Buying Guide
The Best AMD and Intel GPUs Under $400
From the Arc B570 Challenger to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend: three graphics cards ranked on video memory and GPU, with who should skip each one.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
AMD and Intel cards often include more memory than NVIDIA cards at the same price. Every pick is a Radeon RX or Intel Arc card that cost between $250 and $400.
Our comparison rests on published figures for GPU, VRAM and memory; nothing here was tested in-house, and where a maker leaves out power connector, we say so.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Largest Video Memory
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC
The largest video memory here (12GB).
Best for: Buyers who put video memory first.
Our take Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC
A lower price than the Arc B580 Challenger and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Our take Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB OC
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
Best for: Buyers who want the most complete package.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB OC (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The largest video memory here (12GB). | Buyers who put video memory first. | Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC (opens in a new tab) |
| A lower price than the Arc B580 Challenger and the rest when we checked. | Keeping the budget tight. | Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop. | Buyers who want the most complete package. | Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB OC (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Largest Video Memory1 of 3
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
- Buyers who put video memory first.
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 version is 249mm long and needs one 8-pin plug and a 650W PSU. Nothing else here matches its 12GB video memory; the Arc B570 Challenger comes closest at 10GB. A 2740MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend uses a 3320MHz boost clock.
It also offers 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 Arc B570 Challenger and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, 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 Arc B570 Challenger at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here2 of 3
ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Arc B570 is the B580's cheaper sibling with 10GB of memory on a 160-bit bus.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Pass on it if video memory of 10GB, behind the Arc B580 Challenger (12GB rules it out for your setup.
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 ranks second of 3 here, behind the Arc B580 Challenger (12GB) and ahead of the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend (8GB).
A 2600MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend uses a 3320MHz boost clock. No dimensions are published for the Arc B570 Challenger; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Power for the Arc B570 Challenger comes through 1 x 8-pin. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Arc B580 Challenger was the next step up.
Key dimensions & 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
- Video memory of 10GB, behind the Arc B580 Challenger (12GB)
Premium Pick3 of 3
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASRock's RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB uses a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop and a reinforced metal backplate.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most complete package.
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 3320MHz boost is the highest among these cards. Its 8GB video memory is the smallest in this group; the Arc B580 Challenger leads at 12GB. No other pick in this guide offers an RX 9060 XT gpu; compare the Arc B580 Challenger, which has an arc B580 gpu.
You get a 3320MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the Arc B570 Challenger and its a 2600MHz boost clock. It also offers 20Gbps memory on a 128-bit bus. No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend; 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 Steel Legend with the maker. It was the highest-priced of the 3 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Arc B580 Challenger and the rest.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9060 XT
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Boost clock: 3320MHz
- Outputs: DisplayPort 2.1a, HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- Triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop
- Reinforced metal backplate
- 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
- Video memory trails the Arc B580 Challenger (12GB)
- Costs more than the Arc B570 Challenger at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We compared three cards on GPU, video memory, memory and power connector, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the Arc B580 Challenger to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend gives no power connector.
- Price range
- From the Arc B570 Challenger to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, all sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in an AMD and Intel GPUs Under $400
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory
Here video memory runs from 8GB on the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend to 12GB on the Arc B580 Challenger. For less, the Arc B570 Challenger is the runner-up at 10GB.
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.
Features beyond the spec table
The Arc B580 Challenger: dual-fan cooling with 0dB fan stop. The Arc B570 Challenger: 0dB fan stop. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend: a reinforced metal backplate.
How much to spend
All 3 sat in one tier when we checked, from the Arc B570 Challenger at the low end to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend at the top, so decide on features first.
Match the pick to your priority
Buyers who put video memory first: the Arc B580 Challenger. Keeping the budget tight: the Arc B570 Challenger. Buyers who want the most complete package: the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend.
How to Choose an AMD and Intel GPUs Under $400
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put video memory first | Arc B580 Challenger | The largest video memory here (12GB) |
| Keeping the budget tight | Arc B570 Challenger | A lower price than the Arc B580 Challenger and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers who want the most complete package | ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop |
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" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Power connector |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arc B580 Challenger | Arc B580 | 12GB | GDDR6 | 1 x 8-pin |
| Arc B570 Challenger | Arc B570 | 10GB | GDDR6 | 1 x 8-pin |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend | RX 9060 XT | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Arc B570 Challenger compare with the Arc B580 Challenger on video memory?
The Arc B580 Challenger leads at 12GB, with the Arc B570 Challenger at 10GB. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend is at the other end of this group with 8GB.
Is the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend worth paying more than the Arc B570 Challenger?
On the figures both makers state, it adds little. It does not win everywhere: the Arc B570 Challenger still leads on video memory (10GB). The Arc B570 Challenger was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if a feature outside the spec sheet matters to you.
What makes the Arc B580 Challenger the Largest Video Memory?
It earns the label for the largest video memory here (12GB). It suits anyone who put video memory first.
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 Steel Legend uses RX 9060 XT.
What should I check before buying the Arc B570 Challenger?
No dimensions are published for the Arc B570 Challenger; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Power for the Arc B570 Challenger comes through 1 x 8-pin. In this guide it ranks second of 3, as our Lowest Price Here pick.
Beyond the specs, what sets the Arc B580 Challenger and the Arc B570 Challenger apart?
The Arc B580 Challenger: a 192-bit memory bus at 19Gbps. The Arc B570 Challenger: a 160-bit memory bus at 19Gbps. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend: a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Arc B580 Challenger, chosen for the largest video memory here (12GB). Look at the Arc B570 Challenger for a lower price than the Arc B580 Challenger and the rest when we checked and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop if those matter more to you.
Check that your motherboard has resizable BAR enabled; Arc cards depend on it.