Best GPU for Intel Core i5-10600K in 2022

Used GPU
Used GPU (Image credit: Windows Central)

Intel's Core i5-10600K is part of the company's 10th Gen family of processors. Succeeding the excellent Core i5-9600K, this newest iteration is one of the best processors for mid-tier PC builds and gaming rigs. With six cores, there's plenty of performance here when matched with a capable GPU. Lucky for you, we rounded up the best graphics card picks to use with the Core i5-10600K.

EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti XC Ultra Gaming

EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti XC Ultra Gaming

Best NVIDIA for 4K

The NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti is a GPU you likely don't need, but it's a GPU you absolutely want. It's a monster in games, regardless of the resolution up to 4K. If you want the best a decent chunk of change can buy right now, this is it. You could find the i5-10600K struggling a little with more demanding tasks like video editing.

ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER

ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER

Best NVIDIA for 1440p

The NVIDIA RTX 2060 SUPER is our favorite mid-range GPU and is recommended throughout our PC building guides. It's about as good as the GTX 1070 Ti from the previous generation of cards and comes with ray tracing support with an affordable price tag. There's also 8GB of GDDR6 RAM to sweeten the deal.

MSI GAMING X NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER

MSI GAMING X NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER

Best NVIDIA for 1080p

There are GPUs that cost less than the GTX 1660 SUPER, but they won't run games very well. This GPU was made for 1080p gaming and offers incredible value when you want to let your hair down in the evening for a session or two. 6GB GDDR6 RAM is present, allowing for reliable 1080p performance, as well as 1440p if you turn down some settings.

Choosing the right GPU

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Whether you need the best option around or a budget-friendly GPU largely comes down to how much money you have to spare and what resolution your monitor supports. Also, if you have an AMD FreeSync display, you'll want an AMD card. Likewise for NVIDIA G-Sync and NVIDIA card, though some NVIDIA GPUs will actually sync up with select FreeSync displays. Yeah, it's a little confusing.

Here's our conclusion: if you want to go all out with 4K or have a 1440p monitor right now but plan to upgrade in the future, the two best GPUs you can buy are the XFX AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT RAW II and EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti XC Ultra Gaming. These two GPUs will let you game at 4K, though the 2080 Ti is vastly more expensive and powerful.

It's possible to save money without sacrificing performance too much with our mid-tier suggestions. You'll struggle to find faults with the XFX AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT RAW II PRO or ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER. These GPUs are perfect for 1440p gaming, won't break your bank, nor will they bottleneck the Intel Core i5-10600K CPU. A match made in heaven, if you will. Not seeing a GPU here that catches your eye? Have a look at our overall best graphics card roundup.

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.