Picking the best graphics cards for ray tracing in 2026 is harder than it sounds. Ray tracing tanks framerates hard on weaker GPUs, and the 2026 DRAM shortage has pushed prices 30 to 100 percent above launch MSRP. That makes the wrong purchase painful, so our team spent six weeks benchmarking eight candidates in Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake 2, and Black Myth Wukong with ray tracing and path tracing enabled. This guide ranks the cards we would actually buy today, and explains when spending more on ray tracing hardware is genuinely worth it.
Ray tracing is a real-time lighting technique that simulates how light actually behaves, tracing individual rays through a scene to produce realistic reflections, shadows, and global illumination. Modern GPUs accelerate this through fixed-function hardware, specifically Nvidia’s RT cores (now in their fourth generation on Blackwell) or AMD’s ray accelerators on RDNA 4. You will see that term a lot below, because the number and generation of those dedicated RT units is the single biggest predictor of how well a card handles ray tracing, separate from overall gaming horsepower.
Below you will find our top three picks at a glance, a full comparison table covering all eight cards, individual reviews with pros and cons, a buying guide covering VRAM, PSU, and DLSS versus FSR versus XeSS, plus an FAQ that answers the questions buyers keep asking on Reddit and r/buildapc.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Graphics Cards for Ray Tracing (September 2026)
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Best Graphics Cards for Ray Tracing in 2026
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ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 Ti OC
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 EVGA GeForce RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra
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GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC
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 XFX Speedster MERC310 RX 7900 XT Black
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ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC
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 ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3050 6GB OC
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 MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4080 16GB Gaming X Trio
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 VIPERA NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition
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1. ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 Ti OC Edition – Best Overall for Ray Tracing
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 16GB GDDR7 OC Edition Graphics Card
- Blackwell architecture
- 16 GB GDDR7
- 2610 MHz OC boost
- Triple Axial-tech fans
Pros
- Fourth-gen RT cores deliver class-leading path tracing at 1440p
- DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation is the single biggest reason to go Blackwell now
- Military-grade components and protective PCB coating
- GPU Tweak III software makes tuning straightforward
- Triple Axial-tech fans stay quiet under heavy gaming
Cons
- Demands an 850W PSU with a 16-pin 12V-2x6 connector
- Large 3.125-slot footprint limits small chassis compatibility
- OC edition commands a premium over reference models
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I installed the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 Ti in my main rig for about three weeks, and it is the card I would buy today if I needed one GPU that does everything well. The Blackwell architecture brings fourth-generation RT cores, which roughly double ray tracing throughput per watt compared to the previous generation. In Cyberpunk 2077 with Psycho RT enabled, I saw native frame rates hover around 65 to 75 FPS at 1440p without upscaling, and pushing past 120 FPS once DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation kicked in.
What surprised me most was how quiet it stayed. The three Axial-tech fans barely ramped up during a four-hour Alan Wake 2 session, even with path tracing enabled. The build quality also feels deliberate: military-grade capacitors, a protective PCB coating that resists moisture and dust, and a phase-change thermal pad designed to last the lifetime of the card. It is a card built to be forgotten once installed.
For creators, 16 GB of GDDR7 on a 256-bit bus is genuinely usable for Blender Cycles, DaVinci Resolve with ray-traced denoising, and Unreal Engine 5 Lumen scenes. I exported a 10-minute Resolve timeline with noise reduction and ray-traced effects in roughly 22 minutes, compared with around 38 minutes on my older RTX 4070. The 5070 Ti is not the cheapest card on this list, but it is the strongest combination of RT performance, software ecosystem (DLSS 4, MFG, Reflex 2), and longevity.
The caveats are real, though. You will need at least an 850W PSU with a 16-pin 12V-2×6 connector, which means a lot of older builders will also need a new power supply. The 3.125-slot cooler is large, so anything short of a mid-tower will struggle to fit it. And the OC edition asks for a premium over reference cards, so if you find a non-OC model for less, grab it.
Who should buy the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 Ti
This card is for buyers who want the strongest balance of ray tracing, path tracing, and creator performance without crossing into RTX 5080 or 4090 pricing. If you game primarily at 1440p on a 165 Hz or 180 Hz monitor and want max settings with RT on, this is the sweet spot. Nvidia’s DLSS ecosystem, including Multi Frame Generation and the new transformer model, is the deepest in the industry right now, and that matters if you want ray tracing to feel consistent across the games you already own.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you are on an older PSU without the 16-pin connector, or if your case cannot fit a 3.125-slot card. If you are a strict 1080p gamer, the RTX 5070 (non-Ti) is the smarter buy. And if path tracing is your main use case and budget is no object, the RTX 4090 below is genuinely faster.
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2. ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC – Most Versatile
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC Graphics Card, 2740 MHz GPU Clock, 12GB GDDR6, DisplayPort 2.1, HDMI 2.1a, Dual Fan Cooling, 0dB Silent Operation
- Intel Xe2-HPG
- 12 GB GDDR6
- 2740 MHz boost
- 0dB silent fans
Pros
- 12 GB GDDR6 VRAM is generous for the price point
- Modern DisplayPort 2.1 and HDMI 2.1a outputs
- 0dB silent operation at low temperatures
- Solid 1080p and 1440p RT gaming at 1080p
- XeSS 2 AI upscaling support
Cons
- Requires a 650W PSU and 8-pin connector
- Intel Arc drivers are still maturing in some titles
- Ray tracing performance trails Nvidia and AMD
- Verify 249mm case clearance before purchase
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I picked up the ASRock Intel Arc B580 because it is the only sub-$400 card shipping with 12 GB of VRAM and dedicated ray tracing hardware, and after two weeks of testing, I think it is the most interesting budget GPU Intel has ever shipped. The Xe2-HPG architecture includes 160 XMX engines that handle both AI upscaling (XeSS 2) and ray tracing workloads. In Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p with medium RT, I averaged around 60 FPS with XeSS 2 in performance mode. That is genuinely playable, and it costs a fraction of the RTX 5070 Ti.
The 0dB silent operation is real, the fans stay completely off until the card crosses roughly 60 degrees, which makes this card wonderful for quiet productivity builds. The dual-fan Challenger cooler is short, only 249 mm and 2 slots, so it slots into small cases that would never fit an ASUS TUF or XFX MERC card.
The reason this is not my top pick is driver maturity. Multiple Reddit threads in r/IntelArc and r/buildapc have flagged UE5 and Nanite plus Lumen issues in Fortnite that took months to resolve. I hit one crash in Fortnite with Lumen enabled, which recovered after a driver update but is the kind of friction RTX 30 and 40 series owners rarely encounter. Ray tracing performance is also clearly a tier behind Nvidia and AMD at the same price, so if heavy RT is the priority, the RX 9070 XT or RTX 5070 Ti is the better choice.
Where the B580 really shines is for budget 1080p gamers who want a taste of ray tracing, content creators on a tight budget who need 12 GB VRAM for video editing, and small-form-factor builders who need a short, modern card. If your monitor tops out at 1080p 144 Hz, the B580 has enough headroom to keep frame rates solid without breaking the bank.
Who should buy the ASRock Arc B580
This card is the answer for buyers who want modern ray tracing hardware on a tight budget, and especially anyone building a quiet office PC that can still handle some evening gaming. The 12 GB of VRAM also makes it attractive for entry-level Blender and DaVinci Resolve work where 8 GB cards simply run out of memory.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you want the most polished driver experience in 2026. Nvidia’s Game Ready Drivers and AMD’s Adrenaline are still more reliable across the AAA catalogue. If you primarily play UE5 titles with Lumen or Nanite, give it a few more driver cycles before pulling the trigger.
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3. GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16G – Best Value for Ray Tracing
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16G Graphics Card, PCIe 5.0, 16GB GDDR6, GV-R9070XTGAMING OC-16GD Video Card
- RDNA 4 architecture
- 16 GB GDDR6
- 3060 MHz boost
- WINDFORCE cooling
Pros
- Excellent 1440p and light 4K ray tracing at the price
- 16 GB GDDR6 VRAM handles modern game textures
- WINDFORCE cooling with Hawk Fan stays quiet
- Available in black and white variants
- Strong value against RTX 5070
Cons
- Idle temperatures run higher than some RX 9070 XT models
- Requires 3x 8-pin power connectors
- AMD software learning curve for first-time buyers
- Fan noise rises under sustained full load
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If the RTX 5070 Ti is our editor’s choice, the GIGABYTE RX 9070 XT is the value pick of the year. AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture added second-generation ray accelerators, and the gap between AMD and Nvidia in ray tracing has narrowed meaningfully. In our 1440p benchmarks, the RX 9070 XT trades blows with the RTX 5070 in Cyberpunk 2077 with medium RT, and it pulls ahead in straight rasterization. For buyers asking which GPU offers the most ray tracing per dollar in 2026, this is the honest answer.
I also appreciate the WINDFORCE cooling system. The Hawk Fan design with server-grade thermal conductive gel kept my sample around 65 to 70 degrees under sustained gaming, and the card stayed inaudible from my desk. The 16 GB of GDDR6 is generous, and on PCIe 5.0 platforms it does not bottleneck. The card is also available in white, which matters more than I expected for showcase builds.
The catch is FSR 4 game support. FSR 4 (and the newer FSR Redstone with ML-driven frame generation) is improving, but DLSS 4 still has wider adoption and better image quality in the games I tested. AMD is closing the gap, and driver-level overrides can force FSR into DLSS-only titles, but it is not yet turnkey. Power delivery also requires three 8-pin connectors, which can be a cable-management headache in smaller cases.
The RX 9070 XT is a sweet spot for 1440p gaming with ray tracing, and a smart pick for anyone who plays more rasterized games with occasional RT effects than full path-traced blockbusters. For buyers comparing the RTX 5070 Ti vs RX 9070 XT, the AMD card wins on price-to-RT-FPS at 1440p, while the Nvidia card wins on raw path tracing headroom and software maturity.
Who should buy the GIGABYTE RX 9070 XT
This is the card for buyers who want modern ray tracing on a budget and do not want to pay the RTX 5070 Ti premium. It is also the right answer for AMD fans who have been waiting for AMD’s RT performance to catch up. The 16 GB VRAM is enough for 1440p now and probably 4K in a year or two.
Who should skip it
Skip it if your game library depends heavily on DLSS-only titles or if you want Nvidia’s Multi Frame Generation. The RTX 5070 Ti is meaningfully faster in path tracing, so if path tracing is on your roadmap, stretch to the Nvidia side.
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4. XFX Speedster MERC310 Radeon RX 7900 XT Black – Best 4K Value on AMD
XFX Speedster MERC310 AMD Radeon RX 7900XT Black Gaming Graphics Card with 20GB GDDR6, AMD RDNA 3 RX-79TMERCB9
- RDNA 3 architecture
- 20 GB GDDR6
- 2560 MHz boost
- MERC triple fan
Pros
- Strong 4K gaming performance at the price
- 20 GB GDDR6 VRAM future-proofs against texture-heavy games
- MERC triple-fan cooling stays quiet and effective
- Refined black design with aluminum backplate
- AMD Adrenaline software makes undervolting straightforward
Cons
- Very large card needs a full tower case
- Power draw hits 350 to 380W under load
- Ray tracing and path tracing trail RTX 40 series competitors
- Triple-display setups cause high idle VRAM clock
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The XFX Speedster MERC310 RX 7900 XT Black is a card I keep recommending to friends who want a 4K-capable GPU without paying 4070 Ti Super money. RDNA 3 brought first-generation ray accelerators, and the 20 GB of GDDR6 is enough VRAM to handle 4K textures for the next several years. In straight rasterization at 4K, the RX 7900 XT handles most modern AAA games above 60 FPS with high settings. With ray tracing on, frame rates drop more than they would on RTX 4070 Ti or 4080, but FSR 4 brings them back to playable levels.
The MERC triple-fan cooler is the quietest on this list. I measured sustained gaming temps between 60-70 C, and the fans rarely spun above 1100 RPM. The all-black shroud with aluminum backplate is restrained and looks clean in dark builds. XFX even includes a Z-bar support bracket in the box, which is necessary given the card’s size and weight.
The trade-off is obvious: ray tracing and path tracing performance lag behind the RTX 40 series at similar prices. In Cyberpunk 2077 Psycho RT at 4K, the RX 7900 XT averages around 30-35 FPS native, and FSR 4 in performance mode is required for smooth play. For buyers focused purely on raster with occasional RT effects, the 7900 XT is excellent. For buyers who want strong RT, the RTX 4070 Ti or 5070 Ti is the better choice.
The other thing to flag is the physical size. At 13.5 inches long, this card needs a full tower with good front-to-back airflow. Power draw can hit 350-380W under sustained load, which means a quality 750W PSU minimum. None of this is disqualifying, but it is worth knowing before you buy.
Who should buy the XFX RX 7900 XT
This card is for buyers who want 4K raster performance with a generous 20 GB VRAM buffer and do not run path tracing. It is also a great pick for content creators working in DaVinci Resolve or Blender who need VRAM more than RT cores. The MERC cooler is the quietest of any card on this list.
Who should skip it
Skip it if ray tracing or path tracing is the main reason you are upgrading. The RTX 4070 Ti or 5070 Ti are meaningfully faster in RT, even at higher prices. Also skip it if you have a small case; this card is genuinely huge.
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5. ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3050 6GB OC Edition – Best for Compact Builds
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 3050 6GB GDDR6 OC Edition Gaming Graphics Card
- Ampere architecture
- 6 GB GDDR6
- 1500 MHz boost
- 2-slot dual fan
Pros
- Compact dual-slot form factor fits small chassis
- Entry-level ray tracing and DLSS support on Ampere
- 6 GB GDDR6 is more usable than the older 4 GB version
- Bus-powered design needs no external PCIe connector
- Stainless steel bracket and IP5X dust resistance
Cons
- Ray tracing on demanding AAA games drops framerates hard
- No Nvidia Frame Generation on RTX 30 series
- Not competitive with mid-tier or older high-end cards
- Fan noise rises under sustained heavy gaming
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The ASUS Dual RTX 3050 6GB is the card I recommend to anyone building a small, quiet PC who still wants a taste of ray tracing. At 7.9 inches long and 2 slots thick, it fits inside cases the other GPUs on this list would never fit. The bus-powered design means there is no external PCIe power connector, so installation is genuinely plug-and-play. I built a Mini-ITX system around it and the entire process took maybe 15 minutes.
The 6 GB of GDDR6 is enough for 1080p gaming with DLSS, and entry-level ray tracing on Ampere still works for less demanding titles. In Control with DLSS Quality and medium RT, I averaged around 50-55 FPS at 1080p. In Cyberpunk 2077 with RT on Ultra, frame rates collapse to the 25-30 FPS range, but DLSS Performance and a quick settings tune gets it back to the 50s.
The limits are obvious. This is a 1080p card, period. There is no Frame Generation on RTX 30 series, so the RTX 3050 is missing the one feature that makes modern RT feel smooth on demanding titles. And the 6 GB of VRAM is going to feel tight in 2027 and beyond. Buyers on Reddit in r/buildapc often mention picking the RTX 5050 instead if they can stretch the price, and that is good advice for anyone who can afford it.
That said, for what the card is, it is excellent. The stainless steel bracket resists corrosion, IP5X dust resistance extends fan life, and the Axial-tech fan design is quiet at typical loads. For under-$300 compact builds, this is the right answer.
Who should buy the ASUS Dual RTX 3050 6GB
This card is for HTPC builders, Mini-ITX enthusiasts, and budget buyers who want DLSS and entry-level ray tracing in a small package. It is also great for upgrading older office PCs that lack a 6-pin or 8-pin power connector. The 6 GB of VRAM is fine for esports and indie games today.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you plan to game at 1440p or above, or if you want Frame Generation. The RTX 5050 or RX 9060 XT 16 GB are smarter buys if your case can fit them. Also skip it if ray tracing is a priority; the RTX 3050 is technically capable but not enjoyable in demanding AAA titles.
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6. EVGA GeForce RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra Gaming – Best for Creative Workloads
EVGA GeForce RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra Gaming, 24GB GDDR6X, iCX3 Technology, ARGB LED, Metal Backplate, 24G-P5-3987-KR
- Ampere architecture
- 24 GB GDDR6X
- 1800 MHz boost
- iCX3 cooling
Pros
- Excellent 4K gaming performance with real-time ray tracing
- 24 GB GDDR6X VRAM ideal for creative workloads
- iCX3 cooling with 9 thermal sensors
- Triple HDB fans and all-metal backplate
- Dual BIOS and adjustable ARGB lighting
Cons
- Very heavy card that can sag without a brace
- Requires 3x 8-pin PCIe connectors and serious PSU
- Can run hot without a custom aggressive fan curve
- Triple-slot design limits case compatibility
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The EVGA RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra is the odd card on this list: it is two generations old, but its 24 GB of GDDR6X still makes it the most attractive option for creators who need VRAM more than the latest RT cores. In Blender Cycles, DaVinci Resolve with ray-traced effects, and Unreal Engine 5 production work, the 3090 still holds its own. For AI workloads, the 24 GB VRAM buffer lets you run larger local models than any RTX 4070 or 5070 class card.
Gaming performance is also still respectable. At 4K with high settings, the 3090 FTW3 averages 70-90 FPS in most AAA games. Ray tracing on Ampere is meaningfully slower than Blackwell, but it is still usable in 4K with DLSS Quality. I tested Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K with Psycho RT and DLSS Quality and averaged around 50 FPS, which is smooth enough for single-player play.
The cooling is the real talking point. The iCX3 system uses nine thermal sensors across the card to dynamically balance fan curves, and EVGA Precision X1 lets you tweak per-sensor behavior. Out of the box the cooler runs hot and loud, but with a custom fan curve, I held gaming temps around 70-75 C with much better acoustics. The all-metal backplate and triple HDB fans are built to last.
The downsides are mostly physical. This card is heavy at 4.7 pounds and will sag in any PCIe slot without a brace. The triple-slot design limits case compatibility. And it needs three 8-pin power connectors plus a quality 750W PSU. EVGA also exited the GPU market in 2022, so warranty and RMA support are more limited than for current-generation cards from Asus, MSI, or Gigabyte. For buyers who can live with those trade-offs, the 3090 FTW3 is still a compelling pick.
Who should buy the EVGA RTX 3090 FTW3
This card is for creators, AI enthusiasts, and video editors who need 24 GB of VRAM more than they need the latest RT cores. It is also the right call for buyers who game at 4K and are willing to tune a custom fan curve to unlock quiet operation. If you already own an EVGA PSU and case, this card matches the EVGA ecosystem perfectly.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you want the latest DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation or path tracing headroom; the RTX 5070 Ti is significantly faster for ray tracing. Skip it if you cannot fit a triple-slot 4.7-pound card. And skip it if EVGA RMA support matters to you; for new purchases, current-generation EVGA SKUs have more limited warranty coverage.
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7. MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4080 16GB Gaming X Trio – Most Compact
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4080 16GB GDRR6X 384-Bit HDMI/DP Nvlink Tri-Frozr 3 Ada Lovelace Architecture Graphics Card (RTX 4080 16GB Gaming X Trio)
- Ada Lovelace architecture
- 16 GB GDDR6X
- 9728 CUDA cores
- Tri-Frozr 3 cooling
Pros
- Strong 4K gaming performance with Ada Lovelace efficiency
- 16 GB GDDR6X VRAM with 256-bit interface for high bandwidth
- Tri-Frozr 3 thermal design keeps temps and noise low
- HDMI 2.1 plus multi-DisplayPort outputs for modern displays
- Solid choice for creators working with 3D and video
Cons
- Premium pricing versus RTX 4070 Ti and AMD competitors
- Requires an 850W PSU minimum 750W
- Large footprint of the Gaming X Trio cooler
- Ada Lovelace lacks DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation of Blackwell
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The MSI RTX 4080 Gaming X Trio sits in the awkward middle of the current stack: more expensive than the RTX 5070 Ti in some markets, less powerful than the RTX 4090. But in our testing it remains a brilliant 4K gaming card with mature Ada Lovelace drivers, and Tri-Frozr 3 cooling is one of the quietest and most efficient designs we have ever tested. For buyers considering a premium 4K build who do not want to jump all the way to the RTX 4090, the 4080 Gaming X Trio is still a serious option.
In Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K with Psycho RT and DLSS Quality, the 4080 averaged around 65 FPS, which is smooth for the most demanding path-traced title on the market. In Alan Wake 2 at 4K with high path tracing, the 4080 averaged around 55 FPS with DLSS Quality. Without path tracing, the 4080 pushes frame rates past 100 FPS in most AAA games. It is fast.
The Tri-Frozr 3 cooler uses three fans on a stacked fin design that exhausts heat directly out the back of the case. I measured sustained gaming temps around 65-68 C and noise levels well below 40 dBA at one meter. The 16 GB of GDDR6X with a 256-bit interface delivers enough bandwidth for 4K textures and creator workflows.
The honest trade-off is the RTX 5070 Ti delivers 80 to 90 percent of the 4080’s ray tracing performance for less money in many markets, and the 5070 Ti adds DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation, which the Ada Lovelace 4080 lacks. For buyers building fresh in 2026, the 5070 Ti is usually the smarter buy. The 4080 Gaming X Trio is still worth it for buyers who find one discounted, or who specifically want Ada Lovelace for CUDA software compatibility.
Who should buy the MSI RTX 4080 Gaming X Trio
This card is for buyers who want proven 4K ray tracing performance with one of the best air coolers on the market. It is also the right choice for creators running CUDA-only software who specifically want Ada Lovelace architecture. If you find this card discounted well below current RTX 5070 Ti prices, grab it.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you are building a fresh system today. The RTX 5070 Ti is faster for ray tracing, has DLSS 4 MFG, and is often cheaper. Skip it if your case cannot fit a 13-inch triple-fan cooler, or if you do not have an 850W PSU.
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8. VIPERA NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition – Top Rated Flagship
VIPERA NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition Graphic Card
- Ada Lovelace flagship
- 24 GB GDDR6X
- 16384 CUDA cores
- DLSS 3 acceleration
Pros
- Flagship Ada Lovelace performance for 4K and 8K gaming
- 24 GB GDDR6X memory excels at heavy creative and AI workloads
- 3rd Gen RT Cores deliver up to 2x ray tracing performance
- DLSS 3 and 4th Gen Tensor Cores for AI acceleration
- HDMI 2.1a with VRR support
Cons
- Extremely premium price point
- Large Founders Edition cooler can challenge case clearance
- High power draw requires a robust PSU
- Ada Lovelace lacks DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation of Blackwell
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The RTX 4090 Founders Edition remains the unrivaled flagship for ray tracing performance if you can find one. The 16384 CUDA cores, 24 GB of GDDR6X, and third-generation RT cores make it the fastest ray tracing GPU ever sold when it comes to native RT throughput. In Cyberpunk 2077 Psycho preset at 4K without upscaling, the 4090 averaged around 75-80 FPS, which is the kind of performance numbers you would have needed two or three cards to achieve in the previous generation.
For content creators and AI workloads, 24 GB of GDDR6X remains the gold standard. Training or fine-tuning local large language models, running Stable Diffusion XL, or rendering in Blender with path tracing all benefit enormously. I exported a Blender Cycles path-traced scene with 4090 in 12 minutes that took my RTX 4070 over an hour.
The Founders Edition cooler is a piece of industrial art. The flow-through design exhausts heat directly out the back of the case, which is rare for premium GPUs. Build quality is impeccable, and the Founders Edition is the only RTX 4090 variant with this cooler.
The trade-offs are unavoidable. The Founders Edition cooler is shorter than many third-party RTX 4090 designs but still demands a full tower case. Power draw can spike past 450W under sustained load, which means a quality 850W PSU minimum and ideally a 1000W unit. And the price tag is the highest on this list, which makes it a non-starter for most buyers. It is also missing DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation; that feature is Blackwell-only. For pure RT and path tracing speed, the RTX 4090 FE is still the fastest single GPU you can buy.
Who should buy the RTX 4090 Founders Edition
This card is for buyers who want the absolute fastest ray tracing and path tracing performance available and budget is not the primary concern. It is the right choice for content creators, AI researchers, and streamers who can use the 24 GB VRAM. If you game at 4K 120 Hz or higher with a top-end monitor, the 4090 is the only GPU that can drive path tracing at playable frame rates without leaning heavily on upscaling.
Who should skip it
Skip it if the price is painful. The RTX 5070 Ti delivers 80 percent of the 4090’s RT performance for half the price, and that is the right choice for almost everyone. Skip it if you do not have a robust PSU and a full tower case. And skip it if you specifically want DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation; you need a Blackwell card for that.
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Buying Guide: How We Chose the Best Graphics Cards for Ray Tracing
Choosing the best graphics cards for ray tracing comes down to a few key variables, and most buyers over-focus on raw FPS numbers while ignoring the factors that determine whether ray tracing actually feels good in practice. Here is how our team approached the selection, and what you should weigh when picking your own card.
RT cores and ray accelerators matter more than CUDA cores
Ray tracing is not just shader work. Modern GPUs accelerate it through dedicated fixed-function hardware: Nvidia’s RT cores (now fourth-generation) or AMD’s ray accelerators (now second-generation on RDNA 4). A card with fewer CUDA cores but more RT cores will outperform a card with more CUDA cores but fewer RT cores in ray tracing workloads, which is exactly why the RTX 5070 Ti can match or beat the RTX 4080 in path tracing despite having fewer CUDA cores.
For buyers focused purely on ray tracing, count RT cores first, VRAM second, and CUDA cores third. The RTX 5070 Ti ships with 96 fourth-gen RT cores, the RTX 4090 with 128 third-gen RT cores, and the RX 9070 XT with 64 second-gen ray accelerators. Those numbers predict ray tracing performance more reliably than any benchmark chart.
VRAM is the silent bottleneck for ray tracing
Path tracing and Multi Frame Generation together can push VRAM use past 10 GB at 1440p and past 14 GB at 4K. Cards with 8 GB or less will throttle, stutter, or fail to enable features entirely. As a rule of thumb, we recommend 12 GB minimum for 1080p ray tracing, 16 GB minimum for 1440p, and 20 GB or more for comfortable 4K path tracing.
The 2026 DRAM shortage has driven prices 30 to 100 percent above launch MSRP for high-VRAM cards, which is painful but worth it. Buying an 8 GB card now means you will be back shopping in two years. The RX 7900 XT with 20 GB and the EVGA RTX 3090 with 24 GB remain smart picks for VRAM-heavy workflows even at higher prices.
DLSS 4, FSR 4, and XeSS 2: the upscaling ecosystems
DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation is the deepest upscaling ecosystem in 2026. It works in more games, has higher image quality thanks to the Transformer model, and is the only one with true multi-frame frame generation. FSR 4 with FSR Redstone is closing the gap, and driver-level overrides can force FSR into DLSS-only titles, but adoption is still uneven. XeSS 2 is improving fast and is a real option for budget builds.
For buyers who play a wide variety of AAA games, Nvidia’s DLSS 4 ecosystem is the most consistent. For buyers who play mostly AMD-sponsored titles or want driver-level flexibility, FSR 4 is excellent. For buyers on tight budgets with Intel Arc cards, XeSS 2 has matured enough to be a real choice.
PSU and power draw matter more than people think
Ray tracing cards pull a lot of power. The RTX 5070 Ti needs 850W, the RTX 4080 and 4090 want 850 to 1000W, the RX 7900 XT pulls 350 to 380W, and even the Arc B580 recommends 650W. If you are upgrading an older system, factor a new PSU into your budget. Quality 850W units from Seasonic, Corsair, or be quiet! are worth the investment.
Case clearance and physical size
The RTX 5070 Ti at 3.125 slots, the RX 7900 XT at 13.5 inches, and the RTX 4090 at Founders Edition size all demand full tower cases. If you have a mid-tower with limited length, the RTX 3050 6GB or Arc B580 are the only cards on this list that will fit comfortably. Measure your case before you buy, and check the manufacturer’s clearance spec, not just the GPU length.
Resolution-matched quick recommendations
For 1080p gaming with ray tracing, the RTX 3050 6GB or Arc B580 are the budget picks, and the RX 9070 XT is overkill but future-proof. For 1440p with ray tracing, the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 9070 XT are the sweet spot. For 4K with ray tracing, the RTX 4080 Gaming X Trio and RTX 4090 are the only cards that deliver smooth native performance. For path tracing specifically, the RTX 5070 Ti is the minimum, and the RTX 4090 is the comfortable pick.
The 2026 DRAM shortage context
GPU prices are 30 to 100 percent above launch MSRP right now, which is frustrating for buyers. The shortage affects high-VRAM cards most, so older cards like the RTX 3090 with 24 GB have held their value surprisingly well. Our recommendation is to wait for the shortage to ease if you can, and to avoid panic-buying a card that does not match your needs just because something is available. The RTX 5070 Ti is worth waiting for if you want path tracing; the RX 9070 XT is worth waiting for if you want 1440p ray tracing on a budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which graphics cards support ray tracing?
All modern GPUs from Nvidia’s RTX 20 series onward, AMD’s RX 6000 series onward, and Intel’s Arc Alchemist and Battlemage lines support ray tracing through dedicated hardware. Nvidia uses RT cores, AMD uses ray accelerators, and Intel uses XMX engines. Performance varies widely, however, so picking the best graphics cards for ray tracing means looking at the generation and count of those dedicated units, not just whether the feature is listed on the box.
Which GPU is the best value for ray tracing?
The GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT is our pick for best value for ray tracing in 2026. Its second-generation ray accelerators handle 1440p ray tracing well, 16 GB of GDDR6 handles modern game textures, and the WINDFORCE cooler stays quiet. For buyers willing to stretch, the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 Ti offers better path tracing and DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation, but at a higher price.
Can the RX 9070 do ray tracing?
Yes, the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT handle ray tracing well thanks to AMD’s second-generation ray accelerators on the RDNA 4 architecture. At 1440p with medium ray tracing settings, the RX 9070 XT averages around 60 to 70 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 with FSR 4 enabled. For path tracing at 1440p or higher, however, Nvidia’s RTX 5070 Ti is meaningfully faster.
Is the RTX 5060 good for ray tracing?
The RTX 5060 is good for 1080p ray tracing with DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation enabled, but it struggles at 1440p and above with full path tracing. For 1080p gaming with ray tracing, the RTX 5060 and the RTX 5070 are the right choices, while the RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 4080 are the smarter buys for 1440p and 4K ray tracing respectively.
How much VRAM do I need for ray tracing?
For 1080p ray tracing, 12 GB of VRAM is the comfortable minimum today. For 1440p, 16 GB is the safe choice and matches what the RTX 5070 Ti, RX 9070 XT, and RTX 4080 all ship with. For 4K path tracing, 20 GB or more is ideal, which is why the RX 7900 XT and RTX 3090 remain excellent picks for VRAM-heavy workloads in 2026.
Final Verdict
The ASUS TUF RTX 5070 Ti is the best graphics card for ray tracing overall in 2026. Fourth-generation RT cores, DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation, and 16 GB of GDDR7 make it the strongest combination of ray tracing, path tracing, and creator performance per dollar. For buyers on a tighter budget, the GIGABYTE RX 9070 XT is the best value, and the ASRock Arc B580 is the best budget pick for compact and quiet builds.
If you can stretch to the RTX 4090 Founders Edition, no current GPU beats it for raw path tracing throughput. If your priority is VRAM for creative workloads, the EVGA RTX 3090 FTW3 with 24 GB of GDDR6X is still a smart buy despite its age. And if you want 4K raster performance without paying the Nvidia tax, the XFX RX 7900 XT Black delivers. The best graphics cards for ray tracing are no longer one-size-fits-all; pick the card that matches your resolution, your case, and your budget, and you will enjoy ray tracing for years to come.