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New York Times
10 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- New York Times
Drinking Glasses Are a Great Gift. Here Are 14 Truly Special Ones.
In this edition of The Gift, we dish on our favorite glassware for gifting. Plus: more ideas for a beautifully set table, a great deal on a 'holy grail' white T-shirt, and what to give a classroom helper. A few years ago, I was fresh off a breakup, living in a new place of my own. Everything around me was new: I was in an unfamiliar part of town, my bangs were freshly shortened (as is the age-old tradition of any breakup), and I was even starting a brand-new job — this one, actually. All this newness was by design. I thought that surrounding myself with novelty would speed up the process of dealing with the change I was most trying to ignore. I needed (or at least felt like buying) some new drinking glasses, and without thinking too much about it, I ordered a set of basic bistro-style cups, which came highly recommended by Wirecutter kitchen expert Michael Sullivan. When they arrived, though, I realized I had accidentally veered from my perfect plan of new-things-only. In my hands were the exact same drinking glasses I had grown up with. I had somehow cosmically stumbled toward an ever-present fixture of my childhood home. I tucked the glasses into my barren cabinets, and my new apartment suddenly felt more familiar. And familiarity felt surprisingly good. There is a quiet beauty in giving an elevated, everyday home item as a gift. Good glassware, for example, might delight your recipient in the gift-giving moment, maybe because it's unique, beautiful, or, as in my case, even a bit sentimental. But then? It just does its job, fading into the background of your recipient's life. Your giftee will hopefully use your present for years and years — and it can become a comforting fixture in their lives, just as these tumblers have been in mine. To that end, here are some truly special glasses, mugs, and cups that we think would make great gifts: If it's whimsy you're after, gifts expert Mari Uyehara loves these unique tumblers: these fruit and animal ones are catching our eyes in particular — and they have a new set of dog offerings (which are going to be a problem for me, personally). For impressing your coolest, most aesthetic friend, home-decor writer Ivy Elrod recommends these unique face vessels that are, as she puts it, 'nothing short of a true delight.' Each one is handcrafted, resulting in a one-of-a-kind, multi-colored, cheery, smiling face. Kitchen editor Gabriella Gershenson loves these colored coupe glasses for jazzing up cocktails and sparkling wine. 'I bought a pair for my husband for our anniversary. The blue tint is luminescent, and they're thin and wonderfully delicate,' she says. And for injecting a splash of color into your everyday drinking glasses, I'm eyeing the shorter, multi-colored version of my prized Duralex glasses. Your favorite beer aficionado might appreciate these glasses shaped like beer cans. They're simple, but something about drinking out of one might make you feel like you're grabbing dinner at your local brewery. And on a similar note, these Wirecutter-favorite Teku beer glasses are a nice way to class up your pizza-and-beer nights at home. (Or pizza-and-hop-water nights?) For a bit of a splurge, gifts editor Hannah Morrill is eyeing a few Japanese Kimura Glass vessels that are striking in their simplicity: This martini glass is, in her words, 'perfection.' They make coupe glasses, too, which Hannah says would be a great gift 'for the couple who enjoys a drink together every night.' And this crumpled old-fashioned glass would be good for a certain unwinds-in-their-armchair type. Let's not forget the morning joe: These porcelain tumblers look like crushed Solo cups — and when they're not busy moonlighting as a piece of home decor, would do well as a coffee cup by morning. This cheeky cup, the ceramic version of the classic New York City takeout coffee cup, doesn't look too shabby on display, either. I have one on my desk most days, and it somehow makes me feel sentimental for a place I've never lived. Wirecutter's guide to the best drinking glasses→ Whether you're setting a candlelit table for a party, a date with your honey, or mac and cheese for one, our favorites make any occasion feel special. From festive melamine and bamboo plates to classic enamelware, our favorite outdoor tableware pieces are perfect for taking dinner outside. These durable enamelware tumblers are ideal for outdoor dining, but they're also great indoors — whether on a desk, at a well-set dining table, or by your bedside. I'm a third-grade teacher. And I want to get something special and fun for my classroom TA as an end-of-the-year gift. He's been with my class since January and is so helpful, smart, and a joy to work with. I want to thank him with something fun for the summer, preferably something he can enjoy with his husband and their 8-year-old daughter. Thank you! — E.D. From gifting expert Mari Uyehara: For amusement, the storytelling card game Dixit is a fave of many Wirecutter staffers. I've played it with ages 7 to 77 years old many times over — and when we've tried it with kids' friends, we usually get a text from parents asking for the name of the game that their child is now evangelizing. My almost-8-year-old, crazy-smart niece is also a big fan of the Crazy Forts building set. On the noshing front, my boyfriend's tween daughter loves their air-popping popcorn machine; pair it with this excellent movie night what-should-we-watch solver. Multiple subsets of my extended family have had a blast tasting and debating our way through this sampler of hard-to-find Japanese snacks. If you can tease out your TA's address and freezer-space situation, this gift pack of hulking chip ice cream sandwiches would make for some magical summer nights. But if you're not sure of what's in their game room or kitchen, a Target or Dunkin' Donuts card is always a nice summer treat. And make sure you include a good-looking card telling him exactly what you valued about his work this year. As a teacher, I bet you already know how a little appreciation goes a very long way. Our present-hunters are here to answer your questions. By completing this form, you agree that we may add your address to our list for the newsletter The Gift. What I Cover Haley Jo Lewis is the lead editor of newsletters and programming for Wirecutter. She brings experience from the Los Angeles Times and The Seattle Times. When she's not writing newsletters, you can find her cooking, scouring the estate sales of Los Angeles, and spending time on her beloved sectional couch.
New York Times
3 days ago
- New York Times
Is A Drawbridge Opening the Future of Suitcases?
The Roller Pro Carry-On pairs a polycarbonate core with heavy-duty fabric. Maria Adelmann/NYT Wirecutter I was quickly won over by the Roller Pro's unique, soft-yet-structured look: This hybrid suitcase pairs a polycarbonate core with a weatherproof, heavy-duty 550-denier fabric exterior that feels almost like rubbery canvas. A drawbridge-like opening, gear loops, and other unique details make this durable, weatherproof bag stand out. But it's very pricey, and when it's packed to capacity, it can be frustrating to use. The details look automobile-inspired — with handles, zipper pulls, and gear loops made of sturdy, sheeny material reminiscent of a seat belt — and an interior made with compression-molded felt that's akin to the lining of a car's trunk. The light gray interior and wrinkle-less felt bottom also make it easy to see and find smaller items that can get lost against a dark lining. The suitcase has a slew of features, including four pull handles, an expansion, an adjustable bungee system, and thin carbon-fiber trolley rails. Maria Adelmann/NYT Wirecutter It's impressive that a suitcase with this many loops, cords, zippers, compartments, and materials manages to look this streamlined. But it does, in part because of the plethora of color-matched details inside and out. While I haven't long-term tested the suitcase, I suspect it will also remain good-looking (though I'm curious about how the light color will wear over time). The soft exterior is unlikely to scuff the way the exteriors of hard-sided suitcases do. And the unobtrusive bumper rails on the back have so far done a good job of protecting the suitcase's underside from getting scratched after banging up and down stairs. The carry-on feels good rolling by your side — it's well balanced, and the 360-degree spinner wheels roll smoothly. And at the bag's most vulnerable points, weatherproof zips offer protection against rain (these zips are not commonly found on standard suitcases). The bag also has four handles (instead of the usual two to three), so you can pull it from any side or even carry it like a tray. The Roller Pro's extremely thin, carbon-fiber trolley rails replace the thicker telescoping rails found in most bags, and they're among the Roller Pro's big selling points. They're also shorter than most trolley rails I've encountered, but they still worked for our 6-foot-2 luggage expert, writer Kit Dillon. While the trolley rails do look sleek, I felt a lot of resistance when pushing and pulling them from the higher of the two stop heights. (Peak Design told me this was a known error in some pre-production units and that it would be fixed.) Flatter rails make for a somewhat more pleasant interior packing experience, but ultimately I'm not sure how much space they actually freed up in the bag. Details include a hidden passport pocket, a key tether, and bungees that can attach to the bag's many gear loops. Maria Adelmann/NYT Wirecutter Peak Design has billed the Roller Pro as a total redesign of the suitcase. And while, yes, it's still a zippered box on four wheels, I see what the brand is getting at. Suitcase details that I had considered axioms have been completely rethought. The drawbridge-like opening is among the biggest changes, and it's one of my favorites. Though we've seen suitcases that open lengthwise, the two adjustable stabilizer cords on each side of the Roller Pro were a revelation. They keep the lid suspended in the air while you're packing and unpacking, so the suitcase has a small footprint, even when it's open. This is especially true in comparison with hard-sided suitcases, which have a clamshell design and must be splayed flat to use. Plus, with the Roller Pro, you can easily see and access items in the interior lid. Maria Adelmann/NYT Wirecutter I was also delighted by Peak Design's revamp of the luggage tag. It's only a little bigger than my pointer finger, and it hangs satisfyingly flush from a loop on the side of the bag. The only downside is that the name and address lines are embedded in the tag itself, and that means you have to write directly on the tag with a pen. That is, there is no pull-out card, so you can't change the information once you write it in — a bummer if you move, get a new number, or lend out the luggage. (However, you can purchase a pack of two replacement tags for $20.) The bag has other thoughtful little extras, including a key tether in the front pocket and a handy little slip pocket (so you don't lose your Bluetooth tracker). There's also a hidden pocket (and message) behind the interior zippered lid that's sized perfectly for a passport — a great feature for the paranoid among us. I was also impressed with the unobtrusive, color-matched gear loops all over the exterior of the bag. While you could use them for whatever (like hanging a travel pillow, for example), the bag has two detachable bungees that allow you to hitch larger items (like, say, a tripod) on the top or the sides of the bag. I also enjoyed using the unobtrusive, customizable perimeter cord (a bungee cord inside the bag that criss-crosses on top of the main compartment in adjustable configurations). But it really only keeps items in place instead of compressing them. The cleverly designed front pocket has a narrow space for a laptop and a wide mouth with flexible, spandex-like slip pockets. Maria Adelmann/NYT Wirecutter The front pocket is cleverly designed. It has a narrow space for a laptop and a magnetic valve to keep it from falling out. It also has a wider mouth with flexible, spandex-like slip pockets, perfect for accommodating whatever weird-shaped stuff you want to stash. And it made me wonder: Is there a reason more pockets aren't made of this joyously flexible material? While the wide-mouth space is great for small essentials (for me: hand sanitizer, a pill case, a portable charger, and occasionally my phone), I ultimately prefer putting these things in my personal item, so they aren't stuck in the overhead bin during my flight. In general, I'm not a fan of narrow front pockets, either. They're mostly designed for holding a thin, sleeveless laptop. I'm personally never going to store mine in there, not least because a carry-on always has the chance of being gate-checked. For me, the front pocket took up too much extra space to justify its inclusion. However, this sleek storage spot could be worth it for travelers who plan to use it as intended. The flap of the interior lid, which can be rolled and stowed, has three zippered pockets that are ideal for organizing small essentials. Maria Adelmann/NYT Wirecutter The three zippered pockets on the flap of the interior lid are an incredibly satisfying feature of the Roller Pro. They're made with clear, puncture-proof ripstop mesh, and they're perfect for holding tiny things you might otherwise corral in separate pouches (or just resign yourself to losing), including hair ties, cords, and pens. But the zippered panel covers interior lid space that I found too narrow to use effectively for more than a few thin items, like a pair of flip-flops and a book. You have the option to roll down the panel, but that means you give up the pockets, and the space isn't that intuitive to use. I compared the capacity of the Roller Pro (middle) with the Away Hardside (left) and the Briggs & Riley Baseline (right). Maria Adelmann/NYT Wirecutter I compared the capacity of Peak Design's Roller Pro to two Wirecutter picks by packing them each one with the same stuff: two large and two small Cotopaxi packing cubes, a small rectangular toiletry bag, and two sweaters. For me, an admittedly notorious overpacker, this is the equivalent of a five-day trip. The hybrid suitcase's drawbridge opening (middle) is a change from classic hard-sided bags (left) and soft-sided ones (right). Maria Adelmann/NYT Wirecutter Both the Away Bigger Carry-On (our pick for the best hard-sided suitcase) and the Briggs & Riley Baseline Carry-On (our upgrade pick for best soft-sided suitcase) more seamlessly fit my things. With the expansion in play, the Roller Pro's listed capacity increases from a fairly small 34 L to a relatively normal 39 L (the difference between bringing one or two more sweatshirts). That being said, I wouldn't personally travel with the expansion open because the thin fabric strip becomes the most vulnerable part of the suitcase, though you can use the zipper as an ad-hoc compression system. But I found it frustrating to live out of the Roller Pro when I'd filled it to capacity. Part of the issue is that the main compartment has a relatively shallow depth (due to the larger lid), and items kept toppling out of the suitcase when it was open. Due to the relatively shallow depth of the Peak Design suitcase, things kept falling out when it was packed to capacity, an issue I didn't have with the Away or the Briggs & Riley suitcases. Maria Adelmann/NYT Wirecutter I didn't have this issue with the Away Bigger Carry-On (an admittedly larger suitcase), in which I had room left over, and each side of the clamshell adequately cupped my stuff. Nor did I have the issue with the Briggs & Riley Baseline. The latter case has a deeper main compartment and a truly unique supported expansion system, which essentially allows you to make the bag wider when you're living out of it and then compress it down when you're on the road. Indeed, thanks to the expansion system the Briggs & Riley Baseline has a whopping 48 L capacity, 9 more liters than the Roller Pro offers. In grade school, I hated that when I broke the mold on the three-paragraph essay, I was almost always docked points. So maybe I hadn't quite succeeded, but where was the reward for creativity? How do you innovate without sometimes missing the mark? So here I want to give Peak Design the recognition it deserves. The Roller Pro is a sturdy and likely very durable suitcase, and I also loved the fresh look and unique design details, especially the drawbridge-like opening, which allows the lid to suspend in the air. The secret stash pocket for your passport, the tiny, unobtrusive luggage tag, and the color-matched gear loops (for attaching items to the outside of the bag) were also standout features. However, the $600 suitcase was not without flaws, and I found it particularly frustrating to use when it was packed to capacity. For $100 more, the Briggs & Riley Baseline — our upgrade pick for best soft-sided luggage — has a unique compression system that provides an additional 9 liters of packing space, and it's more seamless to use when it's packed full. That said, consistently light packers who don't mind spending a lot on a suitcase might prefer the Roller Pro alternatives. It's much more pleasant to live out of when it's minimally packed, and it would be especially alluring to someone who plans to use the front pocket as intended. I can also see the Roller Pro's real appeal for photographers, especially in combination with Peak Design's XL Camera Cube (though that adds another $140 to an already very pricey suitcase). The hybrid construction and weatherproof design make this suitcase an extremely durable choice for protecting delicate items. The light-gray felt interior makes it easy to see and find dark camera equipment. And the gear loops allow you to travel with a tripod. Plus, the very cool drawbridge opening lets you use the whole suitcase a bit like a deep tray while you're working. In a category full of sameness, this suitcase stands out. Whether it's worth $600, that's up to you. This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder. What I Cover I'm a writer on the discovery team covering travel products, along with related news, fun facts, and tips.
New York Times
4 days ago
- New York Times
Not All Weekender Bags Are Created Equal. These Are Our Travel Editors' Favorites.
At their very best, travel bags are like loyal companions: They hold what you need, endure all kinds of rough treatment, and make the chaos that is traveling feel a bit more organized. And when it comes to weekend travel, finding the right bag — not too big and not too small, with just the right amount of organization — can feel like a treasure hunt. But we've done the digging, testing, and packing so you don't have to. The right bag can truly make your trip smoother, whether it's a rolling carry-on that never catches on sidewalk cracks, a backpack that doesn't dig its way into your shoulders after hours of traveling, or a duffel that fits all your needs for a long weekend away. At Wirecutter, we've spent years testing travel bags of all shapes and sizes — overpacking them, underpacking them, shoving them into smaller spaces, and dragging them across airports and cities. These bags have survived it all and even earned a permanent spot in some of our editor's lives. Below, we've rounded up the weekend bags we trust most to get you — and your belongings — where you need to go. Bon voyage.
New York Times
4 days ago
- General
- New York Times
We Snagged These Exclusive Deals On Wirecutter Travel Picks (And A Few Other Summer Faves, Too)
Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Hot sleepers rejoice: This cool, breathable percale feels light and crisp against the skin. This set offers a huge variety of colors and a rotating mix of hip prints. The long-staple cotton construction can endure years of washes and wear. $152 $138 from Brooklinen Use promo code WC27 (queen) Other things to know: Oeko-Tex certified. Set includes a flat sheet, fitted sheet, and two pillowcases. 365-day return policy. Deal price is for queen, but all sizes are 27% off with code WC27 (remove any existing codes first). Read more: Our Favorite Printed Sheets 280-Thread-Count Pima Cotton Percale Sheet Set (Queen) With a durable construction that only gets softer with each wash, it's no surprise these supple sheets have been one of our favorites for years. They remain the most crisp and breathable percale sets we've tested. $169 $144 from Other things to know: Percale can feel too textured to those who prefer smooth, drapey sateen sheets. Not Oeko-Tex–certified. Set includes a flat sheet, fitted sheet, and two pillowcases. One-year return policy. Code WCSUN15 can apply to all sizes, and all sizes qualify for free shipping. Read more: The Best Cotton Sheets Cultiver Linen Sheet Set Linen sheets can be a game-changer for hot sleepers, and our longtime favorite set is durable, breathable, and one of the softest we've tested. The set includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases, but you can also purchase by the piece. $445 $351 from Cultiver Use promo code WCSUMMER (queen) Other things to know: Like any linen sheets, these wrinkle very easily. More limited sizing than other brands. No warranty, and a pretty standard 30-day return policy. Deal price is for the queen size, but all sizes are discounted with code WCSUMMER. Street price has risen in recent months. Read more: The Best Linen Sheets Harper Wilde Base T-Shirt Bra (Pack of Three) Other things to know: We wish it came in more sizes beyond 32A to 42F. Straps are thinner than our other picks, and for those with heavier breasts, may dig into shoulders. Add three bras to cart and use code WCSUMMER to get the discount on the tan, brown, or black colors, plus free shipping. Read more: The Best, Most Comfortable Bras Harper Wilde Bliss Triangle Bralette The thoughtful details of its wire-free pull-on design and adjustable straps make this comfy bralette tough to beat. The silky, pleasantly stretchy microfiber fits like a second skin, and the plunging neckline and low back worth with a variety of tops but still provide ample coverage. $45 $27 from Harper Wilde Other things to know: Medium support may not be substantial enough if you have heavier, larger breasts. Lacks full nipple coverage. Doesn't provide much shaping. Available in sizes XS to 5XL. On sale in steel and tan with code WCSUMMER. Read more: The Best, Most Comfortable Bras ThirdLove 24/7 Classic Uplift Plunge Bra This pretty plunge bra is a sexy, supportive option offering outstanding comfort. It comes with removable push-up pads for a little extra oomph and is available in larger band sizes and half sizes. Other things to know: May not be supportive enough for larger busts. Sizes AA to H cup (including some half-cup sizes) and 32- to 44-inch band; not every cup size is offered for every band size. On sale in rose dust, amethyst, or coral with code LUV-WIRECUTTER. Read more: The Best Bras Saxx Non-Stop Stretch Cotton Boxer Briefs (Pack of Three) Other things to know: Waistband is as close to perfect as we've found, but did roll in certain situations. Machine-washable. Comes in sizes XS to XXL, with a 5-inch inseam. Use code PR-WCTRAVEL to get the deal price for a three-pack. Read more: The Best Men's Boxer Briefs Editor's note: The photo at the top of this article may reflect previous deals that are no longer valid and have been removed. Check out our Deals page for more great discounts on Wirecutter's expert-approved picks. This article was edited by Janie Campbell and Nathan Burrow. Here's what the Wirecutter Deals team is looking for when they hunt for the best prices on Wirecutter picks every day of the week. The Wirecutter Deals team breaks down a few simple ways to save money all year long.
New York Times
13-06-2025
- New York Times
Building a Gaming PC? A Better Graphics Card Is Worth the Upgrade.
My first video card was a hand-me-down GeForce 256, and I've been fixated on graphics card price and performance ever since. I've been reviewing laptops, PCs, PC hardware, and video game consoles since 2009, and I've been covering PC and gaming hardware at Wirecutter since 2019. I've built dozens of PCs since 2002, both for myself and others. I've also written Wirecutter's guides to external optical drives, video game consoles, and handheld gaming consoles. For this guide: I spent more than 100 hours over the course of several months individually testing more than a dozen graphics cards across a range of prices and for different use cases. I tracked availability and price fluctuations across multiple retailers, and I spoke with employees at brick-and-mortar electronics stores about expected allocations, price increases, and demand. I closely monitored tariff and import-fee changes and their effects on the availability and pricing of the graphics cards I tested. Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I'm never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards. If you just want to play PC games, a gaming laptop or a handheld gaming PC is the simplest way to get started. But if you play video games and want the most customization possible, or if you want your games to look and play their very best, you need a gaming PC with a dedicated graphics card. Gaming PCs rely on graphics cards to generate the visuals and, often, process physical simulations in the games you play. Think of your gaming PC as an artist painting a picture (stick with me here): The CPU is its eyes, the RAM is its memory, and the graphics card is its hand holding the brush. Graphics cards are almost like separate, specialized miniature computers, with their own chips, memory, and complicated circuit boards sandwiched between heat pipes and cooling fans. The Gigabyte Aorus GeForce RTX 5090 Master ICE 32G. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Consumer graphics cards, which are made for everyday use and for playing video games, are based on technology from one of a few chip makers: Nvidia, AMD, and, less commonly, Intel. These companies make the chipsets, or graphics processing units, that power graphics cards. They also create accompanying designs, called reference designs, for each GPU's add-in board. These companies occasionally make and sell graphics cards directly to you based on the reference designs. However, most available graphics cards are made by third-party vendors using AMD and Nvidia GPUs. Each add-in board partner has its own brand and sub-brands of graphics cards aimed at certain kinds of buyers. But the biggest factor in how well a graphics card performs is the GPU it uses and the VRAM available to it. In our testing, and historically speaking, there has been little meaningful difference in performance between vendors' versions of a graphics card, other than the bells and whistles and the price. While our picks are specific graphics card models that we've tested and spent extended amounts of time evaluating, other graphics cards that use the same GPU and have the same amount of VRAM are likely to perform about the same. If you can find two cards with the same configuration (say, RX 9070 XT models from XFX and from Gigabyte, for example), you should probably buy whichever one is cheaper, unless you've seen reports of specific reliability problems with one of them or its physical dimensions don't meet your PC's requirements. If you have a graphics card that lets you play the games you're excited about at medium or high settings with acceptable frame rates, you should keep using it (and you might get a performance boost from upgrading other components, such as your PC's CPU, RAM, or even storage). There's always a better wave of graphics cards on the horizon, and FOMO isn't a great reason to spend money before you need to. This guide recommends vendor-specific versions of graphics cards that we've tested. However, performance across the different vendor versions of each kind of card is typically similar enough for you not to worry much about it, and unless you have specific needs, such as a tight fit in your PC case or a particular color scheme you want to adhere to, you're better off going with the least expensive version of a particular GPU that you can find. More expensive versions can provide better build quality, better and sometimes quieter cooling, snazzier lighting effects, and superior warranty support in the event something goes wrong. Some vendor-specific cards also advertise 'factory overclocking,' but those 'overclocked' versions don't typically produce noticeable improvements to performance. I tested more than a dozen graphics cards across a range of pricing. We considered only graphics cards that are currently available and have not been discontinued; we did not consider previous-generation graphics cards that are now available only secondhand, which at this point includes the entirety of Nvidia's RTX 40–series GPUs. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter After benchmarking each graphics card, I considered the following criteria when determining our picks: Performance: We tested each card with some of this year's most popular games, along with some of the most graphically demanding titles available, to see how each card stacked up and to better understand how long they would be able to play new releases at acceptable settings. For our top pick, we primarily considered gaming at 1080p resolution, with some 1440p gaming. For our upgrade pick, good performance at 1440p was our primary point of consideration, though that graphics card can also handle 4K in most games too. We tested each card with some of this year's most popular games, along with some of the most graphically demanding titles available, to see how each card stacked up and to better understand how long they would be able to play new releases at acceptable settings. For our top pick, we primarily considered gaming at 1080p resolution, with some 1440p gaming. For our upgrade pick, good performance at 1440p was our primary point of consideration, though that graphics card can also handle 4K in most games too. Memory: Any proper gaming graphics card has its own pool of video memory, or VRAM. The amount of VRAM and its rated speed can have a huge effect on how a graphics card performs — this is where a game stores most of its active visual information. The more graphic effects you enable, and the higher the fidelity you select, the more VRAM you'll use. When a game runs out of available video memory, performance suffers. We don't recommend any card with less than 8 GB of VRAM, but for resolutions above 1080p, you need more to get consistently good frame rates — and if you're paying more than $500 for a graphics card, you shouldn't settle for less than 12 GB. Any proper gaming graphics card has its own pool of video memory, or VRAM. The amount of VRAM and its rated speed can have a huge effect on how a graphics card performs — this is where a game stores most of its active visual information. The more graphic effects you enable, and the higher the fidelity you select, the more VRAM you'll use. When a game runs out of available video memory, performance suffers. We don't recommend any card with less than 8 GB of VRAM, but for resolutions above 1080p, you need more to get consistently good frame rates — and if you're paying more than $500 for a graphics card, you shouldn't settle for less than 12 GB. Price and availability: Both of these factors are a core part of our selection process, but right now they're the most difficult to predict. Graphics cards launch at one price, sell out, and typically restock only sporadically. When (or sometimes if) they do come back into stock, it's always for higher prices, sometimes by significant margins. Both of these factors are a core part of our selection process, but right now they're the most difficult to predict. Graphics cards launch at one price, sell out, and typically restock only sporadically. When (or sometimes if) they do come back into stock, it's always for higher prices, sometimes by significant margins. System requirements: Graphics cards have their own minimum hardware requirements to run properly. The requirements are primarily related to their size — how large the graphics card is, and how large your PC's case needs to be to accommodate it — and the rating of your PC's power supply. If your power supply, or PSU, isn't rated for enough wattage to properly power your new GPU, it may not perform as expected or work at all. However, keep in mind that more powerful graphics cards also need progressively faster and more powerful CPUs and fast RAM to keep them operating at their peak. Graphics cards have their own minimum hardware requirements to run properly. The requirements are primarily related to their size — how large the graphics card is, and how large your PC's case needs to be to accommodate it — and the rating of your PC's power supply. If your power supply, or PSU, isn't rated for enough wattage to properly power your new GPU, it may not perform as expected or work at all. However, keep in mind that more powerful graphics cards also need progressively faster and more powerful CPUs and fast RAM to keep them operating at their peak. Noise and heat: A lot of electricity goes through a graphics card when it's working hard, and that generates heat. This requires active cooling in the form of fans (or, occasionally, even liquid cooling). I noted each GPU's self-reported temperature during the course of our game testing and also listened for audible changes in noise level in my open-air test setup. Keep in mind, though, that a poorly ventilated or cooled PC case drives up the noise level of any GPU, as its fans work harder to keep the graphics card at an ideal operational temperature. When a graphics card gets too hot, it slows down — a process known as 'thermal throttling' — and its performance worsens. Current-generation AMD- and Nvidia-based graphics cards appear to be well cooled and thermally engineered, with no indication of overheating or downclocking in our testing. A lot of electricity goes through a graphics card when it's working hard, and that generates heat. This requires active cooling in the form of fans (or, occasionally, even liquid cooling). I noted each GPU's self-reported temperature during the course of our game testing and also listened for audible changes in noise level in my open-air test setup. Keep in mind, though, that a poorly ventilated or cooled PC case drives up the noise level of any GPU, as its fans work harder to keep the graphics card at an ideal operational temperature. When a graphics card gets too hot, it slows down — a process known as 'thermal throttling' — and its performance worsens. Current-generation AMD- and Nvidia-based graphics cards appear to be well cooled and thermally engineered, with no indication of overheating or downclocking in our testing. Additional features: Most people simply need a graphics card that runs games well, but some manufacturers offer additional software features that might be worth prioritizing. Each GPU type provides its own accelerated video encoder, for example, but Nvidia also supports special video-encoding options with the video game streaming site Twitch, and it also provides software for noise removal in microphone audio and camera enhancements. But depending on your needs, these features may not be worth paying for (or paying extra for). I also paid attention to aspects such as the overall quality of construction of the graphics cards we tested, and to any other potential problem spots or quirks that impacted my experience with the GPU. One particular issue can be difficult to predict, and its effect on your experience may vary: electromagnetically induced acoustic noise, colloquially referred to as 'coil whine.' Coil whine can range in frequency or volume, but it usually presents as a slightly high-pitched hum or even a screeching sound. Coil whine occurs when the affected device draws more electricity in order to run at higher-than-idle frequencies. Because more powerful graphics cards use so much electricity — often more than the rest of your gaming PC's components combined — they can be especially susceptible to coil whine. With at least one GPU we tested, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Founder's Edition, the noise was audible even when we simply scrolled up or down in a web page. As with loud fans in a PC or laptop, the impact of noise on your experience is at least a little subjective, and how audible coil whine can be also depends on where your PC is in relation to where you're sitting. But if you're sensitive to high-pitched noises, you may want to research whether people have reported this issue with the GPU you're thinking of buying. We tested each graphics card in a variety of games using either included benchmarking runs or, where necessary, a repeatable in-game path. I tested each game's performance at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K resolutions, separately testing each resolution using medium and high graphical presets. I ran each test three times, averaging the results. I tested each game with upsampling and artificial frame generation disabled. According to a recent survey, most players play games at 1080p, with a large number also playing games at 1440p resolution, so we primarily focused on graphics cards that provided good performance for those resolutions. Rather than testing each graphics card's performance with each game's absolute highest graphical settings, we used medium and high presets unless otherwise specified. Those tend to be the configurations that game developers target as the intended player experience, and every game we tested looked great at those presets. We benchmarked each title without using upsampling tools like Nvidia's DLSS and AMD's FSR, as those implementations continue to evolve, but our recommendations do take into account the performance benefit they provide in modern games. I captured frame data from our tests using Intel's open-source PresentMon software. This testing data provided frame-time information — it literally measured how long my testing PC took to generate each individual frame of gameplay — for our benchmarking runs in each game. We used that information to determine a per-second frame-rate average across each test. I also measured first- and fifth-percentile frames-per-second lows to better measure each graphics card's performance consistency; a slightly lower average frame rate can provide a better experience in comparison with one that sees higher highs combined with more frequent performance drops. I then used CapFrameX to collate and compare each graphics card's results from our tests. We tested the following games: Monster Hunter Wilds: Capcom's open-world, multiplayer action-RPG is the best-selling game of 2025. It features large spaces with many monsters and systems running in tandem. I tested with the high and medium presets with no alterations, other than to disable upscaling. This test did not use ray tracing. Capcom's open-world, multiplayer action-RPG is the best-selling game of 2025. It features large spaces with many monsters and systems running in tandem. I tested with the high and medium presets with no alterations, other than to disable upscaling. This test did not use ray tracing. Marvel Rivals: This free-to-play online multiplayer shooter has been a breakout hit in 2025, and it scales well across a variety of systems. Our tests involved 60-second samples taken while we played the practice free-for-all mode. This free-to-play online multiplayer shooter has been a breakout hit in 2025, and it scales well across a variety of systems. Our tests involved 60-second samples taken while we played the practice free-for-all mode. Civilization VII: The newest installment of the legendary strategy game provided a non-action scenario for our graphics cards to work with. The newest installment of the legendary strategy game provided a non-action scenario for our graphics cards to work with. Cyberpunk 2077: While this RPG/first-person shooter hybrid is almost five years old, it continues to provide a workout for modern graphics hardware while also scaling well with settings adjustments. I ran the in-game benchmark using two presets: the ray traced high settings, and high without ray tracing. While this RPG/first-person shooter hybrid is almost five years old, it continues to provide a workout for modern graphics hardware while also scaling well with settings adjustments. I ran the in-game benchmark using two presets: the ray traced high settings, and high without ray tracing. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: This game features optional support for path tracing for impressively realistic lighting and shadows, and it's currently one of the most demanding PC titles available. We did laps in the village in Sukothai on the high and medium presets with path tracing enabled; however, multiple GPUs fell short in this testing scenario, failing to break the 30 fps mark or to yield playable frame rates even with upscaling enabled. I also did some light testing using each graphics card with other selected titles to determine how they would perform with new releases, including this year's Assassin's Creed Shadows and Doom: The Dark Ages , though these sessions didn't involve full benchmarking runs. My test setup uses a Ryzen 9950x3D processor in an Asus Prime X670e-Pro motherboard with 32 GB of RAM running at 6000 MHz (unless otherwise specified), with a Corsair Elite MP700 PCIe Gen 5 SSD. I use a Thermaltake Core P3 Pro tower with an open face for accessibility and airflow, and ambient room temperatures hovered in the low 70s (Fahrenheit) during my testing. I completed the tests using stable driver releases from Nvidia and AMD. Graphics card prices are all over the map in 2025 for a few reasons: Demand is high thanks to a growing interest in PC gaming, and because graphics cards enable AI and machine-learning workloads. Supply, meanwhile, is constrained because graphics cards rely on the same manufacturers and processes that produce much more lucrative AI-server hardware, along with chipsets for devices such as iPhones and MacBooks. This situation had already led to the development of a gray market of sorts, where graphics cards often sell for much higher than their suggested retail prices, whether through third-party sellers or brick-and-mortar retailers. But with the introduction of steep — and fluctuating — tariffs on China, we're seeing graphics card prices and availability fluctuate, too. That means our picks' prices may change significantly over time. While our top pick, an older, entry-level card, has stayed relatively stable in price for the past six months or so, our other picks have seen dramatic increases from their suggested retail price at launch. We plan to monitor prices closely and adjust our recommendations as necessary. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter For console-level or slightly better graphics at 1080p or 1440p, the RX 7600 is a great option, and it's almost always available for a reasonable price. Dimensions: 9.49 by 5.16 by 1.61 inches Required power supply and connector: 550 W, one PCI-E 8-pin VRAM: 8 GB The Radeon RX 7600 GPU from AMD is now two years old, but it has largely managed to defy the wild swings in pricing and availability that have affected its nearest competitors, Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4060 and Intel's ARC B580. At 1080p (and occasionally 1440p), the result is an entry-level GPU that gets you close to the graphics in current-generation consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X without your needing to sell an organ or three to buy one. The model we tested, the XFX Speedster SWFT 210 AMD Radeon RX 7600, is regularly available from retailers for around $300 to $330. But don't expect to do much 4K gaming; we also expect it to struggle to keep up with new big-budget video game releases in 2026 (and possibly sooner). Monster Hunter Wilds 1080p average, fifth percentile (medium preset, no upscaling) Marvel Rivals 1080p average, fifth percentile (high preset, no upscaling) Cyberpunk 2077 1080p average, fifth percentile (high preset, no ray tracing, no upscaling) AMD Radeon RX 7600 43 fps, 32.6 fps 118.6 fps, 87.1 fps 91.2 fps, 76.8 fps Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 57 fps, 41.5 fps 145.6 fps, 103.6 fps 85.1 fps, 71.4 fps It plays current-generation console games with console visual quality. At a native, non-upscaled 1080p, the RX 7600 delivered playable frame rates in Monster Hunter Wilds on the medium preset. Marvel Rivals , Cyberpunk 2077 , and Civilization VII all demonstrated better-than-console performance with frame rates well over 60 fps at high settings, and with FSR3 upscaling, those improved even more. Although the RX 7600 couldn't max out the newer Assassin's Creed Shadows and Doom: The Dark Ages , both games were more than playable at frame rates and settings comparable to those consoles — as long as we stuck to 1080p. It's small and quiet. The XFX Speedster SWFT 210 is downright diminutive compared with other cards we tested, and it's fairly sturdily built and attractive, especially for a comparatively price-conscious graphics card. Other RX 7600–based cards should provide similar benefits. The RX 7600 is regularly available — and regularly priced. In 2025, a graphics card staying the same price month after month is almost unheard of. But somehow the XFX Speedster SWFT 210 AMD Radeon RX 7600 and similar versions of the RX 7600 have remained consistently priced around the $330 mark and have been reasonably easy to find. The RTX 4060 is a better performer, but it's routinely more than 20% more expensive, if you can find it new at all. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Flaws but not dealbreakers It struggles with more advanced graphics and higher resolutions. Once we crossed the threshold from 1080p to 1440p, the XFX Speedster SWFT 210 AMD Radeon RX 7600 was able to handle slightly lowered settings here and there to reach playable frame rates, but for newer games the experience wasn't as good at higher resolutions. The RX 7600 also completely failed our path tracing benchmarks in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (as did our more expensive upgrade pick), with frame rates ranging from the teens to single digits. It's an older card — and new ones are almost here. The XFX RX 7600–based card I tested for this guide is a two-year-old, entry-level card. Although it can handle current releases at 1080p at console-level settings, newer, better graphics cards are coming soon — or are already here. The value of the RX 7600 lies in how easy it is to find at an affordable price, but once other, newer graphics cards are available for the same price (or less, as AMD is suggesting with its newly announced RX 9060 XT), you shouldn't buy it. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter AMD's RX 9070 XT offers the best value for players seeking high settings and great performance at 1440p, and it can even handle 4K gaming with a little nudging. Dimensions: 12.8 by 5.91 by 2.56 inches Required power supply and connector: 800 W, two PCI-E 8-pin VRAM: 16 GB The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT can capably handle just about every modern game at high settings at 1440p with frame rates above 60 fps, and with some tweaking it even provides a consistently good 4K experience. The XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9070XT is attractively designed, with quiet fans, and it's routinely around 15% cheaper than cards based on the RX 9070 XT's most immediate competitor from Nvidia, the RTX 5070 Ti. However, the RX 9070 XT struggles with cutting-edge path tracing in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and I ndiana Jones and the Great Circle , so if you're hoping to get closer to the top tier of graphics tech, a card based on the RTX 5070 Ti is a better option, even if it costs more. Monster Hunter Wilds 1440p average, fifth percentile (high preset, no RT, no upscaling) Marvel Rivals 1440p average, fifth percentile (high preset, no upscaling) Cyberpunk 2077 1440p average, fifth percentile (high preset with high ray tracing, no upscaling) AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT 103.9 fps, 77.3 fps 189.8 fps, 137.8 fps 52.5 fps, 45.9 fps Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 88.1 fps, 67.5 fps 176.9 fps, 118.3 fps 58.1 fps, 50.4 fps The RX 9070 XT produces great 1440p (and 4K) performance. Even at higher settings, the RX 9070 XT cruised through our benchmarks, providing excellent performance in almost every game we tested. Across our benchmarks, it traded the lead with the more expensive Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti, often in surprising ways. In the games we tested, the RX 9070 XT also provided good performance at 4K, with visual settings and performance well ahead of that of current-generation consoles, and once again in this regard it often bested the usually more expensive RTX 5070 Ti. The RX 9070 XT should give you a great experience in current video games for years to come. It features more advanced upscaling features than in previous-generation AMD GPUs. Modern games increasingly rely on machine-learning-based algorithms and processes to reach higher resolutions (a process called upscaling) and more consistent frame rates. Previous generations of AMD GPUs fell behind Nvidia's offerings in this respect, but with FSR 4.0, the RX 9070 XT provides a great-looking upscaler that closes most of the gap. This addition removes one of our biggest reservations in recommending an AMD GPU. I'd like to see the feature fully supported in more games, but everything I've seen so far is encouraging. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter You can usually buy one (for a lot less than the competition). Although supply has fluctuated significantly since the XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9070XT launched in March (as has the price), the RX 9070 XT's availability has become much more reliable at this writing. In addition, the price has finally reached an equilibrium point — for now — settling somewhere between 10% and 15% less than the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Gaming OC 16G and MSI 5070 Ti 16G Gaming Trio OC Plus models we tested. If you're hoping to keep costs under control, a price difference of $120 to $150 can make a big difference. However, you can occasionally find the RTX 5070 Ti models we tested for prices much closer to that of the XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9070XT, at which point they're equally good options. Flaws but not dealbreakers AMD's software support still isn't as good as Nvidia's. While FSR4 is a much-needed step in the right direction, we're not seeing it in as many games as we are Nvidia's equivalent upscaling tool, DLSS. Additionally, AMD still can't quite compete with Nvidia in providing other bonus features and software support like Nvidia Broadcast and Nvidia's Twitch-streaming tools. And historically AMD's driver support has been slower than Nvidia's, though 2025 has shown Nvidia to have its own problems in that regard. Path tracing is off-limits. While the Radeon RX 9070 XT has mostly caught up with Nvidia's GPUs in in more typical ray tracing scenarios, AMD can't compete at the bleeding edge of graphics tech: path tracing. Path tracing is a more technically accurate implementation of ray tracing, but it's also much more systemically demanding — so much so that almost every card we tested struggled or even failed outright in our benchmarks using the low path tracing settings in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle . While we could get the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Gaming OC 16G to an acceptable level of performance using a combination of upscaling and 1440p resolution, the XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9070XT just couldn't hack it. The situation could improve over time as AMD works with developers to better optimize its drivers. For now, however, if you want to live on the cutting edge, you'll have to look elsewhere (and spend more money). It's more expensive than it was when it launched, and it can occasionally be hard to find. When the RX 9070 XT launched in March, AMD set a target price for vendors of $600. Once initial shipments of those GPUs sold out, prices increased precipitously. At this writing, they have largely settled: Our pick, the XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9070XT, typically sells for around $850. That's still much less than many models based on the RTX 5070 Ti, but we don't love it. However, we've started to see other RX 9070 XT models sell for much less, so you may want to shop around a bit to see what options are available to you. You may encounter instability. In my testing with the RX 9070 XT (and its cheaper counterpart, the Radeon 9070), I experienced persistent system crashes and driver unresponsiveness while benchmarking Monster Hunter Wilds and AMD's own driver stress test. I resolved the issue — which is similar to those reported by multiple people across Reddit and other PC-gaming communities — by resetting my PC's DDR5-6000 to 'stock' settings in my motherboard's UEFI settings page. In another product category, this kind of thing might be a dealbreaker, but unfortunately, in PC gaming, it's a not altogether unfamiliar cost of doing business; for example, Nvidia's current drivers cause consistent crashing in Monster Hunter Wilds . Coil whine could be an issue. I noted relatively minor but clearly present coil whine across three different 9070 models. Although it didn't affect performance or present any other issues, if you're especially sensitive to that kind of noise, you might want to go with a card based on the RTX 5070 Ti instead, even if it's more expensive. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter This graphics card's RTX 5070 Ti GPU edges out the RX 9070 XT in ray tracing scenarios, and Nvidia's software features give it an edge for Twitch streamers seeking the best-looking video. Dimensions: 13.39 by 5.51 by 2.75 inches Required power supply and connector: 800 W, one 12vh2 VRAM: 16 GB While most people would be better served paying less for the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT's similar performance in most games, if you're willing to pay more for better frame rates in games using the most advanced graphical tech, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is a better GPU option. For streamers and content creators, RTX 5070 Ti cards such as the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Gaming OC 16G also support Twitch's Enhanced Broadcasting options, which use video-encoding hardware on the GPU to deliver much better-looking video while you're streaming your gameplay to Twitch. It also runs games well at 1440p and 4K. Graphics cards based on Nvidia's RTX 5070 Ti, including the models we tested, the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Gaming OC 16G and the MSI 5070 Ti 16G Gaming Trio OC Plus, run neck and neck with those based on the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, which are usually cheaper. But Nvidia's GPU similarly provides a great gaming experience for people with a 1440p display, even at higher frame rates — and in some games it performs even better than AMD's card, especially with ray tracing enabled. The Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Gaming OC 16G (left) and the MSI 5070 Ti 16G Gaming Trio OC Plus (right). Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter It offers better support for both ray tracing and path tracing. Nvidia has consistently been at the forefront of new graphics technology with its GPUs, and in games using more advanced techniques like ray tracing, the RTX 5070 Ti continues to edge out the RX 9070 XT. In games such as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle , the Gigabyte and MSI RTX 5070 Ti graphics cards we tested allowed us to enable settings at playable configurations that our upgrade pick just couldn't manage. The number of games that this feature will meaningfully affect is small, but if you have around $1,000 to spend and want access to them, the RTX 5070 Ti is your only currently available GPU option. It has bells and whistles such as Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting support. Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting uses the onboard video encoder inside Nvidia's GPUs (including the RTX 5070 Ti) to create high-bit-rate, compliant video versions for Twitch; this means viewers will see clearer, less blocky videos that haven't gone through multiple stages of processing, as well as, eventually, even high-frame-rate streams. Nvidia also offers, for 20-series RTX GPUs and up, the Broadcast suite of features, which provide on-the-fly noise removal to microphones, as well as background removal in webcam video feeds. These features aren't critical to gaming, but we appreciate them as value-adds for Nvidia's more expensive GPUs. Flaws but not dealbreakers It's more expensive than it was supposed to be. Much like our upgrade pick, the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Gaming OC 16G costs significantly more than Nvidia's January 2025 suggested price of $750. Prices and availability continue to fluctuate, but it's rare that we see an RTX 5070 Ti for less than $950, and we often see them for much, much more. We understand some of the reasons for this jump, but that doesn't mean we have to like them. Nvidia's drivers have been unreliable in 2025. Graphics cards rely on up-to-date drivers and constant support from GPU manufacturers to play just-released games in a stable fashion, and Nvidia has routinely fumbled in this regard so far this year, with more than a dozen driver and hotfix releases. These patches have repeatedly failed to address stability problems that owners have encountered with Nvidia's newest GPUs, including black screens, driver crashes, failures to wake from sleep, and unexpected application problems, several of which I have personally experienced. The most stable release I've found for Nvidia GPUs is months old. Nvidia will fix this issue eventually, but for now, these problems are a black mark against the RTX 5070 TI and its 50-series siblings. If you want a great budget option and can tolerate some drawbacks: The MSI Geforce RTX 5060 8G Shadow 2X OC (and other entry-level RTX 5060 GPU–based graphics cards, such as the Asus Prime GeForce RTX 5060) is a great option for gamers on a budget playing at 1080p and 1440p resolutions — with an important caveat. At 1080p and even 1440p, the RTX 5060 posted excellent results in Doom: The Dark Ages and Assassin's Creed Shadows , two graphically intense 2025 titles, and it yielded good results across most of our benchmarks. However, like the other 5060-family graphics cards we tested, it just wasn't stable in Monster Hunter Wilds . Usually, a single title wouldn't have such a heavy influence on our recommendations, but Monster Hunter Wilds is the best-selling video game of 2025 at this writing. Additionally, Nvidia has had a number of problems with driver reliability throughout 2025. This keeps the RTX 5060 from being a pick for this guide for now, but if you're not bothered by a little troubleshooting and don't care about Monster Hunter Wilds , it's an excellent entry-level option that will play current releases well at 1080p and even 1440p for years to come. If you want the best-looking video games: Almost no one should buy an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card — the launch pricing for this tier started at $2,000 and has reached eye-watering numbers since. However, if you absolutely need the best-looking, best-performing PC gaming experience (or you want to crank up the settings and play everything at 4K), the RTX 5090 is your only real option. I've been testing the Gigabyte Aorus GeForce RTX 5090 Master Ice 32G (which also comes in a slightly easier-to-find black version) for months, and I've been consistently impressed with its performance, as well as its absolute silence, especially in comparison with the fairly prominent coil whine present in Nvidia's own GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition card. Gigabyte's card has handled all of 2025's biggest games dialed up almost as far as they'll go, and as hard as I've tried to hate it and its used-car price tag, it has been a dream to play on. (And I even kind of love its completely ridiculous little LCD screen.) But unless you have an especially high-refresh-rate 4K display and a notably fast CPU to keep it fed with data, you'd be hard-pressed to really take advantage of all that power — and you'd need at least a 1,000-watt power supply to keep it running properly. And did I mention the price? AMD announced the more budget-friendly Radeon RX 9060 XT in both 8 GB and 16 GB configurations at this year's Computex trade show. They're priced at $300 and $350, respectively (and theoretically), and they're set to arrive at retailers and online on June 5. According to AMD's released performance and benchmarking data, the 16 GB version of the RX 9060 XT may be particularly appealing for entry-level buyers seeking affordable performance. AMD's promised performance with its RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT was more or less on point, but the question remains as to whether you'll actually be able to buy any new video card for its suggested retail price; both the RX 9070 and the RX 9070 XT now sell for hundreds more than their initial pricing. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 is comparable in performance to our top pick, the AMD Radeon RX 7600, and in many cases it performs better, especially in games using ray tracing. However, its prices have fluctuated wildly over the past year, with cards often selling for $400 or more, which makes it too expensive for its performance in comparison with other, better GPUs. It also appears to have been discontinued, as retailers rarely appear to have new stock. We can find the model we tested, the Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 4060 8GB Solo, only used on retailers like Amazon. Typically we don't recommend buying a used graphics card, especially when it saves you just 15% over the original list price. The Asus Prime GeForce RTX 5080 and the Gigabyte Aorus GeForce RTX 5080 Master 16G, along with other RTX 5080 versions, are capable graphics cards that outperform all but exactly two other models: the last-generation GeForce RTX 4090 and the ludicrously expensive GeForce RTX 5090. However, the RTX 5080 models we tested yielded only a 20% to 25% improvement in 1440p and 4K testing over the RTX 5070 Ti and similar improvements over the RX 9070 XT, for prices that range from 50% to 100% higher. For the prices that add-in board makers are asking — which currently range from $1,500 all the way up to a frankly ridiculous $2,200 — the RTX 5080 is difficult to recommend. If those costs come down over time, or if the prices on other cards go up without affecting the RTX 5080, we'll reevaluate it. The Asus Prime GeForce RTX 5070 and other RTX 5070 models are good 1080p and 1440p performers, but the RX 9070 XT delivers better performance and is likely last longer with current games, which also applies to the RTX 5070 Ti. With RTX 5070 graphics cards costing $650 to $800, paying a bit more for an RX 9070 XT or RTX 5070 Ti card makes much more sense. If you can find a card based on the RTX 5070 for around $500, it's not a bad purchase, but with prices trending considerably higher, we can't recommend it. We encountered significant stability issues while testing the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and the non-Ti GeForce RTX 5060 across multiple driver releases from Nvidia and multiple installs of Windows 11 24H2. These graphics cards could not finish our Monster Hunter Wilds benchmark runs without encountering complete driver crashes. That said, otherwise the RTX 5060 put out respectable results across the games we tested, with better-than-console performance at 1440p and even 4K with upscaling enabled and at medium settings. We'll reevaluate the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 once Nvidia's drivers are more stable, but considering that the pricing on these GPUs has seemed relatively settled (and close to the original manufacturer's suggested retail price), they could become a pick in the future. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is generally just $50 to $100 cheaper than the RX 9070 XT, which performed 10% to 15% better across our benchmark tests. If you can find one like the Gigabyte Radeon RX 9070 OC, the card that we tested, for closer to its original $550 launch price, it's a capable card at 1440p and even 4K with adjusted settings. The Intel ARC B580 is an entry-level GPU designed to compete with AMD's Radeon RX 7600 and Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4060. Other outlets reported benchmarks and performance from the ARC B580 that were impressive, especially in light of its $250 launch price. However, since its launch in December 2024, it has become almost impossible to find, particularly at its initial suggested retail price. If it becomes more available and more competitive on price again, we'll evaluate it for this guide. Other than the RX 7600, we didn't evaluate any Radeon 7–series GPUs because they're frequently unavailable or available only at vastly inflated prices compared with their initial suggested retail price. Similarly, Nvidia's 40-series RTX graphics cards have effectively been discontinued, so we elected not to consider them aside from the GeForce RTX 4060 (which appeared to be discontinued as we conducted research and testing for this guide). This article was edited by Caitlin McGarry and Signe Brewster.
