After a long season of inflated prices, we’re finally seeing graphics cards available at MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price). For those of us who’ve been waiting patiently, that’s a relief. Especially in simracing, where a smooth, stutter-free experience is critical, this might be a great time to upgrade without blowing your budget.
What’s New and What’s Worth It?
For those racing at 1080p and considering the jump to 1440p at 144 Hz, choosing the right GPU is crucial. Demanding titles like Assetto Corsa Competizione, iRacing, or Automobilista 2 can easily max out your video memory, especially with mods, rain effects, or full grids.
Some models, like the RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB, have popped up at around $430, which—compared to what we’ve seen in the past—feels like a bargain. If your budget is tighter, there are 8 GB options hovering around $300, but be cautious: for many current and upcoming sim titles, 8 GB of VRAM is already feeling limited, especially at higher resolutions or with maxed-out textures.
Personally, if you’re shopping in the $300–$400 range, I’d seriously recommend stretching a bit to go for a 16 GB VRAM model. I’ve tested sim titles where high graphics settings already push usage beyond 10–12 GB. That extra headroom can mean the difference between a smooth session or one plagued by microstutters.
What About AMD and Intel?
Competition isn’t sleeping. The RX 9060 XT 16 GB is available for around $370, making it a very solid choice for simracing.
Intel, meanwhile, is still more of a wild card. If you love tweaking and experimenting, there’s potential there, but I wouldn’t recommend it as a first option for simracers who just want to boot up and race.
Is Now a Good Time to Buy?
If you’re not in a rush, waiting could still be a smart move. Prices continue to trend downward, and you might catch an even better deal in the coming weeks. But if you’re building your first rig or your old GPU is on its last legs, there are some decent choices right now that don’t require selling a kidney.
For tight budgets, the RX 9060 XT 16 GB at $370 is, in my opinion, the current sweet spot. If you can push a bit higher, the RTX 5070 12 GB at $550 offers excellent performance and more longevity.
It’s refreshing to see that, even if slowly, prices are getting back to sane levels. Whether you’re competing in pro leagues or just lapping solo for fun, having hardware that delivers an immersive experience is absolutely worth it.
As I always say: your skill behind the wheel matters most… but getting 120 FPS certainly helps.
Here is our selection of GPU’s for this month.
- Gigabyte RTX 5070 Ti
- Gigabyte RTX 5080
- PNY RTX 5090
- MSI RTX 5060 Ti
- Gigabyte AMD 9070 XT
- Gigabyte RTX 5070
Happy Racing!
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