I built this PC originally for work, but I'd like to start gaming on it. It has a Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 32GB of DDR5 memory, and two 27-inch 1440p 160Hz monitors. Most of my games will probably be indies and older backlog titles, though I'm also interested in playing World of Warcraft: Forever when it releases in November and eventually Star Citizen if it gets into a good state. I don't need every setting or ray-tracing feature maxed out, and I don't have a strict budget. GPU prices are high right now, so I'd prefer a sensible purchase rather than overspending for features I won't use. Would a new or used card be the better choice, and which models would make the most sense for this setup?
5 Answers
If you want to keep the purchase inexpensive, an Intel Arc B580 is worth considering for general 1440p gaming, though you should check performance in the specific games you care about. I’d avoid going as low as an Arc B570 for a pair of 1440p high-refresh monitors unless you’re comfortable lowering settings. Used cards such as an RTX 3060 or RX 6600 XT can work, but they’re more appropriate if you’re aiming for roughly console-level performance rather than consistently high frame rates.
Since your work is handled on another machine and you’re mostly playing indies, Warcraft, and occasional demanding games, you probably don’t need to spend close to $1,000. A Radeon RX 9060 XT or RX 9070 GRE would be worth checking new, while a used RX 6800 XT, RX 7800 XT, RTX 3080, or RX 7700 XT could offer excellent value. Buying used also makes older cards much more attractive than current inflated prices.
The RX 9070 XT is probably the strongest all-around recommendation if you want plenty of headroom for modern games and Star Citizen without relying on NVIDIA features. An RTX 5070 Ti would also perform very well, but it’s difficult to justify if it costs substantially more than the 9070 XT. For your current library, a 9060 XT or 7800 XT would already be more than enough.
An RTX 5070 is also a very capable match. It should handle 1440p at high frame rates in demanding games, especially with features like DLSS when available. The main drawback is price and the amount of VRAM, so I’d only choose it if you specifically value NVIDIA’s upscaling, ray tracing, or other software features.
For 1440p, cards like the Radeon RX 7800 XT, RX 7900 XT, RX 9070 GRE, or RX 9060 XT should all be strong options. Around 16GB of VRAM is a comfortable target, although 12GB can still work depending on the games and settings. AMD generally offers better raw performance per dollar right now if you don’t need NVIDIA-specific features.
That’s helpful. I’m fine with buying used if the seller is reputable, and I’d rather get good 1440p performance than pay extra for features I probably won’t use.