Graphics card picks · No. 137
VRAM is the new horsepower.
An opinionated guide to graphics cards for gaming and local AI. Ranked picks, honest head-to-heads, and the one spec the box never explains properly: how much memory you actually need.
The Silicon Note · 2026-09-16
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super: A Solid Mid-Range Gaming Option
If you're a 1440p gamer eyeing the latest titles or taking advantage of the current game release season, the RTX 4070 Super might be worth considering. Its 12GB GDDR6X VRAM and mid-range price point ($599 launch MSRP) make it an attractive option for those watching the used market for a good deal. With the recent surge in AI workloads, some builders may be itching to upgrade their systems, and if you're one of them, keep an eye out for used RTX 4070 Super listings that undercut the newer models. If you catch it on sale, this card is hard to beat for gaming.
Pick your lane
05 brackets
Under $450
Budget
The best graphics cards under $450, ranked by what you actually get per dollar: memory first, frames second, marketing last.
6 cards The sweet spot1440p
The best graphics cards for 1440p gaming, the resolution where price and performance meet.
8 cards No compromises4K
The best graphics cards for 4K gaming, from the value route to the money-is-no-object route, with the VRAM math spelled out.
6 cards VRAM is the specLocal AI
The best graphics cards for running AI models locally: LLMs, image generation, and fine-tuning.
6 cards Depreciation is your friendUsed market
The used and clearance graphics cards actually worth buying, and what to check before you pay for someone else's silicon.
6 cardsThe board
Every card we rankThe full catalog, flagship to budget. Launch MSRP shown for reference; street prices move, links go to live listings.
01
NVIDIAFlagship
GeForce RTX 5090
The fastest consumer card on earth, and the only one with 32GB. You pay for every gram of it.
32GBGDDR7
$1,999msrp
575Wboard power
2025released
02
NVIDIAHigh end
GeForce RTX 5080
Excellent 4K card with one asterisk: 16GB is half what the card above it gets.
16GBGDDR7
$999msrp
360Wboard power
2025released
03
NVIDIASweet spot
GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
The NVIDIA card most people arguing about the 9070 XT actually end up buying.
16GBGDDR7
$749msrp
300Wboard power
2025released
04
NVIDIAMid range
GeForce RTX 5070
A good 1440p card that would be a great one with four more gigabytes.
12GBGDDR7
$549msrp
250Wboard power
2025released
05
NVIDIABudget AI pick
GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
The cheapest new NVIDIA card with 16GB, which quietly makes it the budget local-AI default.
16GBGDDR7
$429msrp
180Wboard power
2025released
06
NVIDIABudget
GeForce RTX 5060
Fine at 1080p today. The 8GB buffer is a countdown timer.
8GBGDDR7
$299msrp
145Wboard power
2025released
07
AMDValue king
Radeon RX 9070 XT
The best raster value in the current generation. The card NVIDIA has to price against.
16GBGDDR6
$599msrp
304Wboard power
2025released
08
AMDMid range
Radeon RX 9070
The 5070's direct rival, with the 16GB the 5070 should have had.
16GBGDDR6
$549msrp
220Wboard power
2025released
09
AMDBudget
Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
16GB for $349. On memory per dollar, nothing new touches it.
16GBGDDR6
$349msrp
160Wboard power
2025released
10
AMD24GB alternative
Radeon RX 7900 XTX
The cheapest way to 24GB of VRAM in a card you can still buy new.
24GBGDDR6
$999msrp
355Wboard power
2022released
11
AMDLast-gen value
Radeon RX 7800 XT
Last generation's 1440p favorite, now living on discounts.
16GBGDDR6
$499msrp
263Wboard power
2023released
12
IntelBudget disruptor
Arc B580
12GB for $249 broke the budget segment's pricing logic, when you can find one.
12GBGDDR6
$249msrp
190Wboard power
2024released
13
IntelEntry
Arc B570
The B580's little sibling. Fine card, awkward $30 gap.
10GBGDDR6
$219msrp
150Wboard power
2025released
14
NVIDIAUsed marketUsed flagship
GeForce RTX 4090 (used)
Out of production, still in demand: 24GB of CUDA keeps its used price stubborn.
24GBGDDR6X
$1,599launch msrp
450Wboard power
2022released
15
NVIDIAUsed marketUsed AI classic
GeForce RTX 3090 (used)
The budget ticket to 24GB of CUDA. The local AI community's favorite used card for a reason.
24GBGDDR6X
$1,499launch msrp
350Wboard power
2020released
16
NVIDIAUsed marketUsed budget AI
GeForce RTX 3060 12GB (used)
The accidental AI starter card: 12GB and CUDA at pocket-money used prices.
12GBGDDR6
$329launch msrp
170Wboard power
2021released
17
NVIDIAUsed marketLast-gen value
GeForce RTX 4070 Super
Last generation's sensible pick, now a used-market bargain hunt.
12GBGDDR6X
$599launch msrp
220Wboard power
2024released
Know the model, need the card?
Our sibling site ranks the AI models themselves. Pick your model there, then match its size to a card's VRAM here.