When it comes to upgrading your PC, a new Graphics Card is widely accepted as one of the best ways to increase your system's gaming performance. This upgrade comes with quite a few benefits:
- Increased FPS in games you're already playing (@ the same resolution and settings)
- Broader resolution options (i.e. going from 1080p to 1440p w/ less of a performance hit)
- Access to newer features such as real-time ray tracing, improved frame generation, etc.
How often should you upgrade your Graphics Card?
The answer for this question will vary based on your own wants and needs, however many users upgrade the card in their PC every 2-3 generations (3-5 years). Some more enthusiastic users however may upgrade with each generational release. Your upgrade schedule will come down to personal preference.
What is a Graphics Card?
The Graphics Card, also commonly (though erroneously) called a GPU is an expansion card designed and optimized to help process graphical data. In particular, a Graphics Card includes the following components to best handle its job:
| Component | Definition |
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Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) |
A specialized co-processor designed with graphics processing in mind. This processor includes cores specialized for rasterization, shading, real-time lighting (i.e. ray tracing), or compute cores for specialized workloads such as Machine Learning and AI. |
|
Video Memory (VRAM) |
High-speed memory used by the Graphics Card to store and execute graphical data. Unlike the DRAM used by the CPU, VRAM is usually soldered directly on the Graphics Card and is optimized specifically for graphical tasks. |
|
Power Delivery Circuitry (PD) |
Because Graphics Cards include multiple components, onboard power delivery circuitry may be necessary to convert and direct power throughout the card. These include supplementary power connectors, Voltage Regulator Modules (VRMs), Transistors such as MOSFETs, and Chokes. Some entry-level GPUs may pull their power directly through the motherboard interface (i.e. PCIe), however most performance-oriented cards will need supplementary power directly from the Power Supply Unit (PSU) using specialized connectors like PCIe Power or 12V-2x6 (H++). |
| Cooling System | Because Graphics Card components can generate quite a bit of heat, dedicated cooling hardware is necessary to keep the card running cool and effectively. These systems tend to include heatsink(s), fan(s), and a shroud. |
An analogy we can use for your PC is to think of your system as a whole as an office:
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The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is our main worker. Their job is to process all of the data that comes into the office. This data is handled directly at a desk (RAM), and stored in a dedicated place (Storage, i.e. SSDs and HDDs). While the CPU is quite skilled at handling many different kinds of data, it lacks the specialization needed for certain types of data such as Graphics and would have to work harder to process it. |
|
Worker (CPU) |
Because the CPU lacks the specialization to handle Graphics data, let's bring in a GPU via a Graphics Card.
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The GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is a specialist who is brought in to the office specifically to handle Graphics data, but can also handle other work such as machine learning more efficiently than the CPU. Because the GPU was added via a Graphics Card rather than being integrated with the CPU, this specialist brings their own desk (VRAM) to handle data processing. |
|
Specialist (GPU) |
Whenever graphics or other compatible data comes through to the CPU, it is passed to the GPU to process the work more effectively. This also allows the CPU to better allocate its own limited resources to other work and results in better overall performance.
For more information on Graphics Cards, check out our article here: What is a Graphics Card?
Why should I upgrade my Graphics Card?
The reason people choose to upgrade their Graphics Card will vary, but in the end comes down to wanting better performance. This doesn't necessarily mean just gaming performance (higher FPS, more resolution options, etc.), but can also include productivity reasons that could benefit from hardware acceleration (video editing, computer aided design (CAD), machine learning, etc.).
We do note however that we do not recommend upgrading your GPU while the PC is still covered under warranty.
| NZXT Gaming PC Warranty & Upgrading |
| All NZXT Gaming PCs ship with a 2-year Limited Warranty from the date of purchase. This warranty does not cover issues caused by upgrading, adding, or changing components in your PC. It is recommended to not change any components in your PC until after the warranty period has ended. |
How do I choose a Graphics Card upgrade?
When choosing a Graphics Card upgrade, there are a number of factors that can be a bit overwhelming if you don't know where to start. For this we recommend to start with a few questions:
- Why do I want to upgrade?
- What can my current hardware support?
- What else will I need to upgrade or change?
In this guide we'll approaching this from the perspective of someone wanting the best performance for a new game coming out in a few months. Thankfully the developers have already released a Software Requirements chart that includes both a minimum and recommneded configuration:
| Minimum | Recommended |
|
CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K / AMD Ryzen 5 1600X GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB / AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT 6 GB / Intel Arc A380 6 GB RAM: 8GB RAM Storage: 55GB available space |
CPU: Intel Core i7-12700K / AMD Ryzen 7 5800X GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8 GB / AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT 16 GB RAM: 16 GB RAM Storage: 55GB available space |
As the name implies, Minimum requires are what the developer has determined to be the lowest hardware specs that a game or program can run on for an enjoyable experience. While you can sometimes make up for the performance of one part lacking by over-performing elsewhere, it's best practice to meet all of the minimum requirements for a game. This is especially true for the GPU requirement.
In addition to Minimum requirements, most programs will also include the Recommended specifications for an optimal experience. With recommended settings, there is a bit more flexibility with meeting these requirements.
| Exceeding Recommended Specifications |
|
While Recommended specifications are what the developer has considered as what is necessary for an optimal experience, these are usually determined with a common resolution (i.e. 1080p) and can be exceeded depending on what you are looking for with a game. For example, playing on a higher resolution may require a more powerful or newer graphics card. Outside of a few rare exceptions, it is perfectly fine to exceed recommended specs. One of these rare exceptions is older titles which may tie game physics or other features to the framerate. For these titles, it is recommended to set a Frame Limit in the game settings or control panel for the best experience. |
What hardware should I check before upgrading?
Before upgrading your Graphics Card, it is recommended to check the specs of your Power Supply, Case, and Motherboard as these will be the core limiting factors in what options will be compatible with your PC.
Start by checking the Spec Sheet for your Case to see if it lists a Maximum GPU Length or similar clearances. For our example, the NZXT H9 RGB Flow* case supports cards with a length of up to 459 mm with fans installed in the front, or up to 410 mm with a front radiator and fans installed.
* Measurements taken from the H9 Flow RGB released in 2025 (model CM-H92Fx). Specs may vary depending on future updates to the H9 series.
With the physical length sorted out, the next step is to check the wattage and available power connectors on the Power Supply Unit (PSU). In this example, let's look at the NZXT C1000 Gold ATX 3.1* which has a capacity of 1000W and includes 3 6+2-pin PCIe Power Cables and a single 16-pin (12+4) 12V-2x6 PCIe Cable.
* Specifications taken from the C1000 Gold ATX 3.1 released in 2024 (model PA-0G2Bx). Specs may vary depending on future updates to the C1000 series.
| Is there such thing as too much wattage? |
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Many Graphics Cards will list a Required System Power specification which pertains to the recommended amount wattage of the power supply used in a PC. These recommendations are usually based around a high-end system with other high power draw components to provide a realistic expectation of power needs for the card. Using a tool such as a Power Supply Calculator you may find that a system can support a card, it is not optimal and can result in excessive wear of the PSU or reduced performance and stability. On the other hand, many builders prefer to use Power Supplies that exceed the recommendations of the Required System Power spec. There are a number of benefits to going with a more powerful PSU, including greater longevity and more efficient performance as the PSU is able to more safely operate below its rated spec. For example, if a the System Power recommended is 800W, you may want to consider instead going with a 1000 or 1200W PSU. |
Lastly, always check your motherboard to ensure that you will have the necessary interface to install the card. Most graphics cards will be based around the PCI Express (PCIe) x16 length slot, however not all x16 slots are made equal. For example, the NZXT N7 Z790 has a total of three PCIe x16 slots, however only the top one supports PCIe 5.0 @ x16 mode while the second and third slots only support PCIe 4.0 @ x4 mode. Using an older generation or slower mode can reduce the performance of the graphics card (this is an example of "bottlenecking").
How do I shop for a Graphics Card?
With your required specs out of the way, it's time to shop around for the right upgrade for your PC. Looking at available options can get more than a little overwhelming, however these options can be easily broken down into three major categories: Entry-level, Midrange, and High-end.
| Entry-level | Midrange | High-end |
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As you go up in tier, you will notice substantial jumps in price for cards that will be available. Because of this, it's always good to approach picking out what level of card you'd like by setting a budget that considers any other parts that may need to be upgraded.
Entry-level Graphics Cards
Entry-level cards are aimed at those who use their system primarily for gaming or light use who may just be getting in to PC gaming or are looking to save some money now to go big later. These cards tend to be best at a resolution of 1080p (1920x1080) or lower with medium settings in games, however some entry-level cards can competently play at 1440p without too much issue.
Cards at this tier include NVIDIA's 50 and 60-class cards (RTX 3050, 5060) as well as AMD's 60-class (RX 9060).
Midrange Graphics Cards
Midrange cards are aimed at those who are looking for more performance than an entry-level card can offer, but may not want or need the performance offered at the cost of a high-end card. These cards excel at high refresh-rate 1080p gaming (i.e. 1080p240) and 1440p gaming at high or ultra settings. Midrange cards also tend to include additional features such as improved onboard encoding and decoding which makes them an attractive option for those doing content creation such as streaming or video editing.
Cards at this tier include NVIDIA's 70-class (RTX 5070, 5070 Ti) as well as AMD's 70-class (RX 9070, 9070 XT).
High-end Graphics Cards
High-end cards are aimed at those who either want to push their games to their limits or have a need for the features and power offered at the high-end. These cards excel at high refresh-rate 1440p gaming and tend to be more than capable of gaming at 4K resolution and beyond. For working professionals, high-end cards become a major investment as the greater raw power and feature set can help streamline or enable you to work on more complex tasks such as video editing, 3D modelling, data research, or machine learning and AI development.
Cards at this tier include NVIDIA's 80-class (RTX 4080 Super, 5080).
| Flagship Tier Cards |
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At the upper limits of the High-end is a class of cards known as Flagship cards. These tend to be the highest performance components available in a given generation and as such demand a hefty price premium. The audience for these cards tends to fall into one of two groups:
Flagship cards offer incredible performance in both consumer and professional spaces without needing to make the leap to specialized enterprise-tier products (i.e. NVIDIA Quadro, Radeon Pro). Cards at the Flagship tier include NVIDIA's 90-class. |
With performance tiers and compatibility out of the way, it does come down to your own wants and needs when upgrading your graphics card. It also may be worth looking at other components in your PC before making the leap as installing an over-powered card in a system with older or weaker components may not result in the performance leap you are expecting (i.e. pairing a Flagship GPU with an entry-level CPU may result in a severe performance bottleneck that could potentially be out-performed by a more balanced system using a mid-rage GPU and CPU pairing).
Installing your Graphics Card Upgrade
For steps to remove your original Graphics Card and install an upgrade, check out our guide found here: How do I re-seat my Graphics Card (GPU)?
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