For the average gamer or consumer, a high-end GPU or gaming components is out-of-reach. That’s why the most popular segment for GPUs and gaming PCs is mid-range. It allows you to run the latest games on high or maxed out while being affordable. Both notions are more than possible if you pick the best mid-range GPU in 2023.
But with so many names and so many controversies surrounding GPUs in 2022 and 2023, it’s a bit of a perilous journey buying a graphics card right now, the same goes even for the best mid-range GPU. We’re here to help you navigate this kind of minefield.
Our recommendations for the best mid-range GPU in 2023 were picked for a solid combination and balance of performance and price. Moreover, we also tried to avoid some of the controversial models that came out (usually from Nvidia).
XFX Speedster QICK 319 Radeon RX 6750XT Core
PROS
- Still impressively relevant in 2023
- Can match the RTX 4070 in some games
- Affordable price
- XFX Speedster OEM has a beautiful shroud
- Outperforms the RTX 4060 Ti (which is sometimes more expensive)
- Memory amount is adequate for today's games
- Triple-fan design allows it to stay cooler
- Relatively quiet
CONS
- XFX Speedster model is big and bulky
- Some batches are prone to coil whine
Specs:
- Boost: 2600MHz
- Memory: 12 GB GDDR6 192bit
- Dimensions: 12.72 x 5.2 x 0.04 inches
- PSU Requirement: 650 watt
It’s both disappointing and somewhat comforting that the best mid-range GPU in 2023 is a previous-gen graphics card. Well, a refresh of a previous-gen GPU to be exact, but the fact that an RX 6750 XT can beat an RTX 4060 Ti is just embarrassing on Nvidia’s part.
In any case, you’re better off going with this one. Its price point is an amazing $370 while beating more expensive GPUs (ray tracing and DLSS 3.0 notwithstanding). At times, the RX 6750 XT can even match the RTX 4070’s performance.
XFX Speedster QICK 319 Radeon RX 6750XT Core
Asus Dual GeForce RTX 4070 White OC Edition
PROS
- Oooh, a white PC component
- Ideal for ray tracing
- Access to DLSS 3.0
- Memory amount is adequate for today's games
- Comes in different styles and colors
- Compact
- Stays cool despite the meager dual-fan design
CONS
- Expensive
- Performance increase compared to RTX 3070 isn't that big
Specs:
- Boost: 2550 MHz
- Memory: 12 GB GDDR6X 192bit
- Dimensions: 267.01 x 133.94 x 51.13 mm
- PSU Requirement: 650 watt
If you find that you can’t enjoy games without ray tracing, then there’s no other choice but to go Nvidia and as far as mid-range GPUs for Nvidia go, the RTX 4070 is the only one that’s actually competent. And even this model has its own glaring issue, namely the price.
A $600 price point is not exactly light and is approaching high-end levels. That’s why we consider this a premium option. It’s the best performer here if you don’t consider the price-to-performance ratio.
Asus Dual GeForce RTX 4070 White OC Edition
Asus Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition
PROS
- Ideal for ray tracing
- Access to DLSS 3.0
- Comes in different styles and colors
- Compact
- Stays cool despite the meager dual-fan design
CONS
- Relies too much on DLSS 3.0 for performance gains over competition
- Memory could be better
Specs:
- Boost: 2535 MHz
- Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 128bit
- Dimensions: 227.2 x 123.24 x 49.6 mm
- PSU Requirement: 550 watt
Of course you’d find the RTX 4070 expensive despite being a mid-range GPU. Still, if you really want that new and shiny DLSS 3.0 and ray tracing performance, then the RTX 4060 there. It’s Nvidia’s more preferable offering since the RTX 4060 Ti is more expensive than the RX 6750 XT.
Take note, this is sadly a 1080p card since these days, 8GB is not enough anymore for the latest video games. Moreover, the 128bit memory bus didn’t exactly do wonders for this card’s memory performance.
Asus Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC Edition
XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 7600
PROS
- XFX Speedster OEM has a beautiful shroud
- Outperforms the RTX 4060 in some games
- Affordable price
- Stays cool and quiet
CONS
- Memory could be better
Specs:
- Boost: 2655 MHz
- Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 128bit
- Dimensions: 9.49 x 5.16 x 1.61 inches
- PSU Requirement: 550 watt
Some of us just don’t care about ray tracing or DLSS 3.0 since FSR 3 is arriving soon anyway. In such cases, it might be better for you to save a bit more and go for the new RX 7600, we’re recommending the XFX Speedster variant.
In plenty of games, this card can edge out the more expensive RTX 4060 discounting DLSS 3.0 and ray tracing (which is again embarrassing for Nvidia). It’s thus the best budget option for any gamer that’s trying to save as much as possible in the mid-range segment.
XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 7600
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can mid-range GPUs max out graphics?
Most of the time, they can, especially in 1080p. In some cases, they can also max out graphics for the latest big-budget games in 1440p. Don't expect triple-digit framerates for the most graphically-pleasing games. -
How long do mid-range GPUs stay relevant?
That depends on your tolerance for lower graphical settings. If you don't mind turning down a few demanding settings from Ultra to High or High to Medium, then you can likely make your mid-range GPU last nearly a decade until it starts to struggle with the current games.