Buying Guide
The Best Budget GPUs for FPS Games
Four lower-cost cards for competitive shooters at 1080p, where a fast monitor and low settings matter more than a large GPU.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
11 min read4 products evaluated
Competitive shooters such as Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 are light on the GPU and heavy on the CPU, so a budget card is often enough at 1080p. A monitor at 144Hz or higher matters more than a bigger card.
We compared VRAM, power connectors and platform features from each listing. We make no frame-rate claims; results depend on the game, settings and CPU.
Quick Picks
Which of the 4 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best for Reflex and DLSS
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OCAn RTX 5060 with 8GB of GDDR7.
Best for: Shooters that support NVIDIA Reflex.
Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Most VRAM Under This Budget
ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC10GB of GDDR6 on a single 8-pin connector.
Best for: Shooters with large texture sets.
Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best AMD Budget Pick
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB OCAn RX 9060 XT with a 3290MHz listed boost.
Best for: Players who want AMD's current generation.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest-Cost Pick
ASRock Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8GBAn RX 6600 with one 8-pin connector.
Best for: Esports titles on an older PC.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| An RTX 5060 with 8GB of GDDR7. | Shooters that support NVIDIA Reflex. | Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 10GB of GDDR6 on a single 8-pin connector. | Shooters with large texture sets. | Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| An RX 9060 XT with a 3290MHz listed boost. | Players who want AMD's current generation. | Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| An RX 6600 with one 8-pin connector. | Esports titles on an older PC. | Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best for Reflex and DLSS1 of 4
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC
The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 is a 2.5-slot, SFF-Ready card with GDDR7 memory and DisplayPort 2.1b.
Best for
- Shooters that support NVIDIA Reflex.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
Its 8GB of memory is best matched to a 1080p monitor. It matches the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D on video memory (8GB). It is the only pick here with an RTX 5060 gpu; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB has an RX 9060 XT gpu instead.
You get GDDR7 memory here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D and its GDDR6 memory. A 2565MHz (OC mode) boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB uses a 3290MHz boost clock. You also get axial-tech fans with a barrier ring.
The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Its price falls between the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5060
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Boost clock
- 2565MHz (OC mode)
- SFF-Ready
- Yes
- Outputs
- HDMI 2.1b, DisplayPort 2.1b
Pros
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- Axial-tech fans with a barrier ring
- RTX 5060 gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the Arc B570 Challenger at the time of writing
Most VRAM Under This Budget2 of 4
ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC
The Arc B570 is the B580's cheaper sibling with 10GB of memory on a 160-bit bus.
Best for
- Shooters with large texture sets.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
It was the least expensive card here at the time of writing and still offers three DisplayPort 2.1 outputs. Its dual striped axial fans stop completely at low load, and the card supports Intel XeSS 2 upscaling. Its 10GB video memory is the largest here; the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 comes next at 8GB.
No other pick in this guide offers an arc B570 gpu; compare the ASUS Dual RTX 5060, which has an RTX 5060 gpu. It shares GDDR6 memory with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D; the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 goes with GDDR7 memory. You get a 2600MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and its a 3290MHz boost clock. It undercut the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- Arc B570
- VRAM
- 10GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Power connector
- 1 x 8-pin
- Boost clock
- 2600MHz
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 2.1, 1 x HDMI 2.1a
Pros
- 10GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- A single 8-pin power connector
- 160-bit memory bus at 19Gbps
- 0dB fan stop
Best AMD Budget Pick3 of 4
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB OC
ASRock's RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB brings AMD's RDNA 4 architecture to a budget card with 32 compute units.
Best for
- Players who want AMD's current generation.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
Its 8GB of memory is the compromise; the 16GB version costs more. It matches the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D on video memory (8GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RX 9060 XT gpu; compare the Arc B570 Challenger, which has an arc B570 gpu.
It shares GDDR6 memory with the Arc B570 Challenger and ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D; the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 goes with GDDR7 memory. You get a 3290MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the Arc B570 Challenger and its a 2600MHz boost clock. You also get a dual-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. On price it sat second of 4, between the cheaper Arc B570 Challenger and the pricier ASUS Dual RTX 5060, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 3290MHz
- Outputs
- DisplayPort 2.1a, HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- 32 compute units with third-generation ray tracing
- Dual-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop
- 20Gbps memory on a 128-bit bus
- RX 9060 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the Arc B570 Challenger at the time of writing
Lowest-Cost Pick4 of 4
ASRock Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8GB
ASRock's RX 6600 Challenger D is 269mm long, uses one 8-pin connector and stops its fans at light load.
Best for
- Esports titles on an older PC.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
It is a previous-generation 8GB card still sold new. It supports AMD FSR upscaling for higher frame rates in supported games. Its single 8-pin connector suits older power supplies.
On video memory it ties with the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB at 8GB. You get an RX 6600 gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and its an RX 9060 XT gpu. Like the Arc B570 Challenger and ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB, it has GDDR6 memory, while the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 uses GDDR7 memory.
You also get a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface and a dual-fan cooler. The ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D is 269mm long; compare that with your case's GPU limit. At our last price check it topped the group, with the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 the nearest cheaper option.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 6600
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 269mm
- Power connector
- 1 x 8-pin
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.1
Pros
- A single 8-pin power connector
- 0dB silent cooling at light load
- PCIe 4.0 x8 interface
- Dual-fan cooler
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory trails the Arc B570 Challenger (10GB)
- Costs more than the Arc B570 Challenger at the time of writing
The catch
Video memory is its weakest area, and the Arc B570 Challenger covers it better at 10GB.
How We Chose
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- How these picks were ranked
- We compared four cards on GPU, video memory, memory and power connector as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 4 of the 6 fields compared are stated for every pick, while power connector and boost clock have gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 4, from the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 to the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D, state GPU, video memory and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB give no power connector; the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D gives no boost clock.
- Price range
- From the Arc B570 Challenger to the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D, all sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Budget GPUs for FPS
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory
Here video memory runs from 8GB on the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D to 10GB on the Arc B570 Challenger, a 25% spread. If video memory is your first filter, the Arc B570 Challenger sets the ceiling at 10GB.
Memory
The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 lists GDDR7; the Arc B570 Challenger, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D list GDDR6.
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card What to check at home
The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. No dimensions are published for the Arc B570 Challenger; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. The ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D is 269mm long; compare that with your case's GPU limit.
Features beyond the spec table
The Arc B570 Challenger: 0dB fan stop. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB: a dual-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop. The ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D: a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface.
Budget
Price does little to separate these 4: the Arc B570 Challenger through the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D all landed in the $250 to $500 tier, which leaves video memory to decide it.
How to Choose a Budget GPUs for FPS
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Shooters that support NVIDIA Reflex | ASUS Dual RTX 5060 | An RTX 5060 with 8GB of GDDR7 |
| Shooters with large texture sets | Arc B570 Challenger | 10GB of GDDR6 on a single 8-pin connector |
| Players who want AMD's current generation | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB | An RX 9060 XT with a 3290MHz listed boost |
| Esports titles on an older PC | ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D | An RX 6600 with one 8-pin connector |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Arc B570 Challenger leads on video memory at 10GB, ahead of the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 at 8GB. "Not listed" marks power connector where the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Power connector |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS Dual RTX 5060 | RTX 5060 | 8GB | GDDR7 | Not listed |
| Arc B570 Challenger | Arc B570 | 10GB | GDDR6 | 1 x 8-pin |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB | RX 9060 XT | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D | RX 6600 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 1 x 8-pin |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 compare with the Arc B570 Challenger on video memory?
Between the top two, it is 10GB on the Arc B570 Challenger against 8GB on the ASUS Dual RTX 5060, a 25% difference.
Is the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D worth paying more than the Arc B570 Challenger?
The ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D matches or trails the Arc B570 Challenger on video memory. The Arc B570 Challenger leads on video memory (10GB). Both sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked, so choose on the features you need.
What makes the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB the Best AMD Budget Pick?
The label rests on an RX 9060 XT with a 3290MHz listed boost. It gives up video memory (8GB against 10GB) to the Arc B570 Challenger, the cheapest pick. It is aimed at anyone who wants AMD's current generation.
Do the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the Arc B570 Challenger differ on GPU?
The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 uses RTX 5060; the Arc B570 Challenger uses Arc B570; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB uses RX 9060 XT; the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D uses RX 6600.
What should I check before buying the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D?
The ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D is 269mm long; compare that with your case's GPU limit. Power for the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D comes through 1 x 8-pin. In this guide it ranks fourth of 4, as our Lowest-Cost Pick, and fourth of 4 on video memory (8GB).
Beyond the specs, what sets the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the Arc B570 Challenger apart?
The ASUS Dual RTX 5060: axial-tech fans with a barrier ring. The Arc B570 Challenger: a 160-bit memory bus at 19Gbps. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB: 32 compute units with third-generation ray tracing.
Bottom Line
The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 adds NVIDIA Reflex and DLSS support, the Arc B570 gives 10GB of memory for less, the ASRock RX 9060 XT 8GB is the AMD pick, and the RX 6600 Challenger D is the cheapest card that still suits esports shooters.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Budget Graphics Cards
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards for 1080p Gaming
- Related guideThe Best Entry-Level Gaming GPUs
- Without a budget limitThe Best AMD GPUs
- Similar guideThe Best Budget Gaming GPUs
- ExplainerHow Much VRAM Do You Need?
- ExplainerGPU Power Connectors Explained
- Check compatibility: power supplies12V-2x6 vs 12VHPWR vs 8-Pin PCIe: What Your PSU Needs to Provide
- Similar guideThe Best NVIDIA RTX 50 Series GPUs
- Topic hubAll graphics cards guides
About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
View all articles