Desktop GPU Ladder
Compare NVIDIA and AMD GPUs by FPS, VRAM, power and price-to-performance.
Local & private by design
| # | GPU | Tier | 1080P | 2K | 4K | VRAM | TDP | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RTX 5090 SuperNVIDIA | S | 235 | 215 | 152 | 32GB | 600W | $2199 |
| 2 | RX 9080 XTAMD | S | 225 | 205 | 145 | 32GB | 380W | $1199 |
| 3 | RTX 5090NVIDIA | S | 220 | 200 | 140 | 32GB | 575W | $1999 |
| 4 | RTX 4090NVIDIA | S | 210 | 185 | 120 | 24GB | 450W | $1599 |
| 5 | RTX 5080 SuperNVIDIA | A+ | 200 | 175 | 100 | 16GB | 380W | $1199 |
| 6 | RX 9070 XTAMD | A+ | 192 | 168 | 95 | 16GB | 304W | $549 |
| 7 | RX 7900 XTXAMD | A+ | 190 | 165 | 95 | 24GB | 355W | $899 |
| 8 | RTX 4080 SuperNVIDIA | A+ | 185 | 160 | 90 | 16GB | 320W | $999 |
| 9 | RTX 4070 Ti SuperNVIDIA | A | 170 | 140 | 75 | 16GB | 285W | $799 |
| 10 | RX 7900 XTAMD | A | 165 | 138 | 72 | 20GB | 315W | $699 |
| 11 | RTX 4070 SuperNVIDIA | B+ | 155 | 120 | 58 | 12GB | 220W | $599 |
| 12 | RX 7800 XTAMD | B+ | 150 | 118 | 55 | 16GB | 263W | $499 |
| 13 | RTX 4060 TiNVIDIA | B | 130 | 90 | 38 | 8GB | 160W | $399 |
| 14 | RX 7600AMD | B | 120 | 80 | 32 | 8GB | 165W | $259 |
| 15 | RTX 3050NVIDIA | C | 85 | 50 | 20 | 8GB | 130W | $199 |
FPS estimates reflect AAA Ultra averages (no RT, no upscaling). RT and DLSS/FSR change the picture dramatically — see the GPU FPS Estimator for tunable scenarios.
The GPU buying mistake everyone makes
GPUs are the most expensive part of a gaming build, and the most often mis-bought. People buy a 24GB card for 1080P gaming (wasted VRAM), pair a top GPU with a weak CPU (CPU-bound at 1080P), or chase a brand when the other side offers 30% more perf-per-dollar that week. The marketing numbers do not help — "up to 2× faster" is meaningless without a resolution, a setting tier, and a price.
The Desktop GPU Ladder cuts through that. It ranks NVIDIA RTX and AMD Radeon cards by 1080P, 2K and 4K average FPS, VRAM, power draw, and price-to-performance. Sort by what matters for your build, compare two or three side by side, and find the card that actually fits your resolution and budget. Local compute, no signup.
How the tool works
Each GPU carries normalized scores across four dimensions:
- FPS at 1080P / 2K / 4K — average framerate in a basket of modern AAA titles at High settings, no upscaling. Ray-tracing tested separately. Higher is better.
- VRAM — total video memory. 8GB is the bare floor at 1080P Ultra in 2026; 12GB is comfortable; 16GB+ for 4K. Use the VRAM Usage Estimator to verify.
- Power (watts) — full-load board power. Determines your PSU sizing (use the PC Wattage Calculator) and case cooling needs.
- Value — FPS-per-dollar at typical street price, per resolution. The same card can be a great 1080P value and a poor 4K value.
Sort, filter by brand, and hover any row for the spec sheet — architecture, CUDA cores / stream processors, boost clock, memory bus, connector type, recommended PSU.
Step-by-step usage
- Pick your target resolution. 1080P, 2K or 4K. This is the single biggest input — a card that wins at 1080P can lose at 4K.
- Sort by FPS at that resolution. Top of the list is fastest; check the Value column for the sweet spot.
- Filter VRAM if you play texture-heavy games or use HD packs. 12GB+ is safer for 4K.
- Cross-check power against your PSU and case. A 450W GPU needs a 850W+ PSU and a big case.
- Compare your top 2–3 side by side. Look at where each wins — raster, RT, VRAM, power, price.
Common hardware problems this tool solves
- "My new GPU gives the same FPS as my old one" — you were CPU-bound, not GPU-bound. The ladder paired with the Hardware Load Bottleneck Detector would have flagged it.
- "Game stutters with high-res texture packs" — you ran out of VRAM. The VRAM column plus the VRAM Usage Estimator catch this.
- "My PC reboots when I game" — your PSU cannot handle the new GPU's transients. Check the Power column and the PSU Wattage Matcher.
- "I bought 24GB of VRAM for 1080P and it sits empty" — overspent. The Value column would have pointed to a 12GB card at half the price.
For deeper fault guides, browse the GPU fix hub.
Pro tips for DIY builders
- Match the GPU to the resolution, not the budget. A 4K card at 1080P wastes money; a 1080P card at 4K stutters. Pick the resolution first, then the card.
- AMD usually wins raster-per-dollar; NVIDIA wins features. DLSS, ray tracing and productivity (CUDA, NVENC) lean NVIDIA. Pure FPS-per-dollar often leans AMD. Pick by the features you actually use.
- Used last-gen flagships can be steals — with caveats. A used RTX 3080/4070-class card can be great value, but verify thermals, BIOS (no mining OC), fans and warranty. Avoid cards with worn fans or repasted VRAM.
- VRAM is future-proofing, not today's performance. 12GB is plenty for 1080P/2K today. 16GB+ only pays off at 4K or with heavy mods. Do not pay for VRAM you will not use for 3+ years.
- Power matters more than you think. A 450W GPU needs a quality 850W PSU, a big case, and good airflow. Budget for cooling and PSU, not just the card.
Buy the card that fits your resolution, your case and your PSU — not the one at the top of a single chart. The ladder exists to make that decision clear.