Buying Guide
The Best NVIDIA Graphics Card
From the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX to the ROG Astral 5090: five graphics cards ranked on video memory and GPU, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
NVIDIA's RTX cards add DLSS upscaling and strong ray tracing. Every pick is an NVIDIA card, ordered by VRAM.
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 outputs, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Also Consider
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5090 32GB OC EditionA dual BIOS switch for Quiet or Performance.
Best for: Buyers who want dual BIOS switch for Quiet or Performance.
Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5090 32GB OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5090A 512-bit memory bus at 28Gbps.
Best for: Buyers who want 512-bit memory bus at 28Gbps.
Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5090 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
ASUS ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 OC EditionThe highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a quad-fan cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want a quad-fan cooler and can spend more than the ASUS TUF RTX 5090 costs.
Check price for ASUS ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
PNY GeForce RTX 4090 Verto Triple Fan16,384 CUDA cores and up to 1,008GB/s of memory bandwidth.
Best for: Buyers who want 16,384 CUDA cores and up to 1,008GB/s of memory bandwidth.
Check price for PNY GeForce RTX 4090 Verto Triple Fan on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super WINDFORCE MAX OCThe lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the PNY 4090 Verto.
Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super WINDFORCE MAX OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Also Consider1 of 5
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5090 32GB OC Edition
The ASUS TUF 5090 stands out for a dual BIOS switch for Quiet or Performance, and it adds 0dB fan stop at light loads.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual BIOS switch for Quiet or Performance.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 32GB video memory and offers a 2.5-slot cooler thickness. On video memory it ties with the ASUS TUF RTX 5090 and the ROG Astral 5090 at 32GB. It shares an RTX 5090 gpu with the ASUS TUF RTX 5090 and ROG Astral 5090; the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX goes with an RTX 4070 Ti Super gpu.
Like the ASUS TUF RTX 5090 and ROG Astral 5090, it has GDDR7 memory, while the PNY 4090 Verto uses GDDR6X memory. The ASUS TUF 5090 occupies 2.5 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 5090 with the maker. When we checked, only the PNY 4090 Verto and cheaper picks cost less, and the ASUS TUF RTX 5090 cost more.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5090
- VRAM
- 32GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- SFF-Ready
- Yes
Pros
- 32GB of VRAM, room for large local AI models as well as games
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- Dual BIOS switch for Quiet or Performance
Cons
- Costs more than the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX at the time of writing
Strong Alternative2 of 5
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5090
The ASUS TUF RTX 5090 is in a class of its own with 32GB of GDDR7 and 21,760 CUDA cores.
Best for
- Buyers who want 512-bit memory bus at 28Gbps.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
At the time of writing it cost several times more than the other cards here, so it only makes sense when nothing slower will do. On video memory it ties with the ASUS TUF 5090 and the ROG Astral 5090 at 32GB. It shares an RTX 5090 gpu with the ASUS TUF 5090 and ROG Astral 5090; the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX goes with an RTX 4070 Ti Super gpu.
Like the ASUS TUF 5090 and ROG Astral 5090, it has GDDR7 memory, while the PNY 4090 Verto uses GDDR6X memory. It also offers a 512-bit memory bus at 28Gbps and a GPU holder in the box. No dimensions are published for the ASUS TUF RTX 5090; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. When we checked, only the ASUS TUF 5090 and cheaper picks cost less, and the ROG Astral 5090 cost more.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5090
- VRAM
- 32GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 2.1b, 2 x HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- 32GB of VRAM, room for large local AI models as well as games
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- 512-bit memory bus at 28Gbps
- 21,760 CUDA cores
Cons
- Costs more than the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX at the time of writing
Premium Pick3 of 5
ASUS ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 OC Edition
The ROG Astral 5090 stands out for a quad-fan cooler, and it adds 3352 AI TOPS and a 512-bit memory bus.
Best for
- Buyers who want a quad-fan cooler and can spend more than the ASUS TUF RTX 5090 costs.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 32GB video memory. It matches the ASUS TUF 5090 and the ASUS TUF RTX 5090 on video memory (32GB). Like the ASUS TUF 5090 and ASUS TUF RTX 5090, it has an RTX 5090 gpu, while the PNY 4090 Verto uses an RTX 4090 gpu.
It shares GDDR7 memory with the ASUS TUF 5090 and ASUS TUF RTX 5090; the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX goes with GDDR6X memory. No dimensions are published for the ROG Astral 5090; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ROG Astral 5090 with the maker. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the ASUS TUF RTX 5090.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5090
- VRAM
- 32GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 2.1b, 2 x HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- 32GB of VRAM, room for large local AI models as well as games
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Quad-fan cooler
- 3352 AI TOPS and a 512-bit memory bus
Cons
- Costs more than the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
PNY GeForce RTX 4090 Verto Triple Fan
PNY's Verto runs the RTX 4090 at NVIDIA's reference 2520MHz boost with up to 1,008GB/s of memory bandwidth.
Best for
- Buyers who want 16,384 CUDA cores and up to 1,008GB/s of memory bandwidth.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It cost the least of the RTX 4090 cards here at the time of writing. The 24GB of GDDR6X sits on a 384-bit bus with 1008GB/s of bandwidth, and the card runs a 2520MHz boost clock on a triple-fan cooler. Its 24GB video memory ranks fourth of 5 here, behind the ASUS TUF 5090 (32GB) and ahead of the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX (16GB).
No other pick in this guide offers an RTX 4090 gpu; compare the ROG Astral 5090, which has an RTX 5090 gpu. It shares GDDR6X memory with the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX; the ASUS TUF RTX 5090 goes with GDDR7 memory. No dimensions are published for the PNY 4090 Verto; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX and the pricier ASUS TUF 5090, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 4090
- VRAM
- 24GB
- Memory
- GDDR6X
- Boost clock
- 2520MHz
Pros
- 24GB of VRAM, room for large local AI models as well as games
- 16,384 CUDA cores and up to 1,008GB/s of memory bandwidth
- Reference 2520MHz boost clock
- RTX 4090 gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here5 of 5
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super WINDFORCE MAX OC
Gigabyte's Windforce MAX OC is a triple-fan RTX 4070 Ti Super without lighting extras, and it was the least expensive 4070 Ti Super here at the time of writing.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the PNY 4090 Verto.
Skip if
- Skip it if video memory matters most to you; the ASUS TUF 5090 offers 32GB.
Why we like it
It supports DLSS 3 with fourth-generation Tensor cores, and a metal backplate protects the board. On video memory it trails the group at 16GB, while the ASUS TUF 5090 offers 32GB. You get an RTX 4070 Ti Super gpu here, which sets it apart from the PNY 4090 Verto and its an RTX 4090 gpu.
Like the PNY 4090 Verto, it has GDDR6X memory, while the ASUS TUF 5090 uses GDDR7 memory. It also offers an optimized heatsink design. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX; 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 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX with the maker. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the PNY 4090 Verto was closest.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 4070 Ti Super
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6X
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- WINDFORCE triple-fan cooler
- Optimized heatsink design
- RTX 4070 Ti Super gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Video memory trails the ASUS TUF 5090 (32GB)
The catch
Video memory is its weakest area, and the ASUS TUF 5090 covers it better at 32GB.
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.
- What we compared
- We lined up five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and outputs from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and outputs is missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the ASUS TUF 5090 to the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX, state GPU, video memory and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASUS TUF 5090, the PNY 4090 Verto and the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX give no outputs.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX ($500 to $1000) to the ROG Astral 5090 (over $1500).
What to Look for in an NVIDIA Graphics Card
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
The ASUS TUF 5090 tops video memory at 32GB and the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX sits lowest at 16GB; 3 picks share the top figure. The ASUS TUF 5090 is the pick for video memory.
Memory
The ASUS TUF 5090, the ASUS TUF RTX 5090 and the ROG Astral 5090 list GDDR7; the PNY 4090 Verto and the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX list GDDR6X. Settling memory first narrows 5 picks to 3 or 2.
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card Fit and compatibility
The ASUS TUF 5090 occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. No dimensions are published for the ASUS TUF RTX 5090; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Features beyond the spec table
The ROG Astral 5090: 3352 AI TOPS and a 512-bit memory bus. The PNY 4090 Verto: reference 2520MHz boost clock. The Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX: an optimized heatsink design.
How much to spend
$500 to $1000 buys the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX; over $1500 buys the PNY 4090 Verto, the ASUS TUF 5090, the ASUS TUF RTX 5090 and the ROG Astral 5090 at our last check.
How to Choose an NVIDIA Graphics Card
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who want dual BIOS switch for Quiet or Performance | ASUS TUF 5090 | A dual BIOS switch for Quiet or Performance |
| Buyers who want 512-bit memory bus at 28Gbps | ASUS TUF RTX 5090 | A 512-bit memory bus at 28Gbps |
| Buyers who want a quad-fan cooler and can spend more than the ASUS TUF RTX 5090 costs | ROG Astral 5090 | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a quad-fan cooler |
| Buyers who want 16,384 CUDA cores and up to 1,008GB/s of memory bandwidth | PNY 4090 Verto | 16,384 CUDA cores and up to 1,008GB/s of memory bandwidth |
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the PNY 4090 Verto | Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX | The lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASUS TUF 5090 leads on video memory at 32GB, ahead of the ASUS TUF RTX 5090 at 32GB. "Not listed" marks outputs where the ASUS TUF 5090, the PNY 4090 Verto and the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Outputs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS TUF 5090 | RTX 5090 | 32GB | GDDR7 | Not listed |
| ASUS TUF RTX 5090 | RTX 5090 | 32GB | GDDR7 | 3 x DisplayPort 2.1b, 2 x HDMI 2.1b |
| ROG Astral 5090 | RTX 5090 | 32GB | GDDR7 | 3 x DisplayPort 2.1b, 2 x HDMI 2.1b |
| PNY 4090 Verto | RTX 4090 | 24GB | GDDR6X | Not listed |
| Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX | RTX 4070 Ti Super | 16GB | GDDR6X | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX, sat in the $500 to $1000 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the ROG Astral 5090 at over $1500; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $500 to $1000 | Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX |
| Over $1500 | PNY 4090 Verto, ASUS TUF 5090, ASUS TUF RTX 5090, ROG Astral 5090 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ROG Astral 5090 worth paying more than the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX?
The spec sheets show video memory (32GB against 16GB) in its favour. The Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX sat in the $500 to $1000 tier and the ROG Astral 5090 in the over $1500 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if video memory decides your purchase.
What makes the ROG Astral 5090 the Premium Pick?
It carries the badge for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a quad-fan cooler. The Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX, the cheapest pick, sat in the $500 to $1000 tier against over $1500 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It is aimed at anyone who wants a quad-fan cooler and can spend more than the ASUS TUF RTX 5090 costs.
Do the ASUS TUF 5090 and the PNY 4090 Verto differ on GPU?
The ASUS TUF 5090, the ASUS TUF RTX 5090 and the ROG Astral 5090 use RTX 5090; the PNY 4090 Verto uses RTX 4090; the Gigabyte 4070 Ti Super Windforce MAX uses RTX 4070 Ti Super.
What should I check before buying the ROG Astral 5090?
No dimensions are published for the ROG Astral 5090; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ROG Astral 5090 with the maker. In this guide it ranks third of 5, as our Premium Pick, and third of 5 on video memory (32GB).
Beyond the specs, what sets the ASUS TUF 5090 and the ASUS TUF RTX 5090 apart?
The ASUS TUF 5090: a dual BIOS switch for Quiet or Performance. The ASUS TUF RTX 5090: a 512-bit memory bus at 28Gbps. The ROG Astral 5090: a quad-fan cooler.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASUS TUF 5090, chosen for a dual BIOS switch for Quiet or Performance. Look at the ASUS TUF RTX 5090 for a 512-bit memory bus at 28Gbps, the ROG Astral 5090 for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a quad-fan cooler and the PNY 4090 Verto for 16,384 CUDA cores and up to 1,008GB/s of memory bandwidth if those matter more to you.
Check the card's length and power connector against your case and PSU.
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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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