Are you a PC gamer? Then trust us on this: there is no other component nearly as important as the graphics card.
Yes, your monitor and even your mouse matter. But nothing has more impact on both frame rates and fun than your graphics card. Problem is, at any moment there are scores of cards to choose from and they typically all claim to have pixel-pushing perfection.
The simple solution is to buy the very best. But that also means the most expensive. For most of us, then, it's all about bang-for-buck at a given budget. Just remember to think carefully about how you match your graphics card with the rest of your PC.
If you have a super-high resolution monitor, for instance, you're going to need a high-end graphics card to make the most of it. But, equally, there's little point unloading on the finest GPU money can buy if its being bottlenecked by an old CPU or feeding a feeble screen.
With all that in mind, here's our guide to not only the fastest, but also the best value PC graphics you can buy.
1. EVGA GeForce Titan X SuperClock
Simply the beast
Stream Processors: 3072 | Core Clock: 1127MHz | Memory: 12GB |
Memory Clock: 7010MHz | Power Connectors: 1 x 6-pin, 1 x 8-pin | Length: 267mm | Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 1 x DVI
If money is no object, the Titan X SuperClock offers the most power you can get out of a single card. Packing a huge 12GB of GDDR5 memory, the most powerful consumer GPU around has 3072 shaders and a core clock frequency of 1216MHz, which outpaces the Titan X's 1075MHz boost clock. Slotting one of these beasts inside your rig sets you up nicely for 4K gaming, and you could even hook up a couple of Ultra HD panels without experiencing any stuttering in the latest titles.
2. Zotac GeForce GTX 980Ti AMP Extreme Edition
Titan X power without Titan X cost
Stream Processors: 2816 | Core Clock: 1253MHz | Memory: 6GB |
Memory Clock: 7220MHz | Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin | Length: 267mm | Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 1 x DVI
- Almost as powerful as the Titan X
- Beats Titan X with the OC
- Still pretty expensive
- Only worth it for high-res gaming
Though it can't match the Titan X in terms of video memory (6GB versus 12GB), the GeForce GTX 980Ti offers a higher clock speed and can often beat that card for considerably less money. Cards with the 'AMP' moniker usually mean business, and this card lives up to its name. It'll let you game in resolution up to 4K, even if some titles push the card to its limit. The 980Ti AMP Extreme Edition may be better value than the Titan X SuperClock, but it's far from cheap, costing around the same as a budget (or entry level mid-range) gaming PC.
3. Gigabyte Radeon R9 Fury X
Uses an all-in-one liquid cooling system and new High-Bandwidth Memory
Stream Processors: 4096 | Core Clock: 1050MHz | Memory: 4GB | Memory Clock: 1000MHz | Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin | Length: 195mm | Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI
- High bandwidth memory
- Over 4,000 stream processors
- Only 4GB of HBM, struggles at 4K
- Water-reservoir takes up space
The first AMD entry in our list features an all-in-one liquid cooling system that's similar to ones that keep computer processors cool. It means you'll need a spare fan mount inside the case to fit it, but the advantage of having one is quieter operation and lower temperatures than what you'd get without such a setup.
The R9 Fury X is AMD's answer to the Nvidia GeForce 980 Ti, and although it isn't quite on par in terms of performance, its 4096 stream processors, 256 texture units and a massive 4068-bit memory bus helps it shift more pixels than ever before. Oh, and the card also saw AMD make the leap from GDDR5 to faster HBM memory, although there's only 4GB of it. That means the R9 Fury X can struggle if you're playing particularly demanding titles in 4K.
4. Sapphire Radeon R9 Nano
Tiny graphics card packs a big punch
Stream Processors: 4096 | Core Clock: 1000MHz | Memory: 4GB | Memory Clock: 1000MHz | Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin | Length: 152mm | Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 2 x DVI
- Beautifully small
- Low power consumption
- Small size doesn't make it cheaper
- Not quite as powerful as the Fury X
Building a small PC no longer means passing on power thanks to new graphics cards like the Sapphire Radeon R9 Nano. AMD's dinky video card is short enough to squeeze into the smallest of PC cases without sacrificing the raw grunt that you get from high-end cards. Highly efficient for a Fiji GPU, it has the same 4GB of 4096-bit HBM memory found in the Fury X, with an identical number of texture units and ROPs. The clock speed is 5% lower, but on the plus side you won't need as huge power supply to go with it due to the power envelope dropping to just 175W.
5. Palit GeForce GTX 980 Super JetStream
A potential bargain, despite only 4GB of memory
- Can be found at decent prices
- Plenty of gaming performance
- Only 4GB of memory is a bit mean
- Heavily OC'd models are pricey
If you're looking for a card that will handle 4K games on Medium quality settings, look no further than the Palit GeForce GTX 980 Super JetStream. This card used to be Nvidia's fastest non-Titan offering before the 980Ti came along, so it's no slouch. Featuring 2,048 stream processors, a 1,203MHz core clock speed and 4GB of memory, it offers a decent blend of clout and value.
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