GPU pricing is finally trending in the right direction. With stocks recovering and new mid-range and entry-level cards launching, May 2025 offers solid options across every price range. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT and Nvidia RTX 5060 lead the sub-$350 market, while Intel’s ARC B580 fills a gap under $300. However, supply on older cards like the RX 7000 series and ARC A750 has rapidly dried up. Buyers should act quickly if they’re looking for affordable 1080p or light 1440p gaming options.
AMD’s RX 9060 XT (expected June release) is shaping up as a solid contender in this space. Early performance leaks place it between the RX 7600 XT and RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB. If priced between $350–$380, this could be the sweet spot for budget-conscious buyers, assuming AMD includes a video encoder. Meanwhile, the RTX 5060 is rumored to launch on May 19th with GDDR7 memory, 25% more CUDA cores than the 4060, and 8 GB of VRAM. It could match or slightly beat the RX 960 XT if priced near its $299 MSRP—though street prices will likely be higher.
For users with a modern CPU, Intel’s ARC B580 12 GB at $299 provides decent performance, especially at 1440p. However, older CPUs may struggle with Intel’s higher driver overhead. The ARC B570 10 GB at $279 is another option, but like the B580, it’s priced above MSRP due to low supply.
Mid-Range GPUs See the Most Movement (Best GPUs to Buy in May 2025)
The $400–$700 GPU range remains the most competitive and active. Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB is finally back in stock at $529—23% above MSRP, but far better than April pricing. Performance-wise, this card excels at 1440p and is the best pick for gamers prioritizing ray tracing. AMD’s RX 9070 XT has seen one of the sharpest price corrections, now available through combo deals as low as $699. Despite being a premium white GPU model, this price is close to MSRP and marks a substantial improvement over the $900 price tag just a few weeks ago.
While the RX 9070 non-XT dipped to $679 at its lowest, it still sits too close to the XT version to justify its weaker performance. For most gamers, the RX 9070 XT makes more sense if stretching the budget to $700 is possible. This GPU can easily handle 1440p and even 4K gaming thanks to 16 GB of VRAM and strong raster performance, especially with AMD’s continued FSR4 adoption.
High-End and 4K Gaming Options in 2025 (Best GPUs to Buy in May 2025)
At the top of the spectrum, Nvidia’s RTX 5090 dominates raw performance charts but comes at a staggering cost. Most listings price it around $3,700 unless bundled with a Z890 motherboard. If buyers go for the combo, the total drops to $3,159—still 58% over MSRP. The RTX 5080, now more available, is retailing for $1,400 but doesn’t outperform the RTX 4090 from late 2024. For that price, two RX 9070 XTs could be bought instead.
Ray tracing enthusiasts unwilling to jump to four-figure GPUs can consider the RTX 5070 Ti 16 GB at $899. While steep, it’s the lowest-priced option for solid ray tracing at 1440p or 4K. Meanwhile, AMD’s RX 7900 XTX still holds value at $840 for users uninterested in ray tracing and looking for traditional raster performance.
The upcoming RX 9070 GRE, launching May 8th in China, could offer a 6% performance bump over the RX 7900 GRE. It may reach global markets in 2026, similar to the 7900 GRE’s release timeline. Additionally, AMD’s Computex keynote on May 21st is expected to unveil the RX 9060 XT series officially.
Buy Now or Wait? It Depends on Where You Live
In the U.S, pricing sits relatively close to MSRP for many current-gen cards. However, the looming threat of import tariffs could spike prices again. GPU manufacturers are already diverting some shipments away from the U.S. in anticipation of stricter trade policies. If tariffs are paused again, pricing may stabilize or improve. Otherwise, shortages and markups could return quickly.
Outside the U.S., pricing and availability are currently better. Many regions are seeing below-MSRP pricing, as diverted U.S. inventory floods international markets. If the U.S. market regains favorable import conditions, this trend could reverse—so international buyers may want to act soon.
