Choosing the right graphics card is a crucial decision for a 3D artist, affecting performance in modelling and rendering applications. In 2025, the graphics card market is highly changeable, and the right model depends on budget, availability and intended use. Our overview is based on applications such as 3D Studio Max, Maya, Blender and rendering engines Corona and V-Ray.

RTX 5090 or RTX 4090: the best choice for professionals?

The simplest answer to the question of the best graphics card for 3D work in 2025 is an RTX 5090 or RTX 4090. These are the most powerful cards available, offering strong performance, plenty of VRAM and excellent support for modern rendering engines. They handle the most demanding projects, including GPU rendering and large 3D scenes.

But does every 3D artist need to invest in the most expensive cards? Not always: the choice depends on the work, budget and hardware availability.

Availability and launch of RTX 5000 cards

NVIDIA's new generation of graphics cards in the RTX 5000 series has reached the market, but availability of certain models, such as the RTX 5090 or RTX 5080, is limited. On launch day, many people encountered the message "Out of stock". In early February 2025, the situation is that we buy what is available, not necessarily what we would like.

Is it worth waiting to buy?

If you do not need a graphics card immediately, consider waiting until the second half of 2025. By then:

• The RTX 5060 and RTX 5070,

• cards should appear, and availability of the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 should improve,

• More previous-generation cards should reach the second-hand market at more attractive prices.

RTX 5080: the worst "80-class" card in history?

The new RTX 5080 met a wave of criticism. The main objection is that it is not faster than the RTX 4090. NVIDIA clearly separated the 80 and 90 segments in the new generation, as tests and benchmarks show. We mentioned this in our article "RTX5090 cards for 3D graphics" just after the new-generation cards were presented.

But is the RTX 5080 actually a poor choice? Not necessarily. It offers good performance at a reasonable price, and when choosing between an RTX 4080 and RTX 5080, the newer generation is worth selecting.

RTX 4060, RTX 4070, RTX 5060 and RTX 5070: are they sufficient?

Cards in the RTX 4060 and 4070 series and their 5000-series equivalents are solid options for people who:

• Do not need the fastest possible rendering,

• Work mainly in viewports and modelling,

• Have a limited budget.

They can be sufficient for smaller 3D projects, although GPU rendering performance will be limited in more demanding tasks.

Do older RTX 2000 and RTX 3000 cards still make sense?

In 2025, using RTX 2000 and RTX 3000 cards remains possible, particularly if they can be bought at a good second-hand price. Models worth considering include:

• RTX 2080 Ti (11 GB VRAM) : available from PLN 1700,

• RTX 3090 (24 GB VRAM) : priced around PLN 3000.

These remain powerful cards for 3D graphics, although without support for the latest technologies such as enhanced ray tracing (RT) and AI optimisations.

GTX 1000: is it worthwhile?

The GTX 1000 cards are now very outdated, but can still handle basic work. For example, a GTX 1060 Ti 6 GB can be bought for around PLN 350. However, remember:

• They do not support rendering in RTX mode,

• They have little memory, restricting work on large scenes.

• They also do not support OptiX denoising in V-Ray or AI-driven denoising in Corona.

Is buying a used card worthwhile?

Yes, but only from a reliable source. We have cards in our company that run 24 hours a day and have never caused problems. At the same time, we have bought brand-new units such as RTX 3000 cards that failed after a few days.

When buying a used card, consider:

• The purchase source and avoid cryptocurrency mining cards,

• Cooling condition and operating temperatures,

• Usage history.

Quadro cards: do they make sense?

The Quadro cards used to be the best professional choice, but in recent years they have lost out to gaming RTX cards. The exception is the Quadro 6000 ADA, costing over PLN 35 000. Do not confuse it with the previous generation, the A6000, which remains powerful but cannot match the new ADA model. The A6000 is slower at rendering than the RTX 4090, but can be highly effective for AI applications. Its price exceeds PLN 20 000. The Quadro 6000 ADA offers:

• More VRAM,

• Smaller dimensions,

• Lower power consumption.

For most 3D artists, however, buying a Quadro is not economically justified.

What about Radeon and Intel ARC?

The Radeon cards can be used in 3D applications, but are unsuitable for GPU rendering because of the lack of support in V-Ray and Corona.

The Intel ARC series is still being developed, but we do not recommend it for professional 3D graphics.

Multi-GPU or a render node?

If you are starting out in 3D graphics, a single workstation will be entirely sufficient. You can read our advice on which computer a 3D artist should buy. Over time, however, expansion is worth considering:

• Multi-GPU : using several cards in one workstation enables faster rendering. We can work on one card while another handles rendering, significantly improving efficiency.

• Render node : an additional computer used solely for rendering. The drawbacks are the cost of components and the whole machine, plus additional graphics software and renderer licences. However, it gives us confidence that intensive rendering will not damage or prematurely wear out our workstation.

Graphics card cooling and noise levels

Choosing a graphics card involves not only performance, but also cooling and noise. RTX 5090 and RTX 4090 are powerful cards requiring effective cooling. Cooling systems vary from air cooling in reference models to more efficient water cooling in custom versions. Better cooling means lower operating temperatures and less risk of throttling, or reduced performance due to overheating. Card size and a suitable case also matter: top models are very large and often do not fit standard PC cases, requiring a larger, well-ventilated case.

Summary

Choosing a graphics card for a 3D artist in 2025 depends on budget and needs. RTX 5090 and RTX 4090 are top-end options, but for many artists an RTX 5080, RTX 4070 or used RTX 3090 may be more sensible. It is also worth watching the second-hand market and waiting for new RTX 5060 and RTX 5070 models.