Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for the Ryzen 5 9600X
From the RTX 5070 Founders Edition to the ROG Strix RTX 5070: five graphics cards ranked on video memory and cooler thickness, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
The Ryzen 5 9600X can drive mid-range cards at 1440p. Every pick has 12GB or more and is an RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, RTX 5070, RX 9060 XT 16GB or RX 9070.
We sorted these picks by GPU, VRAM and memory, working from the makers' own data; nothing here was tested in-house, and if a maker skips thickness, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Premium Pick
ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 5070 12GB OCThe highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a vapor chamber with MaxContact.
Best for: Buyers who want a vapor chamber with MaxContact and can spend more than the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF costs.
Check price for ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 5070 12GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5070 WINDFORCE OC SFF 12GA WINDFORCE cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler.
Check price for GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5070 WINDFORCE OC SFF 12G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Largest Video Memory
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge OC White EditionThe largest video memory here (16GB).
Best for: Buyers who put video memory first.
Check price for ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge OC White Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 12GB GDDR7 OC EditionMilitary-grade components and a protective PCB coating.
Best for: Buyers who want military-grade components and a protective PCB coating.
Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 12GB GDDR7 OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Founders EditionA lower price than the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Getting NVIDIA's own Founders Edition design for the least money.
Check price for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Founders Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Premium Pick1 of 5
ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 5070 12GB OC
The ROG Strix RTX 5070 is a premium take on the RTX 5070, with a vapor chamber, digital power control and ARGB lighting.
Best for
- Buyers who want a vapor chamber with MaxContact and can spend more than the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF costs.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: its 3.2-slot cooler covers the slots below.
Why we like it
It suits a 9800X3D build aimed at 1440p rather than 4K. It matches the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF, the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 and the RTX 5070 Founders Edition on video memory (12GB). On cooler thickness it trails the group at 3.2-slot, while the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White comes in at 2-slot.
It also offers a protective PCB coating. The ROG Strix RTX 5070 occupies 3.2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ROG Strix RTX 5070 with the maker. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF and the rest.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5070
- VRAM
- 12GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Thickness
- 3.2-slot
- Boost clock
- 2685MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Vapor chamber with MaxContact
- Digital power control with 15K capacitors
Cons
- Its 3.2-slot cooler covers the slots below
- Cooler thickness trails the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White (2-slot)
- Costs more than the RTX 5070 Founders Edition at the time of writing
The catch
The trade-off is cooler thickness; for more, the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White comes in at 2-slot.
Also Consider2 of 5
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5070 WINDFORCE OC SFF 12G
Gigabyte's RTX 5070 Windforce SFF is an RTX 5070 with NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label and 12GB on a 192-bit bus.
Best for
- Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler.
Skip if
- The maker gives no cooler thickness, so skip it if that figure decides your choice.
Why we like it
It cost more than the ASUS RTX 5070 at the time of writing. It matches the ROG Strix RTX 5070, the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 and the RTX 5070 Founders Edition on video memory (12GB). You also get a 192-bit memory interface.
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF with the maker. SFF-Ready is NVIDIA's size guideline, not a guarantee the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF fits every small case. Its price falls between the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White and the ROG Strix RTX 5070, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5070
- VRAM
- 12GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- SFF-Ready
- Yes
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- WINDFORCE cooler
Cons
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the RTX 5070 Founders Edition at the time of writing
The catch
Buyers who need a confirmed cooler thickness should compare it with the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White, which comes in at 2-slot.
Largest Video Memory3 of 5
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge OC White Edition
Zotac's RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White pairs 16GB of GDDR7 with a white shroud in a two-slot, SFF-Ready card.
Best for
- Buyers who put video memory first.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the RTX 5070 Founders Edition was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It needs only one 8-pin plug. Its 16GB video memory is the largest here; the ROG Strix RTX 5070 comes next at 12GB. Its 2-slot cooler thickness is the slimmest here; the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 comes next at 3.125-slot.
It also offers two 90mm BladeLink fans and FREEZE fan stop. The Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Power for the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White comes through 1 x 8-pin.
SFF-Ready is NVIDIA's size guideline, not a guarantee the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White fits every small case. Its price falls between the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 and the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5060 Ti
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Thickness
- 2-slot
- Power connector
- 1 x 8-pin
- SFF-Ready
- Yes
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 2.1b, 1 x HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A single 8-pin power connector
Cons
- Costs more than the RTX 5070 Founders Edition at the time of writing
Strong Alternative4 of 5
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 12GB GDDR7 OC Edition
The ASUS TUF RTX 5070 trades size for cooling, with a 3.125-slot heatsink and three axial fans.
Best for
- Buyers who want military-grade components and a protective PCB coating.
Skip if
- Pass on it if its 3.125-slot cooler covers the slots below rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
The GPU Guard bracket helps against sag and the PCB carries a protective coating. On video memory it ties with the ROG Strix RTX 5070, the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF and the RTX 5070 Founders Edition at 12GB. Its 3.125-slot cooler thickness ranks second of 3 here, behind the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White (2-slot) and ahead of the ROG Strix RTX 5070 (3.2-slot).
You also get military-grade components and a protective PCB coating and a phase-change thermal pad. The ASUS TUF RTX 5070 occupies 3.125 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 with the maker. When we checked, only the RTX 5070 Founders Edition cost less, and the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White cost more.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5070
- VRAM
- 12GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Thickness
- 3.125-slot
- Boost clock
- 2640MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Military-grade components and a protective PCB coating
- ASUS GPU Guard bracket against sag
Cons
- Its 3.125-slot cooler covers the slots below
- Costs more than the RTX 5070 Founders Edition at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here5 of 5
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Founders Edition
What the RTX 5070 Founders Edition brings to the table is NVIDIA's own Founders Edition design.
Best for
- Getting NVIDIA's own Founders Edition design for the least money.
Skip if
- Skip it if video memory matters most to you; the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White offers 16GB.
Why we like it
It also offers a 12GB video memory. On video memory it ties with the ROG Strix RTX 5070, the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF and the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 at 12GB. No dimensions are published for the RTX 5070 Founders Edition; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the RTX 5070 Founders Edition with the maker. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 the next step up. It gives ground on video memory, where the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White offers 16GB.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5070
- VRAM
- 12GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- NVIDIA's own Founders Edition design
- A lower price than the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 and the rest when we checked
Cons
- Video memory trails the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White (16GB)
- No published cooler thickness
How We Chose
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- The figures behind the order
- We set side by side five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and cooler thickness as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 6 fields compared are stated for every pick, while cooler thickness and boost clock have gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the ROG Strix RTX 5070 to the RTX 5070 Founders Edition, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR7 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF and the RTX 5070 Founders Edition give no cooler thickness; the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF, the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White and the RTX 5070 Founders Edition give no boost clock.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the RTX 5070 Founders Edition ($500 to $1000) to the ROG Strix RTX 5070 ($1000 to $1500).
What to Look for in a GPUs for the Ryzen 5 9600X
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory across these picks
Here video memory runs from 12GB on the RTX 5070 Founders Edition to 16GB on the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White, a 33% spread. Start with the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White if video memory decides it.
Cooler thickness
The Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White tops cooler thickness at 2-slot and the ROG Strix RTX 5070 sits lowest at 3.2-slot. The ASUS TUF RTX 5070 comes second at 3.125-slot, in the same price tier as the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White. The Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF and the RTX 5070 Founders Edition give no cooler thickness figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card Boost clock
The ROG Strix RTX 5070 lists 2685MHz (OC mode); the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 lists 2640MHz (OC mode). Settling boost clock first narrows 2 picks to 1 or 1.
What to check at home
The ROG Strix RTX 5070 occupies 3.2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Features beyond the spec table
The Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White: two 90mm BladeLink fans. The ASUS TUF RTX 5070: an ASUS GPU Guard bracket against sag. The RTX 5070 Founders Edition: NVIDIA's own Founders Edition design.
How to Choose a GPUs for the Ryzen 5 9600X
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who want a vapor chamber with MaxContact and can spend more than the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF costs | ROG Strix RTX 5070 | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a vapor chamber with MaxContact |
| Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler | Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF | A WINDFORCE cooler |
| Buyers who put video memory first | Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White | The largest video memory here (16GB) |
| Buyers who want military-grade components and a protective PCB coating | ASUS TUF RTX 5070 | Military-grade components and a protective PCB coating |
| Getting NVIDIA's own Founders Edition design for the least money | RTX 5070 Founders Edition | A lower price than the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 and the rest when we checked |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the ROG Strix RTX 5070 at 12GB. "Not listed" marks cooler thickness where the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF and the RTX 5070 Founders Edition leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROG Strix RTX 5070 | RTX 5070 | 12GB | GDDR7 | 3.2-slot |
| Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF | RTX 5070 | 12GB | GDDR7 | Not listed |
| Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White | RTX 5060 Ti | 16GB | GDDR7 | 2-slot |
| ASUS TUF RTX 5070 | RTX 5070 | 12GB | GDDR7 | 3.125-slot |
| RTX 5070 Founders Edition | RTX 5070 | 12GB | GDDR7 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the RTX 5070 Founders Edition, sat in the $500 to $1000 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the ROG Strix RTX 5070 at $1000 to $1500; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $500 to $1000 | RTX 5070 Founders Edition, ASUS TUF RTX 5070, Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White |
| About $1000 to $1500 | Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF, ROG Strix RTX 5070 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the ROG Strix RTX 5070 compare with the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White on video memory?
Between the top two, it is 16GB on the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White against 12GB on the ROG Strix RTX 5070, a 33% difference.
Is the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White ahead of the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 on cooler thickness?
The Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White comes out best at 2-slot, with the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 at 3.125-slot. The ROG Strix RTX 5070 closes the ranking at 3.2-slot. The Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF and the RTX 5070 Founders Edition don't state a cooler thickness figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 3 of 5 picks are ranked.
What makes the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White the Largest Video Memory?
The label rests on the largest video memory here (16GB). The ROG Strix RTX 5070 is next on video memory at 12GB, so this pick's 16GB is 33% further out. It suits anyone who puts video memory first.
Do the ROG Strix RTX 5070 and the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White differ on GPU?
The ROG Strix RTX 5070, the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF, the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 and the RTX 5070 Founders Edition use RTX 5070; the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White uses RTX 5060 Ti.
What should I check before buying the RTX 5070 Founders Edition?
No dimensions are published for the RTX 5070 Founders Edition; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the RTX 5070 Founders Edition with the maker. In this guide it ranks fifth of 5, as our Lowest Price Here pick, and fifth of 5 on video memory (12GB).
Beyond the specs, what sets the ROG Strix RTX 5070 and the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF apart?
The ROG Strix RTX 5070: a vapor chamber with MaxContact. The Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF: a WINDFORCE cooler. The Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White: a white shroud.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ROG Strix RTX 5070, chosen for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a vapor chamber with MaxContact. Look at the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Windforce SFF for a WINDFORCE cooler, the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White for the largest video memory here (16GB) and the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 for military-grade components and a protective PCB coating if those matter more to you.
The 9600X is rated at 65W, so most of the power budget goes to the GPU.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards for 1440p Gaming
- Related guideThe Best Budget Graphics Cards
- Lower budgetThe Best GPUs Between $280 and $400
- Similar guideThe Best GPUs for the Ryzen 5 7600X
- ExplainerHow Much VRAM Do You Need?
- ExplainerGPU Power Connectors Explained
- Check compatibility: power supplies12V-2x6 vs 12VHPWR vs 8-Pin PCIe: What Your PSU Needs to Provide
- Similar guideThe Best GPUs for the Ryzen 7 9700X
- Topic hubAll graphics cards guides
About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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