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Best GPU for the Core i5-8500

Graphics cards this processor can feed at each resolution.

At 1080p

  1. Radeon RX 6750 XT $549 · CPU holds it back 7.7%
  2. GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop n/a · CPU holds it back 5%
  3. Arc B580 $249 · CPU holds it back 2.1%
  4. GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop n/a · CPU holds it back 2.1%

At 1440p

  1. GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop n/a · CPU holds it back 7.2%
  2. GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop n/a · CPU holds it back 5.2%
  3. GeForce RTX 4070 $599 · CPU holds it back 5.2%
  4. Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB $349 · CPU holds it back 0.9%

At 4K

  1. GeForce RTX 5080 $999 · CPU holds it back 7.7%
  2. GeForce RTX 4080 Super $999 · CPU holds it back 2.7%
  3. Radeon RX 7900 XTX $999 · CPU holds it back 2.7%
  4. GeForce RTX 5070 Ti $749 · balanced

Picks keep the CPU and GPU within 10% of each other. Prices are launch prices, not today’s shelf prices.

Graphics cards the Core i5-8500 can drive at each resolution

At 1080p the strongest card the Core i5-8500 can feed is the Radeon RX 6750 XT (launch price $549), with 12 GB of video memory and a 250 W rating. Next in the list is the GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop, which is held back by 5%.

At 1440p the strongest card the Core i5-8500 can feed is the GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop, with 12 GB of video memory and a 150 W rating. Next in the list is the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop, which is held back by 5.2%.

At 4K the strongest card the Core i5-8500 can feed is the GeForce RTX 5080 (launch price $999), with 16 GB of video memory and a 360 W rating. Next in the list is the GeForce RTX 4080 Super, which is held back by 2.7%.

Memory, power and price

The ceiling climbs with resolution: Radeon RX 6750 XT (index 35) at 1080p, GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop at 1440p and GeForce RTX 5080 (index 77) at 4K.

The picks draw between 140 W and 360 W and carry 8 to 24 GB of video memory, so the top of the list needs a power supply of about 850 W with this processor.

Questions

What is the best GPU for the Core i5-8500?

At 1080p, the strongest card in our list that this processor can feed without a CPU bottleneck above 10% is the Radeon RX 6750 XT. At higher resolutions it can feed faster cards.

What is the best GPU for the Core i5-8500 at 4K?

The GeForce RTX 5080 (index 77, 16 GB, 360 W) is the strongest card in our list that this processor can feed at 4K.

Updated October 3, 2026