GPU tier list and rankings
This GPU tier list ranks every model we can grade, scenario by scenario. A grade from S to F says how well the hardware handles the job, and # is its place among the models ranked for that scenario. Price is left out of every grade; Value and the current market sit on the right. Click a column to sort by it.
119 consumer models · 27 workstation models · 43 with current offers in Canada
The snapshot is when this market was assembled. Each source and each offer keeps its own check time, shown in your time zone. An offer that stops appearing stays listed as last seen, outside current prices and Value.Sources refreshed · 3/3 within 24 h
Filters
39 models on sale today · 119 graded in all
How to read this list
- A grade is read from the model's own specifications against a fixed rubric for the scenario. Price, availability and the models around it play no part.
- # is the model's place among the models ranked for that scenario. Gaming scenarios rank consumer cards; AI and rendering rank workstation cards too.
- Models without a current offer stay in the list: an older card is still a fair yardstick, and it is often what a used listing offers.
- Value and price come from today's offers in Canada. Sort by a scenario and Value follows that scenario's priorities.
What each scenario grades
1080p Budget
Modern 1080p gaming at high settings; 60 fps normal target, S = comfortable 144Hz+ ultra.
1440p Sweet Spot
Modern 1440p at high settings; 60 fps normal target, S = 120Hz+ ultra with headroom.
4K Ultra / VR
4K high at 60 fps (modern upscaling expected); S = 4K ultra high-refresh. VR ≈ 4K load (OQ-6).
Ray Tracing (1080p)
RT-heavy gaming at a chosen resolution, graded on measured NATIVE fps (no upscaling). DLSS/FSR Quality typically adds ~40-60% on top.
Ray Tracing (1440p)
RT-heavy gaming at a chosen resolution, graded on measured NATIVE fps (no upscaling). DLSS/FSR Quality typically adds ~40-60% on top.
Ray Tracing (4K)
RT-heavy gaming at a chosen resolution, graded on measured NATIVE fps (no upscaling). DLSS/FSR Quality typically adds ~40-60% on top.
AI / LLM
Local LLM inference / diffusion. VRAM gates model size; ai_score (FP16 tensor) is speed.
3D Rendering
GPU path-tracing in Blender Cycles (and Octane/Redshift-style renderers) — measured render throughput, with VRAM gating how large a scene can fit at all.
Light Use & Efficiency
Office, study, media/streaming and light photo work — graded on FIT, not muscle: enough capability for light tasks, with the least power, heat and noise. Modern video decode (AV1) counts; headroom does not.
How the grades are set
1080p Budget
Measured: raster performance index (RTX 4070 = 1000).
119 models graded now.
- S 144 Hz+ ultra with headroom 25
- A confident 90–120 fps at high settings 20
- B solid 60 fps at high settings 18
- C 60 fps at reduced settings, or older titles 14
- D basic and legacy expectations only 14
- F below a useful 1080p baseline 28
1440p Sweet Spot
Measured: raster performance index (RTX 4070 = 1000).
119 models graded now.
- S 120 Hz+ at ultra with headroom (~130 fps+), 16 GB VRAM 10
- A confident 90–130 fps at high settings, 12 GB+ VRAM 15
- B solid 60 fps at high settings 19
- C 45–60 fps at high; 60 with lower settings or upscaling 16
- D around 30 fps at high: lighter or older titles only 16
- F below a playable 1440p baseline 43
4K Ultra / VR
Measured: raster performance index (RTX 4070 = 1000).
119 models graded now.
- S 4K ultra at high refresh: ~90 fps native, more with upscaling 3
- A 4K high at 60+ fps native (~70) 8
- B around 60 fps at 4K high; upscaling keeps it there 9
- C 4K 60 needs upscaling or lower settings (~45 fps native) 12
- D 4K only with heavy upscaling or in older titles (~30 fps native) 14
- F not a 4K card 73
Ray Tracing (1080p)
Measured: measured frames per second with ray tracing on, no upscaling.
94 models graded now.
- S Exceptional 6
- A Excellent 12
- B Good 10
- C Usable 11
- D Limited 4
- F Not suitable 51
Ray Tracing (1440p)
Measured: measured frames per second with ray tracing on, no upscaling.
94 models graded now.
- S high-refresh ray tracing with headroom 1
- A comfortable ray tracing 6
- B solid — a good base for upscaling 8
- C playable 12
- D below target; heavy upscaling only 11
- F Not suitable 56
Ray Tracing (4K)
Measured: measured frames per second with ray tracing on, no upscaling.
94 models graded now.
- S Exceptional 0
- A Excellent 1
- B Good 1
- C Usable 6
- D Limited 9
- F Not suitable 77
AI / LLM
Measured: AI compute (FP16 tensor throughput).
138 models graded now.
- S Exceptional 3
- A Excellent 12
- B Good 25
- C Usable 32
- D Limited 28
- F Not suitable 38
3D Rendering
Measured: Blender render throughput (samples per minute).
75 models graded now.
- S Exceptional 4
- A Excellent 9
- B Good 13
- C Usable 18
- D Limited 26
- F Not suitable 5
Light Use & Efficiency
Measured: board power draw in watts — lower is better here.
119 models graded now.
- S Right-sized — efficient, quiet, modern decode 5
- A Good fit for a low-power build 5
- B More card than this needs 63
- C Oversized for light use 32
- D Far oversized — a poor pick for this build 14
- F Not suitable 0
Price is not part of any grade: it is shown beside the grade and counted in Value only. Full methodology →
From capability to a purchase
A grade answers "can it do the job". Whether today's price is good for what you get is a different question — the market answers it with Value under your own priorities.
Questions
What does a GPU tier list show?
It ranks every GPU model we can grade for each job, from S (exceptional) to F (not suitable), by reading its specifications against a fixed rubric. It shows how models compare in capability. It does not rank by price or name a best buy; for that, open the best list or the market page.
Does price affect a GPU grade?
No. Grades come from specifications against a fixed rubric per scenario, so a model gets the same grade whatever it costs. Price enters only in the Value and Price columns.
What does the # next to a grade mean?
Its place among every model ranked for that scenario: by grade first, then by measured capability. Sorting by another column does not change it.
Why are workstation cards not ranked for gaming?
They can run games, but nobody buys a workstation card for that at workstation prices, so ranking them there would only crowd the list. They are ranked where they matter: AI and rendering. Switch Segment to Workstation or All to see them.
Why are models that are not for sale included?
Capability does not depend on availability. Older models stay comparable for upgrades and used listings. Choose "With current offers" to keep only what is on the market in Canada today.