GPU Buying Guide

Getting the best graphics card is key if you're looking to buy the best gaming

As the core element of a powerful gamer PC, the graphics card should be the component you choose carefully so you don't get frustrated with your gear's performance during your gaming sessions. With the recent GPU Buying Guide

Getting the best graphics card is key if you're looking to buy the best gaming PC or looking to build a PC on your own. The graphics card is even more important than the CPU. Unfortunately, the process of figuring out how to buy a GPU can be intimidating. There's so much to consider, from the type of monitor you're using (for recommendations, see our Best Gaming Monitors(opens in new tab) page) to the size of your PC case to the game settings you plan to play at.

Below are the things you need to keep in mind when shopping for your next GPU. For specific recommendations, see our best graphics cards list of the current options, as well as the GPU Benchmarks Hierarchy to see how today's cards compare to older cards that you might be looking to upgrade and replace.

Next to the central processing unit (CPU), the graphics processing unit (GPU) has the most impact on a gaming PC’s performance. The GPU consists of an additional processor that takes data from the CPU, and translates it into images that can be rendered on your display. In other words, when you’re playing a game, the GPU is doing most of the heavy lifting.

The more powerful the GPU (sometimes referred to as a graphics card) the more information can be calculated and displayed in a shorter time, and the better your gameplay experience will be overall.

In the early days of PCs, the CPU was responsible for translating information into images. The data was maintained in special memory spaces called “frame buffers,” and was then transferred to the display. Many general-purpose CPUs didn’t excel at pe you know what you’re looking for, you can head over to Newegg’s GPU page to pick out the best one for your needs.

CONTENTS

AMD versus Nvidia versus Intel

CUDA cores and streaming processors

VRAM

GPU and memory clock speed

Cooling and power

GPU and CPU

GPU vs. Graphics Card

What Are GPUs Used For?

Intel® GPU Technologies

GPU and CPU: Working Together

GPU vs. Graphics Card: What’s the Difference?

What Are GPUs Used For?

GPUs for Gaming

GPUs for Video Editing and Content Creation

Intel® GPU Technologies

GPU for Machine Learning

How To Buy The Right Graphics Card

AMD vs. NVIDIA: Which Is The Best Choice?

The Types Of Games That You Play

Your Display’s Resolution

Your Monitor’s Refresh Rate

Find out if your computer’s graphics card can be upgraded

Learn the terminology associated with graphics cards.

Consider how you use your card

Compatibility With Your Power Supply

Compare card specifications

Check the requirements of the software you want to run

Choose a card that best fits your price range.

Get a cooling system (if necessary)

GPU Buying Guide: How To Choose the Right Graphics Card

Why you should upgrade your graphics card

What to look for in a graphics card

1. Integrated vs. discrete graphics

2. Desktop vs. laptop graphics cards

Desktop PC graphics card

Laptop graphics card

3. Ray-tracing

4. Graphics card memory: how much is enough?

5. What the model numbers mean

6. Pricing and recommendations to keep in mind

How to Choose a Graphics Card

Why does your graphics card matter?

Gaming

Video and professional applications

Integrated vs. discrete GPUs

Mobile vs. desktop

Ray-tracing: the latest advancement in realistic graphics

Nvidia vs. AMD

Thermal Design Power (TDP)

Memory

Interface

Connections

More than one GPU

Buy the GPU that’s right for you

How to Buy the Right Graphics Card: A GPU Guide for 2022

Quick tips

AMD or Nvidia?

How Much Can You Spend?

Which GPUs are budget, mid-range and high-end?

How to buy a GPU: Which specs matter and which don't?

Can it support VR?

What about ray tracing and AI?

Reference Card or Third Party Design?

Card Recommendations by Resolution / Use Case