Sim Racing GPU Market: Making the Best of a Bad Situation

Few things are as frustrating as checking GPU prices and realizing that, once again, they’re nowhere near reasonable. For those of us who spend more time behind the virtual wheel than window shopping for PC parts, this dilemma is all too familiar: do we hold off or bite the bullet?

This month brought some glimmers of hope. Models like the RTX 5070 Ti and 5060 Ti 16GB are finally trending closer to MSRP, though still carrying a markup of $50–$80. In today’s GPU landscape, that almost feels like a win—and that says a lot.

If you’re racing in 1440p and don’t want your framerate dropping mid-corner at Spa or Suzuka, your GPU choice becomes critical. It’s not just about visual fidelity—it’s about competitive performance. A stable framerate can mean the difference between a podium finish and a missed braking point.

More Controversy Than Progress

The launch of the RTX 5060 GB made noise—not because of performance, which is decent for the price—but because of how the release was handled. NVIDIA restricted access to drivers for most reviewers, cherry-picking the narrative. That’s not transparency—it’s manipulation.

Ironically, the card can be bought at MSRP ($300), a rare feat in 2025. But with only 8GB of VRAM, it’s not exactly future-proof. When the Intel Arc B580 offers 12GB at a similar price, the competition gets real—*at least on paper*.

Outdated GPUs at Outrageous Prices

Many RTX 40 series cards are still being sold with laughable markups. A 4080 Super at over $900? Not in this economy. Especially when newer cards like the 5070 Ti offer better value for less.

On the red team, AMD’s 7900 XT stands out with 20GB of VRAM for $683—currently one of the best values out there. But even then, supply issues make these options hard to recommend across the board.

Should You Upgrade Your GPU Right Now?

Here’s the honest truth: if your current GPU still gets the job done, especially for sim racing, hold off for now. Yes, it may mean lowering settings from “Ultra” to “Medium,” but it’s better than paying top dollar for a marginal improvement.

That said, the market shows signs of life. More competition is emerging in the lower segment. New GPUs are coming. Direct-to-consumer sales might push prices down. If you can wait, you might be rewarded.

Like in an endurance race, sometimes the best move is not to overtake just yet. Stay in the slipstream. Be patient. The right moment to upgrade is coming—maybe not at full throttle, but with more value per frame than what we’re seeing now.Until then, keep racing smart. The real win isn’t in chasing specs—it’s in knowing when to wait for the right lap to strike.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!