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 The PC Journal editorial team
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
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best First Card
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC
12GB of GDDR6 on a single 8-pin connector.
Best for: A first build that needs room for newer games.
Our take Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Best Low-Power NVIDIA Pick
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5050 8GB OC
A 2-slot RTX 5050 with the SFF-Ready label.
Best for: Small cases and modest power supplies.
Our take Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5050 8GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Best AMD Entry Card
XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 7600 8GB
An RX 7600 with three DisplayPort outputs.
Best for: 1080p on AMD.
Our take Check price for XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 7600 8GB (opens in a new tab)
Low-Cost 8GB Arc
ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC
An Arc A580 with 8GB of GDDR6.
Best for: The lowest price for 8GB of VRAM here.
Our take Check price for ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Simplest Upgrade
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6G
An RTX 3050 with 6GB of GDDR6.
Best for: Light games and older titles.
Our take Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6G (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best First Card1 of 5
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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 dimensions & 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 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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. Only the XFX 7600 SWFT210 came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks. There is no published card length figure, whereas the Arc B580 Challenger comes in at 249mm.
Key dimensions & 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
Best AMD Entry Card3 of 5
XFX Speedster SWFT210 Radeon RX 7600 8GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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 game rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
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. Buyers who need a confirmed card length should compare it with the Arc B580 Challenger, which comes in at 249mm.
Key dimensions & 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
Low-Cost 8GB Arc4 of 5
ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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 game 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 dimensions & 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)
Simplest Upgrade5 of 5
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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. 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 dimensions & 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
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- GPU and memory
- We compared the chip, video memory capacity and memory type stated in each listing.
- Price tier
- We grouped picks by price at the time of writing rather than by listed clock speed.
- Cooling and extras
- We checked cooler design, fan-stop modes, dual BIOS, support brackets and display outputs.
- Power
- We noted the power connector and recommended power supply where listed.
What to Look for in an Entry-Level GPUs
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Plan the power connector and PSU
Cards use one or two 8-pin PCIe plugs or a single 16-pin 12V-2x6 plug. Confirm your power supply has the right cables and meets the maker's recommended wattage.
Treat 8GB of VRAM as the floor
Some recent games already push past 8GB at high texture settings. Cards with 12GB or 16GB give more room, especially at 1440p and above.
Two versions of the same chip can differ only in memory; check the capacity in the exact model name.
Match the card to your monitor
Resolution and refresh rate decide how much GPU you need. A 1080p screen at 144Hz asks far less than 1440p at 165Hz or 4K.
Buy for the monitor you use now or will buy soon, not for a resolution you may never run.
Compare upscaling and encoders
NVIDIA cards support DLSS, AMD cards FSR and Intel cards XeSS. Each game supports a different mix, so check the titles you play.
Streamers should also compare hardware video encoders.
Pair it with a balanced CPU
A fast card with an old CPU can stall at high frame rates, especially at 1080p. At 4K the GPU does most of the work, so the CPU matters less.
Cooler size affects noise
Larger triple-fan coolers usually run quieter under load than compact dual-fan designs. A 0dB mode stops the fans at light load.
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
Figures as each maker states them.
| 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
Prices change often; these tiers reflect Amazon prices when this guide was updated.
| 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
Will a PCIe 5.0 card work in a PCIe 4.0 or 3.0 slot?
Yes, the interface is backward compatible. Cards with a narrow x8 link can lose some performance on PCIe 3.0 boards.
Do I need a GPU support bracket?
Long, heavy cards can sag and stress the slot. Some come with a support stand or bracket; otherwise one is inexpensive to add.
Is an 8GB graphics card still enough?
For 1080p with tuned texture settings, often yes. For 1440p or high textures in new games, 12GB or 16GB is safer.
How big a power supply do I need?
Use the maker's recommendation for your exact card, then add headroom if you run a high-power CPU. Also check the connectors, not just the wattage.
Will my CPU hold the card back?
It depends on resolution and the games you play. At 1080p and high refresh rates the CPU matters more; at 4K the GPU sets the limit.
Do partner cards of the same GPU perform differently?
Only slightly. Factory overclocks add a few percent at most; cooling, noise, size and price differ more.
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.