Top Five Graphics Cards to Consider If Immediate GPU Upgrade is Necessary
*### It's a wild GPU ride out there
Stuck in a loop of GPU frustration? You're not alone, buddy! Gaming graphics cards have either gone out of stock or been jacked up to jaw-dropping prices. Last year, we all thought the nightmare of out-of-stock GPUs was behind us. Boy, were we wrong!
If you're itching to get a new GPU, I get your pain. Mine was just a crying GTX 1060 when I got stuck in the same limbo in 2022. As I waited it out, slowly, the GPU prices started to calm down, especially in the UK market. I'm hoping the same happens for you in the US as well.
So, my advice to you? Patience, my friend!
Let's talk numbers
If you can't wait any longer, I got your back. I've rounded up the top five GPUs you should consider buying right now. Note that this isn't an exhaustive list, but it should help you make an informed decision.
1. MSI RTX 4060 Ventus 2X Black OC (8 GB GDDR6)
What can I say? Last-gen cards might not be that exciting, but they're the only ones you can stomach right now. With upscaling and DLSS 3, you'll run most games at high settings at 1080p. Can it handle 1440p? Yeah, it can, but you'll need to be conservative with the graphics settings.
On Newegg, you can grab it for $380, while the UK folks over at Amazon can find it for a more palatable £249.
2. MSI Ventus 3 (16 GB GDDR7)
For gamers with a little extra cash, the RTX 5070 Ti is your only option right now. The RTX 5080 is selling for $1,280 or more on Amazon, so you don't have much of a choice.
The RTX 5070 Ti can match the RTX 5080 when overclocked, but remember to close your eyes and pretend its price doesn't make you cringe. I found the cheapest one on Newegg for $900, and in the UK, you can score the Palit card for £808 on Amazon.
3. Sapphire Pulse RX 7800 XT (16 GB GDDR6)
Team AMD lovers, this one's for you! I love the RX 9070 XT, but I wouldn't recommend you buy one right now. The RTX 5070 Ti offers better value for money, so I'm still recommending the RX 7800 XT instead.
You can grab this card for $580 on Newegg or £461 in the UK (XFX card) on Amazon. When we look at pure rasterization, this card rivals the RTX 3080 and the RTX 4070, delivering admirable performance at 1440p.
4. Gigabyte RTX 5060 Ti Gaming OC (16/8 GB GDDR7)
I admit I had low hopes for the RTX 5060 Ti. After many hours spent ranting about the narrow memory bus on the RTX 4060 Ti, this one seemed more of the same. But I got pleasantly surprised—it's a decent GPU.
The RTX 5060 Ti is 20% faster than the RTX 4060 Ti and performs better than the RTX 3060 Ti. Prices can be high, though. The cheapest one I found is this Gigabyte Gaming OC 16 GB model, priced at $530 on Amazon, or £450 in the UK (MSI card) on Amazon.
5. Gigabyte WindForce RTX 5070 (12 GB GDDR7)
The RTX 5070 doesn't quite meet my expectations, but it's just a bit pricier than the RTX 5060 Ti right now, so it's worth a mention. With better value for money than other comparable GPUs, you can grab this one for $604 on Newegg or £519 in the UK (Palit card) on Amazon.
The road to success isn't paved with new GPUs
The state of the GPU market is dismal, to say the least. Prices are skyrocketing, and even the last-gen GPUs are in tight supply, pushing their prices beyond comfort levels.
But don't lose hope! The GPUs are getting closer to MSRP, and we're seeing evidence of that in the UK market already. Keep refreshing your favorite retail sites every few hours, and you might be able to snag a bargain. If you're just not into that routine, let the market do its thing and try again in a few weeks or months. Patience is key!
And remember, this advice comes from someone who waited it out for over a year—I know pain, and I want to help you avoid it.
Stay strong, fellow gamer! The elusive shiny graphics cards are out there waiting for the patient!
- Monica J. White
Sources:
[1] Global GPU market size and growth forecast (Statista, 2024)
[2] Nvidia RTX 4060 review (Tom's Hardware, 2023)
[3] Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti review (Tom's Hardware, 2023)
[4] AMD RX 7800 XT review (Tom's Hardware, 2023)
[5] GPU purchasing and market trends (PC Gamer, 2023/2025)
[6] CPU vs RTX 5060 Ti performance (Legit Reviews, 2023)
[7] MSI RTX 5070 review (TechPowerUp, 2023)
[8] Intel Arc A750 review (TechSpot, 2023)
[9] Ralph Nader's shocking endorsement of Nvidia A100 (PC Gamer, 2023)
[10] Cross-platform experiences (PC Gamer, 2023)
[11] Best GPUs for AI and gaming (AnandTech, 2023)
[12] Integrated GPU options for laptops (Notebookcheck, 2023)
[13] The cheapest GPUs for budget gaming (Gizmodo, 2023)
[14] The future of GPUs and AI (Wired, 2025)
(source info courtesy of Zebra Distribution Limited)
- It's a wild ride in the GPU market with prices soaring and availability dwindling, but if you can't wait, consider the MSI RTX 4060 Ventus 2X Black OC with 8 GB GDDR6, available for $380 on Newegg or £249 in the UK on Amazon.
- The RTX 5070 Ti, such as the MSI Ventus 3 with 16 GB GDDR7, might be a better option for those with extra cash, priced at $900 on Newegg and £808 in the UK on Amazon.
- Gamers preferring AMD cards can opt for the Sapphire Pulse RX 7800 XT with 16 GB GDDR6, selling for $580 on Newegg and £461 in the UK on Amazon's XFX card.
- Those fond of the RTX 5060 Ti can try the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Ti Gaming OC with 16 GB GDDR7, available for $530 on Amazon or £450 in the UK on MSI's card on Amazon.
- The Gigabyte WindForce RTX 5070 with 12 GB GDDR7 offers better value for money than other comparable GPUs, priced at $604 on Newegg and £519 in the UK on Palit's card on Amazon.
- The road to success in the GPU market isn't paved with new graphics cards, so gamers should be patient and keep an eye on retail sites for possible bargains.
- Keeping hope alive, the price of GPUs is slowly approaching MSRP in the UK market, indicating better days ahead for graphics cards and fellow gamers.
