GPU prices are sliding fast, and early Black Friday deals are already delivering some of the best discounts of the year on RTX 50-series and RX 9000-series graphics cards. If you’ve been waiting to upgrade for 1440p or 1080p gaming, now’s a great moment to buy—especially with memory costs trending up, which could nudge GPU prices higher again.
Standout 1440p and ray tracing picks
– GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 16 GB: Excellent 1440p performance with strong ray tracing. Multiple models are now below MSRP, including:
– MSI Ventus GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 3X OC at $729 on Newegg (list price $749)
– PNY GeForce RTX 5070 Ti OC Triple Fan at $729 on Micro Center (list price $749)
– Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB: Similar raster performance to the 5070 Ti for less, ideal for maxed-out 1440p:
– ASRock Radeon RX 9070 XT Challenger at $579 on Micro Center (list price $599)
– GeForce RTX 5070 12 GB: Great 1440p card under $500:
– MSI Ventus GeForce RTX 5070 2X OC Black at $479 on Newegg (list price $549)
– ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5070 Solid at $479 on Micro Center (list price $549)
Value-focused mid-range and budget winners
– GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB: No-compromise 1440p on a budget, with several models under $400:
– PNY GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB OC Dual Fan at $399 on Micro Center (list price $429)
– MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB Ventus 2X OC Black at $399 on Newegg (list price $439)
– GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Gaming OC Triple Fan at $327 on Micro Center (list price $409)
– Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB: Excellent competitive performance for less than $300:
– PowerColor Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB Hellhound OC Triple Fan at $279 on Micro Center (list price $299)
– GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB: A strong entry-level 1080p card that can stretch into 1440p with settings tweaks:
– GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 8 GB WindForce OC Dual Fan at $279 on Micro Center (list price $309)
Quick recommendations by budget
– Under $300: RX 9060 XT 8 GB; RTX 5060 8 GB
– $300–$450: RTX 5060 Ti (8 GB or 16 GB depending on your needs)
– $450–$600: RTX 5070; RX 9070 XT
– $700–$750: RTX 5070 Ti 16 GB
Buying tips to get the most for your money
– Match your GPU to your monitor: For 1440p high refresh, target the RTX 5070/5070 Ti or RX 9070 XT. For 1080p esports or casual 1440p, the RTX 5060/5060 Ti and RX 9060 XT are great fits.
– Consider VRAM: 16 GB is ideal for modern 1440p titles. If you play lighter games or are okay tweaking settings, 8–12 GB can still be solid value.
– Features matter: NVIDIA’s DLSS and Frame Generation boost performance with ray tracing; AMD’s FSR is widely supported and works on many games.
– Check case fit and power: Verify GPU length and your power supply’s wattage and connectors before you buy.
– Move quickly: With DRAM prices climbing and holiday demand ramping up, these early Black Friday GPU deals may not last.
Bottom line: Whether you want premium 1440p with advanced ray tracing or the best bang-for-buck 1080p performance, these RTX 50 and RX 9000 series discounts are some of the strongest we’ve seen this season. If a card on your shortlist has dipped below MSRP, this is the time to lock it in.
