How many FPS does your budget really get you?
Enter your budget, pick the game and the resolution. We'll tell you which GPU — or full PC — you can afford and roughly how many FPS you'll get, with and without DLSS/FSR. Real benchmarks, not marketing.
Budget-to-FPS calculator
Budget, game and resolution. We'll show what you can afford and the estimated FPS, with and without upscaling.
Loading calculation…
Affiliate link · disclosed for transparency
Upscaling estimate with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation / AMD FSR 4.
Ballpark estimate modelled from public benchmarks (TechPowerUp, TechSpot, Tom's Hardware, PCGamesHardware, GameGPU) and NVIDIA/AMD DLSS/FSR data. Your real result depends on your CPU, RAM and exact settings — see methodology.
This is how gaming money gets wasted
Nobody fines you for buying wrong. You punish yourself: you pay for performance you'll never see. These are the four mistakes we correct most often.
4K 144 Hz monitor with an entry-level GPU
The panel can show 144 frames at 4K; your GPU generates 38. You're paying for 106 FPS that don't exist.
~€400 wastedA €900 GPU for a 60 Hz monitor
The card generates 160 FPS; your screen shows 60. Two-thirds of the performance you paid for is discarded every second.
~€350 wasted€300 on RGB peripherals before the GPU
A pretty keyboard adds zero FPS. If your rig is tight on performance, every euro spent on premium peripherals is a euro that didn't go to the actual bottleneck.
~€200 misplacedAn unbalanced full PC: pricey GPU, weak CPU
2026 still sees builds with a high-end GPU and a six-year-old CPU: the graphics card sits waiting and FPS doesn't move. Balance matters more than the one flagship part.
~€150-300 avoidable overspendMistakes like these easily add up to several hundred euros per build. The calculator above exists so you don't pay for them.
Three steps, zero hype
Tell us your budget, game and resolution
And whether you need just a GPU or a full PC from scratch. Twenty seconds, no sign-up.
We calculate your estimated FPS
We cross your budget with real benchmarks for that game at that resolution, with and without DLSS/FSR.
You get a concrete product
GPU or full PC, with expected FPS and euros per FPS. Buy wherever you want: the affiliate link is optional and clearly marked.
Ray tracing, DLSS 4, Reflex and FSR 4: the real FPS gains
Before you look at a GPU's price, check whether it supports these four technologies. They're what adds the most FPS and cuts the most latency in 2026, and why it's sometimes worth paying a bit more.
Ray tracing
Lights, reflects and casts shadows by actually tracing light paths instead of faking them. Most visible in puddle reflections, glass and neon — the visual signature of games like Cyberpunk 2077.
Recent GPUs with strong RT cores pay a smaller cost (~22% on RTX 4090); cards with weaker RT hardware can lose over 60%. Full "path tracing" costs more — up to half the framerate even on high-end cards.
NVIDIA DLSS 4 (Multi Frame Generation)
Renders at a lower internal resolution, reconstructs the image with AI and generates up to 3 extra frames per real frame. In 2026 NVIDIA expanded it with DLSS 4.5 and a dynamic "6X" mode that adjusts the multiplier to a target FPS.
Figure from NVIDIA (e.g. Cyberpunk 2077 on RTX 5090, includes upscaling + 3 generated frames). Independent testing usually shows a real jump around 2-4x over native in demanding scenes; outlets like GamersNexus point out generated frames aren't true rendered frames, and latency doesn't drop at the same rate as the FPS counter.
NVIDIA Reflex (and Reflex 2)
Doesn't raise the FPS counter: it shortens the time between moving your mouse and seeing the result on screen. Reflex 2 (2025-26) adds "Frame Warp", recalculating the last instant right before the frame is shown.
NVIDIA cites drops from ~38 ms to ~17 ms with classic Reflex at 360 Hz, and up to a further 75% with Reflex 2/Frame Warp in supported games (Valorant, The Finals). Over 90% of GeForce gamers have it enabled, per NVIDIA.
AMD FSR 4 / Frame Generation
AMD's answer to DLSS: AI upscaling (FSR 4, native on RX 9000/RDNA4) plus frame generation. Since 2026, FSR 4.1 extended upscaling (not frame generation) to RX 7000 cards via driver update.
In comparative tests (NoobFeed, TechSpot) FSR4 Quality reaches 40-70% more FPS than native at 4K depending on the game; in some titles FSR4 even beat DLSS4's gain % in the same scene. AMD's frame generation remains exclusive to RX 9000 (RDNA4).
More FPS isn't bragging rights — it's winning more games
More FPS = less time between input and screen
With more frames per second, the gap between "you move the mouse" and "you see it on screen" shrinks. It's the same logic NVIDIA Reflex uses, applied to raw framerate: fewer milliseconds in between, more precise aim.
More frames = more visual information per second
An opponent who peeks two frames earlier on your screen than on theirs gives you a real reaction advantage. At low framerates, that movement can literally "skip" a frame and never show up in time.
Latency really is measurable, and it changes outcomes
NVIDIA's own research team found that reducing 80 ms of added latency let players complete an aiming test 30% faster, and that differences of just 8 ms already produced measurable timing changes.
That's why it's used at tournaments
NVIDIA actively promotes Reflex at CS2 majors and other esports events. That's no accident: in professional competition, every millisecond is treated as a real competitive edge, not a marketing number.
Ballpark FPS by GPU tier for the most-played games
Original illustrations (not real in-game screenshots — we avoid using copyrighted art). FPS at 1440p, high/ultra, no RT unless the game calls for it. Internal note: real screenshots of each game would require a press-kit license from each studio; until then we use these original pieces.
FPS estimated with the same model as the calculator, on entry / mid / high-end GPUs at 1440p. With DLSS 4 / FSR 4 enabled, not native. See methodology.
Best GPU by budget
One recommendation per tier, chosen by measured performance and euros per FPS. No "just get the newest one" — the one that performs best for your money.
| Card | Performance (1440p) | VRAM | Est. price | Verdict | Buy link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5070 DLSS 4 · Blackwell | 12 GB | ~€600 | Best 1440p+ | See price for RTX 5070 (affiliate) | |
| RX 9060 XT 16 GB VRAM headroom | 16 GB | ~€420 | Best value | See price for RX 9060 XT (affiliate) | |
| RTX 5060 DLSS 4 | 8 GB | ~€310 | Solid 1080p | See price for RTX 5060 (affiliate) | |
| Intel Arc B580 Cheap VRAM | 12 GB | ~€270 | Entry 1080p | See price for Intel Arc B580 (affiliate) | |
| RX 9070 XT 16 GB · strong rasterisation | 16 GB | ~€750 | High-end value | See price for RX 9070 XT (affiliate) | |
| RTX 5070 Ti 16 GB · 1440p ceiling / 4K | 16 GB | ~€950 | 1440p ceiling | See price for RTX 5070 Ti (affiliate) |
FPS figures are ballpark averages across AAA games at high settings. European market reference prices, 2026 (check the store for the current price — 2026 has seen unusual GPU price rises from AI-driven memory demand). "See price" links = affiliate.
Full gaming PCs by budget
If you're not starting from an existing PC, here's what we'd buy at each tier: a balanced CPU, GPU, RAM and storage combo — not just the biggest GPU that fits the budget.
Ballpark European market combos, 2026 (Ryzen/Core-equivalent CPU, GPU of the stated tier, DDR5 RAM, NVMe SSD). Final store pricing may vary; always check the breakdown before buying.
Three honest budgets for upgrading what you already have
If you already own a PC and just want to upgrade piece by piece, here's how we'd split your money at each tier, with its limits and who it's for.
What's included
- Entry GPU with good VRAM (Arc B580-class, ~€270)
- Everything else stays: your 60 Hz monitor can wait one more cycle
Limits
- 1080p high, not ultra everywhere
- No room for peripherals: FPS comes first
Who it's for / not for
- Yes: coming from integrated graphics or a 5+ year old GPU
- No: if you already have a mid-range GPU, wait one more month
Why this split: below €300, every euro on the GPU performs three times better than on any other part. You double real FPS; the rest would be cosmetic.
Adjust to my caseWhat's included
- Mid-range 16 GB GPU (RX 9060 XT-class, ~€420)
- 1440p 165 Hz monitor if yours is 60 Hz (~€130 on offer)
Limits
- 4K only with upscaling, not native
- A very old CPU eats into the gains
Who it's for / not for
- Yes: you want smooth 1440p that lasts 3-4 years
- No: if you only play competitive 1080p titles, it's overkill
Why this split: GPU + panel balance out: you generate ~116 FPS and you see all of them. It's the best euros-per-FPS tier in the market right now.
Adjust to my caseWhat's included
- High-end GPU (RTX 5070-class, ~€600)
- 1440p 240 Hz or 4K 144 Hz monitor depending on your game (~€300)
Limits
- 4K ultra + ray tracing still needs upscaling
- Check your PSU: 650W+ recommended
Who it's for / not for
- Yes: 1440p today with plenty of headroom, 4K tomorrow
- No: if your monitor is 1080p 60 Hz and staying that way
Why this split: past this point every extra FPS costs more. €1000 well distributed outperforms €1500 dumped only into the GPU.
Adjust to my caseThe affiliate model, explained without fine print
FPSforge is free for you. Here's exactly how we make money, and what we don't do to make it.
1 Affiliate commission
When you buy through a "See price" link at stores like Amazon or PcComponentes, those platforms pay us a small commission for sending you there. You pay exactly the same as if you'd arrived on your own.
2 No extra cost to you
The commission comes from the store's margin, not your pocket. No hidden markup, no "exclusive" coupon that actually hides an inflated price.
3 Independent recommendations
The ranking comes from benchmarks and euros per FPS. Commission is nearly identical whatever you buy, so we have no incentive to inflate one product over another — and you can check that in the methodology.
Full transparency
Links marked "See price" are affiliate links (they carry rel="sponsored nofollow"): if you buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. That never changes what we recommend: the ranking comes from benchmarks and euros per FPS, not from who pays more commission. We don't run sponsored reviews, no manufacturer pays to appear, and we don't touch RMT, account sales or cheats. Hardware only, actually measured.
Open methodology
No black box. This is how we reach every recommendation and every estimated FPS.
Real benchmarks
Average FPS across AAA titles, cross-checked between several independent sources (TechPowerUp, TechSpot, Tom's Hardware, PCGamesHardware, GameGPU). Never manufacturer-supplied figures.
Euros per FPS
Every part is scored by performance per euro at your target resolution, not by being the newest or the most expensive.
The calculator's own model
The calculator applies a per-game factor (how demanding it is) to a base FPS-by-GPU-and-resolution table, plus an upscaling multiplier calibrated with published NVIDIA/AMD and independent data. It's a relative estimate, not a lab benchmark for every exact combination.
No sponsorships
No manufacturer pays to appear or to rank higher. Affiliate commission is nearly identical regardless of who wins, so it doesn't influence the outcome.
Frequently asked questions
How does FPSforge make money if it's free?
Through affiliate links, always marked with rel="sponsored nofollow". If you buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The commission never changes the ranking: recommendations come from benchmarks and euros per FPS, and the methodology is published so you can check it.
Where do the calculator's FPS numbers come from?
From our own model calibrated with public benchmarks from reference outlets, plus NVIDIA and AMD's published DLSS/FSR data. They're ballpark: your exact number depends on your CPU, RAM and game, which is why we present them as a relative comparison, not a promise.
What's the difference between native FPS and FPS with DLSS/FSR?
Native FPS is what the GPU generates rendering every pixel at your real resolution. With DLSS 4 or FSR 4 the GPU renders smaller and uses AI to reconstruct the image and generate extra frames: more visible FPS, with a small sharpness loss and slightly more latency than the native equivalent framerate.
Why do you recommend full PCs and not just GPUs?
Because many readers are starting from scratch. A high-end GPU in a PC with an underpowered CPU or not enough RAM won't perform as promised, so we separate "GPU only" from "full PC" with balanced combos for each budget.
Is 8 GB of VRAM enough in 2026?
For 1080p at high settings, still yes in most games. For 1440p, or if you want the card to last 2-3+ years, go for 12-16 GB: more and more titles exceed 8 GB with high-res textures, and today's saving becomes tomorrow's stutter.
Do you accept products or payments from brands?
No. No manufacturer pays to appear or to rank higher, and we don't run sponsored reviews. We also don't touch account sales, RMT or cheats: hardware only. If we ever tested a review sample, it would be disclosed on that product's page.
We'll tell you when your part actually drops in price
Tell us what you're waiting to buy and we'll send a single alert when the price is actually worth it. No daily newsletters, no noise.
Before you spend, calculate your real FPS
Thirty seconds and you'll know which GPU or PC you can afford, and how many FPS you'll get in your game. Free and no hype.
Open the calculator