Best GPU for i5 10600K [2024]

When building a capable gaming PC, AMD and Intel are the dominant CPU forces. While Intel CPUs excel at high-refresh gaming, AMD offers better value.  The Intel Core i5-10600K fits this mold perfectly as an excellent 10th-gen 6-core chip. Its unlocked design allows pushing clocks beyond 5 GHz with the right board and cooling. But to truly get the most from demanding games, you’ll need a powerful graphics card. A quality GPU enables massive upgrades to graphics processing and duties like ray tracing. Choosing the optimal matching GPU is no simple task. That’s why I’ve extensively tested several top options and compiled short, focused reviews.  Read on through a variety of the best graphics cards to complement your i5-10600K. Whether your budget is big or small, I’m sure one will unleash the true performance potential residing in your sweet Intel rig!

Quick Shopping Tips:

• When it comes to upgrading your graphics card, there are a few key things you’ll want to consider to make sure you get a perfect fit. First up, does the new card actually fit inside your PC case? Cards come in different sizes, so take out your tape measure and only look at options that match the slots in your case. The last thing you need is an expensive new card you can’t even install!
• You’ll also want to check what your monitor can handle. No point in a card that supports 4K if your screen is only 1440p right? Save some money and get one within your monitor’s limits. Also pay attention to VRAM – the card’s graphics memory. More VRAM gives you smoother gaming at higher resolutions. Most 6-8GB cards will do 1080p or 1440p nicely, but you may need 12GB or more for silky smooth 4K.
• Cooling is another major factor. All that power generates heat, so make sure the card you choose has good cooling like dual fans or heatsinks. Overheating and throttling will ruin your gaming sesh! And check reviews to see what temps and noise levels others are reporting too.
• Performance is the name of the game after all. Do your research – read benchmarks and reviews to understand each card’s capabilities before committing. And don’t forget your whole system – a powerful CPU paired with a weak GPU is asking for stuttering and lag. Pick a card that’s a good match for the rest of your rig.
• Finally, confirm the card has the ports you need like HDMI, DisplayPort or DVI. The right connections will let you game on any display. Do your homework upfront to end up with a graphics card that fits like a glove and delivers seamless gameplay for years to come.

The Best GPU for i5 10600K You Can Buy Today

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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

Best Premium GPU for i5 10600k

Brand: Nvidia | Series/Family: GeForce RTX 3000 | GPU: Nvidia Ampere GA102 GPU unit | GPU architecture: Nvidia Ampere architecture | Memory: 12GB GDDR6X | Memory bus: 384-bit | Memory data speed: 19Gb/s | CUDA cores: 10240 | Cache: Unknown | Base Clock: 1370MHz | Game clock: Unknown | Boost clock: 1670MHz | Power Consumption: 350W | Cooling fans: Dual fan setup | Display Connectors: 3x DisplayPorts, 1x HDMI 

REASONS TO BUY

✓PCIe 4.0 support

✓12 GB GDDR6x memory with a 384-bit bus

✓Can deliver even 4k graphics

✓Effective cooling

REASONS TO AVOID

✗No USB Type-C port

The thing that really stood out to me about this card is how well it balances incredible performance, gorgeous graphics quality, silky smooth gameplay, and amazing features all in one package.  There are a few different versions of the RTX 3080, and we’re looking at the 12GB RTX 3080 model today. It sits right in between the more powerful 3080 Ti and the original 10GB 3080. Nvidia’s awesome Ampere architecture utilizes its second-gen ray tracing cores and third-gen tensor cores to create incredibly realistic visuals. 

You can really see the results of Nvidia’s AI technologies at work, generating beautifully lifelike gaming scenes. On top of that, the 12GB of GDDR6X memory with a 384-bit interface is no slouch either. And with a base clock of 1.26 GHz that can boost up to 1.71 GHz, there’s plenty of overclocking headroom as well. Oh, and did I mention the massive 8960 CUDA cores crunching away under the hood? 

Performance-wise, you can expect well over double the frames of the RTX 2080 at 4K, often hitting 90+ fps or more. Even the beastly RTX 2080 Ti isn’t safe from this thing. Nvidia also made some cool changes, like replacing the separate 6-pin and 8-pin power connectors with a single 12-pin. The dual-fan cooler works in a push-pull configuration too for optimized airflow.

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Sapphire Pulse RX 5700 XT

Best Gaming GPU for i5 10600K

Brand: Sapphire | Series/Family: RX 5000 Nitro+ | GPU: AMD 7nm Navi 10 XT GPU unit | GPU architecture: AMD RDNA 2 architecture | Memory: 8GB GDDR6 | Memory bus: 256-bit | Memory clock speed: 14000MHz | Stream processors: 2560 | Cache: 4MB L2 | Base Clock: 1670MHz | Game clock: 1815MHz | Boost clock: 1925MHz | Power Consumption: 225W | Cooling fans: Triple fan setup | Display Connectors: 3x DisplayPorts, 1x HDMI

REASONS TO BUY

✓Effective cooling with Dual-X solution

✓Backward-compatible PCIe 4.0 support

✓Perfect for 1440p graphics resolution

✓Dual-BIOS

✓Silent operations

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Plastic shroud

I wanted to compare the Sapphire Pulse RX 5700 XT directly to AMD’s reference card to see how it stacks up. Right off the bat, you can tell Sapphire has put in some solid work with their dual-fan cooler and custom Trixx software. These upgrades really help keep temperatures in check while also boosting overclocking ability. The card is powered by AMD’s awesome RDNA architecture and 7nm process. It comes equipped with 8GB of GDDR6 with a 256-bit bus for 448GB/s of bandwidth. The memory also has three cache levels, including 4MB for L2 and 128KB per quadrant for L1 to minimize latency. On the GPU side you’re looking at 40 compute units with a total of 2560 stream processors.

Stock clock speeds start at 1670MHz base and can boost up to 1925MHz. Benchmark results show it easily outperforming the Vega 64 by 14-16% on average. Compared to previous architecture it’s around 60% faster, making it a seriously capable 1440p GPU. Frame rates often stay well above 90 fps on high-fidelity games. Connectivity options include HDMI, triple DisplayPort and backward compatible PCIe 4.0 for flexibility. Overall if you’re in the market for a powerful 1440p gamer around this price point, the Sapphire Pulse RX 5700 XT is an outstanding choice.

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XFX RX 5600 XT THICC II PRO

Best Budget GPU for i5 10600k

Brand: XFX | Series/Family: THICC II Pro series | GPU: AMD Navi GPU unit | GPU architecture: AMD RDNA architecture | Memory: 6GB GDDR6 | Memory bus: 192-bit | Memory data speed: 12Gb/s | Stream processors: 2304 | Cache: Unknown | Base Clock: Unknown | Game clock: 1560MHz | Boost clock: 1620MHz | Power Consumption: 150W | Cooling fans: Dual fan setup | Display Connectors: 3x DisplayPorts, 1x HDMI

REASONS TO BUY

✓PCIe 4.0 support

✓Attractive and sleek design

✓Excellent 1440p performance

✓Quiet fan movement

✓Adequate cooling

REASONS TO AVOID

✗No Ray Tracing

XFX is an American company known for its solid graphics cards, motherboards, and power supplies. I wanted to highlight their RX 5600 XT THICC II PRO, which delivers amazing performance and features for the price, in my opinion. Spec-wise, it’s very similar to the 5700 but with 6GB of GDDR6 memory instead of 8GB and slightly lower clocks. But you’re still getting 2304 stream processors and a core configuration on par with the 5700. The 7nm process and RDNA architecture really help it punch above its weight class. It runs at a base clock of 1560 MHz, boosting up to 1620 MHz. You also get PCIe 4.0 support for faster transfers and doubled bandwidth. I was honestly surprised at how well it performed in benchmarks given the affordable price tag.

This thing is perfect for smooth 1440p gaming at 60+ fps or 1080p above 90 fps on modern titles. It even handles some light 8K video work too. Connectivity includes DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 for up to six displays with resolutions like 4K240 or 8K60. In summary, if you’re looking for outstanding 1080p or 1440p performance on a budget, the XFX RX 5600 XT THICC II PRO is, in my opinion, an excellent choice.

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EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti XC Ultra Gaming

Best 4K GPU for i5 10600K

Brand: EVGA | Series/Family: GeForce RTX 2000 | GPU: Nvidia Tuning TU102 GPU unit | GPU architecture: Nvidia 12nm Turing architecture | Memory: 11GB GDDR6 | Memory bus: 352-bit | Memory clock speed: 14000MHz effective | CUDA cores: 4352 | Cache: 5.5MB L2 | Base Clock: 1350MHz | Game clock: Unknown | Boost clock: 1560MHz | Power Consumption: 250W | Cooling fans: Dual fan | Display connectors: 3x DisplayPorts, 1x HDMI, 1x USB-C 

REASONS TO BUY

✓Ray Tracing with RTX platform

✓Excellent performance

✓Perfect for 4k resolution

✓Adequate cooling

REASONS TO AVOID

✗No support for ECC memory

EVGA has been cranking out top-notch hardware for gamers and creators for years now. As one of the premier graphics card makers, their GeForce RTX 2080 Ti XC Ultra is a true showcase of their talent. Powered by Nvidia’s powerful Turing architecture and RTX platform, this thing delivers unbelievable gaming experiences.  It really flexes the muscles of Nvidia’s ray tracing, AI, and programmable shading technology. Diving into the specs, you get 4352 CUDA cores and a massive 11GB of GDDR6 with 616GB/s bandwidth over a 352-bit bus. Boost clocks are a healthy 1650 MHz as well.

When I put this card through its paces with various modern games, the buttery-smooth performance blew me away. Frames stayed locked at over 150 fps at 1440p, like it was nothing. And at 4K, it maintains an ultra-silky 90+fps in many titles. Though heavy video editing paired with my i5 10600k seemed to push it a bit, All in all, this GPU delivers incredible speeds and efficiency and runs super cool and quiet thanks to EVGA’s solid cooling solution. If you want the absolute best immersive experience, especially at higher resolutions, it’s tough to top the RTX 2080 Ti XC Ultra in my book.

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ASUS TUF Gaming GTX 1660 Super

Best GPU Under $1000 for i5 10600k

Brand: ASUS | Series/Family: Gaming GeForce GTX Super series | GPU: Nvidia Turing TU116 GPU unit | GPU architecture: Nvidia Turing architecture | Memory: 6GB GDDR6 | Memory bus: 192-bit | Memory clock speed: 14000MHz | CUDA cores: 1408 | Cache: Unknown | Base Clock: 1530MHz | Game clock: Unknown | Boost clock: 1785MHz | Power Consumption: 125W | Cooling fans: Dual fan setup | Display Connectors: 1x DisplayPorts, 1x HDMI, 1x dual-link DVI

REASONS TO BUY

✓Pretty affordable

✓Protective backplate

✓Excellent performance

✓Easy to cool

REASONS TO AVOID

✗No Ray Tracing Cores

When building a gaming PC on a budget, it can be tough to find a great performing graphics card that won’t break the bank. That’s where the ASUS TUF Gaming GTX 1660 Super comes in handy. It offers premium-level specs and features for a much more affordable price tag. This card uses Nvidia’s efficient Turing architecture, which offers way better performance, memory bandwidth and power efficiency over previous generations. Under the hood you get a TU116 GPU with 6GB of GDDR6 memory clocked at 14002MHz over a 192-bit bus. There’s also 1408 CUDA cores with base clocks of 1530MHz boosting up to 1815MHz in default mode.

I was really impressed with the gaming performance too. FPS averaged well over 90 on popular AAA titles at maxed out 1080p settings. It’s also a solid choice for smooth 1440p gaming if you lowering a few settings. Not too shabby for the price! Build quality seems good as well. While the styling isn’t the flashiest, it features a sturdy dual-fan cooler, protective backplate and other well-built components. Overall the TUF 1660 Super delivers premier-level specs and performance on a tighter budget. For those looking to save some money without sacrificing too much power, this card is worthy of consideration.

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XFX RX 5500 XT Thicc II Pro

Best 1080p GPU for i5 10600K

Brand: XFX | Series/Family: THICC II Pro series | GPU: AMD Navi 14 XTX GPU unit | GPU architecture: AMD RDNA architecture | Memory: 4GB GDDR6 | Memory bus: 128-bit | Memory clock speed: 14MHz | Stream processors: 1408 | Cache: 2MB L2 | Base Clock: 1607MHz| Game clock: 1717MHz | Boost clock: 1845MHz | Power Consumption: 130W | Cooling fans: Dual fan setup | Display Connectors: 3x DisplayPorts, 1x HDMI

REASONS TO BUY

✓Perfect for 1440p graphics

✓Easy to cool

✓Fast RDNA architecture

✓PCIe 4.0 support

REASONS TO AVOID

✗No support for ECC memory

The XFX Radeon RX 5500 XT Thicc II Pro is an excellent entry-level graphics card that packs some seriously nice tech usually found on higher-end models. AMD offers this card with either 4GB or 8GB of VRAM. Both versions use the same advanced 7nm RDNA architecture and Navi GPU for incredible visuals. AMD’s awesome Fidelity FX and Radeon Freesync tech provide ultra-smooth, tear-free gaming too. I asked several users, and nobody had anything bad to say about its graphics performance. Specs include 1408 stream processors running at a 1717MHz game clock, boosting to 1845MHz. It also has PCIe 4.0 for compatibility. But the real test is always benchmarks, right? Well, this thing impressed me for the price.

Being an entry-level card aimed at 1080p gaming, it handles most current AAA titles with 60+ fps on high settings. Esports titles often stay above 90 fps too. 1440p gaming is doable, but frame rates decrease a bit depending on the game. Overall, if you’re looking for a reliable 1080p graphics card without breaking the bank, the XFX RX 5500 XT Thicc II Pro deserves a strong look, in my opinion.

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ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060

Best Mainstream GPU for i5 10600k

Brand: Zotac | Series/Family: GeForce RTX 30 series | GPU: Nvidia Ampere GA104-200 GPU unit | GPU architecture: Nvidia Ampere architecture | Memory: 12GB GDDR6 | Memory bus:192-bit | Memory data speed: 15Gb/s | CUDA cores: 3584 | Cache: 4MB L2 | Base Clock: 1320MHz | Game clock: 1770MHz | Boost clock: 1807MHz | Power Consumption: 200W | Cooling fans: Dual fan setup | Display Connectors: 3x DisplayPorts, 1x HDMI

REASONS TO BUY

✓Good performance

✓Ray Tracing and Tensor cores

✓Best 1440p performance

✓3D display support

✓Support VR technologies

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Louder fans’ operations

✗Not a dual GPU

The GeForce RTX 3060 really shook up the graphics card market when it launched. Customers loved it so much that sales skyrocketed, showing it could outperform previous generations. Compared to Nvidia’s 20-series, there’s a significant leap in raw power thanks to the advanced Ampere architecture. Highlights of Ampere include upgraded Ray Tracing cores, new Tensor cores, Nvidia DLSS, and DirectX 12 Ultimate support. You’re also getting 12GB of GDDR6, 3584 CUDA cores, and a boostable 1.32GHz base clock. PCIe 4.0 compatibility provides plenty of bandwidth too.

During testing, I found it’s perfect for ultra-smooth 1440p and 1080p gaming. 4K performance takes a bit of a hit, though, so you may need to lower a few settings or consider a beefier card. Connectivity includes three DisplayPorts and an HDMI 2.0 port for multi-monitor setups. The 3060 requires a single 8-pin PCIe power connector to handle its overclocking headroom. Overall, if you want a major upgrade over previous generations for under $400, the RTX 3060 is tough to beat, in my opinion.

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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti

Best 4k GPU for i5 10600k

Brand: Nvidia | Series/Family: GeForce RTX 30 series | GPU: Nvidia Ampere GA104-200 GPU unit | GPU architecture: Nvidia Ampere architecture | Memory: 8GB GDDR6 | Memory bus: 256-bit | Memory clock speed: 14000MHz | CUDA cores: 4864 | Cache: 4MB L2 | Base Clock: 1410MHz | Game clock: Unknown | Boost clock: 1665MHz | Power Consumption: 200W | Cooling fans: Dual fan setup | Display Connectors: 3x DisplayPorts, 1x HDMI

REASONS TO BUY

✓Affordable

✓Stays cool

✓Solid Ray Tracing performance

✓Attractive look and design

REASONS TO AVOID

✗4k isn’t impressive

Who doesn’t want a powerful graphics card without breaking the bank? If you’re like me and want a great gaming PC on a budget, the RTX 3060 Ti deserves serious consideration. It rightfully earns its title as one of the best 4K cards at this price point. If you’ve been longing for an RTX 3080 or 3090 but can’t justify the cost, the 3060 Ti is a fantastic alternative. Incredibly, you still get all the latest tech like Ampere, ray tracing, and tensor cores—not bad for the money! While it’s not technically SLI/Crossfire, the performance-to-price ratio is outstanding. Specs include 8GB of GDDR6, 4864 CUDA cores, and a boostable 1.41GHz base clock. The Ampere architecture also brings big gains.

Realistically, it’s best suited for gorgeous 1080p and 1440p gaming. Most AAA titles stay super smooth above 90 fps at 1080p. 1440p holds steady around 60fps too. A lighter 4K is even doable. The build quality is top-notch as well, featuring a sleek dual-fan cooler that keeps temperatures under control. If you want incredible speed without breaking the bank, the 3060 Ti is an easy pick in my book.

Conclusion

The Intel Core i5-10600K processor is a great chip, but it needs a dedicated graphics card to handle gaming. Since this CPU is targeted at mid-range builds and budget-conscious users, it can’t run the latest and greatest games on its own.  Finding the right graphics card that’s compatible can be tricky, though, with so many options out there from different brands. If you’re an average gamer just looking to play some games, you’ll want to focus on the recommendations we list out.

It’s important that any graphics card you choose has the right features for your needs. Things like ray tracing support, AI enhancements, and so on. Gamers use their PCs in different ways, so we made sure to include a variety of options—budget picks, high-end models, and cards suited for 1080p, 1440p, or 4K gaming. Take a look through what we’ve gathered and pick one that best matches your budget and intended use. Whether you want something affordable just to get started or you need serious horsepower for cutting-edge visuals, we’ve provided a good selection of compatible graphics cards for the i5-10600K.