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Nvidia GPUs are some of the most popular options among gamers. The company packs its products with all the latest technologies, such as ray tracing, AI-powered upscaling, premium rasterization, and many more. Their offerings easily challenge competitors like AMD and Intel, earning them the top spot in Steam Hardware Survey charts.
In early 2025, the company is selling its Ada Lovelace and Ampere-based GPUs. Industry insiders have hinted that the next generation of Blackwell cards will start arriving by the end of January. However, it could take quite a few months for the whole lineup to become available, making the 40 series offerings the best bet if you're building a system right now.
NOTE: This article is subjective and reflects the writer's opinion.
Best Nvidia GPUs to consider buying in early 2025
1) NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB ($299)
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The Nvidia RTX 4060 is the most popular desktop graphics card built in this generation. It currently occupies the third spot on the Steam Hardware Survey charts, only behind the last-gen RTX 3060 and the RTX 4060 laptop GPU. The card offers an optimum set of features. Primarily focused on 1080p gaming, it'll cost you about $300, making it the cheapest GPU Nvidia is stocking right now.
The GPU is based on the AD107 graphics chip, which is a severely cut-down version of the AD102 found on the flagship 4090. The core count has been aptly reduced to just 3,072 to fit the price point. However, this also limits the card's performance capabilities to 1440p. That said, the card is extremely power-efficient at just 115W. The 8 GB VRAM buffer, though, doesn't future-proof it enough.
Pros:
- Low 115W power consumption is ideal for small form factor builds.
- Excellent 1080p gaming performance with full DLSS 3 support.
- Cost-effective entry point into ray tracing capabilities.
Cons:
- 8GB VRAM and 128-bit bus severely restrict high-resolution gaming.
- 24 RT cores provide limited ray tracing performance in modern titles.
- 288 GB/s memory bandwidth is inadequate for many current games.
Read more: Intel Arc B580 vs Nvidia RTX 4060
2) Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB ($499)
Coming to mid-range Nvidia GPUs, the RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB can be a considerable option. The card is designed for 1080p and 1440p gaming experiences. Moreover, the large 16 GB memory buffer offers ample future-proofing. The GPU, however, wasn't received well for its steep pricing. The card would cost you $499, while it is barely faster than last-gen options like the AMD RX 6700 XT. Those interested in DLSS 3 and better ray tracing can choose this option.
In terms of on-paper specs, this Nvidia GPU is based on the AD106 graphics chip, which is slightly larger than what's found on the card listed above. You get 4,352 CUDA cores, which is 42% more than what the base model offers. Coupled with the extra video memory and a slightly higher power budget, the card is particularly powerful in 1440p and 4K gaming. However, it has been particularly designed for high-framerate 1080p gaming with future-proofing.
Pros:
- Ample VRAM ensures better future-proofing for VRAM-intensive games and workloads.
- Delivers excellent 1080p and solid 1440p gaming performance with ray tracing.
- Lower power consumption makes it a great choice for energy-efficient builds.
Cons:
- Performance gains over the 8GB version don't always justify the higher price.
- Limited CUDA cores may be a bottleneck in highly demanding games.
- Not ideal for consistent high-performance 4K gaming or demanding rendering/AI workloads.
3) Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super ($599)
The RTX 4070 Super is Nvidia's 1440p gaming champion. This Nvidia GPU has been designed to offer the highest framerates at the resolution while maxing out the AD104 graphics processor powering it. It offers slightly improved performance over the older 4070, which continues to be available for $549.
This Nvidia GPU packs 7,168 CUDA cores, representing a 65% bump over the 4060 Ti. In terms of VRAM, however, you get a downgrade. The 4070 Super ships with 12 GB of buffer. If you look at the technical details, there's a different story — the memory is faster (GDDR6X), which results in a 77% higher bandwidth for the 70-class card.
Pros:
- Balanced performance for high settings at 1440p resolutions.
- Moderate power draw makes it suitable for smaller systems.
Cons:
- 12 GB VRAM may quickly become a problem.
- 4K gaming at the highest settings brings the card to its knees.
- The $599 price tag could feel steep for the performance you get.
4) Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super ($799)
The RTX 4070 Ti Super is a premium gaming option. Under the hood, you'd find it shares the DNA of an 80-class Nvidia GPU offering. This is because it is a refresher of the original RTX 4080 12 GB that was "unlaunched" in 2022 following severe backlash. The Supercharged variant brings extra VRAM and better framerates, making it a superb alternative to the costlier RX 7900 XT.
The card is powered by the AD103 graphics chip, which is a level above the chip powering the base 70-class card. You get 8,448 CUDA cores and 16 GB of GDDR6X video memory, which translates to a massive performance bump in the latest titles. However, all of this hardware comes at a significant max power consumption of 285W and a $799 price tag.
Pros:
- The 4070 Ti Super is a 1440p and 4K gaming powerhouse.
- 16 GB video memory allows ample future-proofing.
- Offers better price-to-performance than competitors like the RX 7900 XT.
Cons:
- The card offers marginal gains over the older RTX 3090.
- The $799 price could be steep for most mid-range gamers.
5) Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super ($999)
The RTX 4080 Super is a powerful option for UHD gamers. The card has been designed to deliver sky-high framerates at the resolution with little to no compromises to the video settings. However, do note that the card can be prohibitively expensive for most entry-level and mid-range gamers given its $999 price tag.
In terms of the hardware, you get the same AD103 graphics chip as the 4070 Ti Super. However, this time it's fully maxed out. The 80-class Nvidia GPU packs 10,240 CUDA cores, about 22% more than its $799 sibling.
Although the video memory buffer remains the same at 16 GB, the total bandwidth is 10% higher thanks to the higher operating speeds. These bumps directly affect the power budget, however. The 4080 Super draws up to 320W under full load.
Pros:
- The high CUDA core count ensures unparalleled 4K gaming.
- FastnGDDR6X memory offers high bandwidth, ensuring future-proofing.
- Advanced ray tracing capabilities deliver the best visuals and realism in games.
Cons:
- High power consumption requires a robust cooling system and PSU.
- Price is prohibitive for budget gamers or casual users.
- May be overkill for users focused solely on 1080p or 1440p gaming.
Overall, these are some of your best bets when it comes to shopping for a Nvidia GPU in early 2025. Some of these cards, like the 4080 Super and the 4070 Ti Super could get replaced soon, however. Doublethink these purchases. This article will be updated with the best choices once Blackwell hits shelves.
