The Return of the Midrange GPU
For several years, the GPU market felt like it was leaving average gamers behind. Prices skyrocketed during the pandemic due to crypto mining, component shortages, and supply chain disruption. At the same time, game requirements crept higher, forcing players to consider spending well over a thousand pounds for smooth performance. Many asked if the midrange GPU was gone for good.
In 2025, the landscape looks very different. With the launch of NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 and AMD’s RX 9060 XT, the midrange is making a real comeback. These cards bring high performance at far more reasonable prices, and they are shaping up to be some of the most important GPUs of the year.
What Counts as Midrange in 2025?
Traditionally, midrange meant a graphics card in the 300 to 500 dollar range that could handle 1080p and 1440p gaming comfortably. In 2025, the definition has shifted slightly. Today’s midrange cards are priced between 400 and 600 dollars, but the performance has moved forward by several generations.
The RTX 5070 and RX 9060 XT deliver strong 1440p gaming with headroom for 4K when paired with DLSS 4 frame generation. On the AMD side, the RX 9060 XT provides 16GB of VRAM, excellent for modern titles with large texture packs and demanding open worlds. This class of GPUs now rivals what used to be flagship-tier just a couple of years ago.
Why the Midrange Matters Again
The majority of gamers still play at 1080p or 1440p. For these resolutions, ultra-expensive flagship cards like the RTX 5090 are complete overkill. The midrange delivers the best balance of affordability, efficiency, and real-world performance.
E-sports titles such as Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant rely more on high frame rates than on cutting-edge visual features like full ray tracing. Midrange GPUs provide enough power to hit 240Hz and 360Hz refresh rates, which are far more important in competitive play.
Even outside e-sports, price-to-performance is finally competitive again. A card like the RX 9060 XT offers performance close to last-generation flagship GPUs at nearly half the price, making it the smart choice for the majority of gamers.
Examples of Strong Midrange Performance
- RTX 5070: Delivers smooth 1440p ultra performance in modern AAA games, and with DLSS 4 frame generation it can even reach 4K at playable frame rates.
- RX 9060 XT: Ships with 16GB of VRAM, giving it better longevity for heavy texture packs and high-resolution gaming. FSR 4 support further extends its performance in supported games.
- Both vs. Last-Gen Flagships: These GPUs rival or outperform cards like the RTX 4080 with multi frame generation, but with significantly lower cost and power consumption.
The “Good Enough” GPU Era
The combination of AI-assisted upscaling and frame generation has shifted what gamers need from hardware. Where a high-end card used to be mandatory for smooth 4K, midrange GPUs can now achieve similar results through smart software and hardware acceleration.
With DLSS 4 and FSR 4, a 5070 or 9060 XT can deliver 120 frames per second at 1440p or 4K in most modern games. This makes ultra-high-end cards less of a requirement and more of a luxury for enthusiasts who want the absolute maximum performance and visual fidelity.
For the majority of players, midrange GPUs are “good enough” in the best way possible. They offer high frame rates, solid visual quality, and future-ready VRAM capacities without draining a bank account.
Final Thoughts
The GPU market in 2025 is looking healthier than it has in years. After a long period of inflated prices and limited choices, gamers finally have access to high-value midrange options. The RTX 5070 and RX 9060 XT show that you do not need to spend over a thousand pounds to enjoy smooth, high-quality gaming.
Flagship GPUs will always exist to push the boundaries of technology, but the midrange is where most gamers will find the perfect balance of cost and performance. In many ways, the midrange is once again becoming the heart of PC gaming.
Tarl @ Gamertech