One of the key things you need to start building your PC is a graphics card. With the need for a work-from-home setup and the trend of hardcore computer games, PCs are definitely selling like hotcakes right now. People are building computers left and right to support their work or to keep themselves entertained.
Graphics cards are important for doing different work such as animation, 3D modeling, and rendering. If you are into gaming, it also determines the level and clarity of images. We've prepared a list of the best graphics cards available online and delved into the factors in choosing a graphics card with our buying guide checked by IT specialist JC Rogelio.
Quick List - Top Graphics Cards
Sapphire
Improved Aesthetics and Performance for a Multi-Monitor Setup
JC Rogelio is first and foremost a fan of upgrading and modifying computers. Due to his passion, he earned a degree in Information Technology from a university specializing in the field. He is tech-savvy and likes to research computer trends. He was a former employee of a Fortune 500 company in the Philippines and now has over 3 years of experience in the IT/Engineering field in Dubai.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
Modern CPUs have a built-in graphics chipset inside, also known as integrated graphics. The purpose of this is to provide lower-performance options so that you can use the CPU even without a separate graphics card.
An integrated card has enough power to drive the operating system and run the most basic software. However, it won't be enough for more intensive tasks like graphic rendering. On the other hand, a discrete graphics card can be bought separately and installed on a motherboard.
A discrete graphics card is installed in a computer's expansion slot on the motherboard. It is more powerful than the integrated graphics and is replaceable, giving you the option to upgrade depending on your need. If you require more processing power for your graphics, you should buy this one.
There are two major companies dominating the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) industry - Nvidia and AMD. There are some notable differences between the two, but you won’t go wrong with either of these choices.
Getting Nvidia means that you are going Team Green because the company is known for its iconic black and green branding. They have been at the forefront of pushing performance in terms of gaming and professional work uses.
Nvidia GPUs are specially partnered with G-Sync enabled monitors, which draw out the best from the graphics processor. They have also made technologies that only cater to their GPUs, such as DLSS and PhysX.
Some games have these functions and will only work with an Nvidia GPU to handle the computationally heavy workload. They also cater to creative and professional tasks, especially those that focus on 3D modeling and rendering.
AMD is not far off in terms of market dominance in the GPU market. What they deliver is an amazing bang-for-your-buck performance for mid-range gaming. They also cost the least in terms of gaming performance, so if gaming is something that you are interested in and don’t want to spend that much, AMD is the best choice for you.
They also offer the same technologies as Nvidia, such as Fidelity FX Super Resolution and FreeSync-enabled monitors. One caveat with getting an AMD GPU is that most professional software is built around Nvidia’s graphics engine, so an AMD GPU won’t be utilized as much.
You can determine a graphics card’s performance through its specifications. The combination of all the different specs will show you how it would cater to your needs and how much graphic computational load it can take. Let’s go over what to check when buying one.
Your graphics card and monitor should work hand in hand to deliver the optimum display quality you want. If one of them isn’t at par with the other in terms of the specifications, it will cause some bottlenecks in performance. Thus, you won't be able to see the full potential of both your graphics card and the monitor.
As an example, if you have a 4K monitor, get a graphics card that can support 4K. If you get a graphics card that can only support a 2K or 1080p display, you won’t be able to enjoy the full benefits of your 4K monitor. So, make sure that your monitor and graphics card match.
Refresh rate refers to how many times the screen refreshes to show a new image. For professional gamers and people who love to play games in general, this dictates if you are going to win or lose the round. The higher the refresh rate, the quicker the images are sent to the monitor, making it easier for gamers to react to the game.
High-end monitors usually have triple-digit refresh rates ranging from 120Hz to 144Hz. To fully utilize this, you will need a powerful card and processor. If your monitor can only manage 60Hz and 1080p, getting a powerful graphics card would not be advisable, as the monitor will only hinder the potential of your card.
Computer tasks need memory to store temporary data to be used at a later time. Graphics cards use a special type of memory to store the data needed to display information on a screen. The higher the memory or the VRAM, the more data it can store and display.
High-end resolutions such as 4K and 8K require high amounts for VRAM to display smoothly. The amount of VRAM in your GPU becomes even more important if you play high-end games with complex images.
Extensive computations and processing are needed to render those images, so they require a higher VRAM. Multiple displays also require more VRAM because you are displaying a lot of data simultaneously. Choose the adequate VRAM for the type of games and monitors you need.
GPUs are the most power-hungry component of your PC. A graphics card will have a power requirement, usually indicated in watts. With this in mind, you should have a power supply that can provide more than enough juice for your GPU and other PC components to keep them running smoothly.
GPUs also generate a lot of heat and require efficient cooling and good thermal design to perform at their full potential. You must check how hot your intended GPU gets at high loads so you can plan the right cooling system for your PC rig so that it will be able to perform at its optimum temperature without the risk of overheating.
You may have a specific size for your dream PC build. Depending on the case and components inside, it might be a tight fit once you have everything installed. This can get a bit tricky, as graphic cards come in different sizes.
The higher the graphics card performance, the larger the form. This is due to the number of cooling fans and circuitry needed for the card to run at higher performance. For smaller PCs, you may have to sacrifice a bit on performance and get a smaller card for a perfect fit.
On the other hand, higher-end PCs are bigger and require top-of-the-line cards. This means that they also need bigger cases to accommodate the card. Bigger computer cases cost more than smaller ones, so delve deeper into the PC size you want and decide accordingly.
For the GPU to be useful, it needs to connect to a monitor display. Most graphics cards nowadays offer different connections such as DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort. In order to maximize the use of your graphics card, it is best to use HDMI and DisplayPort formats for high-quality images that are perfect for 3D rendering and gaming purposes.
A GPU can have 2-4 ports, depending on its performance. This supports multiple monitors, which is gaining popularity as it makes multitasking much easier. Before buying, check how many ports your desired graphics card has and how many monitors you plan on getting for your PC build.
Nvidia and AMD produce the graphics cards and sell them but third-party companies can expand them into different designs that come in various sizes, forms, colors, and cooling options. These companies take on the basic design provided by the 2 GPU manufacturers and build elaborate coolers, extra fans, and higher clock speeds.
Due to these added features, some third-party cards can become much more expensive than reference cards (the original graphics cards that Nvidia and AMD produce). For some, the added cost is justified as long as they get much better cooling for their cards, which serves to boost performance.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Asus ROG Strix RTX 3090 OC | ![]() | High-End Graphics Card For a Premium Gaming Experience | |
2 | Gigabyte AORUS Radeon RX 6900XT | ![]() | Top Performing Graphics Card With a Great Cooling System | |
3 | MSI GeForce RTX 3070 Ventus 3X OC | ![]() | Get Superior Performance in Games and Work Tasks | |
4 | Sapphire Nitro+AMD Radeon RX6700XT Gaming OC|SPR-11306-01-20G | ![]() | Improved Aesthetics and Performance for a Multi-Monitor Setup | |
5 | Gigabyte GeForce® GTX 1050 Ti D5 |GV-N105TD5-4GD | ![]() | Ultra-Cooling and Budget Friendly For 1080p Gaming | |
6 | PNY GeForce® RTX™ 3090 Uprising EPIC-X RGB Triple Fan Edition|VCG309024TFXMPB | ![]() | Top-of-the-Line Graphics Card for Your Graphic-Extensive Needs | |
7 | Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 6600 XT Gaming OC | ![]() | Smooth and Fast Gaming Experience for FPS Gamers | |
8 | Colorful GeForce RTX 3080 Ti NB-V1 | ![]() | Boasts Excellent Lighting and a Triple-Fan System | |
9 | MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Super™ Ventus XS OC | ![]() | Budget Graphics Card for Casual Gaming | |
10 | ASUS Phoenix GTX 1050 Ti | ![]() | A Surprisingly Efficient Entry-Level GPU |
Gamers everywhere will drop their jaw when they find out that the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3090 is an absolute beast when it comes to running games in 4K, and pretty much outperforms other high-end graphics cards around its price range with its 60FPS feature.
This unit is definitely better than your average graphics card with its blazing GPU clock speed of 1395MHz and a 35.58 floating-point performance and not to mention, it has the fastest GDDR6X memory on the planet which is clocked at 21 Gbps.
With its liquid-cooled AIO cooler, the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3090 has one of the best GPUs currently existing, allowing you to perform your best at every game. If you're looking to upgrade to the best gaming experience and have the cash to spend, this unit from ASUS is definitely worth its price.
Gigabyte made sure that the AORUS Radeon RX 6900XT is the sum of all the best features of past models as it keeps the overall design philosophy close to the RX 6900 XT Gaming OC. They use the same Navi 21 GPU fabricated from TSMC's 7nm process node.
You'll love that this unit has a rated boost clock of 2285MHz to perform under heavy loads. Its memory is clocked at 16Gbps and operates over a 256-bit memory interface, a significantly effective memory bandwidth that increases the performance without excess power draw.
Its max-covered cooling feature ensures maximum performance with its unique blade stack fans with wind claw design and alternate spinning. This AMD unit from Gigabyte is a powerful model that hardcore gamers will definitely love.
It uses a PCI Express® Gen 4 slot, which offers a blazing fast connection between your CPU and GPU to perform tasks. The cores have clock speeds of 1725 MHz to handle all the computing and modeling you require from your GPU.
It utilizes an 8GB GDDR6 VRAM to store images right before they are displayed on your monitor. It also uses G-sync® and adaptive vertical sync to smooth out images on your screen. You can even use up to 4 monitors to have the most immersive experience in 4K gaming.
This unit boasts a faster clock speed than the reference card, improving the original by around 5%. It utilizes a 12GB VRAM to push out images to your screen continuously with no screen tearing. It also supports a multi-monitor setup with its 3 Displayport and HDMI ports.
Sapphire has improved the aesthetics of the reference card, adding more fans that help with the cooling of the internal mechanism. It is also designed to rotate more quietly, lowering the overall noise of your PC system. Go for this card if you want an improved card from what AMD provides.
Purchasing Nvidia has been the best choice for gamers over the years. If you're looking for a great graphics card that can run games at 1080p without having to break the bank, the GeForce® GTX 1050 Ti D5 won't fail you.
Designed with the latest architecture for incredible performance, this unit will truly turn your computer into a gaming rig. With just one simple click, you can meet various gaming requirements without any overclocking knowledge.
This game-ready unit from Gigabyte offers ultra-cooling with its custom-designed 90mm fan cooler and optimized airflow. Its design is built to allow for low power loss and longer life, making this one of the best graphics cards to get in its price range.
Those who only want the best for their PC regardless of cost should look no further. Hailed as the highest performing consumer graphics card out there, the GeForce® RTX™ 3090 contains everything that Nvidia has to offer. It is their top-of-the-line offering, targeting people who want to win no matter the cost.
This behemoth comes with 10496 CUDA cores that help crunch computations for your modeling or graphic-extensive game. It comes with a 1395-MHz clock speed to help with that task. The hefty 24GB GDDR6 VRAM is able to output high-quality 8K images without any hiccups, proof that this card is powerful.
It also features 2nd generation Ray Tracing Cores and 3rd generation Tensor Cores with NVIDIA Ampere streaming multiprocessors, making this the fastest and most efficient GPU for gamers and creators. Hands down, this is the best graphics card out there that money can buy!
For those FPS gamers seeking to improve their game, this GPU harnesses graphics with vivid visuals to deliver stunning images for fast reaction times. A clock speed of 2426 MHz makes this possible, making sure you hit your shot without fail each and every time.
The aesthetic and overall design of the product is excellent, delivering quality cooling solutions while installed inside your computer case. It comes with 2 ultra-quiet cooling fans that remove heat while keeping your rig quiet. Overall, this is a quality purchase for your 1080P fast-paced gaming.
If going for an RTX 3090 is a bit too much, you might want to consider the 3080Ti. Just a few specifications short of the mighty 3090, this graphics card is still a heavyweight in terms of design and performance. From the form to the chipset, this card is no slouch.
It is a hefty card that needs a lot of room to operate fully. To keep those 10240 CUDA cores that clock at 1665 MHz cool, it needs a triple-fan setup. The copper radiators help dissipate all the heat while keeping the card performing at its best for those intense gaming moments.
The lighting in this GPU is unlike any other, and the aesthetic is just as fierce as its performance. With a range of 16 million colors and fully customizable RGB lights, you are certain to find the hue for you. A graphics card like this one will definitely level up your gaming station!
The GeForce GTX 1660 series has been a so-called "GPU for the masses" with its low price point. Despite the budget-friendly tag, though, it has all the necessary features that you need, such as NVIDIA® G-SYNC®, which offers incredibly smooth, tear-free gameplay at refresh rates up to 240Hz.
The design is thoughtful with a dual-fan thermal design featuring Torx fan 2.0. This combines two different fan designs for better thermals and quiet gaming. It also includes an MSI proprietary overclock program and MSI Afterburner to give you advanced control options and real-time hardware monitoring.
Specifications peg this at 1815 MHz of clock speed with 6GB of RAM, which is more than enough to churn out amazing graphics with the latest titles. This is definitely a reliable graphics card for those who play casually and don't want to splurge on an ultra-expensive unit!
The ASUS Phoenix GTX 1050 strikes the perfect balance between price and performance. At its relatively low price compared to other brands, you'd be surprised to find that it offers great value to users. With a large set of cores and 4GB memory, it is perfectly capable of carrying out multiple tasks at the same time.
As a 1080p gaming solution, this one performs admirably in terms of frame times and framerates. The build is clearly of high quality, as can be expected from ASUS products. And while the single-fan cooling system may not be as powerful as those of the other products on this list, it does prove to be quite adequate for this card.
Although it is considered an entry-level model, it is a great choice for people who are looking for an upgrade to their aging gaming rig with an older GPU, as well as for those who are beginners to PC building. If you're on a tight budget or simply want a simple, no-fuss PC gaming experience, this one is up to the task.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
Video cards and graphics cards serve the same purpose as they are a piece of hardware in your computer that serves as an expansion card to generate images and transmit them to your monitor. These two terms are often interchangeable because they are generally the same thing.
Graphics cards have an average lifespan of 7 to 10 years. A great quality unit should guarantee you at least 5 years of lifetime, especially when it is used properly. The model may become obsolete even before they die and then updates will start to slow it down.
It is very much possible to build a computer without a graphics card, especially if you aren't much into gaming. Despite this, you still need a way to render the images on your monitor, so you'll need to get a processor with an iGPU (Integrated Graphics Processing unit).
The monitor is the ultimate partner of any graphics card. No matter how good your GPU is, the quality of your images also depends on your monitor. You need to match the quality of your monitor with the performance of your graphics card for the best PC experience. Listed below are some of the top models that you can buy online right now.
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Asus|ROG Strix RTX 3090 OC
No. 2: Gigabyte|AORUS Radeon RX 6900XT
No. 3: MSI|GeForce RTX 3070 Ventus 3X OC
No. 4: Sapphire|Nitro+AMD Radeon RX6700XT Gaming OC|SPR-11306-01-20G
No. 5: Gigabyte|GeForce® GTX 1050 Ti D5 |GV-N105TD5-4GD
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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