UPDATE: As gaming technology evolves, four older GPUs are proving their worth in 2025, delivering impressive performance for casual gamers. Despite the emergence of cutting-edge graphics cards featuring technologies like RDNA 4 and DLSS 4.0, these legacy models still hold significant value and capability.
NEW REPORTS confirm that the GTX 1080 Ti, launched in March 2017, remains a formidable choice for gamers. With 11 GB of GDDR5X VRAM and 3,584 CUDA cores, this GPU can handle demanding titles such as Forza Horizon 5 at 1080p, achieving a smooth 90–100 FPS. Even Cyberpunk 2077 runs acceptably at high settings, averaging around 55 FPS, making it a strong contender for those still gaming at 1080p.
Meanwhile, the Radeon RX 5700 XT, introduced in mid-2019, continues to impress with its 8 GB of GDDR6 and 2,560 stream processors. In 2025, it supports AMD’s FSR 3 and 3.1 technologies, boosting frame rates by 10–20% in popular games like Ghost of Tsushima and God of War Ragnarök. Despite lacking ray-tracing support, the RX 5700 XT excels as a mid-range 1440p GPU, offering exceptional value.
The GTX 1660 Ti, NVIDIA’s mid-range hero from February 2019, continues to surprise gamers. Recent benchmarks for the October 2025 release of Arc Raiders show the 1660 Ti delivering 60–65 FPS on low settings and an impressive 85–90 FPS on medium settings with FSR 3, highlighting its enduring relevance at 1080p.
Finally, the RTX 2080 Ti, unveiled in September 2018, remains a powerful option with its 4,352 CUDA cores and 11 GB of GDDR6 VRAM. While it lacks modern features like DLSS 3, its performance in 1440p gaming and creative workloads is still commendable. On the used market, prices hover around $200–$250, making it an attractive choice for budget-conscious gamers.
Despite the onslaught of new technology, these older GPUs demonstrate that a hardware upgrade may not be necessary for everyone. Their capacity for handling current games shows that many users can still enjoy a satisfying gaming experience without the latest models.
As gaming continues to evolve, these GPUs remind us that sometimes, the classics still reign supreme. For casual gamers and those with lighter workloads, investing in these older models can lead to significant savings while still delivering solid performance.
In a world where the latest technology often overshadows the past, these legacy GPUs emphasize that not every upgrade is needed, proving their worth in 2025 and beyond.