Getting a dedicated video card (or more than one) is still a necessity for those who need more GPU processing for things like extreme gaming, pro-level video apps, or serious high-definition home theater (in 2D or 3D!). Whether you're beefing up an older AGP-based system or taking your PCIe PC to new heights, these lists will give you the best options to get the most reliable graphics power for your money.Best Gaming Video Cards:
The single biggest reason for choosing a graphics card is to get higher resolutions and better framerates on today's games. The good news is that video cards have 'caught up' to game developers; you no longer NEED the fastest graphics card in order to play the most demanding games. However, extreme gamers still need a higher-end video card that will take as much of the burden off of the CPU as possible. The graphics cards on this list allow gamers to enable all of the features (anti-aliasing, physics processing, etc.) while playing at maximum resolutions on one or more monitors. Although value for the dollar is taken into consideration when drawing up this list, few of these choices can be accurately described as "budget-friendly". On the other hand, the list leaves out some of the highest-end 'limited edition' video cards that offer significantly diminishing returns on your investment.
eVGA 03G-P3-1584-AR GeForce GTX 580 Video Card
Although slightly overshadowed by the newest and highest-end GPUs, the GTX 580 is still Nvidia's top overall performer for gaming rigs. This "Superclocked" edition offers an outstanding out-of-the-box overclock, backed up with EVGA's rigorous pre-testing and great history of service and support. If you're going to plunk down about $500 for one (or more) video cards, there aren't many that can make you feel this comfortable about doing it. Read Full Review »
HIS IceQ X Turbo H695QNT2G2M Radeon HD 6950 Video Card
The HIS 6950 IceQ Turbo X 2 GB is nearly perfect for any mainstream or gaming/enthusiast rig. It's powerful enough to take on extreme gaming, Eyefinity, HD3D, CrossFireX, and almost anything else that you can throw at it. It's also cool enough to take it all in stride, and handle some impressive overclocking too. There are undoubtedly faster and more powerful video cards out there, but you'll end up paying much more than they're ultimately worth -- the IceQ Turbo nails the perfect price-vs-performance point. Read Full Review »
MSI N570GTX Twin Frozr III Power Edition/OC Video Card
The MSI N570GTX Twin Frozr III "Power Edition" earns the "best 570" title on both the performance and cooling fronts. If you're building a high-end gaming PC, you're going to want a graphics card that can overclock (the card can give you about 20% more) and keep things cool (say, 15-20 degrees cooler). An absolute must for the short list of 3D Vision and 3-way SLI builds. Read Full Review »
Amazon.com$329.99
XFX HD-697A-CNFC Radeon HD 6970 Graphics Card
Few single-GPU cards on the market today can match the gaming potential and reliability for overclocking that XFX offers with the misleadingly-named "Standard Edition" Radeon 6970. Even fewer can deliver a combination of price point and warranty that makes the decision this easy. If you want all the power of a pair of 6850's without the worry of micro stuttering and increased power consumption, the XFX CNFC is an excellent choice. Read Full Review »
eVGA GeForce GTX 560 Video Card
For the extreme gamer who chokes at spending more than $250 or so on a single GPU, the EVGA GTX 560 Ti Superclocked DS is almost a no-brainer, whether you stick with the impressive factory 'superclocks' or take advantage of the advanced cooling design to push it even further. More than one of these also make a cost and performance win if you're looking to build a dual or 3-way SLI rig, and the potential of multi-monitor, multi-card 3D Vision is outstanding. Read Full Review »
Amazon.com$249.99
Best Value Video Card:
Don't mistake "value" for "compromise". No matter how much graphics power you need, no matter how much money you allocate for your PC build, you're still likely to keep 'price' as one of the considerations. The mid-range (around $150 - $250) graphics cards on this list will make every dollar that you spend count, but if you're looking to cut costs as much as possible you may want to consider our "Best Budget" list instead. This "Value" list features the perfect solutions for the vast majority of mainstream gamers and videophiles, the PC users whose needs fit in the middle ground between 'hardcore enthusiast' and 'entry level'. As always, the specifications, power needs, cooling, real-world performance and extra features are taken into consideration, so you can safely consider any one of these graphics cards to be the best in its class.
XFX HD-679X-ZNFC Radeon HD 6790 Graphics Card
The XFX HD-679X is the perfect video card for those of us who need our PCs to cover mainstream needs, but still achieve impressive framerates and resolutions when we indulge our gaming urges. Great cooling design and build quality -- and a lifetime warranty -- make this a card that you'll be able to push hard and hang on to for a while. Read Full Review »
ZOTAC Geforce GTX460 Graphics Card
You're simply not going to be disappointed when you fire up one (or two, or three) of Zotac's GeForce GTX 460s. I know, we're all so conditioned to believe that nothing but this month's brand new video card will do, but 2 GB of GTX 460 power will play anything that you throw at it. Depending on where and when you get it, the final verdict could be "a great card for the money" or "you'd be an idiot not to buy one at this price". Read Full Review »
HIS H687F1G2M Radeon HD 6870 Video Card
It's a wonderful time to be a graphics fan when you can get something as powerful as the HIS H687F1G2M Radeon HD 6870 for under $200. In this range, HIS pleases both mainstream PC users who need extra gaming and video power, as well as those who are testing the waters of serious gaming and enthusiast-level performance. Just be careful of that sword sticker -- you'll be using this card so much that it may peel off. Read Full Review »
eVGA GeForce GTX 560 Video Card
While other 560 Ti cards may improve on the cooling and clocking results, EVGA's FPB is the standard by which every other 1 GB, 384-core Fermi card should be measured. It's hard to turn down a Free Performance Boost, especially when it comes from a manufacturer with proven customer service and support. If you're looking to move up to enthusiast-level results at mainstream prices, you simply must consider this card. Read Full Review »
Amazon.com$249.99
HIS IceQ X Turbo H695QNT2G2M Radeon HD 6950 Video Card
It's hard to believe that all the power of AMD's 6950 can come at a price that will work for a (high) mainstream budget -- and STILL deliver reliability and build quality -- but the HIS 6950 IceQ Turbo X makes it happen. It may be overkill for the home PC that only ever sees moderate gaming and video use, but the IceQ will satisfy anyone who hopes to take their main PC into multiple monitors, multiple cards, or multiple dimensions. Read Full Review »
Best 3D Graphics Card:
With a number of 3D options having been available for some time, it's difficult to keep in mind that 3D video is still largely a niche field in development. Nvidia currently has a significant edge with its 3D Vision platform -- among other things, offering true multi-monitor support --while AMD's HD3D is an increasingly worthy but less widely-implemented option. All require an additional investment and at least a little research; in addition to requiring the relatively more-expensive graphics cards that offer 3D technology, you'll typically need to have compatible stereoscopic glasses and/or monitors (often bundled together). To make things as simple as possible for those who want to get in on the 3D video experience, this list focuses on the video cards which offer the most native options -- i.e., not factoring in what you can achieve by adding or substituting third-party 3D solutions. And of course each card will be evaluated on intrinsic performance, cooling, and build quality details.
GIGABYTE GeForce GV-N580UD-3GI GTX 580 Graphics Card
I'm guessing that many of my fellow skeptics will look at the three-headed beast that is the GIGABYTE GV-N580UD-3GI, and try to claim that the additional fan(s) and GDDR5 memory are more of a marketing gimmick than a performance boost. However, actual users have verified the immensely effective WindForce cooling, and I challenge anyone to provide a video card that can dependably beat the GTX 580 in graphics performance. Read Full Review »
eVGA 03G-P3-1584-AR GeForce GTX 580 Video Card
While EVGA's 560 Ti models hold down the more affordable end of the enthusiast-class Nvida range, their "Superclocked" 580 is simply extreme performance incarnate. This video card will refuse to break a sweat while running 3D Vision across multiple monitors (something that the competition has notable problems achieving). If you're really looking to push the limits with overclocking and SLI, you'll feel so much better with EVGA's support at your back. Read Full Review »
MSI N570GTX Twin Frozr III Power Edition/OC Video Card
For 3D Vision, the factory-overclocked MSI N570GTX nips right at the heels of its more powerful and expensive GTX 580 sibling. In fact, if you're building a system specifically for 3D gaming or video, it makes a lot of sense to stick with the 570 -- especially considering that the awesome cooling and power features of the Twin Frozr will give you the headroom to tweak the 570 well into -- and past -- reference 580 territory. Read Full Review »
Amazon.com$329.99
eVGA GeForce GTX 560 Video Card
The processing demands and constantly developing nature of 3D can give you the impression that only the newest (and most expensive) hardware will do. One of several advantages that Nvidia currently has over AMD is that high quality cards such as the 560 Ti will give you a thoroughly satisfying 3D experience at a lower price point, and EVGA's "Superclocked" version is quite simply the best of its kind, from a manufacturer that has proven its commitment to customer service. Read Full Review »
Amazon.com$249.99
XFX HD-697A-CNFC Radeon HD 6970 Graphics Card
Although AMD makes great video cards all along the price vs performance spectrum, you'll need to lean toward the top-of-the line to get an exceptional HD3D experience. The XFX HD-697A certainly fits that description; from the 2 GB to the stable overclock potential, there's nothing about this card that isn't the best in its class. Read Full Review »
Best AMD Crossfire Graphics Card:
When AMD acquired ATi, they took over the CrossFire technology and added an "X", but continued the tradition of making some of the finest video cards ever made. AMD's multi-card technology has some notable differences from competitor Nvidia's SLI, while CrossFireX tends to be more flexible about graphics card combinations, and benefits from more widespread out-of-the-box motherboard support. It also suffers somewhat in comparison with Nvidia's drivers and individual game profiles. Also, AMD's optimized efficiency tends to help a bit more with the additional temperature and power demands that come with a multiple card configuration. On this list, you'll find the best AMD-based cards for dual, triple, or quad CrossFireX configurations -- but keep in mind that MOST of AMD's cards of the same generation will work well together (for example, pairing a 6870 and a 6850 is a viable option -- but neither will play nice with a 6950).
XFX HD-697A-CNFC Radeon HD 6970 Graphics Card
Two of XFX's 6970s in CrossFireX makes for a graphics powerhouse that will eat any of this year's games for breakfast (and I dare not even consider what THREE cards might do to them). Given the advances in scaling that AMD has achieved since the 6800 series, not to mention a whopping 2 GB of video memory, the XFX CNFC simply has to be my choice for the best single CrossFireX card that reasonable mortals would buy. Read Full Review »
MSI R6950 Twin Frozr III PE/OC Graphic Card
With exceptional cooling and quality, I'd have no difficulty recommending MSI's R6950 Twin Frozr III as a cutting-edge single-card solution for serious gamers. As part of a CrossFireX multi-card setup, you also get the benefits of the Cayman-series scaling improvements as well as the onboard 2GB GDDR5 to smooth out extreme-resolution anti-aliasing and microstuttering issues. Plus, with multiple PCIe cards, those outstanding fans will make a big difference to the temps in your case. Read Full Review »
HIS IceQ X Turbo H695QNT2G2M Radeon HD 6950 Video Card
CrossFireX setups can get expensive quickly, but the cost of multiple HIS 6950 IceQ Turbo X cards is still within reach of many high-mainstream or enthusiast-level users. The advanced cooling makes even more sense with the higher power consumption and reduced airflow space that comes with multi-card builds (not to mention the overclocking that you KNOW you'll be doing with this card!). Read Full Review »
XFX HD-687X-CNFC Radeon HD 6870 Graphic Card
I think you can safely say that I recommend this card, seeing as how I'm using one as we speak. And when it comes time for an upgrade (which won't be for some time, considering the fact that I have yet to downgrade from full-on "Ultra" settings for either Skyrim or BF3), I'll need an extremely good reason not to simply buy one more for dual CrossFireX bliss -- especially considering that magical 2 GB of GDDR. Read Full Review »
Amazon.com$219.99
Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 Video Card
For gamers looking to build a CrossFireX system without taking out a second mortgage, Sapphire's HD 6850 provides the perfect mix of power and cost-effectiveness. For the same price or less, you can put multiple HD 6850s together to get equal or better framerates and resolutions as any one of this year's HD 6900s or GTX 580s. Read Full Review »
Amazon.com$149.98
Best nVidia SLI Graphics Card:
There's always heated debate over the pros and cons of either of the big GPU names. However you look at it, Nvidia has a reputation for powering some of the best video cards ever made, and backing them up with drivers and game profiles that continually make the most of their processing potential. They're also currently leading the pack in 3D graphics, especially when it comes to multi-monitor or multi-card setups. Any single Nvidia card will deliver the company's trademark graphics performance, but those who need extreme gaming and video setups will want to know how well these cards work in dual, 3-way, and quad SLI configurations. Of course, each of these picks will also take into consideration overall capabilities, price versus performance, and additional features.
GIGABYTE GeForce GV-N580UD-3GI GTX 580 Graphics Card
SLI presents three potential drawbacks, namely power, heat, and micro stuttering. Gigabyte's GV-N580UD-3GI laughs at puny 1 GB and 2 GB cards, uses Ultra Durable to take the edge off of the power issue, and wraps it all in WindForce to cool things down quietly and super effectively. Are we talking four figures for dual- or 3-way SLI? Yes. If you can handle that, this video card will take care of everything else. Read Full Review »
EVGA Geforce GTX 580 Video Card
Umm, yeah. SLI using two or more of the "Superclocked" EVGA GeForce GTX 580 means that we're talking about a four-figure video card setup now -- which is pretty much beyond the reach of anybody in MY social circle. However, if you can make it happen, there is zero chance that you'll be disappointed with the performance results; just make sure that you have one (or two) HUGE power supplies to handle all of it. Read Full Review »
MSI N570GTX Twin Frozr III Power Edition/OC Video Card
If multiple GTX 560's aren't quite enough, and the sheer price of multiple 580's frightens you, the obvious choice is the 570. But MSI's Twin Frozr III offers many other good reasons to choose it for your SLI setup: the cooling, the reduced length, and the outstanding efficiency that results from power optimizations and MSI components. Read Full Review »
Amazon.com$329.99
eVGA GeForce GTX 560 Video Card
EVGA's 560 Ti FPB is a formidable video card on its own, and in dual or 3-way SLI you'll have a gaming monster that can challenge any single card on the market. My only recommendation is that you look into additional or alternate cooling solutions, as the included heatsink and fan will be working hard to cope with the cramped conditions and increased power usage of a multi-card setup. Read Full Review »
Amazon.com$249.99
ZOTAC Geforce GTX460 Graphics Card
Are there more cutting-edge video cards on the market? Sure. But when it comes to SLI, two (or three) smaller cards are often better than one bigger one, especially when you double up on GDDR5. This is definitely the case with Zotac's 2 GB version of the GTX 460, a powerful little card that you can find for a great price. Read Full Review »
Best Budget Video Card:
Although onboard graphics solutions make an excellent answer to budget-minded PC builds, there are many situations where you'll need a separate video card that performs without killing your finances. Perhaps you want to avoid spending too much money on upgrading an older PC , perhaps you're building a system with an eye on the future and you simply need a budget-friendly 'placeholder' video card, or perhaps you simply prefer a cutting-edge chipset without onboard graphics but still want a lower-cost video card solution. Whatever the case, there are currently many great deals on powerful but inexpensive video cards, and these picks represent some of the most feature-packed and dependable price-versus-performance options on the market today.
HIS Radeon HD 6770 H677FN1GD Video Card
The H677FN1GD by HIS is probably the least-expensive card that I would trust to deliver serious gaming performance. It's also quite a hard worker when it comes to video transcoding, and multitasks well with the CPU (making it a great choice for hybrid onboard/ PCIe graphics setups). On top of all this, it's a nice size for cramped cases, looks pretty cool, and comes with a 2-year warranty. Any objections to making this a flawless budget winner? Read Full Review »
Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 Video Card
Any higher on the price, and it would be difficult to call the Sapphire 100315L a true "budget" choice, but the option of getting a high-quality Radeon 6850 for less than $150 cannot be denied. This is truly serious gaming power that can tackle any title on the market, and provides a real foundation for Eyefinity, HD3D, and CrossFireX -- although the top-mounted fan will be an airflow issue that must be addressed in overclocked or cramped situations. Read Full Review »
Amazon.com$149.98
MSI R5670-MD1GD3 Radeon HD 5670 Graphic Card - 775 MHz Core - 1 GB DDR3 SDRAM - PCI Express 2.1 x16
If you hired me to build a budget PC and gave me a $75 limit on the video card, I'd have no reservations about choosing the MSI R5670-MD1GD3 (and handing you the change). This graphics card beats anything that the competition offers for under $100, delivering crisp HD video and audio as well as considerable current-generation gaming power. The small size recommends it for all sorts of form-factor restrictions -- but HTPC builders might want to consider whether the extra performance outweighs a little extra fan noise. Read Full Review »
XFX HD-679X-ZDFC Radeon HD 6790 Video Card
XFX's HD-679X-ZDFC is a full-fledged gaming and multi-monitor Radeon at a price that won't kill a budget PC build. The extra cooling power makes it ideal for CrossFireX, moderate overclocking, and small form-factor cases (LAN party or HTPC builds, as long as they can accommodate a 10" card).
Read Full Review »
EVGA GeForce GTX 550 Ti FPB Graphics Card 01G-P3-1556-KR
If you're a die-hard Nvidia fan who simply can't justify the extra cash for a 560 (or a 2 MB 460, or 560 Ti), you will not be disappointed by the performance, efficiency, and tweaking potential of the 550 Ti. Plus, EVGA's factory overclock gives it considerable edge, and their customer support is second to none. Read Full Review »
Amazon.com$134.88
