How We Think About GPU Selection
This is possibly the hardest option to choose in any system.
Unlike almost any other part of the system, this is where there is the most limited selection of components. The only category with fewer choices is the CPU.
In this space you only have 3 options: AMD, Nvidia, or Intel. While you might think ‘oh that must make it easier to choose’ you would be right but it is possibly the most divisive choice. The GPU space is probably the most tribal area of PC gaming, with only the Windows vs Linux debate coming close.
For us we believe in keeping this as simple as we can; each option needs to fit a pricing level and give you the biggest bang for the buck.
How we decide
So once we have a price bracket in mind for our systems we look at the options that logically fit that price bracket. We look at the options and this is where we check reviews, benchmarks, costs, and specs.
With our thought of longevity in mind we always want to push towards a product that would allow you to use this for as long as possible.
In terms of this one of the big things for us is VRAM, this is something that we aim for the highest amount as games now are needing more and more VRAM and as time moves on we expect this trend to continue.
Why VRAM matters
For most systems this isn't much of an issue as GPUs such as the 5070, 9070 XT or 5080 all have 16GB of VRAM where this can cause an issue for the Rebel One. Initially we had looked at cards such as the Intel B580 which carries 10GB of VRAM but ultimately we decided against this for a few reasons, things such as price rises, product future updates, uncertainty around the long-term roadmap all led us to move away from this card and moved us to the Nvidia 5060ti or the 9060XT.
The choice between Nvidia and AMD is one that is complex and is something I would always start with ‘What games are you playing?’ because this question allows us to narrow down the GPU we should use for any system. The second question is always budget for the entire set up because this again is about narrowing down the options you have at hand. The third question we consider is ‘what monitor do you have’, we ask this because this gives us the resolution you're playing at and again this narrows the options we can present.
All of these things lead us to certain options within a price bracket that we would use.
Software enhancements
Until recently when it came to raytracing Nvidia was light years ahead but now the 90 series from AMD they have closed the gap meaning that now if you wanted raytracing AMD is actually competitive here so this has tightened the race for ‘the best option’.
All of the options we have have a great suite of software upscalling, sharpening, anti lag and other tools that give consumers the options to give them the best possible chance to have a great experience. Features like DLSS, FSR and XeSS have changed the conversation around performance, allowing modern GPUs to deliver excellent experiences even at higher resolutions.
Having used both options I genuinely look for the best option that will balance with the rest of the system. In the past I have used a 5800X3D with an AMD 6950 XT which I loved and now I use a 9800X3D and a Nvidia 5080 so for me both have their positives and their negatives and I truly love both of those GPUs and have both enhanced my experience in games, but it has to be a balanced system.
After all there is no point in getting an Nvidia 5090 and an Intel 14100 because this pairing would bottleneck the GPU so badly that you would never get the performance you expected.
However, pair that 14100 with a 5060ti, 9060xt or Intel Arc B580 and you go from bottleneck hell to a great value system that is nicely balanced.
Our Choices
With our pricing set and the CPUs chosen we could look at all the data, pricing, and aesthetics. Then we make our decision on the GPU that fits best for that particular system. Take the Rebel Core, this set up has a 9070xt Sapphire Nitro+ in it, and realistically this GPU would perform within a few percentage points of other 9070 XTs that come in at a lower price point. However when we looked at the overall system the other cards just didn't fit the aesthetic of the build and honestly this card was something I strongly considered for myself purely because of its look.
There are some out there where the aesthetics mean very little until they see something they like so all of our systems have that in mind when we design them. My wife has long been a person who isn't bothered by the look of things, right up until she saw the Fractal North and she fell in love with the look, so I always say that aesthetics always matter.
There is no universally "best" GPU. There is only the best GPU for your needs, budget and games.
It's all about the balance
In the end we do this work to make life for our customers simple. We work to ensure all of our systems are balanced well for their components specs and they all look like they belong together. If they don’t then we look at other options, and this is all designed to make your life simple.