The Best Graphics Cards (UK): 12 GPUs for Every Budget

The graphics card (GPU) is the most important part of a gaming PC. It decides how smooth your games run and how good they look.

We've picked 12 graphics cards from Laptops Direct, from budget cards for 1080p gaming to powerful cards for 1440p and 4K. Prices change often, so it's worth checking before you buy.

Ways to save

• "Box opened" cards are often cheaper and still come with a warranty
• Older models like the RTX 3050 are cheaper and still fine for many games
• See all graphics cards at Laptops Direct

The quick picks

• Best budget card: Palit GeForce RTX 3050 StormX OC 6GB, £259.97
• Best for 1080p gaming: ASUS GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, £521.97
• Best value with 16GB: Gigabyte Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB, £736.97
• Best for 1440p: ASUS Radeon RX 9070 16GB, £829.97
• Best high-end: ASUS GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 16GB, £1,254.97

What to look for in a graphics card

• Your screen resolution. For 1080p, a mid-range card is plenty. For 1440p or 4K, you need a more powerful card with more memory.
• Video memory (VRAM). 8GB is the minimum for modern games. 16GB gives more room for high settings and future games.
• Power supply. Check your PC's power supply is strong enough and has the right connectors.
• Size. Measure your case. Big cards can be over 30cm long.
• NVIDIA or AMD. NVIDIA cards are strong at ray tracing and DLSS. AMD cards often give more memory for the money.

So, which graphics card should you buy?

On a budget: an RTX 3050 or Radeon RX 7600 will run most games at 1080p.

For most gamers: the RTX 5060 Ti or RX 9060 XT 16GB.

For high settings at 1440p: the RX 9070, RX 9070 XT or RTX 5070 Ti.

Building a whole PC? See our guide to the best PC parts.

Common questions

How much should I spend on a graphics card?

For 1080p gaming, £250 to £550 is a good range. For 1440p, expect to spend £700 or more.

Is 8GB of VRAM enough?

It's enough for most games at 1080p, but newer games at high settings can use more. If you can, choose 16GB.

Will a new graphics card fit my PC?

Check three things: your case has room for the card's length, your power supply is powerful enough, and it has the right power connectors.

What does "box opened" mean?

It usually means the box was opened, often by a customer who returned it, but the product is checked and sold with a warranty for less.

Related guides

• The Best PC Parts for a Gaming Build
• The Best Budget Headsets
• The Best Gaming Phones

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