Best graphics cards 2017:

1. Asus ROG STRIX GTX 1080 O8G GAMING

For a price premium of one decent game, you get a graphics card that’s far superior to the Founders Edition, both in terms of performance and features.  Thanks to its programmable RGB lighting, it’s especially interesting for those who want to build great-looking systems with windowed side panels. It’s also great for those who would like their PC to remain silent when not in use for gaming.

2. MSI GeForce GTX 1070 GAMING X 8G

At £419.99, the MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Gaming X 8G costs significantly more than the £374.99 you would be paying for a ‘vanilla’ 1070, but it offers much more in terms of both performance and features, and is still some way off the price of a GTX 1080. If you can’t afford a GTX 1080, or would simply like to save some money, this is an excellent high-performance graphics card.

3. Zotac GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB OC Edition

One of the best options for upgrading an PC, the Zotac GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB OC Edition delivers some of the fastest frame rates you can achieve from a low-end PC. It costs a little more than a Radeon RX 460, but we feel the performance gains are worth it. 

4. Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition is an excellent high-performance buy - but only if you don’t compare it against another GTX 1080. It isn’t likely to be the best choice if you care about value for money or if you would prefer at least some level of assistance overclocking the card to achieve best performance. 

5. Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition brings a new level of performance to mid-range gaming, with high frame rates at 2560x1440 resolution, strong VR peformance and low power consumption, but the Founders Edition is, as ever, not the best version of the card