Previous Generation Cards
Normally I would recommend a previous-generation card, but the RTX 40 series and AMD 7000 are either out of stock or heavily marked up at major retail stores. You can still find some older-generation cards for under $500. The newer generation only has the more expensive cards. These cards are aimed at 1,920 x 1080 gaming resolutions, so don’t expect to see them in higher resolutions or refresh rates.
AMD.
Prior to the launch of the 50 Series, I was using an Sapphire Pulse XTis a card that I would recommend, as it has served me well over the past two years, at 3,440 x 1440, and was less than $700 in June 2023. It’s hard to find right now, and restocks are likely to slow down significantly once the new AMD cards hit the market.
I’d rather go a little lower on the power scale, and get an RX 7600. I haven’t played with this model but I’ve always been happy with Sapphire’s cards. It should be able to handle 1080p games in older titles and indie games.
This card will not push 1440p in the newer games and it won’t have some of the features that you see on the latest GPUs. It will get you through the next few months until things calm down.
GeForce RTX RTX RTX RTX RTX RTX RTX RTX RTX RTX RT RTX RTX RTX RTX RTX RTX RTX RTX RTX RTx RTX RTX RTX RTX RTX RTX RTX RTX RTX RTW RTX RTX RTX RTX It was a good card at 1080p but not so much with today’s games. You’ll need to lower the settings to even consider 1440p.
I prefer the MSI GeForce RTX RTX 4060 ventus 2X Black. It is a compact card that has a low power consumption and should fit into any modern system. This graphics card is in stock, and has been recently discounted. MSI is known for its reliable and straightforward graphics cards.
I think that the AMD is the better buy of the two even though its performance is slightly lower on paper than the RTX 4160. Keep an eye out for any discounts, especially at the sub-$500 level, to ensure you get the best deal.
Buying used
I’m a big fan of buying new GPUs. You’ll also get the proper warranty and RMA service if anything goes wrong. It can be difficult to tell if someone has misused a GPU through crypto mining or poor temperature control. I often buy used in other areas but it’s hard to trust strangers with the high prices and demand.
Do your research before buying used. Local meetups on Craigslist or Reddit may offer great deals, and you’ll have a chance to inspect a GPU even if it doesn’t boot. You can ask for video evidence of the card running the game, which includes the serial number. If you are considering buying a used game card online, be sure to read the return and dispute policies of both the marketplace and payment processor.
As soon as you receive the card at home, check it for any damage, especially on the PCIe fin or the power connectors. A software tool called GPU-Z ( ) can verify the hardware of the card once installed to ensure it matches the expected model numbers. You should play some games right away to see if there are any problems.
