Buying Guide
The Best Mid-Range GPUs
Five cards in the $500 to $1,050 bracket at the time of writing, where 1440p cards from both makers compete.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Mid-range cards cover most 1440p gaming. We set a floor of 12GB of VRAM and picked cards from AMD and NVIDIA's current and previous generations.
We compared VRAM, clocks and cooler size from each listing and the chipmakers' specifications; we did not benchmark these cards.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best Mid-Range Card
XFX Swift Radeon RX 9070 OC Triple Fan Gaming EditionAn RX 9070 with 16GB and a 2700MHz boost.
Best for: 1440p at high settings.
Check price for XFX Swift Radeon RX 9070 OC Triple Fan Gaming Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Premium Mid-Range
ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 5070 12GB OCAn RTX 5070 with a 2685MHz OC-mode boost and a 3.2-slot cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want a large cooler.
Check price for ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 5070 12GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Previous-Gen Value
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Challenger 16GB OCAn RX 7800 XT with 16GB and a 267mm length.
Best for: Buyers who find it discounted.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best White Mid-Range
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge OC White EditionA white 2-slot RTX 5060 Ti with 16GB.
Best for: White small-form-factor builds.
Check price for ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge OC White Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lower Mid-Range Pick
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OCAn RX 9060 XT with 16GB and a 249mm length.
Best for: Stepping up from 1080p.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Mid-Range Card1 of 5
XFX Swift Radeon RX 9070 OC Triple Fan Gaming Edition
The RX 9070 keeps 16GB of memory but costs less than the XT.
Best for
- 1440p at high settings.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its cooler thickness before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
Why we like it
XFX's Swift version uses a triple-fan cooler with a 2700MHz boost and three DisplayPort outputs. It is the RX-97SWFB3B9 model with one HDMI port and three DisplayPort outputs, and it carries 16GB of GDDR6 under a triple-fan cooling solution. On video memory it ties with the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger, the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at 16GB.
You get an RX 9070 gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and its an RX 9060 XT gpu. Like the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger and ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, it has GDDR6 memory, while the ROG Strix RTX 5070 uses GDDR7 memory. It is the only pick here with a 2700MHz boost clock; the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger has a 2475MHz boost clock instead.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9070
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 2700MHz
- Outputs
- 1 x HDMI, 3 x DisplayPort
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- XFX SWFT triple-fan cooler
- RX 9070 gpu, the only one here
- 2700MHz boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
The catch
If you want a confirmed card length, look to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB instead: it comes in at 249mm, while this one gives no figure.
Best Premium Mid-Range2 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 large cooler.
Skip if
- Pass on it if its 3.2-slot cooler covers the slots below rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It suits a 9800X3D build aimed at 1440p rather than 4K. On video memory it trails the group at 12GB, while the XFX Swift RX 9070 offers 16GB. Its 3.2-slot cooler thickness is the thickest in this group; the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White leads at 2-slot.
An RTX 5070 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger uses an RX 7800 XT gpu. Like the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White, it has GDDR7 memory, while the XFX Swift RX 9070 uses GDDR6 memory. No other pick in this guide offers a 2685MHz (OC mode) boost clock; compare the XFX Swift RX 9070, which has a 2700MHz boost clock.
You also get a protective PCB coating. Only the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks.
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
- Video memory trails the XFX Swift RX 9070 (16GB)
- Cooler thickness trails the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White (2-slot)
The catch
It gives ground on video memory, where the XFX Swift RX 9070 offers 16GB.
Best Previous-Gen Value3 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Challenger 16GB OC
ASRock's Challenger is a 267mm, 2.5-slot dual-fan RX 7800 XT with two 8-pin connectors and a 750W recommended power supply.
Best for
- Buyers who find it discounted.
Skip if
- Pass on it if needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
On video memory it ties with the XFX Swift RX 9070, the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at 16GB. Its 2.5-slot cooler thickness ranks third of 4 here, behind the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White (2-slot) and ahead of the ROG Strix RTX 5070 (3.2-slot). An RX 7800 XT gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ROG Strix RTX 5070 uses an RTX 5070 gpu.
Like the XFX Swift RX 9070 and ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, it has GDDR6 memory, while the ROG Strix RTX 5070 uses GDDR7 memory. It is the only pick here with a 2 x 8-pin power connector; the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White has a 1 x 8-pin power connector instead. It was priced above the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and below the XFX Swift RX 9070 at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7800 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 267mm
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Recommended PSU
- 750W
- Power connector
- 2 x 8-pin
- Boost clock
- 2475MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- 267mm length
- Dual-fan Challenger cooler
- Cooler thickness of 2.5-slot, ahead of the ROG Strix RTX 5070
Cons
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
Best White Mid-Range4 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
- White small-form-factor builds.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It needs only one 8-pin plug. On video memory it ties with the XFX Swift RX 9070, the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at 16GB. It matches the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB on cooler thickness (2-slot).
You get an RTX 5060 Ti gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and its an RX 9060 XT gpu. Like the ROG Strix RTX 5070, it has GDDR7 memory, while the XFX Swift RX 9070 uses GDDR6 memory. Like the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, it has a 1 x 8-pin power connector, while the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger uses a 2 x 8-pin power connector.
You also get two 90mm BladeLink fans and FREEZE fan stop. When we checked, only the XFX Swift RX 9070 and cheaper picks cost less, and the ROG Strix RTX 5070 cost more.
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 ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
The catch
If you want a confirmed card length, look to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB instead: it comes in at 249mm, while this one gives no figure.
Lower Mid-Range Pick5 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC
ASRock's Challenger gives the RX 9060 XT a full 16GB of memory in a two-slot, 249mm card.
Best for
- Stepping up from 1080p.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
The maker offers a 550W power supply and a single 8-pin plug, so it drops into most existing builds. On video memory it ties with the XFX Swift RX 9070, the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger and the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White at 16GB. It matches the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White on cooler thickness (2-slot).
An RX 9060 XT gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ROG Strix RTX 5070 uses an RTX 5070 gpu. Like the XFX Swift RX 9070 and ASRock 7800 XT Challenger, it has GDDR6 memory, while the ROG Strix RTX 5070 uses GDDR7 memory. Like the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White, it has a 1 x 8-pin power connector, while the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger uses a 2 x 8-pin power connector. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger the next step up.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 249mm
- Thickness
- 2-slot
- Recommended PSU
- 550W
- Power connector
- 1 x 8-pin
- Boost clock
- 3290MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Short 249mm length suits compact cases
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A modest 550W PSU recommendation
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.
- How these picks were ranked
- We set side by side five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and card length from manufacturer specifications. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 9 fields compared are stated for every pick, while card length and cooler thickness have gaps.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the XFX Swift RX 9070 to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, state GPU, video memory and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The XFX Swift RX 9070, the ROG Strix RTX 5070 and the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White give no card length; the XFX Swift RX 9070 gives no cooler thickness.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB ($500 to $1000) to the ROG Strix RTX 5070 ($1000 to $1500).
What to Look for in a Mid-Range GPUs
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
The XFX Swift RX 9070 tops video memory at 16GB and the ROG Strix RTX 5070 sits lowest at 12GB; 4 picks share the top figure. The ASRock 7800 XT Challenger comes second at 16GB, in the same price tier as the XFX Swift RX 9070.
Cooler thickness
Here cooler thickness runs from 3.2-slot on the ROG Strix RTX 5070 to 2-slot on the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White, a 38% spread. For less, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB is the runner-up at 2-slot. The XFX Swift RX 9070 gives no cooler thickness figure, so 4 of 5 picks are compared here.
A graphics card's bare circuit board around the GPU die Card length across these picks
Here card length runs from 267mm on the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger to 249mm on the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, a 7% spread. Start with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB if card length decides it. The XFX Swift RX 9070, the ROG Strix RTX 5070 and the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White give no card length figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Memory
The XFX Swift RX 9070, the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB list GDDR6; the ROG Strix RTX 5070 and the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White list GDDR7. Sort out memory before price: it splits 5 stated picks into groups of 3 and 2.
Power connector
The ASRock 7800 XT Challenger lists 2 x 8-pin; the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB list 1 x 8-pin.
How to Choose a Mid-Range GPUs
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1440p at high settings | XFX Swift RX 9070 | An RX 9070 with 16GB and a 2700MHz boost |
| Buyers who want a large cooler | ROG Strix RTX 5070 | An RTX 5070 with a 2685MHz OC-mode boost and a 3.2-slot cooler |
| Buyers who find it discounted | ASRock 7800 XT Challenger | An RX 7800 XT with 16GB and a 267mm length |
| White small-form-factor builds | Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White | A white 2-slot RTX 5060 Ti with 16GB |
| Stepping up from 1080p | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | An RX 9060 XT with 16GB and a 249mm length |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The XFX Swift RX 9070 leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger at 16GB. "Not listed" marks card length where the XFX Swift RX 9070, the ROG Strix RTX 5070 and the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XFX Swift RX 9070 | RX 9070 | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ROG Strix RTX 5070 | RTX 5070 | 12GB | GDDR7 | Not listed |
| ASRock 7800 XT Challenger | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 267mm |
| Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White | RTX 5060 Ti | 16GB | GDDR7 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 249mm |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB was the lowest-priced pick ($500 to $1000) and the ROG Strix RTX 5070 the highest ($1000 to $1500) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $500 to $1000 | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, ASRock 7800 XT Challenger, XFX Swift RX 9070, Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White |
| About $1000 to $1500 | ROG Strix RTX 5070 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the shortest card length: the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB or the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB is lowest on card length at 249mm; the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger follows at 267mm, 7% apart. No card length figure is published for the XFX Swift RX 9070, the ROG Strix RTX 5070 and the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
Is the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB ahead of the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger on recommended power supply?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes out best at 550W, with the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger at 750W. The XFX Swift RX 9070, the ROG Strix RTX 5070 and the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White don't state a recommended power supply figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
What does the ROG Strix RTX 5070 add over the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB?
The ROG Strix RTX 5070 matches or trails the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB on video memory and cooler thickness, so pay more only for a feature the spec sheet doesn't cover. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB leads on video memory (16GB) and cooler thickness (2-slot). On our last price check the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB was in the $500 to $1000 tier and the ROG Strix RTX 5070 in the $1000 to $1500 tier, with 3 other picks between them.
Why is the XFX Swift RX 9070 our Best Mid-Range Card pick?
The label rests on an RX 9070 with 16GB and a 2700MHz boost. It is aimed at 1440p at high settings.
Do the XFX Swift RX 9070 and the ROG Strix RTX 5070 differ on GPU?
The XFX Swift RX 9070 uses RX 9070; the ROG Strix RTX 5070 uses RTX 5070; the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger uses RX 7800 XT; the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge White uses RTX 5060 Ti; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB uses RX 9060 XT.
Will the XFX Swift RX 9070 work with my setup?
No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift RX 9070; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the XFX Swift RX 9070 with the maker. In this guide it ranks first of 5, as our Best Mid-Range Card pick, and first of 5 on video memory (16GB).
Bottom Line
The XFX RX 9070 is the best mid-range card for most buyers. The ROG Strix RTX 5070 adds a large cooler, the ASRock RX 7800 XT Challenger is good value when discounted, the Zotac RTX 5060 Ti White fits white SFF builds, and the ASRock RX 9060 XT 16GB is the lower step.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best GPUs for 1440p Gaming
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards for 1440p Gaming
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards Under $800
- Lower budgetThe Best GPUs Under $300
- Higher budgetThe Best High-End GPUs
- ExplainerHow Much VRAM Do You Need?
- ExplainerGPU Power Connectors Explained
- Check compatibility: power suppliesHow to choose a power supply for a PC build
- Similar guideThe Best AMD GPUs
- 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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