Buying Guide
The Best Entry-Level Gaming GPUs
Five first graphics cards for 1080p, chosen for modest power needs and single-connector setups that suit prebuilt and older PCs.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
An entry-level card should run current games at 1080p without forcing a new power supply. The picks here range from 6GB to 12GB of VRAM, and most need one 8-pin connector.
We compared VRAM, power connectors and recommended PSU size from each listing and the chipmakers' specifications; we did not benchmark these cards.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Best First Card
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC12GB of GDDR6 on a single 8-pin connector.
Best for: A first build that needs room for newer games.
Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Low-Power NVIDIA Pick
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5050 8GB OCA 2-slot RTX 5050 with the SFF-Ready label.
Best for: Small cases and modest power supplies.
Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5050 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best AMD Entry Card
XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 7600 8GBAn RX 7600 with three DisplayPort outputs.
Best for: 1080p on AMD.
Check price for XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 7600 8GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Low-Cost 8GB Arc
ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OCAn Arc A580 with 8GB of GDDR6.
Best for: The lowest price for 8GB of VRAM here.
Check price for ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Simplest Upgrade
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6GAn RTX 3050 with 6GB of GDDR6.
Best for: Light games and older titles.
Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best First Card1 of 5
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC
Intel's Arc B580 brings 12GB of GDDR6 to the entry tier, more than the 8GB common at this price.
Best for
- A first build that needs room for newer games.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
ASRock's Challenger version is 249mm long and needs one 8-pin plug and a 650W PSU. On video memory it leads this guide at 12GB, ahead of the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 (8GB). On cooler thickness it ties with the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 at 2-slot.
It is the only pick here with an arc B580 gpu; the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 has an RTX 5050 gpu instead. A 2740MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the XFX 7600 SWFT210 uses a 2655MHz boost clock. It also comes with a 192-bit memory bus at 19Gbps and dual-fan cooling with 0dB fan stop.
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. Its price falls between the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce and the XFX 7600 SWFT210, based on our last check.
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 ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
Best Low-Power NVIDIA Pick2 of 5
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5050 8GB OC
The ASUS Dual RTX 5050 is the least expensive GeForce here, a two-slot card with a dual BIOS and 0dB fan stop.
Best for
- Small cases and modest power supplies.
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
It brings DLSS 4 to budget builds, with 8GB of GDDR6. On video memory it ties with the XFX 7600 SWFT210 and the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at 8GB. It matches the Arc B580 Challenger on cooler thickness (2-slot).
An RTX 5050 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the XFX 7600 SWFT210 uses an RX 7600 gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 2677MHz (OC mode) boost clock; compare the Arc B580 Challenger, which has a 2740MHz boost clock. It also comes with dual-ball fan bearings.
The ASUS Dual RTX 5050 occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 with the maker. Only the XFX 7600 SWFT210 came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5050
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Thickness
- 2-slot
- Boost clock
- 2677MHz (OC mode)
- SFF-Ready
- Yes
Pros
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- Quiet/performance dual BIOS
- 0dB fan stop
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 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 AMD Entry Card3 of 5
XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 7600 8GB
XFX's SWFT210 RX 7600 offers a 2655MHz boost and three DisplayPort outputs on a dual-fan cooler.
Best for
- 1080p on AMD.
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
XFX builds it with a compact dual-fan SWFT cooler, which suits smaller cases. It carries 8GB of GDDR6, enough for 1080p at sensible settings. It matches the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 and the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger on video memory (8GB).
It is the only pick here with an RX 7600 gpu; the Arc B580 Challenger has an arc B580 gpu instead. A 2655MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 uses a 2677MHz (OC mode) boost clock. No dimensions are published for the XFX 7600 SWFT210; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the XFX 7600 SWFT210 with the maker. Its price falls between the Arc B580 Challenger and the ASUS Dual RTX 5050, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7600
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 2655MHz
- Outputs
- 1 x HDMI, 3 x DisplayPort
Pros
- 2655MHz boost clock
- Dual-fan SWFT210 cooler
- Three DisplayPort outputs
- Video memory of 8GB, ahead of the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 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.
Low-Cost 8GB Arc4 of 5
ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC
ASRock's Arc A580 Challenger has 8GB on a 256-bit bus and supports XeSS upscaling.
Best for
- The lowest price for 8GB of VRAM here.
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 needs two 8-pin connectors and a 650W power supply. On video memory it ties with the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 and the XFX 7600 SWFT210 at 8GB. Its 2.4-slot cooler thickness is the thickest in this group; the Arc B580 Challenger leads at 2-slot.
You get an arc A580 gpu here, which sets it apart from the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce and its an RTX 3050 gpu. It also comes with a 256-bit memory bus and 0dB silent cooling at light load. Measure for 271mm and 2.4 slots before ordering the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger.
Power for the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes through 2 x 8-pin, with 650W the maker's minimum PSU. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce was closest.
Key specs
- GPU
- Arc A580
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 271mm
- Thickness
- 2.4-slot
- Recommended PSU
- 650W
- Power connector
- 2 x 8-pin
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 2.0, 1 x HDMI 2.0b
Pros
- 256-bit memory bus
- 0dB silent cooling at light load
- XeSS upscaling support
- Video memory of 8GB, ahead of the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- Cooler thickness trails the Arc B580 Challenger (2-slot)
The catch
Cooler thickness is its weakest area, and the Arc B580 Challenger covers it better at 2-slot.
Simplest Upgrade5 of 5
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6G
Gigabyte's RTX 3050 Windforce OC V2 is the 6GB version of the RTX 3050, with DLSS support and a dual-fan cooler.
Best for
- Light games and older titles.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 6GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
It has 6GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit interface and third-generation Tensor cores for DLSS. The RTX 3050 chip has 6GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus and supports DLSS and second-generation ray tracing cores. It is built on NVIDIA Ampere streaming multiprocessors, and its two Windforce fans sit on the GV-N3050WF2OCV2-6GD model.
On video memory it trails the group at 6GB, while the Arc B580 Challenger offers 12GB. You get an RTX 3050 gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and its an arc A580 gpu. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 3050 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 3050 Windforce with the maker.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 3050
- VRAM
- 6GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
Pros
- Dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler
- DLSS support
- Second-generation RT cores
- RTX 3050 gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 6GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory trails the Arc B580 Challenger (12GB)
- No published cooler thickness
The catch
Video memory is its weakest area, and the Arc B580 Challenger covers it better at 12GB.
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.
- The figures behind the order
- We set side by side five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and card length as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 9 fields compared are stated for every pick, while card length and cooler thickness have gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the Arc B580 Challenger to the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASUS Dual RTX 5050, the XFX 7600 SWFT210 and the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce give no card length; the XFX 7600 SWFT210 and the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce give no cooler thickness.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger ($150 to $250) to the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in an Entry-Level GPUs
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory
Here video memory runs from 6GB on the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce to 12GB on the Arc B580 Challenger, a 100% spread. Start with the Arc B580 Challenger if video memory decides it.
How much cooler thickness you need
The Arc B580 Challenger tops cooler thickness at 2-slot and the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger sits lowest at 2.4-slot; 2 picks share the top figure. The Arc B580 Challenger is the pick for cooler thickness. The XFX 7600 SWFT210 and the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce give no cooler thickness figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card How much card length you need
Across these 2 picks card length spans 271mm (the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger) to 249mm (the Arc B580 Challenger). The Arc B580 Challenger is the pick for card length. The ASUS Dual RTX 5050, the XFX 7600 SWFT210 and the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce give no card length figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Power connector
The Arc B580 Challenger lists 1 x 8-pin; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger lists 2 x 8-pin. Settling power connector first narrows 2 picks to 1 or 1.
What to check at home
Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the Arc B580 Challenger. The ASUS Dual RTX 5050 occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. No dimensions are published for the XFX 7600 SWFT210; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
How to Choose an Entry-Level GPUs
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A first build that needs room for newer games | Arc B580 Challenger | 12GB of GDDR6 on a single 8-pin connector |
| Small cases and modest power supplies | ASUS Dual RTX 5050 | A 2-slot RTX 5050 with the SFF-Ready label |
| 1080p on AMD | XFX 7600 SWFT210 | An RX 7600 with three DisplayPort outputs |
| The lowest price for 8GB of VRAM here | ASRock Arc A580 Challenger | An Arc A580 with 8GB of GDDR6 |
| Light games and older titles | Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce | An RTX 3050 with 6GB of GDDR6 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Arc B580 Challenger leads on video memory at 12GB, ahead of the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 at 8GB. "Not listed" marks card length where the ASUS Dual RTX 5050, the XFX 7600 SWFT210 and the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arc B580 Challenger | Arc B580 | 12GB | GDDR6 | 249mm |
| ASUS Dual RTX 5050 | RTX 5050 | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| XFX 7600 SWFT210 | RX 7600 | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock Arc A580 Challenger | Arc A580 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 271mm |
| Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce | RTX 3050 | 6GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, sat in the $150 to $250 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 at $250 to $500; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce |
| About $250 to $500 | Arc B580 Challenger, XFX 7600 SWFT210, ASUS Dual RTX 5050 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 compare with the Arc B580 Challenger on video memory?
The Arc B580 Challenger leads at 12GB, with the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 at 8GB. The spread runs down to the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce at 6GB.
Is the Arc B580 Challenger ahead of the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger on card length?
The Arc B580 Challenger is lowest on card length at 249mm; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger follows at 271mm, 8% apart. The ASUS Dual RTX 5050, the XFX 7600 SWFT210 and the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce are left out of this ranking because their card length isn't stated; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
Is the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 worth paying more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger?
On paper it adds cooler thickness (2-slot against 2.4-slot). The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger sat in the $150 to $250 tier and the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if cooler thickness decides your purchase.
What makes the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce the Simplest Upgrade?
The label rests on an RTX 3050 with 6GB of GDDR6. It gives up video memory (6GB against 8GB) to the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the cheapest pick. It suits light games and older titles.
Do the Arc B580 Challenger and the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 differ on GPU?
The Arc B580 Challenger uses Arc B580; the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 uses RTX 5050; the XFX 7600 SWFT210 uses RX 7600; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger uses Arc A580; the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce uses RTX 3050.
What should I check before buying the Arc B580 Challenger?
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. In this guide it ranks first of 5, as our Best First Card pick, and first of 5 on video memory (12GB).
Bottom Line
The Arc B580 gives a first build the most memory, the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 suits small cases, and the XFX RX 7600 is the AMD choice. The Arc A580 is the lowest-cost 8GB card, and the RTX 3050 fits lighter games.
Related Guides
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- Without a budget limitThe Best GPU for Gaming
- Similar guideThe Best 4K Gaming GPUs
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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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