Choosing the Best Graphics Card: January 2026 Edition
Performance, pricing, and the best GPUs for every budget and resolution
As part of our regular updates, we once again review the best graphics cards available on the market, both overall and within specific price categories. Our conclusions are based on performance testing under Windows 11 combined with current retail prices as of January 2026.
To ensure transparency and comparability, all GPUs were tested under identical conditions using maximum possible graphics quality across 11 modern games. Separate test sessions were conducted for titles supporting ray tracing as well as resolution upscaling technologies such as Nvidia DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS.
This January update introduces a new model — AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT (8 GB). With its inclusion, the Radeon RX 9000 and GeForce RTX 50 series lineups are now complete. As usual, the addition of a new card required removing an older one from comparison. This time, GeForce RTX 4090 was excluded, as it is no longer widely available on the primary market and is considered outdated as a gaming solution.
Overall Best Value GPU
Best GPU family: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 (12 GB)
Best specific model: Maxsun iCraft GeForce RTX 5070 (12 GB)
Although Intel Arc B580 (12 GB) tops our usefulness ranking in games without ray tracing, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 becomes the clear leader in ray-traced titles when DLSS and other scaling technologies are enabled. Given its long-term potential and broader support for advanced upscaling, the RTX 5070 once again takes the top spot.
In raw performance, the RTX 5070 sits between the RTX 4070 Super and RTX 4070 Ti. Its closest competitors are Radeon RX 9070 in rasterized games and Radeon RX 9070 XT in ray-traced scenarios.
With this card, players can enjoy maximum graphics settings at any resolution up to 4K, both with and without ray tracing. When DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation (MFG) is enabled, performance can approach — and in some cases match — that of the RTX 4080 and RTX 4080 Super.
The selected Maxsun model occupies three slots, measures 320×130 mm, consumes up to 250 W, and uses a 16-pin PCIe 5.0 power connector. At the time of review, its minimum price was 64,000 rubles.
Best GPUs by Price Segment
Up to 30,000 rubles
Best family: Intel Arc B570 (10 GB)
Best model: Maxsun Intel Arc B570 Milestone
The Arc B570 leads in both rasterized and ray-traced games when upscaling is enabled. It effectively replaces the older Arc A770 and is aimed primarily at 1080p gaming, offering strong performance at high settings. Ray tracing requires XeSS or FSR for acceptable results.
Minimum price: 27,500 rubles
30,000–50,000 rubles
Best family: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 (8 GB)
Best model: Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5060 Windforce OC
The RTX 5060 tops usefulness rankings in both rasterized and ray-traced games when scaling is enabled. It excels at Full HD, performs acceptably at 1440p, and relies heavily on DLSS 4 for ray tracing.
Minimum price: 35,000 rubles
50,000–75,000 rubles
Best family: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti (16 GB)
Best model: Asus GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Dual OC
While Radeon RX 9070 leads in non-ray-traced gaming, the RTX 5060 Ti becomes the better long-term choice thanks to ray tracing and DLSS support. It delivers smooth gameplay at 1440p and strong Full HD performance with RT enabled.
Minimum price: 52,000 rubles
75,000–100,000 rubles
Best family: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (16 GB)
Best model: Maxsun iCraft GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
Comparable to RTX 4080-class performance, the RTX 5070 Ti handles 4K gaming effortlessly, even with ray tracing enabled. CPU limitations may become the main bottleneck in some scenarios.
Minimum price: 92,000 rubles
From 100,000 rubles
Best family: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 (16 GB)
Best model: Palit GeForce RTX 5080 GamingPro
A true flagship-class GPU positioned between RTX 4080 Super and RTX 4090. It supports maximum settings at any resolution, including selective 8K gaming, with strong ray tracing and DLSS performance.
Minimum price: 125,000 rubles
GPU Selection by Resolution
4K (2160p, no ray tracing): RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5070, RX 9070 XT, RX 9070
4K with ray tracing: RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5070, RTX 4080 Super
1440p: RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 4070, RX 7800 XT, Arc B580
1080p: Arc B570, RTX 5050, RTX 5060, RX 7600
Testing Methodology
All tests were conducted using the same game set and driver versions. Results form the basis of the iXBT.com performance rating and the usefulness rating, which factors in GPU prices as of January 2026.
These rankings help answer the key question: does the performance justify the price?