Shopping Cart
- Gigabyte guide
- 113 views
- 2026, gigabyte, aorus, rtx 5060, rtx 5070, graphics cards, rx 9060 xt, rx 9070 xt
How to choose a graphics card in 2026? A complete beginner's guide
The graphics card (also called a video card, graphics board or GPU) is the most important part of a computer for gaming, video editing and 3D graphics. It largely determines how many frames per second (FPS) you'll see in a game and which graphics settings you can turn on.
In this Gigabyteshop.lt guide we explain everything from scratch in simple terms: how the cheapest and most powerful cards differ, what OC, Ti, XT, SFF or ICE in the name mean, how to compare cards, whether a card will fit in your case, what power supply you'll need and how to get the most out of your graphics card.
🎯 Quick answer: what graphics card do I need?
| Your need | Recommended class | Example at Gigabyteshop.lt |
|---|---|---|
| Office, internet, films, additional monitors | GT 710 / GT 1030 | Gigabyte GT 710 Low Profile 2G |
| Light games (CS2, Fortnite, LoL) in Full HD | RTX 3050 / RTX 5050 | Gigabyte RTX 5050 GAMING OC 8G |
| New games in Full HD at high settings | RTX 5060 / RX 9060 XT | Gigabyte RTX 5060 GAMING OC 8G or RX 9060 XT GAMING OC 16G |
| Gaming at QHD (2560 × 1440) resolution | RTX 5070 / RX 9070 | Gigabyte RTX 5070 GAMING OC 12G |
| QHD at high Hz or 4K, creative work | RTX 5070 Ti / RX 9070 XT | Gigabyte RTX 5070 Ti GAMING OC 16G |
| For enthusiasts: 4K, 3D, artificial intelligence | RTX 5080 / RTX 5090 | AORUS RTX 5080 MASTER 16G |
What is a graphics card and why is it so important?
The processor (CPU) performs general calculations, while the graphics card (GPU) creates the image you see on screen. In a game it draws dozens or hundreds of frames every second – with shadows, light, textures and effects. The more powerful the card, the more frames per second and the higher the graphics settings you can enable.
Some processors have integrated graphics, which is enough for office work and films. But gaming, video editing or 3D applications require a separate (discrete) graphics card plugged into the motherboard's PCIe slot.
💡 What does FPS mean?
FPS (frames per second) – how many images per second the graphics card shows on screen. 30 FPS is minimally playable, 60 FPS is smooth, and 144 FPS or more is very smooth – which you'll fully enjoy with a high-refresh-rate monitor.
Graphics card classes: from GT 710 to RTX 5090
🖥️ Office class: GT 710 and GT 1030
The cheapest graphics cards, not intended for gaming. They come in handy when a computer has no integrated graphics, when you need to connect an extra monitor or when an old card has failed. Both have only 2 GB of memory (DDR3 or DDR4) and are low profile, so they fit even in small office cases.
🎮 Entry-level gaming: RTX 3050 and RTX 5050
The first class for serious gaming. The RTX 3050 is a previous-generation but still popular card for light games in Full HD. The RTX 5050 is new-generation, considerably more powerful and supports DLSS 4.
RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6G · RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 8G · RTX 5050 GAMING OC 8G
⭐ Mid-range: RTX 5060, RTX 5060 Ti, RX 9060 XT
The most popular choice for most gamers. These cards easily handle new games in Full HD at high settings, and in many games at QHD too. The AMD RX 9060 XT offers as much as 16 GB of memory.
RTX 5060 GAMING OC · RTX 5060 Ti GAMING OC · RX 9060 XT GAMING OC 16G
🔥 Upper class: RTX 5070, RX 9070, RTX 5070 Ti, RX 9070 XT
Cards for QHD (2560 × 1440) gaming at high frame rates and entry-level 4K. Also great for creative work: video editing, 3D, streaming.
RTX 5070 GAMING OC · RX 9070 GAMING OC · RTX 5070 Ti GAMING OC · RX 9070 XT GAMING OC ICE
👑 Top class: RTX 5080 and RTX 5090
The most powerful graphics cards for enthusiasts: 4K gaming at the highest settings, professional 3D rendering, AI models. The RTX 5090 has as much as 32 GB of GDDR7 memory.
RTX 5080 GAMING OC · AORUS RTX 5080 MASTER · RTX 5090 GAMING OC 32G
🧊 Liquid-cooled: AORUS WATERFORCE
Some top-of-the-range cards are liquid-cooled – such as the AORUS RTX 5080 XTREME WATERFORCE. Such a card needs room in the case for the radiator.
NVIDIA or AMD? GeForce RTX and Radeon RX
Graphics chips are made by NVIDIA (GeForce RTX series) and AMD (Radeon RX series), and Gigabyte builds its own cards on these chips – with its own cooling, clock speeds and design. At Gigabyteshop.lt you'll find cards from both manufacturers.
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX | AMD Radeon RX | |
|---|---|---|
| Frame generation / upscaling technology | DLSS 4 (artificial intelligence) | FSR (AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution) |
| Adaptive monitor sync | G-SYNC / G-SYNC Compatible | AMD FreeSync |
| Strengths | Ray tracing, DLSS, broad application support for creative work and AI | Lots of memory for the price (e.g. 16 GB RX 9060 XT) |
| Our models | RTX 3050, 5050, 5060, 5060 Ti, 5070, 5070 Ti, 5080, 5090 | RX 7600, RX 9060 XT, RX 9070, RX 9070 XT |
What do OC, Ti, XT, SFF, ICE and other words in the name mean?
Graphics card names look like a code at first, but each word has a clear meaning. Let's take the example „Gigabyte RTX 5070 Ti EAGLE OC ICE SFF 16G“:
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| RTX 5070 | The NVIDIA graphics chip model. The first digits (50) are the generation, the last (70) the class: 50 → 60 → 70 → 80 → 90 – the higher, the more powerful. |
| Ti (NVIDIA) | "Titanium" – a more powerful version of the same model. The RTX 5060 Ti is more powerful than the RTX 5060, the RTX 5070 Ti than the RTX 5070. |
| XT (AMD) | AMD's equivalent: the RX 9070 XT is more powerful than the RX 9070, the RX 9060 XT than the RX 9060. |
| OC | "Overclocked" – factory-raised clock speeds. The card runs slightly faster than the reference card straight out of the box, with nothing to configure. |
| WINDFORCE, EAGLE, GAMING, AERO, AORUS | Gigabyte series – from the most practical to the top of the range. They differ in cooling, clock speeds, lighting and price. |
| ICE | Gigabyte's white-design version – suits a light, white PC. |
| SFF | "Small Form Factor" – a more compact card that fits smaller cases. |
| Low Profile | A low-profile card with a low bracket – designed for slim office cases. |
| MAX, V2 | Updated versions of the same card (e.g. a different cooling system or clock speeds). |
| 16G, 12G, 8G | Amount of video memory in gigabytes. |
| GDDR7 / GDDR6 | Video memory type. GDDR7 is newer and faster. |
⚠ Important to understand
OC and the series (EAGLE, GAMING, AORUS) change performance by only a few percent. A much bigger difference comes from the chip itself: an RTX 5070 will always be more powerful than an RTX 5060, regardless of series. So choose the chip first, and only then the series based on design, cooling and price.
📊 Graphics card comparison: how powerful are they?
So you can compare cards objectively, we use the independent PassMark videocardbenchmark.net database. It combines millions of user test results into a single score – G3D Mark. The higher the number, the more powerful the card.
GeForce RTX 5090 – 39 005
GeForce RTX 5080 – 35 629
GeForce RTX 5070 Ti – 32 332
GeForce RTX 5070 – 28 661
Radeon RX 9070 XT – 26 919
Radeon RX 9070 – 25 394
GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB – 21 856
GeForce RTX 5060 – 20 623
Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB – 20 129
GeForce RTX 5050 – 16 760
Radeon RX 7600 – 16 440
GeForce RTX 3050 8GB – 12 459
GeForce RTX 3050 6GB – 10 741
Source: PassMark Software, videocardbenchmark.net, average G3D Mark (data as of 2026-10-07). This is a synthetic test – real FPS in different games may vary. The GT 710 and GT 1030 are not included in the comparison, as they are not intended for gaming.
Card versus card
| Comparison | G3D Mark | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 3050 8GB vs RTX 5050 | 12,459 vs 16,760 | The RTX 5050 is about a third more powerful and supports DLSS 4 – if your budget allows, choose the newer generation. |
| RTX 5060 vs RTX 5060 Ti 8GB | 20,623 vs 21,856 | The Ti version is about 6% more powerful. The difference is small – it's worth comparing prices. |
| RTX 5060 vs RX 9060 XT 16GB | 20,623 vs 20,129 | Almost equal. The RTX 5060 has DLSS 4, the RX 9060 XT twice as much memory (16 GB vs 8 GB). |
| RTX 5070 vs RX 9070 | 28,661 vs 25,394 | The RTX 5070 is stronger in tests, the RX 9070 has more memory (16 GB vs 12 GB). |
| RTX 5070 Ti vs RX 9070 XT | 32,332 vs 26,919 | The RTX 5070 Ti is clearly ahead in tests; both have 16 GB of memory. |
| RTX 5080 vs RTX 5090 | 35,629 vs 39,005 | The RTX 5090 is about 9% more powerful and has 32 GB of memory – for those who need the maximum without compromise. |
💡 How to compare for yourself?
Open videocardbenchmark.net, enter your current card and the one you're considering in the "Compare" section – you'll see how many times more powerful the new one will be. This is especially useful when upgrading an old computer.
How much video memory (VRAM) do you need?
| Memory | Enough for | Our examples |
|---|---|---|
| 2 GB | Office, films, additional monitors | GT 710, GT 1030 |
| 6–8 GB | Gaming at Full HD | RTX 3050, RTX 5050, RTX 5060, RTX 5060 Ti 8G, RX 7600 |
| 12 GB | Gaming at QHD | RTX 5070 |
| 16 GB | QHD at the highest settings, 4K, creative work | RX 9060 XT 16G, RX 9070, RTX 5070 Ti, RX 9070 XT, RTX 5080 |
| 32 GB | 4K, 3D rendering, artificial intelligence | RTX 5090 |
🌀 Cooling: why it matters and why 3 fans are better than 2?
A graphics card heats up as it works. If cooling is weak, the card automatically lowers its clock speeds (so-called "throttling") and loses performance, while the fans get louder. That's why the same chip with better cooling often runs faster and quieter.
| Cooling | Advantages | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 fan / passive | Compact, cheap | For office cards (GT 710, GT 1030) |
| 2 fans | Shorter card, fits more cases | For entry-level and mid-range, smaller cases |
| 3 fans | Larger heatsink, fans can spin slower – quieter and cooler | For mid-range and top class |
| Liquid (WATERFORCE) | The lowest temperature and quiet operation under load | For enthusiasts, the most powerful cards |
Why are 3 fans better than 2? Three fans push air through a longer heatsink, so heat is dissipated over a larger area. Because the airflow is greater, each fan can spin slower – the card runs quieter and cooler. The price is a longer card, so you must check whether it will fit in your case.
Gigabyte WINDFORCE – the name of Gigabyte's graphics card cooling system. In these systems the fans spin alternately (alternate spinning) – adjacent fans spin in opposite directions to reduce air turbulence and improve airflow through the heatsink.
WINDFORCE INFINITY EX – Gigabyte's most advanced cooling technology, used in AORUS MASTER laptops. More about them in our laptop guide.
📏 Will the graphics card fit in my case?
This is one of the most common beginner mistakes: a powerful card you've bought doesn't fit in the case. Before buying, check three things:
- Length. In the case specifications, look for "Max GPU length" and compare it with the card's length on its product page. For example, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 GAMING OC is 281 mm long.
- Thickness (number of slots). Powerful cards take up 2–3 or more expansion slots. Make sure other devices below the card won't get in the way.
- Height. For low office cases choose Low Profile cards, e.g. RTX 5060 OC Low Profile or a RTX 5050 OC Low Profile. For small cases – SFF models, e.g. RTX 5070 WINDFORCE OC SFF.
You'll find our range of cases in the PC cases.
🔌 Will the power supply be enough?
The graphics card is the most power-hungry part of a computer. A weak power supply can cause the computer to shut down during gaming or even damage components. Each card's manufacturer specifies the recommended power supply wattage – it's listed in the card's specifications.
| Graphics card | Indicative power supply wattage* | Suitable Gigabyte power supply |
|---|---|---|
| GT 710, GT 1030 | Almost any unit will do | P550SS 550W |
| RTX 5050, RTX 5060 | 550 W | P550SS 550W or P650G PG5 650W |
| RX 9060 XT | 450 W (Gigabyte GAMING OC ICE) | P650G PG5 650W |
| RTX 5060 Ti | 600 W | P650G PG5 650W |
| RTX 5070 | 650 W | UD750GM PG5 V2 750W |
| RTX 5070 Ti | 750 W | UD850GM PG5 V2 850W |
| RTX 5080 | 850 W | UD850GM PG5 V2 850W or UD1000GM PG5 V2 1000W |
| RTX 5090 | 1000 W | UD1000GM PG5 V2 1000W |
* Indicative total system power according to NVIDIA recommendations for reference cards. Factory-overclocked (OC) cards or powerful processors may require more – always check the specifications of the specific card. You'll find the recommended wattage for the AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT on the card's product page.
Also important are the connectors: some cards are powered by standard 8-pin (6+2 pin) connectors, while the more powerful RTX 50 series cards use the new 16-pin 12V-2x6 connector. Gigabyte UD…GM PG5 V2 power supplies have a native 12V-2x6 cable, so no adapters are needed. More in our power supply guide.
🖥️ G-SYNC and FreeSync: how to match a graphics card with a monitor?
When the graphics card produces a different frame rate than the monitor's refresh rate, "tearing" (screen tearing) or stuttering may appear on screen. Adaptive sync solves this – the monitor adapts to the graphics card's pace.
- AMD FreeSync – AMD technology that works with Radeon cards and FreeSync-compatible monitors.
- NVIDIA G-SYNC – NVIDIA technology. Most modern gaming monitors with adaptive sync work with GeForce cards in "G-SYNC Compatible" mode.
- In practice: if a monitor supports FreeSync / Adaptive-Sync, you can use it with an AMD card and usually with an NVIDIA card too. Whether a specific monitor is certified is stated in its specifications.
More on choosing a monitor in our monitor guide.
🚀 How to get the most out of your graphics card?
- Connect the monitor to the graphics card, not to the motherboard. This is the most common beginner mistake – when connected to the motherboard ports, the weak integrated graphics are used.
- Install the latest drivers – NVIDIA App (GeForce) or AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition (Radeon).
- Set the monitor's refresh rate. In Windows settings: System → Display → Advanced display → choose the highest refresh rate (e.g. 165 or 240 Hz). Windows sometimes leaves 60 Hz by default.
- Use the right cable. For high refresh rates and resolutions, choose DisplayPort or a new HDMI 2.1 cable.
- Enable G-SYNC / FreeSync in the NVIDIA or AMD control software.
- Use DLSS (NVIDIA) or FSR (AMD) in games – this can significantly increase FPS.
- Enable XMP / EXPO in the BIOSso that the RAM runs at its rated speed.
- Ensure good airflow in the case – a cool card maintains high clock speeds for longer.
✅ Checklist before buying a graphics card
- ☐ What is my monitor's resolution and refresh rate (Full HD, QHD, 4K; 60–360 Hz)?
- ☐ Which games or applications – and how many FPS do I want?
- ☐ How much video memory do I need (8, 12, 16 GB)?
- ☐ Will the card fit in the case (length, thickness, height)?
- ☐ Will the power supply have enough wattage and connectors?
- ☐ Is the processor powerful enough not to bottleneck the card?
- ☐ NVIDIA or AMD – do DLSS, G-SYNC or more memory matter?
- ☐ Which design do I want (black or the white ICE version)?
Frequently asked questions
What is the best graphics card for the money?
For most gamers the optimal choice is the RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT class: it's great for Full HD and many QHD games.
Is it worth buying an RTX 3050 in 2026?
For light games – yes, but the newer RTX 5050 is about a third more powerful in the PassMark test and supports DLSS 4. If the price difference is small, choose the newer generation.
Can you play games with a GT 710 or GT 1030?
Only very old or simple games. These cards are intended for office use, video output and additional monitors.
Will a new card fit an old computer?
Usually yes – PCIe cards are backward compatible. But check the power supply, the case size and whether the old processor will bottleneck the new card.
Which is better – more memory or a more powerful chip?
Choose the more powerful chip first, but when gaming at QHD or 4K it's worth having at least 12–16 GB of memory.
Does the OC version require extra settings?
No. OC means the clock speeds are raised at the factory – the card runs faster right away.