Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Ray Tracing
We weighed five graphics cards on video memory and cooler thickness; the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB has the largest video memory, and the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
NVIDIA's RTX 40 and 50 series handle ray tracing best, and DLSS keeps frame rates playable. Every pick is an RTX 40 or 50 card with 12GB or more, ordered from the lowest price.
The order reflects GPU, VRAM and memory from maker specifications; we did not test these graphics cards ourselves, and a missing thickness is flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC 12G
The lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing.
Best for: Spending as little as possible.
Our take Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC 12G (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ventus 3X E1 12G OC
A triple-fan Ventus cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want triple-fan Ventus cooler.
Our take Check price for MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ventus 3X E1 12G OC (opens in a new tab)
Largest Video Memory
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB OC
The largest video memory here (16GB).
Best for: Buyers who put video memory first.
Our take Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ASUS SFF-Ready Prime GeForce RTX 5070
A dual BIOS.
Best for: Buyers who want dual BIOS.
Our take Check price for ASUS SFF-Ready Prime GeForce RTX 5070 (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 Solid OC
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with three 90mm fans with FREEZE fan stop.
Best for: Buyers who want the most complete package.
Our take Check price for ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 Solid OC (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC 12G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
This Gigabyte Windforce OC RTX 4070 adds a dual BIOS switch and an anti-sag bracket, and it was the least expensive RTX 4070 here at the time of writing.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when video memory of 12GB, behind the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB (16GB is a problem.
Why we like it
It supports DLSS 3 frame generation, and third-generation RT cores give up to twice the ray tracing performance. On video memory it ties with the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1, the ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 and the Zotac 5070 Solid OC at 12GB. No other pick in this guide offers GDDR6X memory; compare the ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070, which has GDDR7 memory.
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce; 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 Windforce with the maker. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 was closest. If you want a confirmed cooler thickness, look to the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB instead: it comes in at 2.5-slot, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 4070
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR6X
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Dual BIOS switch
- Anti-sag bracket in the box
- GDDR6X memory, the only one here
Cons
- Video memory of 12GB, behind the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB (16GB)
Also Consider2 of 5
MSI GeForce RTX 4070 Ventus 3X E1 12G OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
MSI's Ventus 3X E1 is a triple-fan RTX 4070 that uses GDDR6 memory rather than the GDDR6X on the other 4070 cards here, with a 2520MHz boost.
Best for
- Buyers who want triple-fan Ventus cooler.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It has three DisplayPort 1.4a outputs and one HDMI 2.1a on a 192-bit memory interface. It uses the GeForce RTX 4070 chip with MSI's three-fan cooler. It matches the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce, the ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 and the Zotac 5070 Solid OC on video memory (12GB).
You get GDDR6 memory here, which sets it apart from the Zotac 5070 Solid OC and its GDDR7 memory. A 2520MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the Zotac 5070 Solid OC uses a 2542MHz boost clock. No dimensions are published for the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Its price falls between the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce and the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed cooler thickness should compare it with the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, which comes in at 2.5-slot.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 4070
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Boost clock: 2520MHz
- Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1 x HDMI 2.1a
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Triple-fan Ventus cooler
- GDDR6 memory rather than the GDDR6X on other 4070 cards
- 2520MHz boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce at the time of writing
Largest Video Memory3 of 5
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB is the lower-cost NVIDIA route to 16GB at 1440p.
Best for
- Buyers who put video memory first.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It is a 2.5-slot card with 0dB fan stop and dual-ball fan bearings. Its 16GB video memory is the largest here; the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce comes next at 12GB. It is the only pick here with an RTX 5060 Ti gpu; the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce has an RTX 4070 gpu instead.
It shares GDDR7 memory with the ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 and Zotac 5070 Solid OC; the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 goes with GDDR6 memory. A 2632MHz (OC mode) boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the Zotac 5070 Solid OC uses a 2542MHz boost clock. It also comes with a quiet/performance dual BIOS.
The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB 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 Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB with the maker.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 5060 Ti
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR7
- Thickness: 2.5-slot
- Boost clock: 2632MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Quiet/performance dual BIOS
- 0dB fan stop
Cons
- Costs more than the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce at the time of writing
Strong Alternative4 of 5
ASUS SFF-Ready Prime GeForce RTX 5070 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 is a 2.5-slot card with 12GB of GDDR7, a dual BIOS and a three-year warranty listed.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual BIOS.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It suits 1440p in a compact case. It matches the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce, the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 and the Zotac 5070 Solid OC on video memory (12GB). Like the Zotac 5070 Solid OC, it has an RTX 5070 gpu, while the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB uses an RTX 5060 Ti gpu.
It shares GDDR7 memory with the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and Zotac 5070 Solid OC; the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 goes with GDDR6 memory. It also offers a phase-change GPU thermal pad. The ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 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 SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 with the maker. Its price falls between the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and the Zotac 5070 Solid OC, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 5070
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR7
- Thickness: 2.5-slot
- SFF-Ready: Yes
- Outputs: HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- Dual BIOS
Cons
- Costs more than the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 Solid OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Zotac's RTX 5070 Solid OC offers a 2542MHz boost with three 90mm fans, FREEZE fan stop and a support stand in the box.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most complete package.
Skip if
- Skip it if video memory matters most to you; the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB offers 16GB.
Why we like it
It matches the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce, the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 and the ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 on video memory (12GB). You get a 2542MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and its a 2632MHz (OC mode) boost clock. No dimensions are published for the Zotac 5070 Solid OC; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Zotac 5070 Solid OC 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 ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 and the rest.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 5070
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR7
- Boost clock: 2542MHz
- Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 2.1b, 1 x HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Three 90mm fans with FREEZE fan stop
- Bundled GPU support stand
Cons
- Video memory trails the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB (16GB)
- Costs more than the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Cooling and extras
- We checked cooler design, fan-stop modes, dual BIOS, support brackets and display outputs.
- Price tier
- We grouped picks by price at the time of writing rather than by listed clock speed.
- GPU and memory
- We compared the chip, video memory capacity and memory type stated in each listing.
- Power
- We noted the power connector and recommended power supply where listed.
What to Look for in a GPUs for Ray Tracing
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Treat 8GB of VRAM as the floor
Some recent games already push past 8GB at high texture settings. Cards with 12GB or 16GB give more room, especially at 1440p and above.
Two versions of the same chip can differ only in memory; check the capacity in the exact model name.
Plan the power connector and PSU
Cards use one or two 8-pin PCIe plugs or a single 16-pin 12V-2x6 plug. Confirm your power supply has the right cables and meets the maker's recommended wattage.
Compare upscaling and encoders
NVIDIA cards support DLSS, AMD cards FSR and Intel cards XeSS. Each game supports a different mix, so check the titles you play.
Streamers should also compare hardware video encoders.
Check length and thickness
Partner cards of the same GPU can differ by several centimetres. Compare the card's length with the case's GPU clearance, allowing for front fans or a radiator, and check how many slots it covers.
Cooler size affects noise
Larger triple-fan coolers usually run quieter under load than compact dual-fan designs. A 0dB mode stops the fans at light load.
Count the display outputs
Most cards offer three DisplayPort outputs and one HDMI, but some swap that balance. Check that the ports match your monitors, TV or VR headset.
How to Choose a GPUs for Ray Tracing
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible | Gigabyte 4070 Windforce | The lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing |
| Buyers who want triple-fan Ventus cooler | MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 | A triple-fan Ventus cooler |
| Buyers who put video memory first | ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB | The largest video memory here (16GB) |
| Buyers who want dual BIOS | ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 | A dual BIOS |
| Buyers who want the most complete package | Zotac 5070 Solid OC | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with three 90mm fans with FREEZE fan stop |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigabyte 4070 Windforce | RTX 4070 | 12GB | GDDR6X | Not listed |
| MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 | RTX 4070 | 12GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB | RTX 5060 Ti | 16GB | GDDR7 | 2.5-slot |
| ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 | RTX 5070 | 12GB | GDDR7 | 2.5-slot |
| Zotac 5070 Solid OC | RTX 5070 | 12GB | GDDR7 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these graphics cards has the largest video memory?
The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, at 16GB. The Gigabyte 4070 Windforce follows at 12GB, while the Zotac 5070 Solid OC has 12GB.
What is the least I can spend on one of these graphics cards?
At our last price check the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce was the cheapest pick and the Zotac 5070 Solid OC the most expensive; the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 was the next step up from the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce.
Do I need a GPU support bracket?
Long, heavy cards can sag and stress the slot. Some come with a support stand or bracket; otherwise one is inexpensive to add.
Do partner cards of the same GPU perform differently?
Only slightly. Factory overclocks add a few percent at most; cooling, noise, size and price differ more.
How big a power supply do I need?
Use the maker's recommendation for your exact card, then add headroom if you run a high-power CPU. Also check the connectors, not just the wattage.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce, chosen for the lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing. Look at the MSI 4070 Ventus 3X E1 for a triple-fan Ventus cooler, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti 16GB for the largest video memory here (16GB) and the ASUS SFF-Ready Prime RTX 5070 for a dual BIOS if those matter more to you.
Turn on DLSS or frame generation with ray tracing to keep frame rates up.