1. EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition
Stream Processors: 2,560 | Core Clock: 1,607MHz | Memory: 8GB GDDR5X | Memory Clock: 7,010MHz | Power Connectors: 1 x 6-pin, 1 x 8-pin | Length: 266.7mm | Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 1 x DVI
+Great all around performance
+Makes 4K gamingviable
-Expensive launch price
-Aftermarkets will do more for less
+Makes 4K gamingviable
-Expensive launch price
-Aftermarkets will do more for less
If you want proper entry into 4K gaming, the Maxwell-based Titan X no longer reigns supreme. With the launch of Nvidia's Pascal architecture, you can get the performance of two 980Tis for a fraction of what you'd spend on an EVGA Titan X SuperClock. Of course, no graphics card is perfect. This GTX 1080 falls prey to an early adoption tax in what Nvidia calls the "Founders Edition" model, based on the reference set by the company and manufactured by EVGA. Though you may want to wait for the inevitable launch of more affordable, more powerful GTX 1080 GPUs from third parties, the GTX 1080 is undoubtedly the best in its class right now – as if it's even a contest.
$742.94
2. Zotac GeForce GTX 980Ti AMP Extreme Edition
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
+Nearly equal to GTX 1080
+Even closer to GTX 1080
-with OCNearly costs as much as GTX 1080
-Only worth it for high-res gaming
Though it can't match the GTX 1080 in terms of video memory (6GB versus 8GB GDDR5X), the GTX 980Ti offers a higher clock speed. And, with the right amount of overclocking, it can even beat that card. Cards with the "AMP" moniker usually mean business, and this card lives up to its name. It'll let you game in resolutions up to 4K, even if can't reach that glorious 60 fps standard at that pixel count. The 980Ti AMP Extreme Edition may be better value than the GTX 1080 Founders Edition, but it's far from cheap, costing around the same as a budget (or entry level, mid-range) gaming PC.
$416.25
3. Gigabyte Radeon R9 Fury X
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
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
If you're urging for a GPU that does it all, the R9 Fury X is the best AMD has to offer, at least until high-end Polaris cards start to drop. Hauling an all-in-one liquid cooling system and the latest high-bandwidth memory technology may seem like a heavy workload, but Gigabyte's Radeon R9 Fury X pulls it off all the same.
$468.99
4. Sapphire Radeon R9 Nano
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
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 form-factor PC no longer requires a huge power sacrifice. In fact, the Fiji-based Sapphire Radeon R9 Nano is short enough to squeeze into the tiniest of mini-ITX cases – compromise be damned. And, for an AMD GPU of yesteryear, it's pretty efficient too, boasting 4GB of next-gen HBM memory with the same number of texture units and ROPs as the full-size Fury X. Sure, the clock speed is 5% lower, but because the power envelope drops to just 175W, you won't need a hardy power supply to boot.
$499.99
5. MSI GeForce 1070 Gaming X
Stream Processors: 1,920 | Core Clock: 1,607MHz | Memory: 8GB GDDR5 | Memory Clock: 8,108MHz | Power Connectors: 1 x 6-pin, 1 x 8-pin | Length: 279mm | Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DVI
+Strong 1440p performance
+Affordable reference card
-Founder's Edition still too pricey
Stream Processors: 1,920 | Core Clock: 1,607MHz | Memory: 8GB GDDR5 | Memory Clock: 8,108MHz | Power Connectors: 1 x 6-pin, 1 x 8-pin | Length: 279mm | Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DVI
+Strong 1440p performance
+Affordable reference card
-Founder's Edition still too pricey
We all know that 1440p is the new 1080p, and so does Nvidia. That's why it's taken the new Pascal architecture and devised the GTX 1070, complete with a 1,607MHz base overclock and 8GB of 8,108MHz, GDDR5 RAM. What's more, this VR-ready card is more powerful than a Titan X for a fraction of the price. Still, while you'll be able to play everything at the highest settings at humblebrag-worthy frame rates at either 1080p or 1440p resolution, the £410 (around $584 or AUS$792) price tag of the MSI's 'Founders Edition' Gaming X card is notably more expensive than what we'll see in the coming months from AIBs, or add-in boards.
6. Sapphire Radeon R9 Tri-X 390X
Stream Processors: 2816 | Core Clock: 1055MHz | Memory: 8GB | Memory Clock: 6000MHz | Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin | Length: 308mm | Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 2 x DVI
+Lower price than GTX 980
+Triple-fan cooler from Sapphire
-GDDR5 memory rather than HBM
-375W power consumption
When it comes to cost, the Radeon R9 Tri-X 390X sits somewhere between Nvidia's GTX 970 and 980 cards. It often gets the better of the former card, though the 970 performs better in some games. The Tri-X 390X produces blistering frame rates at resolutions up to 2,560 x 1,440 with all graphic details dialled up to 10. Featuring 2,816 stream processors and a core clock speed of 1,055MHz, it doesn't quite pack the muscle required for 4K gaming unless you're playing lesser demanding titles.
$399.99
7. MSI GeForce GTX 970 Gaming Edition
Stream Processors: 1664 | Core Clock: 1140MHz | Memory: 4GB | Memory Clock: 7010MHz | Power Connectors: 1 x 6-pin, 1 x 8-pin | Length: 269mm | Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 2 x DVI
+Best performance for under £300
+Still equipped to handle 1440p
-Struggles with high detail at 4K
-Still a whole lot of cash
Stream Processors: 1664 | Core Clock: 1140MHz | Memory: 4GB | Memory Clock: 7010MHz | Power Connectors: 1 x 6-pin, 1 x 8-pin | Length: 269mm | Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 2 x DVI
+Best performance for under £300
+Still equipped to handle 1440p
-Struggles with high detail at 4K
-Still a whole lot of cash
A variant of one of the most popular graphics cards around, the GTX 970 Gaming edition is a 1080p monster. You could even get away with gaming at 2,560 x 1,440, though you'll have to temper expectations when it comes to 4K. Featuring 1,664 stream processors, a core clock of 1,140MHz and 4GB of memory, the GTX 970 offers the mainstream performance you may be looking for without breaking the bank.
$329.99
8. AMD Radeon RX 480
Stream processors: 2,304 | Core Clock: 1,120MHz | Memory: 8GB GDDR5 | Memory Clock: 8,000MHz | Power connections: 1x 6-pin | Length: 241mm | Outputs: 1 x HDMI, 3 x DisplayPort
+Exceptional 1080p performance
+VR-ready
+GTX 980 performance for less
-Wattman clearly still in beta
Stream processors: 2,304 | Core Clock: 1,120MHz | Memory: 8GB GDDR5 | Memory Clock: 8,000MHz | Power connections: 1x 6-pin | Length: 241mm | Outputs: 1 x HDMI, 3 x DisplayPort
+Exceptional 1080p performance
+VR-ready
+GTX 980 performance for less
-Wattman clearly still in beta
Think you need an expensive GTX 1080 to enjoy VR games on an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive? Think again. Considering its low price point, AMD's Radeon RX 480 is an impressive performer at 1080p and, in some cases, even 1440p. While it may not reach 60fps, the holy grail of PC gaming, in every game at the highest settings, the RX 480 does manage to push out a few frames over 30 with the graphics cranked all the way up in games like Rise of the Tomb Raider and Ashes of the Singularity – both of which notably run using the latest DirectX 12 API from Microsoft. Moreover, if you're interested in overclocking with AMD's new Wattman utility, the RX 480 can move faster than a GTX 980. For the price, it's unparalleled.
$276.56
9. Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060
One of Nvidia's best price-to-performance cards ever
Stream Processors: 1,280 | Core Clock: 1,506MHz | Memory: 8GB GDDR5 | Memory Clock: 8,000MHz | Power Connectors: 1 x 6-pin | Length: 249.5mm | Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Dual Link-DVI
+Brilliant 1080p performance
+Great overclocker
-No SLI compatibility
-Founder's Edition Price
One of Nvidia's best price-to-performance cards ever
Stream Processors: 1,280 | Core Clock: 1,506MHz | Memory: 8GB GDDR5 | Memory Clock: 8,000MHz | Power Connectors: 1 x 6-pin | Length: 249.5mm | Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Dual Link-DVI
+Brilliant 1080p performance
+Great overclocker
-No SLI compatibility
-Founder's Edition Price
Though it might bear resemblance to the GTX 1070 and 1080, the £275/$300 GTX 1060 Founder's Edition is more aligned with Nvidia's more expensive GeForce 980. Thanks to AMD's competitively priced RX 480, which promises both 1080p and VR gaming at an aggressive price point, Nvidia was hurried into launching a similar offering. Enter the GTX 1060: a mid-range graphics card that can handle just about anything at a full HD resolution and even some titles at 1440p without too much of an impact on the frame rate. With most of us still clinging onto sub-4K resolution TVs and monitors, the GTX 1060 gives PC gamers a sweet spot absent the need to upgrade your displays.
$260.00
10. EVGA GeForce GTX 750Ti SC
A graphics chip that's super (and super cheap)
Stream Processors: 640 | Core Clock: 1176MHz | Memory: 2GB | Memory Clock: 5400MHz | Power Connectors: None | Length: 170mm | Outputs: 1 x HDMI, 1 x DVI, 1 x VGA
+Great value
+Fine to at run 1080p games
-More cash spent = more performance
-Can't handle the latest games
A graphics chip that's super (and super cheap)
Stream Processors: 640 | Core Clock: 1176MHz | Memory: 2GB | Memory Clock: 5400MHz | Power Connectors: None | Length: 170mm | Outputs: 1 x HDMI, 1 x DVI, 1 x VGA
+Great value
+Fine to at run 1080p games
-More cash spent = more performance
-Can't handle the latest games
Based on Nvidia's Maxwell architecture, the GTX 750Ti SC is an affordable card that still packs the latest technology. This entry-level offering is still up to the task of playing the latest games if you're happy with playing on Low or Medium quality settings at 1080p resolution, and because it's small it's easy to drop into a basic PC to give it some extra graphical grunt. Just don't expect it to work
$119.99
