GPU
Graphics Processing Units
Can You Build a PC Without a Graphics Card?
Short answer: yes, if your CPU has integrated graphics. Here is which Intel and AMD chips can drive a display on their own, and which leave you staring at a black screen.
Will the Ryzen 7 7800X3D Bottleneck an RTX 5080?
Short answer: no. At 1440p and 4K, where an RTX 5080 belongs, the graphics card sets the frame rate and the 7800X3D is among the fastest gaming CPUs made. Here is the one case where any CPU can hold it back.
RTX 5070 vs RTX 5060 Ti 16GB: More Speed or More VRAM
The RTX 5070 is about 30% faster than the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB for only ~14% more in our catalog, yet the cheaper card carries 16GB of VRAM to the 5070's 12GB. Here is which tradeoff actually matters for gaming.
RTX 5070 vs RX 9070: The Real 1440p Difference
The RX 9070 averages about 13% higher 1440p frame rates than the RTX 5070 and packs 16GB versus 12GB of VRAM, for about $41 more in our catalog. The RTX 5070 wins heavy ray tracing. Here is who should buy which.
RTX 5080 vs RX 9070 XT: What Double the Price Buys
The RTX 5080 costs about twice the RX 9070 XT in our catalog but leads by only roughly 15-20% in 4K raster. It pulls far ahead in path tracing. Here is who should buy which.
RTX 5070 Ti vs RX 9070 XT: Where Each One Actually Wins
The RX 9070 XT matches the RTX 5070 Ti in raster for about $266 less in our catalog, but the 5070 Ti pulls ahead the moment you turn on ray tracing and draws far less power. Here is who should buy which.
RTX 5060 Ti 8GB vs 16GB: What the Extra VRAM Changes
The 8GB and 16GB RTX 5060 Ti share the exact same GPU. At 1080p they tie, but at 1440p and with ray tracing the 8GB card stutters, pops textures, or crashes outright. Here is exactly when the extra memory is worth paying for.
Do You Need a PCIe 5.0 Motherboard for Your Graphics Card?
For most graphics cards the answer is no — a full-size x16 card loses about 1% on a PCIe 4.0 board. But a budget 8GB card that wires up over eight lanes can lose up to 10%. Here is how to tell which one you have.
Best Budget GPU for 1080p Gaming in 2026: What Actually Holds 60 FPS
Three in-stock cards, one clear 1080p pick, and an honest look at why the cheapest GPU in the catalog trails a six-year-old GTX 1660 Ti.
Best GPU for 1440p Gaming in 2026: Where Extra Money Stops Helping
Four in-stock GPUs, one clear 1440p winner, and an honest look at where 8GB of VRAM and a $2,000 card stop making sense.
1440p vs 4K Gaming: Is 4K Worth the GPU Cost?
4K has 2.25 times the pixels of 1440p and costs the same GPU roughly 40% of its frame rate. A 1440p 165Hz gaming monitor is $319.99; a 4K panel that keeps that speed is $1,359.99. Here is who should pay for 4K and who is better off at 1440p.
How Much VRAM Do You Need for Gaming in 2026?
8GB still holds up at 1080p, 12GB is the realistic floor for new AAA games, and 16GB is what you buy to keep a card for years. Here is how to tell which one you actually need.