Best GPU for God of War Ragnarok PC (2026): 5 Picks by Tier

God of War Ragnarok on PC is a raster game through and through. There is no ray tracing to budget for, the CPU barely matters on anything from Zen 3 onward, and the port is light on VRAM. That makes the GPU choice simpler than in most new releases: pick the card that matches your resolution and refresh rate, and spend nothing on features this game never uses.

The five picks below run from 1080p high refresh on an 8 GB card up to 4K at 120 Hz, with a dedicated ultrawide pick, since the game supports 21:9 and 32:9 natively.

Our top pick: Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 XT

The Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 XT ran God of War Ragnarok at 143 FPS at 1440p High in TechSpot's 2026 testing, 28% to 36% ahead of the RTX 5070, and it ties the RTX 5070 Ti at 4K Ultra.

Sapphire 11348-03-20G Pulse AMD Radeon™ RX 9070 XT Gaming Graphics Card with 16GB GDDR6, AMD RDNA 4

$899.99

Buy the Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 XT on Amazon

Quick picks

Specs at a glance

Benchmarks

Each chart below comes from a single source and a single test run, so compare rows inside a chart, not across charts. Reviewers test different scenes, and Ragnarok's frame rate swings a lot between a quiet Midgard path and a busy boss arena.

The two TechPowerUp charts use the launch-era cards Sony names on its official spec sheet, which makes them a useful map: the RTX 3070 is Sony's card for 1440p High at 60 FPS, and the RTX 4070 Ti is its card for 4K Ultra at 60 FPS. Both clear those targets at Ultra. Every pick on this list beats the card Sony lists for its tier.

How we picked GPUs for God of War Ragnarok

Sony's official spec sheet is a five-step ladder, and every tier is quoted at native resolution with no upscaling. The minimum is a GTX 1060 or RX 5500 XT for 1080p Low at 30 FPS. Recommended is an RTX 2060 Super or RX 5700 for 1080p Medium at 60 FPS. The High tier asks for an RTX 3070 or RX 6800 at 1440p and 60 FPS, Performance asks for an RTX 3080 Ti or RX 6900 XT at 4K High, and Ultra asks for an RTX 4070 Ti or RX 7900 XT at 4K Ultra and 60 FPS. We sorted the picks by the resolution and refresh rate you run, then made sure each one clears its tier with room left over.

The CPU is not the limit here. TechSpot found the game fully GPU-limited in its testing, with modest CPU needs on Zen 3 or newer chips, and Sony's Ultra tier only lists a Core i5-11600K or Ryzen 7 3700X. A six-core chip from the last few years is enough for every pick on this list. Our GPU and monitor buying framework covers how to match the two.

VRAM matters less than in most new ports. TechPowerUp called the game very well behaved on VRAM, which is why an 8 GB card makes this list at 1080p. PC Games Hardware still advises 12 GB or more for ultrawide and 4K, so every pick above 1080p carries 16 GB. Our take on whether 8GB of VRAM is enough in 2026 explains why the 8 GB pick is a 1080p-only call.

Ultrawide gets its own pick because the port supports 21:9 and 32:9 natively, and 3440x1440 pushes about a third more pixels than 16:9 1440p. Our 1440p ultrawide GPU picks cover the format in more depth.

Plan for storage and upscalers too. Every tier on the official sheet lists 190 GB of SSD space, so budget a drive with room to spare. The game supports DLSS 3.7, FSR 3.1 and XeSS, plus frame generation and Nvidia Reflex.

Best Overall: Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 XT

Sapphire 11348-03-20G Pulse AMD Radeon™ RX 9070 XT Gaming Graphics Card with 16GB GDDR6, AMD RDNA 4

$899.99

Buy the Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 XT on Amazon

Specs

What it does well

The Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 XT is the card this game rewards most. In TechSpot's 2026 retest it ran 143 FPS at 1440p High against 112 FPS for the RTX 5070, and its lead over that card held between 28% and 36% across both presets TechSpot tested. That is enough to run 1440p Ultra on a 144 Hz or 165 Hz panel without touching upscaling.

It also keeps pace one tier up. In TechSpot's 52-game comparison the RX 9070 XT was 3% to 4% ahead of the RTX 5070 Ti in most settings, and the two tied at about 85 to 86 FPS at 4K Ultra. TechSpot's driver retest found the RX 9070 XT gained roughly 9% in this game at 1440p after launch, while 4K stayed flat.

Ray tracing is the usual reason to pay more for an Nvidia card at this level, and Ragnarok has none. The 16 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus covers every resolution the official sheet lists, ultrawide included.

What you give up

No DLSS. The port supports FSR 3.1 and XeSS on this card, and FSR 3.1 upscaling softens fine detail more than DLSS does, so at 4K you will want to stay native where you can. That works here, since native 4K Ultra lands in the mid 80s.

Outside this game the picture shifts. In ray-traced or DLSS-heavy titles the RTX 5070 Ti pulls ahead, so if your library leans that way, look at the Editor's Pick instead. The Pulse is Sapphire's no-frills design for this chip. Check for model number 11348-03-20G on the listing to be sure you have this board.

Who it's for

The 1440p 144 Hz to 165 Hz player who wants Ultra settings at native resolution, and the 4K 60 Hz to 90 Hz player who would rather not use upscaling at all. Pair it with any recent six-core CPU and a 750 W class power supply.

Best Value: ASUS Dual RX 9060 XT 16GB

ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB GDDR6 Gaming Graphics Card | PCIe 5.0, HDMI 2.1b, DisplayPort 2.1a, 2.5-slot design, Axial-tech Fans, 0dB Technology

$652.23$789.99

Buy the ASUS Dual RX 9060 XT 16GB on Amazon

Specs

What it does well

The ASUS Dual RX 9060 XT 16GB is the cheapest way to clear Sony's 1440p tier with room to spare. TechSpot measured the RX 9060 XT 16 GB at 101 FPS at 1440p in this game, slightly ahead of the RTX 5060 Ti. Sony's High tier only promises 60 FPS at 1440p from an RTX 3070, and TechPowerUp measured that card at 66 FPS at 1440p Ultra.

The 16 GB buffer is the reason to pick this card over an 8 GB one at 1440p. It meets the 12 GB or more PC Games Hardware advises for higher resolutions, and the 160 W class draw fits a 550 W to 650 W power supply. The ASUS Dual cooler stays at 2.5 slots and stops its fans at idle.

What you give up

The 128-bit memory bus is its ceiling. Native 4K Ultra is out of reach, and you will lean on FSR 3.1 or drop to High at 4K. For ultrawide at high refresh, the RX 9070 XT or the RTX 5070 Ti is the better buy.

Like the top pick it has no DLSS, so upscaled image quality trails the Nvidia cards. Buy the 16 GB model by name: the 8 GB RX 9060 XT shares the chip and costs less, and it is the wrong card for 1440p.

Who it's for

The 1440p 100 Hz to 144 Hz buyer who wants the 16 GB floor without stepping up to the top pick. Also a good fit for small cases and modest power supplies.

Best Premium: MSI RTX 5080 SUPRIM Liquid SOC

msi Gaming RTX 5080 16G SUPRIM Liquid SOC Graphics Card (16GB GDDR7, 256-bit, Extreme Performance: 2760 MHz, DisplayPort x 3 2.1a, HDMI 2.1b, NVIDIA Blackwell Architecture)

$1,979.99

Buy the MSI RTX 5080 SUPRIM Liquid SOC on Amazon

Specs

What it does well

The MSI RTX 5080 SUPRIM Liquid SOC is the 4K high refresh card on this list. In TechSpot's launch review the RTX 5080 led the RTX 4080 Super by 8% and the RX 7900 XTX by 9% at 4K in this game. TechPowerUp measured the RTX 4080 Super at 83 FPS at 4K Ultra in its own launch testing, which puts the 5080 at the top of the 4K class before DLSS is even on.

DLSS 3.7 Quality and frame generation turn that baseline into a 120 Hz to 144 Hz experience at 4K, and Reflex keeps input lag in check with frame generation on. The liquid-cooled SUPRIM moves heat to a radiator instead of the case interior, and MSI ships it with a 2,760 MHz boost clock.

What you give up

The gain over the last generation is small at 1440p. TechSpot measured the RTX 5080 just 4% ahead of the RTX 4080 Super there, and a few frames behind the RX 7900 XTX. Below 4K this card is hard to justify over the top pick.

The SUPRIM Liquid needs a case that takes a radiator, and the board draws in the 360 W class, so plan on an 850 W class power supply. The RTX 5090 is faster still, at 195 FPS at 4K in TechSpot's launch review, but every listing we found sold through marketplace sellers far above its launch pricing, so it does not make this list.

Who it's for

The 4K 120 Hz to 144 Hz buyer who wants Ultra settings with DLSS doing the last stretch, in a case with a free radiator mount.

Best Budget: Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce OC 8G

GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 WINDFORCE OC 8G Graphics Card, Cooling System, 8GB 128-bit GDDR7, PCIe 5.0, Manufactured by NVIDIA, DisplayPort & HDMI - Video Output Interface, GV-N5060WF2OC-8GD Video Card

$459.99$499.99

Buy the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce OC 8G on Amazon

Specs

What it does well

This is the one game where we will recommend an 8 GB card without a long list of caveats. TechSpot measured the RTX 5060 at 128 FPS at 1080p in Ragnarok, 45% ahead of the RTX 4060. That is double Sony's Recommended tier target of 1080p at 60 FPS, and enough for a 144 Hz panel.

The Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce OC 8G also brings DLSS 3.7, frame generation and Reflex to the budget tier, and its 145 W class draw runs on a 550 W power supply.

What you give up

The 8 GB buffer is fine for this port at 1080p and nowhere else. PC Games Hardware advises 12 GB or more for ultrawide and 4K, and several newer games already run short of 8 GB at 1080p. If you plan to keep this card for several years or move to 1440p, the ASUS Dual RX 9060 XT 16GB is the safer buy.

The 128-bit bus and 8 GB pool also limit how far frame generation can stretch it at higher resolutions. Treat it as a 1080p card, full stop.

Who it's for

The 1080p 144 Hz player on a tight budget whose library leans toward well-optimized ports like this one. Pair it with a six-core CPU and 16 GB of system RAM.

Editor's Pick: Gigabyte RTX 5070 Ti Gaming OC

GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Gaming OC 16G Graphics Card, 16GB 256-bit GDDR7, PCIe 5.0, WINDFORCE Cooling System, GV-N507TGAMING OC-16GD Video Card

$1,249.99

Buy the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Ti Gaming OC on Amazon

Specs

What it does well

The Gigabyte RTX 5070 Ti Gaming OC is our pick for 3440x1440 ultrawide. The port renders 21:9 and 32:9 natively, and the RTX 5070 Ti tied the RX 9070 XT at about 85 to 86 FPS at 4K Ultra in TechSpot's 52-game test. In TechSpot's launch review it was 12% faster than the RTX 4070 Ti Super at 1440p in this game, and 17% faster at 4K.

What tips it for ultrawide is DLSS. DLSS 3.7 Quality keeps the wider frame sharp at high refresh, and frame generation with Reflex fills a 144 Hz or 175 Hz ultrawide panel. The 16 GB of GDDR7 meets the 12 GB or more PC Games Hardware advises for ultrawide.

What you give up

In this game alone it is not faster than the top pick. The RX 9070 XT matches it at 4K Ultra and edges it at 1440p, and it usually costs less. You are paying for DLSS and for the ray tracing lead in other games, not for Ragnarok frames.

The Gaming OC board is a long triple-fan design, so check your case clearance, and plan on a 750 W class power supply.

Who it's for

The 3440x1440 ultrawide owner at 120 Hz or higher, and the buyer whose library also includes ray-traced or DLSS-heavy games.

Bottom line

If you play at 1440p or 4K at 60 Hz to 90 Hz, buy the Sapphire Pulse RX 9070 XT: in this game it matches the RTX 5070 Ti and leaves the RTX 5070 behind. If you want the 16 GB floor for less, the ASUS Dual RX 9060 XT 16GB runs 1440p at around 100 FPS. If you play at 4K at 120 Hz or above, buy the MSI RTX 5080 SUPRIM Liquid SOC and use DLSS. If you play at 1080p on a budget, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce OC 8G is enough for this port. If you run an ultrawide, the Gigabyte RTX 5070 Ti Gaming OC is the pick.

For picks by resolution across every game, see our best GPUs for 1440p gaming and best GPUs for 4K gaming.

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