The next generation of graphics cards is upon us. In fact, it has already begun with the launch of Intel Arc Battlemage. The Intel Arc B580 has been available since late last week and has already sold out, with more stock on the way. However, for those who want to bind their time, there are two more launches to look forward to: Nvidia’s RTX 50 series and AMD’s RX 8000 series.
Considering Nvidia controls 90% of the GPU market and regularly takes up the top 10 in the Steam Hardware & Software Survey, it’s safe to say that the 50 series is one that many gamers are looking forward to. We’ve been running a poll to determine what you’ve been looking forward to the most and the flagship RTX 5090 is a clear winner, though there’s a surprising amount of interest for an entry-level 5050.
Note: The RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5070 Ti were added at a later date, so results are skewed against them.
We want to see how far ahead the RTX 5090 is
At the time of writing, the RTX 5090 holds 39% of the votes in our poll. There’s a lot yet to learn about the flagship, but some leaked 5090 specs show it to be miles ahead of the 4090, so there’s plenty to be excited about so far. We don’t exactly expect the majority of people to have the budget or the rig to facilitate the 5090, but there’s a reason why it generates so much interest.
With the news that AMD is likely not releasing a high-end RX 8000 GPU, instead focusing on improving support for features such as ray tracing while targeting the mid-range, the 5090 should run away with it in terms of performance. We’ve already seen what Intel has to offer so far with the B580 and B570, both of which fall within the budget-friendly category. Interest for the 5090 is only building as we’re anticipating just how much faster than the RTX 4090 it is, considering even the 40-series flagship has no truly close competition.
RTX 5050 could help define what an entry-level GPU should look like
There’s plenty of discussion going around regarding VRAM right now, something we think the RTX 5060 might disappoint in. However, if Nvidia were to announce an RTX 5050 (there is no guarantee of this), it would be one card that gamers generally have low expectations for, which can be a blessing – if it turns out to be a pleasant surprise. The RTX 4050 was exclusively a laptop GPU, and the RTX 3050 prior to that was originally available with 8GB, followed by a 6GB model early on in 2024.
It’s worth noting that the RTX 3050 can run most games, but not at the best quality. There’s going to be plenty of competition in the mid-range this next generation based on what we know so far from AMD’s plans as well as the launch of Intel Arc Battlemage. So, the RTX 5050 may prove to set out what a truly entry-level GPU should look like, and 24% of votes in our poll suggest that many people are intrigued by what a card like this may deliver – and at what price?
