Best GPU for AMD Ryzen 9 3900X in 2020

Buying Guides
By Rich Edmonds
last updated

AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X (Image credit: Windows Central)

Depending on what you plan on using your new AMD Ryzen 9 3900X-powered PC for, we've rounded up some best graphics card recommendations to get the most out of your processor. Whether you need the PC for work or 4K gaming, we have you covered.

XFX AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT RAW II

XFX AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT RAW II

Best AMD for 4K

You've got a beefy Ryzen 9 processor, so why not pair it with an equally powerful GPU? The Radeon RX 5700 XT is up for the task, and this excellent example from XFX comes with efficient cooling and plenty of memory with 8GB of GGDR6 RAM. It's not quite as good as NVIDIA's RTX 2080 and RTX 2080 Ti, but it's about as good as we're to get from AMD for now.

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EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti XC Ultra Gaming

EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti XC Ultra Gaming

Best NVIDIA for 4K

There are no two ways of going about this. This thing is a monster. It's pricey, but there's a good reason for that. If you have a capable 4K monitor and want to enjoy UHD gaming, this is the card you need to get. When paired with a Ryzen 9 CPU, you'll be creating an insane PC rig that will last for years to come.

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XFX AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT RAW II PRO

XFX AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT RAW II PRO

Best AMD for 1440p

Should you want to truly enjoy gaming at the high resolution of 1440p, you'll want to step up to the AMD RX 5600 XT, which unlocks required performance allowing for considerably high visual settings in various games. It's a solid GPU with 6GB GDDR6 RAM and plenty of processing power to handle even the more demanding PC titles.

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ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER

ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER

Best NVIDIA for 1440p

The RTX 2060 SUPER is a super good GPU, packing similar performance numbers as a 1070 Ti with the added ability to do some ray tracing without really damaging frame rates. With 8GB GDDR6 RAM and the exceptional Turing platform from NVIDIA, you've got a killer mid-tier GPU here.

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XFX THICC II Pro AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT

XFX THICC II Pro AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT

Best AMD for work

The RX 5500 XT is the new budget GPU from AMD, packing a punch for the price. It's PCIe 4.0, has 8GB GDDR6 RAM, and two speedy fans to keep everything cool. This card won't run the latest, most-demanding games at max settings well enough, but will let you be productive with work and let you enjoy a game or two after clocking out.

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MSI GAMING X NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER

MSI GAMING X NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER

Best NVIDIA for work

The GTX 1060 SUPER isn't the most affordable NVIDIA GPU out there, but it provides excellent value and performance at a low price. Like the RX 5500 XT, you'll be able to work and play on the same PC without needing to splash out serious cash. Just don't expect stellar 4K performance here as this small GPU with 6GB GDDR6 RAM will struggle at even 1440p with more intense titles.

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Choosing the right GPU

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The right GPU comes down to the resolution you plan on gaming at. If it's 1080p or you won't be gaming that much and would like to save a little in the process, the GTX 1660 SUPER or RX 5500 XT are great options. Simply go with AMD if you have a FreeSync monitor or NVIDIA if it's G-Sync.

If you want to go all out and enjoy games with all the visual settings cranked up to the highest levels, you'll want the XFX AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT RAW II or EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti XC Ultra Gaming. Just like our more affordable options, you'll want to go with AMD for FreeSync panels and NVIDIA for G-Sync monitors. These two GPUs will let you game at 4K, though the 2080 Ti is vastly more expensive and powerful.

Rich Edmonds
Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.