Picking a graphics card is easier if you start with your monitor.
1080p
RTX 5060 (8 GB, $299 MSRP) or Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB ($349 MSRP). The extra memory on the RX 9060 XT helps with newer games.
1440p
RX 9070 XT ($599 MSRP) or RTX 5070 Ti ($749 MSRP). Both handle high-refresh 1440p well, and the RTX 5070 ($549, 12 GB) is a cheaper option.
4K
RTX 5080 ($999 MSRP) or RTX 5090 ($1,999 MSRP) for the best results. The RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT can manage 4K with upscaling.
VRAM
8 GB is the minimum in 2026 and can struggle in new games. 12 GB is fine for 1440p, and 16 GB is comfortable for 1440p and most 4K.
Features
NVIDIA leads in ray tracing and DLSS 4. AMD often gives more performance and memory for the money. Street prices have been well above MSRP this year, so compare before you buy.