God of War Ragnarok is a beloved addition to the popular God of War franchise, and it has finally made its way to PC. So, if you’re hyped about playing it at the best graphical settings, you’re not alone, and we’re here to guide you about which GPU to choose, depending on your budget and the level of performance you want.
Realistically speaking, you could play this game on the recommended RTX 2060 or even an RX 590, but obviously, the FPS and graphics won’t be the best, as you’ll have to tone down plenty of in-game settings. However, if you thoroughly want to enjoy God of War Ragnarok, we’ve put together a list of GPUs based on price and the performance they showcased during our in-house testing. So, without wasting another moment, let’s get right to it, shall we?
Products at a glance
- Best GPU for God of War Ragnarok overall
ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4070 Super OC Edition
- GPU: AD104
- CUDA cores: 7,168
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 504 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Boost clock speed: 2595 MHz
- Best AMD GPU for God of War Ragnarok
AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
- GPU: Navi 32
- Stream Processors: 3,840
- VRAM: 16 GDDR6
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Bandwidth: 624.1 GB/sec
- Base clock speed: 1,295 MHz
- Best premium GPU for God of War Ragnarok
Gigabyte RTX 4080 Super Windforce V2
- GPU: AD103
- CUDA Cores: 10,240
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 736.3 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Base clock speed: 2295 MHz
How we picked
We researched the market and found various options from Nvidia and AMD. We filtered those options based on their price, compatibility, performance, and other features, such as DLSS and FSR.
In addition, we also conduct rigorous in-house testing of the cards. This gives us insight into how they’ll perform across various scenarios, whether in gaming or professional tasks. We’re always updating our list with the latest information, so if there are better pairings than these, we’ll be sure to update them, so check back with us. If you’re interested in learning about our testing process, head over to the PC Guide Testing lab for more details.
Our top picks
- GPU: AD104
- CUDA cores: 7,168
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 504 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Boost clock speed: 2595 MHz
- It has better performance than the RTX 4070
- It costs less than the RTX 4070
- It has better value than the base model
- It still uses a 16-pin adapter
- Depending on the partner, it could be expensive
The RTX 4070 Super offers better performance than the RTX 4070 but costs less, making it one of the best GPUs for those who want optimal performance without breaking the bank.
We recommend this GPU for God of War Ragnarok, and it clearly outshines the recommended GPUs, the RTX 2060 and RX 5700. We also tested it in-house for our RTX 4070 Super review and were pleased to see it performing well at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K in demanding titles.
This graphics card has 7,168 CUDA cores, which do all the heavy lifting inside the GPU. The more cores there are, the better the GPU’s performance. It also features a base and boost clock of 1.98 GHz and 2.48 GHz, respectively. However, these values are concrete, as you can always overclock the GPU to increase these frequencies and get better performance from the card.
Regarding its memory, it has 12GB of GDDR6X VRAM with a 192-bit memory interface width. What this means is that the data has plenty of lanes to move to and from the GPU for processing. So, even if a game is graphically demanding, you shouldn’t experience performance degradation due to bottleneck issues.
Think of it like a highway; the more lanes there are, the more cars can travel on it. In this example, the cars are the data, and the highway is the 192-bit channel.
The RTX 4070 Super is a powerful mid-range graphics card that packs in more under the hood than the original without raising the price. If you’re after a leading 1440p GPU but also want to check out 4K without an eyewatering MSRP, then it’s a card you should consider in 2024.
PC Guide
For its in-game performance, we ran titles of varying nature to put it under different stress levels, and we were pleased to see it perform well without breaking a sweat. In Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, it has 150 and 117 FPS at 1080p, 119 and 80 FPS at 1440p, and 74 and 60 FPS at 4K, respectively.
These titles are demanding and possibly on the same level as God of War Ragnarok, and this card could easily push 4K60. The surprising bit is that all our tests are done natively. So, these results aren’t bolstered by upscaling or frame generation technologies like DLSS.
So, you could take the in-game performance to the next level by leveraging DLSS or DLAA. Overall, this is an excellent card for playing God of War Ragnarok and even other titles, honestly, so it should be a worthwhile investment whether you’re playing this title or other story-based or competitive shooter games.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, the RTX 4070 Super is a card with great performance, features, and thermal design. One reviewer stated: “It’s fast and extremely powerful. It’s unbelievable how well it runs. There are sequences that would make me cringe in Cyberpunk 2077, which this video card dispatched with ease, and with the settings turned up way high! Beautiful.”
- It has excellent 1440p performance
- It can push 4K in some titles
- It is priced very reasonably
- The 4K performance is inconsistent
- It isn’t the best card for creatives
If you lean more toward Team Red, we recommend the RX 7800 XT, as it is an excellent mid-range graphics card with exceptional performance. In our RX 7800 XT review, we saw it tackle 4K in some titles and had no issues delivering good results at 1440p.
This GPU has 3,840 Stream Processors, which are AMD’s equivalent of CUDA cores. It has a game clock of 2,124 MHz and a boost clock of 2,430 MHz. What this means is that it has plenty of cores running at a decent speed to deliver good performance across a number of titles at different resolutions.
The RX 7800 XT has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory with a 256-bit memory interface, meaning you shouldn’t worry about running out of memory and can ramp up the in-game settings to the max. AMD uses GDDR6 memory instead of GDDR6X to keep the TDP under control, and this GPU, according to AMD, has a typical board power of 263W with a recommended PSU of 700W.
However, the TDP can fluctuate depending on the workload and whether you’ve overclocked your card. In that case, we recommend using a PSU like the RM750x. For the complete package, you can pair it with the best CPU for RX 7800 XT.
That said, AMD has dubbed this card the “ultimate 1440p card” and even showcased the results of their testing at 1440p max settings. This card delivered 101 FPS in Resident Evil 4 with RT high and 89 FPS in Dying Light 2 with RT on. So, 1440p is where this card truly shines, and we saw similar results in our testing.
The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is a leading 1440p graphics card for its price point, undercutting its competition significantly.
PC Guide
We haven’t tested it in God of War Ragnarok yet, but we ran other graphically demanding titles, such as Cyberpunk 2077, AC Mirgae, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. In Cyberpunk 2077, this card delivered 140, 91, and 39 FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, respectively.
After we turned on Ray Tracing, the numbers took a hit, which wasn’t surprising. We saw 43, 27, and 13 FPS in the same three resolutions. That said, 1440p is the sweet spot for this card, but these numbers can be increased by leveraging technologies like FSR.
However, this card managed 68 and 49 FPS at 4K in AC Mirage and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, respectively. So, it can push playable framerates at 4K in some titles, but it isn’t consistent.
Overall, given its raw performance and the price point at which it comes, the RX 7800 XT is one of the best GPUs for God of War Ragnarok. You should be able to battle all the Gods without encountering stuttering issues.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this card has great bang for your buck and has excellent performance. One reviewer said: “This thing will be playing games for a least a couple years on Ultra or better. It’s the nature of gaming right now. Games are made for consoles which are generations behind my gaming rigs. Even if you get a nice texture pack upgrade for PC, most gaming rigs will chew right through them with no issues.”
- GPU: AD103
- CUDA Cores: 10,240
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 736.3 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Base clock speed: 2295 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2550 MHz
- It is cheaper than the base model
- It has excellent 4K performance
- It has better performance than the RTX 4080
- It may cost less than the RTX 4080, but it still has a hefty price tag
- Overkill for casual users
To play God of War Ragnarok in the best settings possible without running into stuttering or lag issues, we recommend opting for the RTX 4080 Super. This is currently the second most powerful card in Nvidia’s arsenal, and it has the capability to push 4K with high framerates, as we found in our RTX 4080 Super review.
The RTX 4080 Super features a whopping 10,240 CUDA cores running at a base clock speed of 2.29 GHz, which can be increased to 2.55 GHz normally. I say normally because it is possible to take it above that by overclocking it, but it will ramp up its already high TDP of 320W. So, we recommend using the best PSU for RTX 4080 Super to keep your rig adequately powered.
However, overclocking will also increase its heat generation, so you’ll have to either install the best PC case fans or house the card in the best airflow PC case to keep it cool and running optimally.
The RTX 4080 Super confidently replaces any reason to ever go out and buy the base RTX 4080. With a significantly lower price of entry and slightly improved performance, this is the 4K gaming graphics card to get, and creatives should get a lot out of it, too.
PC Guide
As for its memory, this gaming beast has 16 GB of GDDR6X VRAM with a 256-bit memory interface width. This is one of the reasons why this card is able to deliver excellent results at UDH resolutions in gaming and also make quick work of professional tasks.
Regarding its performance, we tested it without enabling DLSS, and in Cyberpunk 2077, it delivered 125 and 51 FPS at 1440p and 4K, respectively. In AC Mirage and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, this card churned out 139 and 119 FPS at 1440p, respectively, and 95 FPS at 4K for both.
It had even more devastating performance in first-person shooter games as they aren’t as graphically demanding as story-based games. In Rainbow Six Siege, this card managed framerates of 356 and 194 at 1440p and 4K. So, you can throw anything in its path, and this GPU will make quick work of it.
Overall, this is an excellent card for gaming and work, and it should be able to run God of War Ragnarok on PC in high resolutions without running into any issues. That said, it costs a premium as it is a high-end card, but it should serve you well for years.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this card has exceptional performance, which is only outshined by the RTX 4090. One reviewer stated: “The Gigabyte 4080 super doesn’t disappoint! I have this in a Cooler Master NR200, and the cooling performance has been great. Fans have a good balanced profile and are not loud. Additionally, I haven’t noticed any coil whine. The performance of this card meets expectations.”
How to choose the best GPU for GOW Ragnarok
Selecting a GPU for any game, task, or processor sounds like a simple task, but a handful of factors come into play, and ones you need to consider before making a decision. Spending your money on the most decked-out options isn’t wise, as unless you have an enthusiast build, you won’t need all that firepower. So, to help you make an informed decision, we’ve listed some of the factors below unless of course, you’d rather consider the best laptop for the job.
Budget
Your budget is the first and most important aspect to consider while purchasing any GPU, whether for gaming or work. There are tons of options available, with each one boasting more performance than the next, but these high-end cards come with a hefty price tag. So, if you’ve got the budget to purchase a high-end Nvidia or AMD card, by all means, go for it, as it’ll serve you well in work and handle titles like God of War Ragnarok and others without any issues.
However, if you’re operating on a budget, it’s best to filter the options available to you based on that. This should give you a list of GPUs that offer a good balance between performance and value. This will also keep you from overspending on GPUs with fancy features like RGB lighting and custom plates.
System requirements
To gauge which GPU you should get, it is best to check the system requirements for that particular title. In this case, the recommended GPU for God of War Ragnarok is the RTX 2060 or the RX 5700. These GPUs were released in 2019 or 5 years ago, meaning there are much more powerful graphics cards available now.
In addition, the chances of getting a new RTX 2060 or RX 5700 are slim to none, so you’d have to get a used GPU off eBay or Amazon, and I never recommend anyone purchasing used electronics.
That said, you have the option of getting your hands on cards like the RX 6800 or the RTX 3060, which is a direct successor of the RTX 2060 but has substantially better performance. According to camelcamelcamel, an RTX 2060 will cost you a little above $200, and that too in used condition. However, a brand-new RTX 3060 will set you back around $289.98.
Ambient temperature
Many don’t consider this factor, but overheating could affect the performance of your system and potentially even kill your components. Modern-day GPUs are powerful, but they require a good amount of energy to run, resulting in a high thermal output.
That said, if you live in a hot region, the base temperature of your components, like the GPU, for example, will be above normal, meaning it’ll reach its peak much quicker. So, you’ll have to invest in robust cooling solutions like powerful 140mm case fans to keep your system from
