If you’ve spent any time gaming online, you’ll have seen it: AMD vs NVIDIA. Whether you’re building your first rig or upgrading an older graphics card, choosing between these two GPU giants can feel like a never-ending battle.
So, AMD or NVIDIA? Which is better for gaming, and what’s the real difference between them? This guide breaks it all down: performance, price, features, compatibility, and real-world gaming experience. We’ll cover:
- AMD vs NVIDIA: What’s the difference?
- AMD vs NVIDIA: Which is best for gaming?
- AMD vs NVIDIA: Which is better overall?
- AMD vs NVIDIA: What about CPUs?
AMD vs NVIDIA: What’s the difference?
Before we dive into the details, here’s the TL;DR. For the past decade or so, AMD and NVIDIA have been locked in a serious arms race over GPUs. NVIDIA dominates in raw performance, ray tracing, and AI-powered features. AMD often wins on value, efficiency, and driver improvements, especially at mid-range and budget levels.
But let’s get one thing straight: both companies offer a wide range of GPUs. To help you understand where each product lines up in performance, here’s a simplified AMD vs NVIDIA GPU comparison chart.
| Performance tier | NVIDIA GPU | AMD GPU |
| Entry level | RTX 5050/ RTX 5060/ RTX 5060Ti | RX 9060 XT |
| Mid-range | RTX 5070/ RTX 5070 Ti | RX 9070 GRE |
| High-end | RTX 5080 | RX 9070 |
| Enthusiast | RTX 5090 | RX 7900 XT |
This is a general overview, as exact performance varies depending on the game and resolution.
AMD vs NVIDIA: Which is best for gaming?
Frame rates and power
If you want the absolute best performance in modern AAA titles (especially at 4K or with ray tracing enabled), NVIDIA has the crown — particularly with the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090. Their cards push out more FPS on ultra settings and tend to lead in ray-traced performance.
But AMD isn’t far behind. The RX 9070 XT, for example, excels in 1440p and 4K and often outperforms some similarly priced NVIDIA cards. And, in games without ray tracing, AMD can even take the lead.
Ray tracing and AI features
NVIDIA introduced real-time ray tracing first, and their tech is more mature. They also offer DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), their AI-based tool that boosts frame rates without major loss in quality.
AMD’s answer to DLSS is FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is open-source and supported on a wide range of GPUs. FSR 3.0 is catching up to DLSS 4, but NVIDIA still leads slightly in visual consistency and smoothness, especially in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Alan Wake 2.
Price to performance
This is where AMD shines. If you’re after a strong gaming card at a reasonable price, AMD GPUs usually offer better value. Cards like the RX 9070 GRE and RX 9070 deliver impressive frame rates at 1080p and 1440p without breaking the bank.
AMD vs NVIDIA: Which is better overall?
So, is AMD better than NVIDIA? Or is NVIDIA better than AMD? It depends on your priorities. Instead of getting caught up in the debate, focus on your needs:
- What resolution are you gaming at?
- Do you value frame rates over visuals?
- Are you working with a specific budget?
- Do you care about streaming, content creation, or productivity?
If you’re chasing maximum performance, NVIDIA’s high-end GPUs will edge out AMD, especially in ray tracing or AI-intensive games. If you’re looking for great performance per pound, AMD wins in most mid-range and budget segments. If you want to use features like DLSS, Reflex, or NVIDIA Broadcast, that may tip the scales. If you’re building a clean, value-driven PC with excellent 1080p/1440p performance, AMD is hard to beat.
AMD vs NVIDIA: What about CPUs?
While this guide is about GPUs, you might be thinking about AMD vs NVIDIA processors too. We cover this in more detail in our guide to CPUs, but to clarify:
- NVIDIA only makes GPUs.
- AMD makes both CPUs and GPUs.
- Intel mainly makes CPUs (and now some GPUs, like Arc)
Can you mix and match AMD and NVIDIA?
The answer is a resounding yes. There’s no issue with using an AMD CPU and NVIDIA GPU. In fact, it’s one of the most common setups among gamers — for example, pairing a Ryzen 7 9700X with an RTX 5070 Ti. You’re not locked into one brand across components. Just make sure your motherboard has the correct chipset and BIOS updates, and you’re ready to go.
Switching from NVIDIA to AMD (or vice versa)
Changing from NVIDIA to AMD (or the other way around)? Here’s how to do it without fuss:
- Uninstall old drivers using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) for a clean slate.
- Power off your PC, unplug it, and remove your old GPU.
- Install the new GPU and connect the power cables.
- Boot up and install the correct drivers (AMD Adrenalin or NVIDIA GeForce).
- Restart and test in a game or benchmarking software.
If switching from AMD to NVIDIA, follow the same process in reverse. Always download fresh drivers from official sources, and for a smooth transition, use DDU in Safe Mode.
Here’s the bottom line: you really can’t go wrong with either AMD or NVIDIA GPUs in 2025. Love ray tracing and want the best AI tech? NVIDIA might be your best bet. Looking for strong performance for your budget? AMD likely offers better value. Building a quiet, power-efficient rig? Both brands offer excellent options.
Whether you’re shopping for a new PC setup or just upgrading, our team can help you find the perfect match, whatever your playstyle, budget, or brand loyalty. We have the best gaming and desktop PCs to choose from, plus our custom PC builder that lets you take control of every aspect.
For general advice, our blog has all the tips and tricks you need to get the most out of your GPU. For tailored service, get in touch — we’ll be happy to help!