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Best GPU for Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2026): 5 Picks
The best GPU for Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the RTX 5070 Ti. In TechPowerUp's Ultra testing, the RTX 4080, a card the 5070 Ti runs within a few percent of, averaged 100 FPS at native 1440p. That is the sweet spot for this game.
Veilguard is lighter than its reputation. Radeon holds its ground here, 16 GB of VRAM buys headroom more than speed, and the game scales cleanly from 1080p to 4K. The picks below are sorted by the resolution you play at.
Our top pick: ASUS TUF RTX 5070 Ti OC
The 5070 Ti carries 1440p Ultra past 90 FPS without upscaling, and its 16 GB pool clears the 12 GB BioWare lists for RT Ultra. The ASUS TUF OC is the build we'd buy for its cooler and board quality.
Quick picks
Pick | Card | Best for | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall | 1440p Ultra at high refresh, 4K with DLSS | ||
Best Value | 1440p Ultra on Radeon, RT off or Selective | ||
Best Premium | 4K Ultra with RT on | ||
Best Budget | 1080p Ultra, 1440p High with FSR | ||
Editor's Pick | 1080p Ultra and 1440p High with DLSS |
Best Overall
- Card
- Best for
1440p Ultra at high refresh, 4K with DLSS
- Buy
Best Value
- Card
- Best for
1440p Ultra on Radeon, RT off or Selective
- Buy
Best Premium
- Card
- Best for
4K Ultra with RT on
- Buy
Best Budget
- Card
- Best for
1080p Ultra, 1440p High with FSR
- Buy
Editor's Pick
- Card
- Best for
1080p Ultra and 1440p High with DLSS
- Buy
Specs at a glance
Card | VRAM | Memory bus | Board power | Interface | Target resolution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 GB GDDR7 | 256-bit | 300 W | PCIe 5.0 x16 | 1440p | |
16 GB GDDR6 | 256-bit | 304 W | PCIe 5.0 x16 | 1440p | |
16 GB GDDR7 | 256-bit | 360 W | PCIe 5.0 x16 | 4K | |
16 GB GDDR6 | 128-bit | 160 W | PCIe 5.0 x16 | 1080p | |
16 GB GDDR7 | 128-bit | 180 W | PCIe 5.0 x8 | 1080p |
- VRAM
16 GB GDDR7
- Memory bus
256-bit
- Board power
300 W
- Interface
PCIe 5.0 x16
- Target resolution
1440p
- VRAM
16 GB GDDR6
- Memory bus
256-bit
- Board power
304 W
- Interface
PCIe 5.0 x16
- Target resolution
1440p
- VRAM
16 GB GDDR7
- Memory bus
256-bit
- Board power
360 W
- Interface
PCIe 5.0 x16
- Target resolution
4K
- VRAM
16 GB GDDR6
- Memory bus
128-bit
- Board power
160 W
- Interface
PCIe 5.0 x16
- Target resolution
1080p
- VRAM
16 GB GDDR7
- Memory bus
128-bit
- Board power
180 W
- Interface
PCIe 5.0 x8
- Target resolution
1080p
Benchmarks
Average FPS at the Ultra preset on a Ryzen 7 9700X test system. Current cards map to these tiers as described below the charts.
- 158.3 FPS
- 130.7 FPS
- 130.6 FPS
- 108.6 FPS
- 113 FPS
- 98.4 FPS
- 66.8 FPS
- 51.6 FPS
Average FPS at the Ultra preset on a Ryzen 7 9700X test system. Current cards map to these tiers as described below the charts.
- 124.2 FPS
- 101.1 FPS
- 100.1 FPS
- 90 FPS
- 86.3 FPS
- 73.7 FPS
- 46.7 FPS
- 39.3 FPS
Average FPS at the Ultra preset on a Ryzen 7 9700X test system. Current cards map to these tiers as described below the charts.
- 73.7 FPS
- 57.6 FPS
- 56.3 FPS
- 59.3 FPS
- 49.4 FPS
- 40.2 FPS
- 25.7 FPS
- 22.5 FPS
None of the current cards appear in these charts directly, because TechPowerUp's Veilguard test predates them. Read the rows by tier instead. In TechPowerUp's relative performance averages, the RTX 5070 Ti lands within a few percent of the RTX 4080, the RX 9070 XT sits between the RTX 4070 Ti Super and the RTX 4080, the RTX 5080 runs a little ahead of the RTX 4080 Super, and both 16 GB budget cards land just above the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB.
Two rows matter more than the rest. The RX 7900 XTX beat the RTX 4080 Super at native 4K, which tells you Radeon is a first-class option in this game. And the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB posted 46.7 FPS at 1440p while its 8 GB sibling posted 47.3, so average frame rate here is not VRAM-bound at Ultra.
How we picked a GPU for Dragon Age: The Veilguard
BioWare's official ladder starts low. The minimum spec is a GTX 970, GTX 1650 or Radeon R9 290X with 4 GB of VRAM for 1080p at 30 FPS on Low. The recommended tier is an RTX 2070 or RX 5700 XT with 8 GB, and the Ultra tier names an RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XTX with 12 GB. Every one of those targets assumes upscaling is on, so they undersell what native Ultra really costs.
We sorted the picks by monitor resolution and set the bar at 60 FPS or better at native Ultra, with upscaling treated as extra headroom rather than a crutch. That gives one card per tier: 1080p, 1440p and 4K, plus a value pick and an NVIDIA budget pick. For the wider ladder across more games, our guide to choosing a GPU and monitor walks the same tiers.
VRAM is the question most buyers ask about this game. TechPowerUp's numbers say the 8 GB and 16 GB versions of the RTX 4060 Ti run within a frame of each other at 1440p Ultra, so capacity is not what sets your average frame rate. Every pick still carries 16 GB, because the RT Ultra tier lists 12 GB and long sessions with heavy texture streaming are where small pools hurt first. Our 16 GB VRAM verdict covers why 8 GB cards are a poor buy in 2026.
Last, plan for the install. The recommended and Ultra tiers both require an SSD and about 100 GB of free space, and BioWare lists 16 GB of system RAM at every tier.
Best Overall: ASUS TUF RTX 5070 Ti OC
Specs
Chip | GeForce RTX 5070 Ti |
VRAM | 16 GB GDDR7 |
Memory bus | 256-bit |
Board power | 300 W |
Interface | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
Slot width | 3.125-slot |
Outputs | HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1 |
Chip
GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
VRAM
16 GB GDDR7
Memory bus
256-bit
Board power
300 W
Interface
PCIe 5.0 x16
Slot width
3.125-slot
Outputs
HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1
What it does well
The RTX 5070 Ti is the card that puts 1440p Ultra above 90 FPS in Veilguard without upscaling. The RTX 4080 it trades blows with averaged 100 FPS at 1440p and 131 FPS at 1080p in TechPowerUp's run, so a 144 Hz 1440p panel stays fed once you add DLSS Quality for the busiest fights.
Native 4K lands in the mid 50s on this class of card, which makes 4K a DLSS resolution rather than a native one. The game supports DLSS frame generation for anyone chasing a 4K 120 Hz display. The 16 GB of GDDR7 on a 256-bit bus clears BioWare's 12 GB RT Ultra spec with room left over.
What you give up
Size is the catch. The TUF OC is a 3.125-slot card, and that thickness rules out a lot of compact cases and can crowd the M.2 heatsink under the first PCIe slot on some boards. Measure before you order.
It also pulls around 300 W, so pair it with a quality 750 W power supply. The TUF cooler costs more than plainer 5070 Ti models, and in a tight case a slimmer SFF-ready board with the same chip is the smarter buy.
Who it's for
If you game on a 1440p monitor at 144 Hz or higher and want Ultra with ray tracing on, this is the card. It also covers 4K at 60 FPS with DLSS for players who plan to move up a resolution later. Our 1440p GPU guide ranks the same chip across a broader slate of games.
Best Value: ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT OC
Specs
Chip | Radeon RX 9070 XT |
VRAM | 16 GB GDDR6 |
Memory bus | 256-bit |
Board power | 304 W |
Interface | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
Slot width | 2.5-slot |
BIOS | Dual BIOS |
Chip
Radeon RX 9070 XT
VRAM
16 GB GDDR6
Memory bus
256-bit
Board power
304 W
Interface
PCIe 5.0 x16
Slot width
2.5-slot
BIOS
Dual BIOS
What it does well
Veilguard is one of the friendlier games for Radeon. TechPowerUp's run put the RX 7900 XTX ahead of the RTX 4080 Super at native 4K, and the RX 9070 XT lands between the RTX 4070 Ti Super (86 FPS at 1440p Ultra) and the RTX 4080 (100 FPS) in TechPowerUp's averages. That puts 1440p Ultra in the 90s with no upscaling.
You get the same 16 GB of VRAM as the 5070 Ti, on GDDR6 over a 256-bit bus. The ASUS Prime is a 2.5-slot design with dual BIOS, so it fits cases the TUF 5070 Ti will not.
What you give up
Ray tracing is where the 9070 XT gives ground. RDNA 4 narrowed the gap, but NVIDIA still leads in RT-heavy loads, so if RT Ultra is your default preset the 5070 Ti is the safer card.
You also give up DLSS. FSR covers upscaling, but DLSS holds up better at low internal resolutions. Board power is 304 W, so budget a 750 W unit here too.
Who it's for
If you play at 1440p with ray tracing off or set to Selective and want the most raster speed for the money, buy this. It suits builders who already lean AMD and want a smaller card than the TUF.
Best Premium: Gigabyte RTX 5080 Gaming OC
Specs
Chip | GeForce RTX 5080 |
VRAM | 16 GB GDDR7 |
Memory bus | 256-bit |
Board power | 360 W |
Interface | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
Cooler | WINDFORCE triple fan |
Recommended PSU | 850 W |
Chip
GeForce RTX 5080
VRAM
16 GB GDDR7
Memory bus
256-bit
Board power
360 W
Interface
PCIe 5.0 x16
Cooler
WINDFORCE triple fan
Recommended PSU
850 W
What it does well
4K is where the 5080 earns its place. It runs a little ahead of the RTX 4080 Super in TechPowerUp's averages, and the 4080 Super managed 58 FPS at native 4K Ultra in Veilguard. DLSS Quality is what lifts it past a locked 60, and DLSS frame generation pushes it toward a 4K 120 Hz panel.
The Gigabyte Gaming OC uses a triple-fan WINDFORCE cooler over 16 GB of GDDR7 on a 256-bit bus. At 1440p the card is overkill, since the 4080 Super class already clears 100 FPS natively there.
What you give up
It carries the same 16 GB as the 5070 Ti, and the speed step between the two is modest next to the gap in what they cost. Most current Amazon listings for the 5080 come from third-party sellers, so check who ships it before you buy.
Power is the other cost. The card is rated at 360 W and NVIDIA recommends an 850 W supply.
Who it's for
If you own a 4K monitor at 120 Hz or higher and want Ultra with ray tracing as the default, buy the 5080. Our 4K GPU guide covers where it sits against the RTX 5090. On a 1440p screen, buy the 5070 Ti instead.
Best Budget: ASUS Dual RX 9060 XT (16 GB)
Specs
Chip | Radeon RX 9060 XT |
VRAM | 16 GB GDDR6 |
Memory bus | 128-bit |
Board power | 160 W |
Interface | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
Slot width | 2.5-slot |
Fans | 0dB idle fan stop |
Chip
Radeon RX 9060 XT
VRAM
16 GB GDDR6
Memory bus
128-bit
Board power
160 W
Interface
PCIe 5.0 x16
Slot width
2.5-slot
Fans
0dB idle fan stop
What it does well
The RX 9060 XT 16GB is the budget card that clears 60 FPS at native 1080p Ultra. It runs a little ahead of the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB in TechPowerUp's averages, and that card managed 67 FPS at 1080p Ultra in Veilguard.
The 16 GB pool is the long-term value. It clears every VRAM line in BioWare's spec sheet, and at 160 W of board power a quality 550 W supply covers it with margin.
What you give up
The 128-bit bus is the ceiling. The 4060 Ti 16GB posted 47 FPS at native 1440p Ultra, so on this class of card 1440p means dropping to High or turning on FSR. Ray tracing at any resolution is a stretch.
Watch the listing. The 9060 XT also ships in an 8 GB version with a near-identical name, and reports suggest buyers grab it by mistake. Confirm 16 GB in the title before you check out.
Who it's for
If you play on a 1080p monitor at 60 to 100 Hz and want Ultra settings on a budget, buy this. Our 1080p GPU guide covers the same tier for high-refresh panels.
Editor's Pick: ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti OC (16 GB)
Specs
Chip | GeForce RTX 5060 Ti |
VRAM | 16 GB GDDR7 |
Memory bus | 128-bit |
Board power | 180 W |
Interface | PCIe 5.0 x8 |
Slot width | 2.5-slot |
BIOS | Dual BIOS |
Chip
GeForce RTX 5060 Ti
VRAM
16 GB GDDR7
Memory bus
128-bit
Board power
180 W
Interface
PCIe 5.0 x8
Slot width
2.5-slot
BIOS
Dual BIOS
What it does well
This is the NVIDIA route at the budget tier. The RTX 5060 Ti 16GB runs slightly quicker than the RX 9060 XT 16GB in TechPowerUp's averages, and it brings DLSS upscaling plus DLSS frame generation, which Veilguard supports.
That toolkit makes 1440p High with DLSS Quality a comfortable target, and 1080p Ultra runs comfortably above 60 FPS. The ASUS Dual OC is a 2.5-slot card with dual BIOS and a 180 W power rating.
What you give up
The card runs on PCIe 5.0 x8 lanes. On an older PCIe 3.0 board it gets half the bandwidth of a full x16 link, and reports suggest the 16 GB version hides most of that loss, but it is worth knowing before you drop it into an older system.
It shares the 9060 XT's 128-bit bus, so native 1440p Ultra still sits below 60 FPS. An 8 GB version uses almost the same name, so check the listing for 16 GB.
Who it's for
If you play at 1080p high refresh or entry 1440p and want DLSS in your toolkit, buy this over the 9060 XT. Players who also run Alan Wake 2 or other DLSS-heavy games get more use out of it.
Bottom line
If you play Veilguard at 1440p and want Ultra with ray tracing on, buy the ASUS TUF RTX 5070 Ti OC. If you play at 1440p with ray tracing off and lean AMD, buy the ASUS Prime RX 9070 XT OC. If you game at 4K and want Ultra as the default, buy the Gigabyte RTX 5080 Gaming OC. If you play at 1080p on a budget, buy the ASUS Dual RX 9060 XT (16 GB), or the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 Ti OC (16 GB) if you want DLSS.
FAQ
What GPU do you need to run Dragon Age: The Veilguard?
BioWare's minimum is a GTX 970, GTX 1650 or Radeon R9 290X for 1080p at 30 FPS on Low, and the recommended tier is an RTX 2070 or RX 5700 XT. For native Ultra at 60 FPS or better, plan on an RX 9060 XT 16GB or RTX 5060 Ti 16GB at 1080p, an RTX 5070 Ti or RX 9070 XT at 1440p, and an RTX 5080 at 4K. Those tiers come from TechPowerUp's measured results on equivalent cards.
How much VRAM does Dragon Age: The Veilguard need?
BioWare lists 4 GB at minimum, 8 GB for the recommended tier, 10 GB for its ray tracing tiers and 12 GB for Ultra and RT Ultra. In TechPowerUp's testing the 8 GB and 16 GB RTX 4060 Ti ran within a frame of each other at 1440p Ultra, so capacity does not set your average frame rate. Buy 16 GB anyway for ray tracing headroom and for the games that come after this one.
Can the RTX 5060 Ti run Dragon Age: The Veilguard at 1440p?
Yes, on High settings with DLSS Quality. At native 1440p Ultra the closest measured card, the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB, averaged 47 FPS, and the 5060 Ti runs a little faster than that, so native Ultra stays below 60. Turn on DLSS Quality and drop one or two settings to High and 1440p at 60 FPS or better is realistic. Buy the 16 GB version, not the 8 GB one.
Does Dragon Age: The Veilguard run better on AMD or NVIDIA?
On raster performance, Radeon holds up well. TechPowerUp measured the RX 7900 XTX ahead of the RTX 4080 Super at native 4K Ultra, which is rare in recent releases. NVIDIA still leads once you turn ray tracing up and when you lean on DLSS upscaling and frame generation. Pick the RX 9070 XT for 1440p with ray tracing off, and the RTX 5070 Ti if RT Ultra is your default.
Is ray tracing worth it in Dragon Age: The Veilguard?
On an RTX 5070 Ti or faster, yes. BioWare's own RT On tier targets 1440p at 30 FPS with upscaling on an RTX 3080 or RX 6800 XT, which shows how expensive the full ray traced mode is on older hardware. The Selective RT setting costs less and keeps most of the lighting benefit. On the budget picks, leave ray tracing off and spend the headroom on Ultra textures and a steady 60 FPS.
Is the RTX 5070 Ti enough for 4K in Dragon Age: The Veilguard?
With DLSS, yes. The RTX 4080, which the 5070 Ti runs within a few percent of, averaged 56 FPS at native 4K Ultra in TechPowerUp's test. DLSS Quality lifts that past 60, and frame generation gets a 4K 120 Hz panel closer to its refresh rate. If you want native 4K Ultra above 60 without upscaling, the RTX 5080 is the safer buy.
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