Buying Guide
The Best Budget Graphics Cards
Six low-cost graphics cards from Intel, AMD and NVIDIA compared on VRAM, power needs and size, for 1080p gaming without overspending.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read6 products evaluated
A budget graphics card has to balance three things: enough memory for current games, a price that makes sense, and power needs your existing PSU can handle. The six cards here come from all three GPU makers.
This comparison is research-based, drawn from maker specifications and Amazon listings rather than our own testing. Prices were checked when the guide was updated and change often.
Quick Picks
Which of the 6 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Most VRAM on a Budget
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC12GB of VRAM, the most in this guide, with a 650W PSU recommendation.
Best for: 1080p and light 1440p gaming on a budget.
Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Cheapest 10GB Card
ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC10GB of GDDR6 on a 160-bit bus at the lowest price here at the time of writing.
Best for: The tightest budgets that still want more than 8GB.
Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget AMD
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB OCAn RDNA 4 RX 9060 XT with a 3290MHz listed boost.
Best for: 1080p high-refresh gaming with FSR.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget NVIDIA
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 WINDFORCE OC 8GAn RTX 5060 with GDDR7 memory.
Best for: DLSS 4 support on a budget.
Check price for GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 WINDFORCE OC 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Most Compact
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OCA two-slot, SFF-Ready card with a single 8-pin plug.
Best for: Small cases and older power supplies.
Check price for ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Easiest on Power
ASRock Radeon RX 7600 Challenger Pro 8GB OCA 550W PSU recommendation with 32MB of Infinity Cache.
Best for: Upgrading an older PC with a modest power supply.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7600 Challenger Pro 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Most VRAM on a Budget1 of 6
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC
The Arc B580 gives 12GB of memory at a price where most cards stop at 8GB.
Best for
- 1080p and light 1440p gaming on a budget.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Arc B570 Challenger, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
ASRock's Challenger is a 249mm two-slot card with 0dB fan stop and a single 8-pin plug. Its 12GB video memory is the largest here; the Arc B570 Challenger comes next at 10GB. It matches the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge on cooler thickness (2-slot).
An arc B580 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the Arc B570 Challenger uses an arc B570 gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 2740MHz boost clock; compare the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, which has a 2695MHz boost clock. Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the Arc B580 Challenger.
Power for the Arc B580 Challenger comes through 1 x 8-pin, with 650W the maker's minimum PSU. It was priced above the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and below the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- Arc B580
- VRAM
- 12GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 249mm
- Thickness
- 2-slot
- Recommended PSU
- 650W
- Power connector
- 1 x 8-pin
- Boost clock
- 2740MHz
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 2.1, 1 x HDMI 2.1a
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Short 249mm length suits compact cases
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A single 8-pin power connector
Cons
- Costs more than the Arc B570 Challenger at the time of writing
Cheapest 10GB Card2 of 6
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
- The tightest budgets that still want more than 8GB.
Skip if
- Pass if a published cooler thickness matters; this one has none.
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. On video memory it sits mid-pack at 10GB: the Arc B580 Challenger offers 12GB, and the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro comes in at 8GB.
An arc B570 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro uses an RX 7600 gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 2600MHz boost clock; compare the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, which has a 2695MHz boost clock. No dimensions are published for the Arc B570 Challenger; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. It cost the least of the 6 picks at the time of writing, with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB the next step up.
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
Cons
- No published cooler thickness
The catch
There is no published card length figure, whereas the Arc B580 Challenger comes in at 249mm.
Best Budget AMD3 of 6
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
- 1080p high-refresh gaming with FSR.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for 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. On video memory it ties with the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge and the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro at 8GB. An RX 9060 XT gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the Arc B580 Challenger uses an arc B580 gpu.
No other pick in this guide offers a 3290MHz boost clock; compare the Arc B570 Challenger, which has 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.
Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB with the maker. It was priced above the Arc B570 Challenger and below the Arc B580 Challenger 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
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the Arc B570 Challenger at the time of writing
The catch
There is no published card length figure, whereas the Arc B580 Challenger comes in at 249mm.
Best Budget NVIDIA4 of 6
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 WINDFORCE OC 8G
Gigabyte's RTX 5060 Windforce is the budget route to DLSS 4 and GDDR7 memory.
Best for
- DLSS 4 support on a budget.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
The maker publishes few details, so confirm length and power needs on Gigabyte's spec page before buying. It matches the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB, the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge and the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro on video memory (8GB). It is the only pick here with an RTX 5060 gpu; the Arc B580 Challenger has an arc B580 gpu instead.
You get GDDR7 memory here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and its GDDR6 memory. You also get a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler and a PCIe 5.0 interface. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce with the maker. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5060
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
Pros
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler
- PCIe 5.0 interface
- RTX 5060 gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the Arc B570 Challenger at the time of writing
The catch
Buyers who need a confirmed card length should compare it with the Arc B580 Challenger, which comes in at 249mm.
Most Compact5 of 6
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OC
Zotac's RTX 5050 Twin Edge is a two-slot, SFF-Ready card with two 90mm fans and one 8-pin plug.
Best for
- Small cases and older power supplies.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It is the smallest NVIDIA option here for a compact case. It matches the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce and the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro on video memory (8GB). On cooler thickness it ties with the Arc B580 Challenger at 2-slot.
No other pick in this guide offers an RTX 5050 gpu; compare the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, which has an RX 7600 gpu. It also offers a pass-through airflow design and a metal backplate. The Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case.
SFF-Ready is NVIDIA's size guideline, not a guarantee the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge fits every small case. On price it sat fifth of 6, between the cheaper ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro and the pricier Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5050
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Thickness
- 2-slot
- Power connector
- 1 x 8-pin
- SFF-Ready
- Yes
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 2.1b, 1 x HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A single 8-pin power connector
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- Two 90mm BladeLink fans
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
The catch
The maker doesn't give its card length; if that figure matters, the Arc B580 Challenger comes in at 249mm.
Easiest on Power6 of 6
ASRock Radeon RX 7600 Challenger Pro 8GB OC
The RX 7600 is a previous-generation chip, but ASRock's Challenger Pro version asks only for a 550W power supply and uses a triple-fan cooler.
Best for
- Upgrading an older PC with a modest power supply.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
Its PCIe 4.0 x8 link is worth noting on older PCIe 3.0 boards. On video memory it ties with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge at 8GB. Its 2.5-slot cooler thickness is the thickest in this group; the Arc B580 Challenger leads at 2-slot.
An RX 7600 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce uses an RTX 5060 gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 2695MHz boost clock; compare the Arc B570 Challenger, which has a 2600MHz boost clock. It also comes with 32MB of Infinity Cache and a metal backplate.
Measure for 303mm and 2.5 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro. It was priced above the Arc B580 Challenger and below the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7600
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 303mm
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Recommended PSU
- 550W
- Power connector
- 1 x 8-pin
- Boost clock
- 2695MHz
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1 x HDMI 2.1
Pros
- A modest 550W PSU recommendation
- A single 8-pin power connector
- Triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop
- 32MB of Infinity Cache
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory trails the Arc B580 Challenger (12GB)
- Cooler thickness trails the Arc B580 Challenger (2-slot)
The catch
It gives ground on video memory, where the Arc B580 Challenger offers 12GB.
How We Chose These Budget Graphics Cards
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.
- What we compared
- We compared six cards on GPU, video memory, memory and card length from manufacturer specifications. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 9 fields compared are stated for every pick, while card length and cooler thickness have gaps.
- What every pick has in common
- All 6, from the Arc B580 Challenger to the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, state GPU, video memory and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Arc B570 Challenger, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge give no card length; the Arc B570 Challenger, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce give no cooler thickness.
- Price range
- From the Arc B570 Challenger to the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, all sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Budget Graphics Card
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory across these picks
Here video memory runs from 8GB on the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro to 12GB on the Arc B580 Challenger, a 50% spread. The Arc B570 Challenger comes second at 10GB, in the same price tier as the Arc B580 Challenger.
How much cooler thickness you need
Across these 3 picks cooler thickness spans 2.5-slot (the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro) to 2-slot (the Arc B580 Challenger). Start with the Arc B580 Challenger if cooler thickness decides it. The Arc B570 Challenger, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce give no cooler thickness figure, so 3 of 6 picks are compared here.
A graphics card's bare circuit board around the GPU die How much card length you need
The Arc B580 Challenger tops card length at 249mm and the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro sits lowest at 303mm. Start with the Arc B580 Challenger if card length decides it. The Arc B570 Challenger, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge give no card length figure, so 2 of 6 picks are compared here.
Memory
The Arc B580 Challenger, the Arc B570 Challenger, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB, the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge and the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro list GDDR6; the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce lists GDDR7. Sort out memory before price: it splits 6 stated picks into groups of 5 and 1.
Setup checks
Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the Arc B580 Challenger. No dimensions are published for the Arc B570 Challenger; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. The Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case.
How to Choose a Budget Graphics Card
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p and light 1440p gaming on a budget | Arc B580 Challenger | 12GB of VRAM, the most in this guide, with a 650W PSU recommendation |
| The tightest budgets that still want more than 8GB | Arc B570 Challenger | 10GB of GDDR6 on a 160-bit bus at the lowest price here at the time of writing |
| 1080p high-refresh gaming with FSR | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB | An RDNA 4 RX 9060 XT with a 3290MHz listed boost |
| DLSS 4 support on a budget | Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce | An RTX 5060 with GDDR7 memory |
| Small cases and older power supplies | Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge | A two-slot, SFF-Ready card with a single 8-pin plug |
| Upgrading an older PC with a modest power supply | ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro | A 550W PSU recommendation with 32MB of Infinity Cache |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Arc B580 Challenger leads on video memory at 12GB, ahead of the Arc B570 Challenger at 10GB. "Not listed" marks card length where the Arc B570 Challenger, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arc B580 Challenger | Arc B580 | 12GB | GDDR6 | 249mm |
| Arc B570 Challenger | Arc B570 | 10GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB | RX 9060 XT | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce | RTX 5060 | 8GB | GDDR7 | Not listed |
| Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge | RTX 5050 | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro | RX 7600 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 303mm |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the largest video memory: the Arc B580 Challenger or the Arc B570 Challenger?
The Arc B580 Challenger tops video memory at 12GB; the Arc B570 Challenger follows at 10GB, 20% apart. The ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro is at the other end of this group with 8GB.
Is the Arc B580 Challenger ahead of the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro on card length?
The Arc B580 Challenger comes out best at 249mm, with the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro at 303mm. The Arc B570 Challenger, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge are left out of this ranking because their card length isn't stated; 2 of 6 picks are ranked.
How does the Arc B580 Challenger compare with the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro on recommended power supply?
Between the top two, it is 550W on the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro against 650W on the Arc B580 Challenger, a 15% difference. No recommended power supply figure is published for the Arc B570 Challenger, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge, which leaves 2 of 6 picks ranked here.
What does the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce add over the Arc B570 Challenger?
The Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce 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.
Why is the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB our Best Budget AMD pick?
It earns the label for an RDNA 4 RX 9060 XT with a 3290MHz listed boost. The price of that: the Arc B570 Challenger, the cheapest pick, still beats it on video memory (10GB against 8GB). It is aimed at 1080p high-refresh gaming with FSR.
Do the Arc B580 Challenger and the Arc B570 Challenger differ on GPU?
The Arc B580 Challenger uses Arc B580; the Arc B570 Challenger uses Arc B570; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB uses RX 9060 XT; the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce uses RTX 5060; the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge uses RTX 5050; the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro uses RX 7600.
Bottom Line
The ASRock Arc B580 Challenger is the budget card to beat for memory, and the Arc B570 is the cheapest way to get more than 8GB.
The ASRock RX 9060 XT 8GB and Gigabyte RTX 5060 suit AMD and NVIDIA fans, the Zotac RTX 5050 fits small cases, and the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro is easiest on an older PSU.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards for 1080p Gaming
- Related guideThe Best Power Supplies Under $100 for Gaming PCs
- Related guideWhat to check before upgrading your graphics card
- Similar guideThe Best AMD Radeon Graphics Cards
- ExplainerHow Much VRAM Do You Need?
- ExplainerGPU Power Connectors Explained
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- Similar guideThe Best Pny Graphics Cards
- 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
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