The Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, is just around the corner, and it has fans hyped just like back in 2022. To thoroughly enjoy the open-world nature and intense battles of Elden Ring, a robust GPU is required. While the system requirements for Elden Ring state that a GTX 1070 would be good, that is an 8-year-old card, and getting your hands on a new piece is impossible.
That said, opting for a newer option isn’t as easy either due to the sheer number of options available, and almost all of them should be able to run this title with ease in various resolutions. So, to help you cut through the clutter, we put together this in-depth guide that lists multiple options, their reviews, details, and pros and cons so you can kick off your buying journey in the best possible manner.
- Best GPU for Elden Ring
Sapphire Radeon Pulse RX 7700 XT
- Best budget GPU for Elden Ring
ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4060 OC
- GPU: AD107 die
- CUDA cores: 3,072
- VRAM: 8GB GDDR6 VRAM
- Bandwidth: 272 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 128-bit memory bus
- Base clock speed: 1830 MHz
- Best high-end GPU for Elden Ring
AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
- GPU: Navi 32
- Stream Processors: 3,840
- VRAM: 16 GDDR6
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Bandwidth: 624.1 GB/sec
- Base clock speed: 1,295 MHz
- Best Nvidia GPU for Elden Ring
ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4070 Super OC Edition
- GPU: AD104
- CUDA cores: 7,168
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 504 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Boost clock speed: 2595 MHz
How we picked
We researched the market and found various options from Nvidia and AMD. We filtered those options based on their price, compatibility, performance, and other features, such as DLSS and FSR.
On top of that, we also conduct rigorous in-house testing of the cards. This gives us insight into how they’ll perform across various scenarios, whether in gaming or professional tasks. We’re always updating our list with the latest information, so if there are better pairings than these, we’ll be sure to update them, so check back with us. If you’re interested in learning about our testing process, head over to the PC Guide Testing lab for more details.
Our top picks
- GPU: Navi 32
- Stream Processors: 3,456
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 432 GB/sec
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Base clock speed: 1,435 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2,544 MHz
- Excellent option for 1440p gaming
- Great performance-to-value ratio
- It doesn’t need a heavy PSU to run
- The Ray Tracing results are lacking in comparison to Nvidia’s GPUs
- You can get the 7800 XT at a slightly higher price point
- Its raw 4K performance isn’t the best
For our top pick, we went with Team Red and their mid-range RX 7700 XT graphics card. We selected this GPU after looking at its performance in our RX 7700 XT review, and it is a solid option for maxed-out 1440p gaming.
This GPU is powered by 3,456 stream processors, a game frequency of 2,171 MHz, a boost frequency of 2,544 MHz, and 54 Ray Accelerators. What this means is that this graphics card has powerful enough hardware to deliver a seamless gaming experience in a number of titles.
Whether you’re playing an open-world game like Elden Ring or fighting for the top of the leaderboard in a competitive shooter, this GPU’s performance shouldn’t disappoint. To put things into perspective, let’s look at how it performed in Cyberpunk 2077 and Doom Eternal.
In Cyberpunk 2077, this card delivered 122, 79, and 36 FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K ultra settings, respectively. In Doom Eternal, a much more optimized game, the 7700 XT blew through with 170, 128, and 63 FPS at the same resolutions but with Ray Tracing enabled.
The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT confidently delivers on its promise of 60fps and above in 1440p games when maxed out.
PC Guide
So we can see that depending on how optimized the title is, this card can definitely push 4K, and even in Cyberpunk 2077, you should be able to get higher FPS by leveraging AMD’s AI-upscaling technologies.
According to AMD, this card managed to deliver 208 FPS in Overwatch 2 at 1440p max settings and in our testing, it churned out 186 FPS, which isn’t that far off.
Looking at these results, you can rest easy knowing that you’ll be able to fight God-like entities and explore the wilderness in Elden Ring with serene visuals and high FPS, as it isn’t overly graphically demanding like Starfield and has become fairly optimized over the years.
As for its other specifications, it has 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM with a 192-bit interface and 432 GB/s memory bandwidth. This enables it to handle games at high resolutions without experiencing bottleneck issues, as the memory interface provides enough lanes for the data to flow without getting cramped.
While it has more than decent performance, it has a TDP of 245W, and AMD recommends pairing it with 700W PSU. This number can increase if you’ve overclocked your GPU, but that means its thermal output, along with its performance, would increase. So, we recommend using powerful 140mm case fans to ensure adequate cross ventilation to keep it running cool and optimally.
Overall, given its price point and the performance it brings to the table, the RX 7700 XT is one of the best GPUs currently available to play Elden Ring and other games, especially if we look at its system requirements. Besides that, opting for this GPU should enable your setup to last a while before you feel the need to upgrade it for better performance.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this GPU is perfectly capable of running games at 1080p and 1440p, but its 4K performance isn’t the best. One reviewer stated: “This card has worked beautifully for everything I’ve tried.”
- It has good 1080p and 1440p performance
- Bolstered by DLSS 3
- It has better value than the RX 7600
- 1440p performance can fluctuate more depending on the title
- It’s not the best card 4K
For our second pick, we went with the RTX 4060 to provide an option for the people operating on a budget. That said, in our RTX 4060 review, it had solid 1080p and 1440p performance without enabling DLSS or Ray Tracing.
For starters, this GPU has 3,072 CUDA cores, a base clock of 1.83 GHz, a boost clock of 2.46 GHz, and 35 Teraflops (TFLOPS) of Ray Tracing Cores. What this translates to is more than decent performance for an entry-level card. As for Elden Ring, it shouldn’t have any issues pushing that title at higher resolutions as it has better performance and a newer architecture than the recommended GTX 1070 or RX Vega 56.
The RTX 4060’s native performance at 1080p and 1440p fluctuated depending on the title, but the figures were more than playable. In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, another open-world game, it managed 106 and 74 FPS at 1080p and 1440p, respectively. In addition, the RTX 40 series GPUs support DLSS 3, which can take in-game performance to the next level.
This should give you an idea of how it’ll perform, but various factors, such as the RAM, SDD, motherboard, and cooling solutions you’ve used, can change the outcome. Either way, you should get a pleasant experience whether you’re fighting, exploring, or trying to set a new record in Elden Ring.
While it’s most at home in Full HD pushing games to max settings, those wanting QHD aren’t going to entirely miss out either.
PC Guide
The RTX 4060 features 8GB of GDDR6X VRAM with a 128-bit memory interface width. While many claim that 8 GB is too little for gaming nowadays, GPU manufacturers are bolstering their products with software to compensate for the raw hardware performance. That said, 8GB should be enough to max out various titles at 1440p, which is this card’s sweet spot.
Compared to our top pick, this GPU has a total gaming power of 115W, and Nvidia recommends pairing it with a 550W PSU. This makes it a considerably power-efficient card and should save you on bills in the long run. The RTX 4060 Ti, in comparison, has a maximum gaming power draw of 165W, so using the best PSU for RTX 4060 Ti for the base model should work as there isn’t a big gap and having some extra overhead is always good.
This GPU has a length of 244mm (9.6”) and a width of 98mm (3.8”). However, our testing unit, the ASUS ROG Strix variant, had dimensions of 9.4” x L, 4.4” x W, and 1.6” x H. So, it should comfortably fit mid-tower and even micro ATX PC cases. However, we recommend measuring the space inside your case to avoid mismatches.
Overall, the RTX 4060 doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket, delivers good in-game results at 1440p, and is boosted by various Nvidia technologies like DLSS and Reflex.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this is an “exceptional graphics card” as it offers a great balance of power and efficiency. One reviewer stated: “Upgrading from my GTX 1060 3GB go this card blew my mind! The performance boost puts this card in a different league. I can finally play VR without stuttering issues.”
- GPU: Navi 32
- Stream Processors: 3,840
- VRAM: 16 GDDR6
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Bandwidth: 624.1 GB/sec
- Base clock speed: 1,295 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2,430 MHz
- It has great 1440p results
- It can push 4K, but some titles will need the help of FSR
- It has an excellent price-to-performance ratio
- It isn’t the best card for creators
- The Ray Tracing performance is lacking
Elden Ring has insane visuals, and to experience them in the best graphical settings, we recommend giving the RX 7800 XT a shot. Not only does it have excellent value, but in our RX 7800 XT review, it has excellent results in gaming and real-world tests.
This GPU packs impressive hardware under the hood. It has 3,840 stream processors pushed at a 2,124 MHz game frequency and a 2,430 MHz boost frequency. On top of that, it has 60 compute units and Ray Accelerators. This means that it should be able to handle various gaming and professional tasks without a hitch.
That said, we’ll look at its in-game performance in some titles to see how it did. In Assassin’s Creed Mirage, this GPU managed 132, 108, and 68 FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K at ultra settings. Our tests are done without using any software enhancements which means that you could push these figures even higher by enabling FSR.
So, regarding Elden Ring, the RX 7800 XT is leagues better than the RTX 1070 or the RX Vega 56 and should handle its textures and graphical fidelity and deliver a seamless gaming experience with ease.
The RX 7800 XT leads in terms of 1440p gaming for its price point with 60fps or above natively.
PC Guide
It also features 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM with a 256-bit interface, which should allow you to max out the graphical settings without worrying about running out of memory or sacrificing one setting for the other.
This GPU has a TDP of 263W, which isn’t a big jump from the RX 7700 XT, while there is a clear difference in performance between the two. That said, this TDP is high and will most likely generate a good amount of heat. So, to keep your GPU from thermal throttling, we recommend housing it in the best airflow PC case to ensure efficient cooling.
Lastly, this GPU has 64MB of AMD Infinity Cache technology. This technology stores frequently used game elements in the cache inside the GPU. So, when the GPU needs those elements again, it doesn’t have to call for them and take up resources. This leads to reduced access times and faster and more efficient processing.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this card has great performance and has a quiet operation. One reviewer stated: “This GPU absolutely rocks. Probably the best bang for your buck right now. Only one thing all buyers must know. It’s a big card.”
- GPU: AD104
- CUDA cores: 7,168
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 504 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Boost clock speed: 2595 MHz
- Excellent 1440p and 4K performance
- Better performance than the RTX 4070
- Costs less than the RTX 4070
- The cost could be higher depending on the partner
- It still uses a 16-pin adapter
For our last pick, we circled back to Team Green and went with one of their newer releases, the RTX 4070 Super. Not only is this card priced better than the base model, but it also had better performance in our RTX 4070 Super review.
Let’s kick things off with its specifications. This GPU has 7,168 CUDA cores, a 1.98 GHz base clock, a 2.48 GHz boost clock, and 82 TFLOPS of Ray Tracing cores. What this means is that it has everything it needs to tackle even the most demanding titles head-on and come out on top.
To further solidify this point, we’ll look at its in-game performance. In Assassin’s Creed Mirage, this GPU delivered 150, 119, and 74 FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, respectively. Keep in mind that our tests are done natively, so you can experience better performance by enabling Nvidia DLSS.
So, you should be able to turn up the in-game settings in Elden Ring to the max and enjoy the utmost level of detail.
If you’re after a leading 1440p GPU but also want to check out 4K without an eyewatering MSRP, then it’s a card you should consider in 2024.
PC Guide
The RTX 4070 Super has 12GB of GDDR6X VRAM with a 192-bit interface. This should promote smooth and efficient transfer of data to and from the GPU which means better results in Elden Ring.
This is important because you don’t want to experience stuttering while playing the game, as it ruins the experience and it could cost you hours of fighting the boss that you were just about to take down. So, with this GPU powering your rig, you shouldn’t come across such issues.
Overall, given its performance, it is very fairly priced, and at the time of writing, it’ll set you back by $642.09, with its original price being $689.99. Also, we believe it is safe to say the RTX 4070 Super should be able to handle Elden Ring without breaking a sweat as it is on a whole other level compared to GTX 1070 and RX Vega 56, which are the recommended and minimum GPUs to run this game.
What users say
This GPU’s Amazon reviews are filled with its praise of amazing performance as “THIS IS A BEAST!” One reviewer said: “The Asus Tuf RTX 4070 is incredible. Powerful, quiet, and built like a tank. It doesn’t heat up my case like a higher wattage card does, and plays everything I have at 4k 60fps.”
How to select the best GPU for Elden Ring
Selecting a GPU for any game, task, or processor sounds like a simple task, but a handful of factors come into play, and ones you need to consider before making a decision. Spending your money on the most decked-out options isn’t wise, as unless you have an enthusiast build, you won’t need all that firepower. So, to help you make an informed decision, we’ve listed some of the factors below.
Budget
The most important factor to consider is how much money you can spend on a GPU because deviating from the set budget could land you in hot water. For example, if you overspend on a GPU, you’d have fewer funds to acquire other high-quality components such as gaming RAM or PCIe 5.0 SSD, both of which would also positively impact in-game and overall performance.
Even if you don’t have to make other purchases, you would still be short on cash and have to make adjustments in your daily life. So, while we understand the appeal of exploring the world of Elden Ring in 4K, we don’t recommend spending a fortune on the best graphics cards.
Filter the options based on your budget and opt for a GPU that strikes a good balance between performance and value. For example, if you have $500 to spend on a GPU, then going for the RX 7800 XT would be the best bet as the RTX 4060 Ti costs more than $500, but the former has better performance.
System requirements
Checking the system requirements can be a good place to start, as it can provide a gauge against which to measure. For example, if the system requirements say that the recommended GPU is an RTX 3060, then you should be fine with any GPU above that.
However, you should also be able to run the game with baseline specifications or even slightly below that, but the experience won’t be smooth, and you’d have to turn down some settings for better FPS.
As for Elden Ring, the minimum and recommended GPUs are GTX 1060 and 1070, respectively. So, even if we opt for an RTX 20 series card, it should be capable of running Elden Ring. On top of that, GPUs have only gotten more powerful with each generation, and the latest Nvidia and AMD graphics cards, RTX 40 and RX 7000 series, shouldn’t have any trouble pushing this game at high resolutions.
Usage
What you plan on using your build for is an important factor to consider. If you want to play Elden Ring or similar games, you could get a mid-range 7000 series GPU, as they can max out at 1440p and even push 4K with a bit of help from FSR.
However, if you use your system for gaming and professional work, like 3D modeling or content creation, a powerful GPU would be better, as it would help in your work and also deliver excellent in-game performance.
