The Ryzen 5 9600X was launched on August 8th, and you can grab it from Amazon and other major retailers. It is the entry-level CPU in the AMD 9000 series, and is stacking up as great for both gaming and productivity. However, for the best overall performance, you want to make sure you’re pairing it with the right GPU.
We’ve reviewed a good number of GPUs and conducted thorough testing on each one. So, we’ve selected the ones that we think are the top options for the processor. We included only those offering the best value for money, as we don’t want you to overspend on the wrong graphics card. You may also be interested in checking out the best coolers for Ryzen 5 9600X, as these can help keep the processor cool.
So, without wasting another second, let’s jump in! Also, you may want to check out our Where to Buy 9600X page, as we’ve listed all major retailers that are offering this CPU.
- Best GPU for Ryzen 5 9600X overall
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 Eagle OC
- Best AMD GPU for Ryzen 5 9600X
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 budget Nvidia GPU for Ryzen 5 9600X
Zotac Gaming RTX 4060 Ti OC Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
- GPU: AD106
- CUDA cores: 4,352
- VRAM: 8GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 288.0 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 128-bit
- Base clock speed: 2310 MHz
- Best budget AMD GPU for Ryzen 5 9600X
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC
- GPU: Navi 33
- Stream Processors: 2,048
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 288.0 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 128-bit
- Base clock speed: 2029 MHz
- Best high-end GPU for Ryzen 5 9600X
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 never solely rely on online ratings or reviews of a GPU during our selection process. Instead, we take a hands-on approach and test the potential of the GPUs ourselves. You can learn more about how we test graphics cards to get a better idea about the process. We also consider factors such as price, compatibility, features, and performance when selecting the GPUs.
Our top picks
- GPU: AD104
- CUDA cores: 5,888
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 504.2 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Base clock speed: 1920 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2505 MHz
- Features a slim and compact design
- Comes with an 8-pin power connector
- Strong performance at 1080p and 1440p
- RTX 4070 still more expensive than last-gen
- Struggles at 4k
If you want the absolute best GPU for the Ryzen 5 9600X, then you may want to check out the RTX 4070. This is a mid-range option from Nvidia, ideal for those who are looking for something that won’t put a dent in their bank account but will also deliver great performance. In our RTX 4070 review, we tested the card in several games and were satisfied with its performance.
The RTX 4070 offers 12GB of GDDR6X and a 192-bit memory interface, which helps it perform better than cards with the standard GDDR6 memory. On top of that, 12GB is enough to prevent you from running into memory-related issues, even in demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Red Dead Redemption 2.
As for the rest of the specifications, the 4070 has a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s and comes packed with 5,888 CUDA cores. On top of that, its base clock is set at 1,920 MHz, though you can take it up to 2,505 MHz for better performance. However, do keep in mind that making the GPU run at such high speeds can cause it to overheat, which can damage the GPU in the long run. Sure, you can follow different techniques to prevent your GPU from overheating, but that still won’t help that much.
The RTX 4070 is a strong contender for 1440p gaming for sure. With efficiency, clear performance, and added (including DLSS) feature gains, it’s a step up for anyone upgrading from a 3070 or lower.
PC Guide
As far as the performance is concerned, the RTX 4070 is a beast at 1080p and 1440p. In our tests, we managed to get 313 FPS at 1080p in CS2 and around 212 FPS at 1440p. Even at 4K, the card was able to hit 103 FPS. However, CS2 isn’t demanding, so we decided to test its performance in Cyberpunk 2077, which relies greatly on the GPU. In it, the FPS stayed above 60 – 108 at 1080p and 74 at 1440p. However, we weren’t able to get playable FPS at 4K, as the number stayed at or below 27.
We also decided to check the performance of the card in 3D Mark tests and Blender. We got 9,880 points in 3D Mark Firestrike Ultra graphics test and 8,320 points in 3D Mark Timespy Extreme graphics. On the other hand, in Blender 4.0 monster, the 4070 hit 2,720 points.
Overall, the RTX 4070 is an excellent choice for the Ryzen 5 9600X. It’s not too expensive but still performs well in demanding games. It also happens to be one of the best GPUs for streaming.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, the 4070 delivers strong gaming performance and also runs quiet. One of the reviewers mentioned: “This graphics card will inject nitrous into your gaming visuals. Great middle of the line card that is best for cost and performance. Sounds very quiet and has beautiful lighting.”
- 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
- Great performance in 1080p and 1440p gaming
- Good price
- FSR can help boost framerates
- Not the best for creatives
- Struggles in some 4K games
Now, for those who prefer a card from Team Red, we’d recommend the RX 7800 XT. The car delivers exceptional performance for the price it comes at, and this is why it got a 4.5/5 rating from us in our in-depth RX 7800 XT review, where we tested it in several games.
To begin with, the RX 7800 XT is based on the Navi 32 die, and it comes with 3,840 Stream Processors. On top of that, it offers 16GB of GDDR6 memory. If you compare it with the RX 7700 XT, you’re basically getting 386 more GPU cores and 4GB extra VRAM for $50.
As far as the speeds are concerned, its base clock is only 1,295 MHz. However, during gaming, this goes up to 2,124 MHz. And for even better performance, the speed can be boosted up to 2,430 MHz – though you may want to avoid running it at such high speeds for long periods. The card also has a TDP of 260W, and AMD recommends that you pair it with a 700W PSU. However, this will also depend on your other components.
The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is a leading 1440p graphics card for its price point, undercutting its competition significantly.
PC Guide
Coming down to the performance, we played several games using the RX 7800 XT to get an idea about its real-life performance. After all, we can’t just soley rely on its specs.
First, we put it to the test in Cyberpunk 2077. At 1080 and 1440p, we were getting 140 and 91 FPS, which was pretty impressive. However, the surprising part was that the card managed to deliver 39 FPS at 4K. Then, we launched Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and the FPS stayed above 100 at both 1080p and 1440p. It again exceeded our expectations at 4K, as the 7800 XT was able to deliver more than playable FPS – 68.
AMD also has different smart technologies that you can benefit from if you pair an AMD card with an AMD GPU. For instance, we have Smart Access Graphics, which automatically detects, based on the application, whether the system should use the dGPU or APU.
Overall, the RX 7800 XT is great for those who want a card from Team Red for the Ryzen 5 9600X. You should face no bottleneck issues with these two components, and the performance you’ll get will be worth the money you’ve spent. It is also considered one of the best GPUs for 4K gaming for those who are on a tight budget.
What users say
The reviews on Amazon mostly have good things to say about the 7800 XT. From being able to run games smoothly to not exceeding the safe temp levels, the card is being praised for everything. One of the reviewers said: “This card chews through games effortlessly. I upgraded from an RX 570 4gb card so it was like night and day.”
- GPU: AD106
- CUDA cores: 4,352
- VRAM: 8GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 288.0 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 128-bit
- Base clock speed: 2310 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2550 MHz
- Affordable price
- Leading 1080p performance
- Great in 1440p
- Good for productivity
- Not recommended for 4K
- Can run into memory related issues with 8GB VRAM
GPUs that can constantly deliver high frame rates in almost every game can be expensive. However, not everyone can afford them. If you’re in the same boat, don’t worry, as you can opt for the RTX 4060 Ti. Even though it is a budget option, it still packs a punch when it comes to performance. And in our RTX 4060 Ti review, we found it to be an excellent card, one that can be paired with the Ryzen 5 9600X.
The RTX 4060 Ti has two different versions, with one offering 8GB VRAM (the one we reviewed) and the other boasting 16GB. The price difference between the two is almost $100, so this kind of puts the 16GB variant out of the budget category.
As for the one we tested, it comes with 4,352 CUDA cores, a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s, and a 128-bit memory interface. On top of that, its base clock is also pretty impressive, being set at 2,310 MHz. This can be boosted up to 2,550 MHz for better performance. The size of the card is also pretty compact, so it should fit inside almost every case.
The RTX 4060 Ti 8GB is an affordable and powerful way to get to push games in 1080p and 1440p.
PC Guide
When it comes to performance, you may think that it will struggle at 1440p as it’s a budget option. However, this is not the case at all. In our test, the 4060 Ti managed to hit 109 FPS at 1080p in Assassin’s Creed Mirage and 80 FPS at 1440p.
Even in demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, the FPS stayed above 50 at 1440p. In some games, the card was even able to deliver more than playable framerates at 4K, as we recorded 45 FPS in AC Mirrage, 41 in Avatar, and 78 in CS2. However, this isn’t a card we’d recommend for 4K gaming.
According to Nvidia, the RTX 4060 Ti delivers significantly better performance than the RTX 3060 Ti and 2060 Super. You can also benefit greatly from the DLSS technology, which boosts the number of FPS you’re getting without ruining the visual quality. For instance, in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, the card was hitting around 50 FPS at 1080 with RT on and the graphics settings set to high. But right after DLSS was turned on, the FPS jumped above 110.
Overall, the RTX 4060 Ti is a solid choice for those who are looking for a budget GPU for the Ryzen 5 9600X. It provides great value for money and you won’t be disappointed with its performance.
What users say
Most Amazon reviewers are satisfied with their purchase. One of them mentioned: “This is an amazing card with a touch of Spider-Man art on it. Play any new titles on 1080 and 1440p with high to extreme graphics.”
- GPU: Navi 33
- Stream Processors: 2,048
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 288.0 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 128-bit
- Base clock speed: 2029 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2539 MHz
- Good 1080p performance
- Competitive pricing
- Capable of 1440p
- Native performance is hit and miss
- Lags behind RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti
- Not powerful enough for creators
If you want to stick to Team Red and opt for an AMD budget card instead, you should check out the RX 7600 XT. This is a solid option for those who don’t want to overspend on a GPU but still want something that can deliver decent power. In our RX 7600XT review, we found it to be a great card for 1080p gaming.
To begin with, there are 2,048 Stream Processors inside the 7600 XT and a bandwidth of 288 GB/s. Pair this with a GDDR6 VRAM of 16 GB and a 128-bit memory interface, and you have a card that can deliver decent performance in multiple tasks. With this much VRAM, you won’t run into memory-related issues at 1080p.
As far as the clock speeds are concerned, the 7600 XT operates at a base frequency of 2,029 MHz, but this can go up to 2,539 MHz under load. However, constantly running the GPU at such high speeds can generate too much heat, which can lead to overheating issues. But to improve cooling, we recommend getting one of the best Airflow PC cases.
The AMD RX 7600 XT holds up well in 1080p and can offer decent native 1440p performance.
PC Guide
We decided to test the 7600 XT in Assassin’s Creed Mirage. At 1080p, with everything set to Ultra, we were constantly getting around 91 FPS, which dropped to 67 when we switched the resolution to 1440p. On the other hand, in DOOM Eternal, which is not that demanding, we were able to get more than 200 FPS at 1080p and 158 FPS at 1440p.
We then launched Cyberpunk 2077, which is one of the most demanding games out there. To our surprise, the GPU was able to hit 86 FPS at 1080p and 53 FPS at 1440p. While Ray Tracing dropped the FPS to 24 and 14, respectively, it is important to remember that the 7600 XT isn’t meant for such technologies. If you want to boost the number of FPS, you can always turn FSR on.
Overall, the RX 7600 XT is AMD’s best budget GPU for the Ryzen 5 9600X. In our tests, we found that it performs well at 1080p and can run some games smoothly at 1440p.
- GPU: AD103
- CUDA Cores: 10,240
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 736.3 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Base clock speed: 2295 MHz
- Great for 4K gaming
- Excellent choice for high-refresh rate monitors
- 16 GB GDDR6X VRAM
- Comes with a premium price tag
If budget is not an issue and you want a card that can handle whatever you throw at it, then you might want to check out the RTX 4080 Super. This is a high-end card from Nvidia, and it delivers exceptional performance in 4K gaming. In our RTX 4080 Super review, we tested it in several games, and it was able to achieve high FPS in all of them.
As it is a high-end GPU, it offers top-of-the-line specs. To begin with, it has 10,240 CUDA cores paired with a bandwidth speed of 736.3 GB/s. This means that the GPU can handle demanding tasks with ease.
On top of that, the 4080 Supper offers 16 GB of GDDR6X VRAM, so you won’t have to worry about running out of memory while adjusting the graphical settings of the latest titles. In short, you’ll be able to make your game look visually stunning. The GPU also operates at a base clock speed of 2,295 MHz, which can go up to 2,550 MHz under load.
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
We tested the RTX 4080 Super in games like Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. All three games are resource-hungry, but the GPU was able to run all of them smoothly.
In Cyberpunk 2077, we were constantly getting 125 FPS at 1440p and 51 FPS at 4K. On the other hand, in AC Mirage, the average recorded FPS was 139 at 1440p, which dropped to around 95 FPS at 4K. The GPU also didn’t disappoint us in Frontiers of Pandora, as it managed to stay close to 100 FPS at 4K.
In Rainbow Six Siege, which is way less demanding than the three mentioned titles, the 4080 Super was able to hit 356 FPS at 1440p and around 194 FPS at 4K. So, if you have a high refresh rate monitor and play such games, you’ll benefit greatly from the power of the 4080 Super.
Overall, if you are looking for something that packs a punch in the performance department, the RTX 4080 Super is a great option. With this in your rig, you won’t have to worry about upgrading the GPU for at least a few years.
What users say
According to the reviews on Amazon, the RTX 4080 Super can run all the latest titles smoothly at high graphical settings. One of the reviewers mentioned: “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 pick the best graphics card for this CPU
Selecting the right GPU is a complicated process, as there are some factors that you need to consider before making a final purchase, and you can find a few of them below.
Budget
You need to set a fixed budget before exploring the market. This is because GPUs that can run demanding games smoothly at 4K often come with a premium price tag, and you can get them for anywhere between $1000 to $2000. However, for the Ryzen 5 9600X, you can go with mid-range options that are available for under $700 but still offer excellent 1080p and 1440p gaming performance.
If you’re tight on a budget, then you can explore options like the RTX 4060 or the 7600 XT. In case you want to check out more similar options, take a look at some of the best GPUs under $500 and the best GPUs under $400.
Usage
Your usage will also highly influence your decision. If you’re not planning to play demanding games at high resolution and want something for basic gaming only, then you’ll be more than fine with a budget GPU. But for 1440p or above, you’d want to get a mid-range or high-end GPU, one that can deliver high framerates with the graphics set to Ultra.
