Graphics Cards for Gaming
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Dedicated GPUs for gaming: NVIDIA GeForce and AMD Radeon graphics cards.
What to look at before you buy
Start with the screen you play on, not with the card. The resolution and refresh rate of your monitor decide how much graphics card you need: one that is too small for it shows in every game, and one that is too big costs money you never use.
Then check three things on the card's own spec sheet. Video memory: the official requirements of the games you play state how much they ask for, and that figure is a better guide than a number repeated online. Power: the card's maker publishes the power supply it recommends and the connector the card uses, an 8-pin cable or the newer 16-pin one, and that figure can be higher than the chip maker's own. Size: the length and thickness of the card, in millimeters, against the room inside your case.
Last, look at which upscaling technology the games you play support, because NVIDIA and AMD use different ones and it changes which card makes sense for you.
Tools that help you choose
Guides for this category
- RX 9060 XT + Ryzen 5 9600X: What Power Supply Do You Need?
- RTX 5070 vs RX 9070 XT: Which One to Buy in 2026
- Modern Warfare 4 PC Requirements and TPM 2.0 Check
- Prime Big Deal Days 2026 Gaming Gear: Buy or Skip
- 1080p, 1440p or 4K in 2026? Which One Fits Your GPU
- The 6 Best Graphics Cards for Gaming in 2026 (1080p to 4K)
- 5 Gaming PC Upgrades With the Biggest Impact per Dollar (2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much video memory do I need for gaming?
Check the official requirements of the games you play: studios publish the memory they ask for at minimum and recommended settings, and that is the number to follow. More memory does not make a card faster by itself; it keeps the card from running out of room when a game asks for more than it has.
What power supply do I need for a graphics card?
Use the figure the card's maker publishes, not only the chip maker's, because partner cards can ask for more. Then add your processor and the rest of the PC: our power supply calculator does that sum with official figures and tells you the size to buy.
Will a graphics card fit in my case?
Compare the card's length and thickness in slots with your case's maximum graphics card length in millimeters, all from the makers' pages. Our Will it fit? tool makes that comparison for the cases and cards in our catalog, so you know before you order.