a $330 price tag.
At $330, the impressive GeForce GTX 970 scores an easy recommendation. You might think the GeForce GTX 980 would be a no-brainer, too, but with the GeForce GTX 780 Ti being phased out and heavily discounted in the $440 range, the 980's appeal is diminished for now. For as long as it lasts, the GeForce GTX 780 Ti takes our top recommendation as a tremendous value.
Of course, there's more to Nvidia's new GM204 graphics processor than just raw performance; there are a lot of new features, too. You can read up on them in Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 And 980 Review: Maximum Maxwell.
I mentioned that the GeForce GTX 970 and 980's price points are disruptive. They certainly shaken up the graphics card market this month. Radeon pricing is down quite a bit in order to remain competitive. The R9 290X fell $130 to $370, the R9 290 shed $100 to $290, the R9 280X slipped $20 to $260, the R9 280 is down $15 to $205, and the R9 270X goes for a scant $160. Only the Radeon R9 290, 280 and 270X retain recommendations at their new price points though, due to tough competition.
Of course, Nvidia made its own adjustments. The discontinued GeForce GTX 780 Ti, 780 and 770 can be found at $440, $310 and $270, respectively, as inventory clears out to make way for the 970 and 980. At those prices, I'm only recommending the GTX 780 Ti. If you're interested in that card, buy it while it lasts. Nvdia's GeForce GTX 660 dropped $20 to $160, but it's not recommended against AMD's more powerful Radeon R9 270X. Finally, the efficient GeForce GTX 750 Ti is now $140 instead of $150, making it an even more interesting option for enthusiasts with low-end power supplies.
Nvidia also introduced GM204 in its mobile GeForce GTX 970M and 980M. The latter is essentially a desktop GeForce GTX 970 with one SMM disabled and a slightly lower GPU clock rate, representing a new high water mark in mobile graphics performance. The GeForce GTX 970M is significantly less capable though, with two fewer SMMs compared to the 980M and a crippled render back-end sporting 48 ROPs and a 196-bit memory interface. Despite this, the 970M is still quite a bit faster than the GeForce GTX 880M preceding it. For more information and specifications, check out Maxwell Goes Mobile: First GeForce GTX 970M Benchmarks.
Aside from new products, we tested VisionTek's liquid-cooled CryoVenom R9 295X2, a single-slot card with optional open-loop liquid cooling that does an effective job of keeping AMD's dual-GPU beast frosty compared to the reference model and its closed-loop liquid cooler. For more, read VisionTek CryoVenom R9 295X2: Two GPUs In One Slot. It's also interesting to note that Nvidia is Now Selling Original GTX SLI Bridges. These bridges match the style of the reference cooler on the company's high-end offerings like the new GeForce GTX 980.
On a final note, the Internet is running rampant with rumors of an upcoming mid-range GeForce GTX 960 and a high-end Radeon R9 295X. Neither Nvidia nor AMD will confirm the existence of these cards. But if the rumors are credible, we expect to see more information about them in the next month or two.
Some Notes About Our Recommendations
A few simple guidelines to keep in mind when reading this list:
- This list is for gamers who want to get the most for their money. If you don’t play games, the cards on this list are more expensive than what you really need. We've added a reference page at the end of the column covering integrated graphics processors, which is likely more apropos for home, office, and basic multimedia usage models.
- Be sure to check out our new performance per dollar comparison page, where you can overlay the benchmark data we’ve generated with pricing, giving you a better idea where your ideal choice falls on the value curve. The criteria to get on this list are strictly price/performance.
- Recommendations for multiple video cards, such as two Radeon cards in CrossFire mode or two GeForce cards in SLI, typically require a motherboard that supports CrossFire/SLI and possibly a chassis with plenty of space to install multiple graphics cards. These setups also usually call for a beefier power supply than what a single card needs, and will almost certainly produce more heat than a single card. Keep these factors in mind when making your purchasing decision. In most cases, if we have recommended a multiple-card solution, we try to recommend a single-card honorable mention at a comparable price point for those who find multi-card setups undesirable.
- Prices and availability change on a daily basis. We can’t base our decisions on always-changing pricing information, but we can list some good cards that you probably won’t regret buying at the price ranges we suggest, along with real-time prices for your reference.
- The list is based on some of the best U.S. prices from online retailers. In other countries or at retail stores, your mileage will almost certainly vary.
- These are new card prices. No used or open-box cards are in the list. While these offers might represent a good deal, it’s simply outside the scope of what we’re trying to do.
Best PCI Express (PCIe) Card For $70:
We're shifting our entry-level recommendation to Nvidia's recently-introduced GeForce GT 730 64-bit GDDR5. This card is essentially a GeForce GT 640 with more memory bandwidth. As a result, it lands between its predecessor and the GeForce GTX 650. That's a great starting point for gamers on a tight budget. If you're in the market for a solid sub-$100 discrete board, just be sure you have the 64-bit GDDR5 version in your shopping cart; the 128-bit model is actually slower due to a less-powerful GPU.
GeForce GT 730 64-bit GDDR5
Entry-Level HD Gaming
Best PCI Express (PCIe) Card For ~$100:
AMD's Radeon HD 7770, recently re-branded as the Radeon R7 250X, can now be found for $100. It offers playable frame rates at high-def resolutions in all but the most demanding games. And it sports a fairly fantastic price/performance ratio in the lower-mainstream segment. With that said, if you can afford an extra $20 for the Radeon R7 260X, the step up is worthwhile.
Radeon HD 7770, Radeon R7 250X
Mainstream Card For Cheap
Best PCI Express (PCIe) Card For $120:
With Nvidia's new GeForce GTX 750 Ti selling for $30 more, the Radeon R7 260X grabs our top recommendation in the space under $150. This card is equivalent to an overclocked Radeon HD 7790 with AMD's TrueAudio feature enabled, and it's quite capable of playing most games at 1080p using medium-quality detail settings.
Radeon R7 260X
Mainstream Performance Leader
Honorable Mention:
While the Radeon R7 260X offers similar performance for considerably less money, gamers who want to upgrade an entry-level PC with a low-output power supply may consider the GeForce GTX 750 Ti, which is rated at 60 W (a little more than half of the 260X's 115 W). Nvidia suggests you use at least a 300 W power supply with this card. That's a very low bar to set for owners of low-end machines. You don't even need a six-pin auxiliary connector. The GTX 750 Ti doesn't earn a full recommendation for value, but it just may be the best option for gamers upgrading old or small form factor systems.
GeForce GTX 750 Ti
Fastest Card Without A Power Input
Best PCI Express (PCIe) Card For ~$185:
AMD's Radeon R9 270X is essentially an overclocked version of the Radeon HD 7870 it replaced. In particular, the card's memory subsystem is more capable. Priced at $180, you're getting a graphics card notably faster than Nvidia's GeForce GTX 660, earning it our recommendation.
Radeon R9 270X
Serious Upper Mainstream Performance
Best PCI Express (PCIe) Card For ~$220:
While this capable graphics card is destined to be replaced by the recently introduced Radeon R9 285, the Radeon R9 280 remains supremely capable and virtually unbeatable in the sub-$250 price range. If you're interested, now's the time to pick it up at a discounted rate.
Radeon R9 280
Enthusiast Gaming With Compute Chops
Best PCI Express (PCIe) Card For ~$290:
The Radeon R9 290 employs a slightly handicapped version of AMD's high-end Hawaii GPU. Radeon R9 290
High-End Performance With Lots Of Value
The introduction of Nvidia's superior GeForce GTX 970 at $330 recently forced retailers to discount the 290 to undercut the Maxwell-based board.
We think that a Radeon R9 290 with aftermarket cooling is worth buying at this lower price point. Though, if you can afford the GeForce GTX 970, spending a little extra money is worthwhile.
Best PCI Express (PCIe) Card For ~$330:
Inroduced with an MSRP below $350, the GeForce GTX 970 is a disruptive force in the graphics card market, bringing Radeon R9 290X-class frame rates to a much lower price bracket. It should be no surprise that this card is our new price/performance favorite. Read the Full Review
GeForce GTX 970
High-End Value Leader
Best PCI Express (PCIe) Card For ~$440:
While Nvidia's GeForce GTX Titan Black is still the fastest single-GPU graphics card available, the company's GeForce GTX 780 Ti should match its gaming performance at all but the highest resolutions, where its 3 GB of GDDR5 falls peters out. GeForce GTX 780 Ti
Fastest Single-GPU Gaming Card
Introduced shortly after AMD's Radeon R9 290X, the flagship GeForce features a fully-enabled GK110 GPU with all 2880 of its CUDA cores enabled and backed by 1750 MHz memory. The 780 Ti is deliberately hobbled in double-precision math, but that's inconsequential in games. A relatively high price tag prevents this board from becoming a value leader, but we're giving the GeForce GTX 780 Ti a recommendation for its blazing-fast performance. Read the Full Review
Honorable Mention:
It's undeniable that Nvidia's new GeForce GTX 980 offers some of the highest frame rates we've seen from any single-GPU graphics card. And it's definitely the most efficient flagship we've ever tested. GeForce GTX 980
Very High Performance And Efficiency
A $550 price tag is fairly reasonable when you consider that the GeForce GTX 780 Ti used to sell for $660, too. But now that the 780 Ti is heavily discounted, the 980 isn't quite as attractive. Until the 780 Ti disappears, we have to give it the respect it deserves.
Only when that board sells out will we turn our attention (and a full recommendation) to the GeForce GTX 980. Read the Full Review
Honorable Mention:
AMD doesn't have the best track record when it comes to the thermal and acoustic performance of its reference designs. But the company made a good decision when it slapped a closed-loop liquid cooler on the dual-GPU Radeon R9 295X2. Armed with a staggering 5632 shaders operating at a slightly higher frequency than the Radeon R9 290X, AMD's flagship is the fastest board you can buy right now. Nvidia's dual-GK110-equipped GeForce GTX Titan Z might come close, but it's also three times as expensive (thanks to a current AMD promotion) with specs that fall well short of the Radeon.
Radeon R9 295X2
The Ultimate Dual-GPU Card
More Honorable Mentions: Assorted Multi-Card Configurations
At $440, the GeForce GTX 780 Ti delivers such compelling frame rates that we find it hard to recommend multi-card configurations able to serve up better performance per dollar, since they sometimes suffer from inconsistent results in comparison to a graphics card with a single GPU.
We'll call out some of the most viable options though, mostly for folks who are running high-resolution triple-monitor setups or 4K displays: two Radeon R9 290 cards for $560, two GeForce GTX 970s in SLI for $660, and finally two GeForce GTX 780 Ti cards for $880.
What about this other card that’s not on the list? How do I know if it’s a good deal or not?
This will happen. In fact, because inventory levels and prices change quickly, it’s guaranteed to happen. So how do you know if that card you’ve got your eye on is a good buy in its price range?
Here is a resource to help you judge if a card is a good buy or not. The graphics card hierarchy chart groups graphics cards with similar overall performance levels into tiers. The top tier contains the highest-performing cards available, and performance decreases as you go down the tiers from there.
You can use this hierarchy to compare the pricing between two cards, to see which one is a better deal, and also to determine if an upgrade is worthwhile. I don’t recommend upgrading your graphics card unless the replacement card is at least three tiers higher. Otherwise, the upgrade is somewhat parallel, and you may not even notice any worthwhile difference in performance.
At the request of readers, we've added mobile graphics and integrated chipsets to the hierarchy chart. We want to make it clear that there is very little performance data available for these graphics solutions. While the discrete video cards in the chart are placed in tiers based on a lot of information, many of the mobile and integrated devices in the chart are guesstimates based on their specifications. At worst, we doubt they’re more than one tier away from their actual performance, but this is something to keep in mind when considering mobile graphics chipsets.
| Graphics Card Hierarchy Chart | ||
|---|---|---|
| GeForce | Radeon | Intel |
| Discrete: GTX Titan Z | Discrete: R9 295X2 | |
| Discrete: GTX 690 | Discrete: HD 7990 | |
| Discrete: GTX 780 Ti, 980, Titan Black | ||
| Discrete: GTX 780, 970, Titan | Discrete: R9 290, 290X | |
| Discrete: GTX 590, 680, 770 Go (mobile): 980M | Discrete: HD 6990, 7970 GHz Ed, R9 280X | |
| Discrete: GTX 580, GTX 670 Go (mobile): 970M | Discrete: HD 5970, 7870 LE (XT), 7950, 280, 285 | |
| Discrete: GTX 660 Ti, GTX 760 Go (mobile): 880M | Discrete: HD 7870, R9 270, 270X | |
| Discrete: GTX 295, 480, 570, 660 Go (mobile): 680M, 780M | Discrete: HD 4870 X2, 6970, 7850, R7 265, Mobility: 7970M | |
| Discrete: GTX 470, 560 Ti, 560 Ti 448 Core, 650 Ti Boost, 750 Ti | Discrete: HD 4850 X2, 5870, 6950, R7 260X Mobility: 7950M | |
| Discrete: GTX 560, 650 Ti, 750 Go (mobile): 580M, 675M | Discrete: HD 5850, 6870, 7790 Mobility: 6990M | |
| Discrete: 9800 GX2, 285, 460 256-bit, 465 | Discrete: HD 6850, 7770, R7 260 Mobility: 6900M | |
| Discrete: GTX 260, 275, 280, 460 192-bit, 460 SE, 550 Ti, 560 SE, GT 650, GT 740 GDDR5 Go (mobile): 570M, 670M | Discrete: HD 4870, 5770, 4890, 5830, 6770, 6790, 7750 (GDDR5), R7 250 (GDDR5) Mobility: HD 5870, 6800M | |
| Discrete: 8800 Ultra, 9800 GTX, 9800 GTX+, GTS 250, GTS 450 Go (mobile): 560M, 660M | Discrete: HD 3870 X2, 4850, 5750, 6750, 7750 (DDR3), R7 250 (DDR3) Mobility: HD 4850, 5850, 7870M | |
| Discrete: 8800 GTX, 8800 GTS 512 MB, GT 545 (GDDR5), GT 730 64-bit GDDR5 Go (mobile): GTX 280M, 285M, 555M (GDDR5) | Discrete: HD 4770 Mobility: HD 4860, 7770M, 7850M | |
| Discrete: 8800 GT 512 MB, 9800 GT, GT 545 (DDR3), GT 640 (DDR3), GT 740 DDR3 Go (mobile): 9800M GTX, GTX 260M (112), GTS 360M (GDDR5), 555M (DDR3) | Discrete: HD 4830, HD 5670, HD 6670 (GDDR5), HD 7730 (GDDR5) Mobility: HD 5770, HD 5750, 6600M/6700M (GDDR5), 7750M | |
| Discrete: 8800 GTS 640 MB, 9600 GT, GT 240 (GDDR5) Go (mobile): 9800M GTS, GTX 160M | Discrete: HD 2900 XT, HD 3870, HD 5570 (GDDR5), HD 6570 (GDDR5) Mobility: 6500M (GDDR5), 6600M/6700M (DDR3), 7730M | |
| Discrete: 8800 GS, 9600 GSO, GT 240 (DDR3) Go (mobile): GTX 260M (96), GTS 150M, GTS 360M (DDR3) | Discrete: HD 3850 512 MB, HD 4670, HD 5570 (DDR3), HD 6570 (DDR3), HD 6670 (DDR3), HD 7730 (DDR3), R7 240 Mobility: HD 3870, HD 5730, HD 5650, 6500M (DDR3) | |
| Discrete: 8800 GT 256 MB, 8800 GTS 320 MB, GT 440 GDDR5, GT 630 GDDR5, GT 730 128-bit GDDR5 Go (mobile): 8800M | Discrete: HD 2900 PRO, HD 3850 256 MB, 5550 (GDDR5) Mobility: HD 3850 | |
| Discrete: 7950 GX2, GT 440 DDR3, GT 630 DDR3, GT 730 128-bit DDR3 | Discrete: X1950 XTX, HD 4650 (DDR3), 5550 (DDR3) Integrated: HD 7660D | |
| Discrete: 7800 GTX 512, 7900 GTO, 7900 GTX, GT 430, GT 530 Go (mobile): 550M | Discrete: X1900 XT, X1950 XT, X1900 XTX | |
| Discrete: 7800 GTX, 7900 GT, 7950 G, GT 220 (DDR3) Go (mobile): 525M, 540M | Discrete: X1800 XT, X1900 AIW, X1900 GT, X1950 Pro, HD 2900 GT, HD 5550 (DDR2) Integrated: HD 7560D | |
| Discrete: 7800 GT, 7900 GS, 8600 GTS, 9500 GT (GDDR3), GT 220 (DDR2) Go (mobile): 7950 GTX | Discrete: X1800 XL, X1950 GT, HD 4650 (DDR2), HD 6450, R5 230 Mobility: X1800 XT, HD 4650, HD 5165, 6400M Integrated: HD 6620G, 6550D, 7540D | |
| Discrete: 6800 Ultra, 7600 GT, 7800 GS, 8600 GS, 8600 GT (GDDR3), 9500 GT (DDR2) Go (mobile): 7800 GTX, 7900 GTX | Discrete: X800 XT (& PE), X850 XT (& PE), X1650 XT, X1800 GTO, HD 2600 XT, HD 3650 (DDR3), HD 3670 Mobility: X1900, 3670 Integrated: 6520G, 6530D, 7480D | Integrated: Intel HD Graphics 4000 |
| Discrete: 6800 GT, 6800 GS (PCIe), 8600 GT (DDR2), GT 520 Go (mobile): 7800, Go 7900 GS, 520M, 520MX | Discrete: X800 XL, X800 GTO2/GTO16, HD 2600 Pro, HD 3650 (DDR2), Mobility: X800 XT, HD 2600 XT, 3650 Integrated: 6410D, 6480G | |
| Discrete: 6800 GS (AGP) Go (mobile): 6800 Ultra, 7600 GT, 8600M GT, 8700M GT, 410M | Discrete: X800 GTO 256 MB, X800 PRO, X850 Pro, X1650 GT Mobility: HD 2600 Integrated: 6370D, 6380G | |
| Discrete: 6800, 7300 GT GDDR3, 7600 GS, 8600M GS Go (mobile): 6800, 7700 | Discrete: X800, X800 GTO 128 MB, X1600 XT, X1650 Pro Mobility: X1800, HD 5145, HD 5470 (GDDR5) | |
| Discrete: 6600 GT, 6800LE, 6800 XT, 7300 GT (DDR2), 8500 GT, 9400 GT Go (mobile): 7600 (128-bit) | Discrete: 9800 XT, X700 PRO, X800 GT, X800 SE, X1300 XT, X1600 PRO, HD 2400 XT, HD 4350, HD 4550, HD 5450 Mobility: X800, 3470, HD 5470 (DDR3), HD 5450, HD 5430, 6300M Integrated: HD 6310, HD 6320 | Integrated: Intel HD Graphics 3000 |
| Discrete: FX 5900, FX 5900 Ultra, FX 5950 Ultra, 6600 (128-bit) Go (mobile): 6800 (128-bit) Integrated: 9300, 9400 | Discrete: 9700, 9700 Pro, 9800, 9800 Pro, X700, X1300 Pro, X1550, HD 2400 Pro Mobility: X1450, X1600, X1700, 2400 XT, X2500, 3450 Integrated: HD 3200, HD 3300, HD 4200, HD 4250, HD 4290, HD 6250, HD 6290 | |
| Discrete: FX 5800 Ultra, FX 5900 XT Go (mobile): 6600, Go 7600 (64-bit) | Discrete: 9500 Pro, 9600 XT, 9800 Pro (128-bit), X600 XT, X1050 (128-bit) Mobility: 9800, X700, X1350, X1400, X2300, HD 2400 | Integrated: Intel HD Graphics (Core i5-6x1), 2000 |
| Discrete: 4 Ti 4600, 4 Ti 4800, FX 5700 Ultra, 6200, 8300, 8400 G, G 210, G 310 Go (mobile): 315M | Discrete: 9600 PRO, 9800 LE, X600 PRO, HD 2300 Mobility: 9700 (128-bit), X600, X1300 Integrated: Xpress 1250 | Integrated: Intel HD Graphics (Core i3 5x0, Core i5-6x0) |
| Discrete: 4 Ti4200, 4 Ti4400, 4 Ti4800 SE, FX 5600 Ultra, FX 5700, 6600 (64-bit), 7300 GS, 8400M GS, 9300M G, 9300M GS | Discrete: 9500, 9550, 9600, X300, X1050 (64-bit) Mobility: 9600 | Integrated: Intel HD Graphics (Pentium G) |
| Discrete: 3 Ti500, FX 5200 Ultra, FX 5600, FX 5700 LE, 6200 TC, 6600 LE, 7200 GS, 7300 LE Go (mobile): 5700, 8200M, 9200M GS, 9100 Integrated: 8200, 8300 | Discrete: 8500, 9100, 9000 PRO, 9600 LE, X300 SE, X1150 Mobility 9700 (64-bit) | Integrated: GMA X4500 |
| Discrete: 3, 3 Ti200, FX 5200 (128-bit), FX 5500, Go (mobile): 5600, 6200, 6400, 7200, 7300, 7400 (64-bit) | Discrete: 9000, 9200, 9250 Mobility: 9600 (64-bit), X300 | |
| Discrete: FX 5200 (64 bit) Go (mobile): 7200, 7400 (32-bit) Integrated: 6100, 6150, 7025, 7050 | Discrete: 9200 SE Integrated: Xpress 200M, Xpress 1000, Xpress 1150 | Integrated: GMA X3000, X3100, X3500 |
| Discrete: 2 GTS, 4 MX 440, 2 Ultra, 2 Ti, 2 Ti 200 | Discrete: 7500 | Integrated: GMA 3000, 3100 |
| Discrete: 256, 2 MX 200, 4 MX 420, 2 MX 400 | Discrete: SDR, LE, DDR, 7000, 7200 | Integrated: GMA 500, 900, 950 |
| Discrete: Nvidia TNT | Discrete: Rage 128 | Discrete: Intel 740 |
Now all that’s left to do is compare performance to your budget, and you'll be able to confidently decide which board is right for you - we even put in the legwork to help find you the best prices!
In an effort to further express the performance you get for every dollar spent on our recommendations, we're charting out the hierarchy of cards from today's story. The red, black, and blue bars represent how each card fares at 1080p, 2160p, and the average of the two, while the orange line indicates cost. If you mouse over the bar chart, you get a pop-up that shows performance relative to AMD's Radeon R9 295X2 (our current 100% ceiling). Mousing over the dots on the orange line yields a low price easily attainable on Newegg. Clicking a bar or dot gives you the option to shop for that card, taking you to a link of our pick in each category. Often, our choices give you a lower price than the average displayed.
| Price | 1080p v R9 295X2 | 2160p v R9 295X2 | Avg v R9 295X2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GeForce GT 730 64-bit GDDR5 | ![]() |
72.02 | Amazon | 11 | 10 | 11 |
| Radeon HD 7770, Radeon R7 250X | ![]() |
100 | Amazon | 23 | 16 | 20 |
| Radeon R7 260X | ![]() |
139.99 | Amazon | 25 | 18 | 22 |
| GeForce GTX 750 Ti | ![]() |
140 | Amazon | 27 | 22 | 25 |
| Radeon R9 270X | ![]() |
185 | Amazon | 37 | 31 | 34 |
| Radeon R9 280 | ![]() |
220.00 | Amazon | 43 | 36 | 40 |
| Radeon R9 290 | ![]() |
290 | Amazon | 61 | 58 | 59 |
| GeForce GTX 970 | ![]() |
330 | Amazon | 67 | 59 | 63 |
| GeForce GTX 780 Ti | ![]() |
440 | Amazon | 67 | 60 | 64 |
| GeForce GTX 980 | ![]() |
550 | Amazon | 80 | 69 | 74 |
| Radeon R9 295X2 | ![]() |
1000 | Amazon | 100 | 100 | 100 |
At the beginning of the chart, you see significant performance gains for every dollar spent. Clearly, the Radeon R7 250X is the price/performance card to beat under $150, while the Radeon R9 270X takes top honors under $200. Nvidia's GeForce GTX 750 Ti offers performance similar to the Radeon R7 260X for a similar price. It might not be the best value play, but this Nvidia card remains attractive to gamers stuck with low-end power supplies they don't want to upgrade.
Price hike up quickly from the Radeon R9 270X to the R9 290, but performance jumps just as much. After that, what you'll pay steadily increases, while performance doesn't scale as aggressively.
As you approach the upper echelon of frame rates, your dollar doesn't stretch as far. But if you're a hardcore gamer who wants to experience the highest resolutions and most taxing detail settings, the most expensive cards in this list might be attractive. Just keep in mind that two GeForce GTX 970s are going to cost you $660, and they're going to perform about as fast as a Radeon R9 295X2 at $1000.
Summary
There you have it folks, the best cards for the money this month!
And remember that the stores don’t follow this list. Things will change over the course of the month and you’ll probably have to adapt your buying strategy to deal with fluctuating prices. Good luck!
Follow us on Twitter for more tech news, reviews, and exclusive updates!










