What to buy to run it well
Best graphics card for Elite Dangerous
Elite Dangerous recommends Nvidia GTX 770 / AMD Radeon R9 280X for a smooth experience, a GeForce GTX 700-800 series-era card in the entry class. Any card of that generation or newer meets that bar. Below are a few worth considering, and it is worked out by generation, the one graphics axis that orders honestly.
Cards that run Elite Dangerous well
Recommendations are the cards whose generation meets or beats what Elite Dangerous asks for, not a benchmarked frame-rate ranking. Within a generation we do not rank.
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Common questions
What graphics card do I need for Elite Dangerous?
The developer recommends Nvidia GTX 770 / AMD Radeon R9 280X, a GeForce GTX 700-800 series-era card, for a smooth experience. Any card of that generation or newer meets it; the most affordable in our list that clears it is the GeForce GTX 1050. The minimum to just launch is lower: Nvidia GTX 470/AMD R7 240.
Will an older card run Elite Dangerous?
It may still launch if it meets the minimum (Nvidia GTX 470/AMD R7 240), usually at lower settings. The recommended card above is for a smooth experience, not the bare minimum. Check your exact card with the requirements checker.