Quick tips How to buy a GPU: Which specs matter and which don't?
Quick tips
Save money on CPU. If you spend all your money on graphics and don't choose one of the best processors, your system may perform well in synthetic benchmarks, but not as well in real game play (due to lower minimum frame rates). ).
Adjust the monitor resolution. Many consumer cards will be sufficient for gaming at 1080p resolutions at 30-60 fps, but for more demanding titles you'll need a high-end card for 4K or close resolutions with high game settings. So make sure you pair your GPU with the best gaming monitor for your needs.
Watch the refresh rate. If your monitor has triple-digit refresh rates, you need a powerful card and processor to realize its full potential. Alternatively, if your monitor maxes out at 60Hz and 1080p, there's no point paying more for a powerful card that transfers pixels faster than the screen can display.
Do you have enough power and space? Make sure your PC case has enough room for the card you're considering and that your power supply has enough spare watts and the right power connectors (up to three 8-pin PCIe, depending on the card) .
Check MSRP before you buy. A good way to find out if you're getting a deal is to check the launch price, or MSRP, of the card you're considering before you buy it. Tools like CamelCamelCamel (opens in new tab) can help separate genuine offers from fake markup and discount offers.
Don't get double cards, it's not worth it. The game's support for multi-card SLI or CrossFire setups is basically dead. Get the best book you can afford. Adding a second card is often more trouble than it's worth.
Don't rely on overclocking to increase performance. If you need better performance, buy a more powerful card. Graphics cards usually don't have much room to overclock, usually only 5-10%.