Buying Guide
The Best RTX GPUs Under $500
We weighed five graphics cards on video memory and cooler thickness; the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 has the slimmest cooler thickness, and the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Under $500, an RTX card gives strong 1440p performance with DLSS support. Every pick is a GeForce RTX card that cost between $330 and $500, ordered by memory size.
The order reflects GPU, VRAM and memory from maker specifications; we did not test these graphics cards ourselves, and a missing thickness is flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5050 WINDFORCE OC 8G
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Spending as little as possible.
Our take Check price for GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5050 WINDFORCE OC 8G (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 OC Low Profile 8G
Three WINDFORCE fans.
Best for: Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans.
Our take Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 OC Low Profile 8G (opens in a new tab)
Slimmest Cooler Thickness
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5050 8GB OC
The slimmest cooler thickness here (2-slot).
Best for: Buyers who put cooler thickness first.
Our take Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5050 8GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC White Edition
A white shroud for light-themed builds.
Best for: Buyers who want white shroud for light-themed builds.
Our take Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC White Edition (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with axial-tech fans with a barrier ring.
Best for: Buyers who want the most complete package.
Our take Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5050 WINDFORCE OC 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Gigabyte's RTX 5050 Windforce is the cheapest way into DLSS 4 here.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible.
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
The maker publishes few details, so confirm size and power needs on Gigabyte's page. It shares an RTX 5050 gpu with the ASUS Dual RTX 5050; the ASUS Dual 4060 White goes with an RTX 4060 gpu. It also offers a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler and a PCIe 5.0 interface.
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 5050 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 5050 Windforce with the maker. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile the next step up. There is no published cooler thickness figure, whereas the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 comes in at 2-slot.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 5050
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
Pros
- Dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler
- PCIe 5.0 interface
- The lowest price of the group at our last check
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- No published cooler thickness
Also Consider2 of 5
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 OC Low Profile 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Gigabyte's RTX 4060 Low Profile is the previous generation, with DLSS 3 rather than DLSS 4.
Best for
- Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans.
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
Three WINDFORCE fans and a dual BIOS make it a solid fallback if the RTX 5060 cards are out of stock. The low-profile 4060 pairs three WINDFORCE fans with 8GB of GDDR6, and it supports DLSS 3 and ray tracing. It shares an RTX 4060 gpu with the ASUS Dual 4060 White; the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce goes with an RTX 5050 gpu.
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile; 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 4060 Low Profile with the maker. Half-height cases need the low-profile bracket; confirm it ships with the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile. If you want a confirmed cooler thickness, look to the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 instead: it comes in at 2-slot, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 4060
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Low profile: Yes
Pros
- Low-profile design for slim desktops
- Three WINDFORCE fans
- Dual BIOS
- DLSS 3 support
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce at the time of writing
Slimmest Cooler Thickness3 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
- Buyers who put cooler thickness first.
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 brings DLSS 4 to budget builds, with 8GB of GDDR6. Nothing else here matches its 2-slot cooler thickness; the ASUS Dual 4060 White comes closest at 2.5-slot. Like the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce, it has an RTX 5050 gpu, while the ASUS Dual 4060 White uses an RTX 4060 gpu.
You also get 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.
SFF-Ready is NVIDIA's size guideline, not a guarantee the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 fits every small case. Its price falls between the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile and the ASUS Dual 4060 White, based on our last check.
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 Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce at the time of writing
Strong Alternative4 of 5
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 OC White Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASUS Dual White has a white shroud for light-themed builds, a dual BIOS switch and a 2.5-slot cooler.
Best for
- Buyers who want white shroud for light-themed builds.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent game is a problem.
Why we like it
Its OC mode boosts to 2,535MHz, and Axial-tech fans with barrier rings push more air downward. Its dual ball fan bearings last up to twice as long as sleeve bearings. It matches the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 on cooler thickness (2.5-slot).
It shares an RTX 4060 gpu with the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile; the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce goes with an RTX 5050 gpu. The ASUS Dual 4060 White occupies 2.5 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 4060 White with the maker. It was priced above the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 and below the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 4060
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Thickness: 2.5-slot
Pros
- White shroud for light-themed builds
- Dual BIOS switch
- 2.5-slot dual-fan cooler
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 is a 2.5-slot, SFF-Ready card with GDDR7 memory and DisplayPort 2.1b.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most complete package.
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 best matched to a 1080p monitor. It matches the ASUS Dual 4060 White on cooler thickness (2.5-slot). You get an RTX 5060 gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASUS Dual 4060 White and its an RTX 4060 gpu.
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 power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 with the maker.
SFF-Ready is NVIDIA's size guideline, not a guarantee the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 fits every small case. At our last price check it topped the group, with the ASUS Dual 4060 White the nearest cheaper option. Video memory is its weakest area, and the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce covers it better at 8GB.
Key dimensions & 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
- Cooler thickness trails the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 (2-slot)
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce 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 set side by side five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and cooler thickness, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce to the ASUS Dual RTX 5060, state GPU, video memory and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile give no cooler thickness; the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce, the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile and the ASUS Dual 4060 White give no boost clock.
- Price range
- From the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce to the ASUS Dual RTX 5060, all sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in an RTX GPUs Under $500
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much cooler thickness you need
Here cooler thickness runs from 2.5-slot on the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 to 2-slot on the ASUS Dual RTX 5050. Start with the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 if cooler thickness decides it. No figure for the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile.
Memory
The Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce, the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile, the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 and the ASUS Dual 4060 White list GDDR6; the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 lists GDDR7.
Boost clock
The ASUS Dual RTX 5050 lists 2677MHz (OC mode); the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 lists 2565MHz (OC mode). Rule out the mismatches before looking at price.
Fit and compatibility
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. The ASUS Dual RTX 5050 occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case.
Extras that separate them
The ASUS Dual RTX 5050: 0dB fan stop. The ASUS Dual 4060 White: a dual BIOS switch. The ASUS Dual RTX 5060: axial-tech fans with a barrier ring.
How to Choose an RTX GPUs Under $500
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible | Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans | Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile | Three WINDFORCE fans |
| Buyers who put cooler thickness first | ASUS Dual RTX 5050 | The slimmest cooler thickness here (2-slot) |
| Buyers who want white shroud for light-themed builds | ASUS Dual 4060 White | A white shroud for light-themed builds |
| Buyers who want the most complete package | ASUS Dual RTX 5060 | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with axial-tech fans with a barrier ring |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASUS Dual RTX 5050 leads on cooler thickness at 2-slot, ahead of the ASUS Dual 4060 White at 2.5-slot. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce | RTX 5050 | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile | RTX 4060 | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS Dual RTX 5050 | RTX 5050 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 2-slot |
| ASUS Dual 4060 White | RTX 4060 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 2.5-slot |
| ASUS Dual RTX 5060 | RTX 5060 | 8GB | GDDR7 | 2.5-slot |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the ASUS Dual 4060 White compare with the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 on cooler thickness?
The ASUS Dual RTX 5050 comes out best at 2-slot, with the ASUS Dual 4060 White at 2.5-slot. The Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile don't state a figure, so they sit outside this comparison.
Why is the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 our Slimmest Cooler Thickness pick?
It earns the label for the slimmest cooler thickness here (2-slot). It suits anyone who put cooler thickness first.
Do the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile differ on GPU?
The Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce and the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 use RTX 5050; the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile and the ASUS Dual 4060 White use RTX 4060; the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 uses RTX 5060.
Will the ASUS Dual 4060 White work with my setup?
The ASUS Dual 4060 White occupies 2.5 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 4060 White with the maker. In this guide it ranks fourth of 5.
What extras do the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile include?
The Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce: a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler. The Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile: three WINDFORCE fans. The ASUS Dual RTX 5050: a quiet/performance dual BIOS.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile for three WINDFORCE fans, the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 for the slimmest cooler thickness here (2-slot) and the ASUS Dual 4060 White for a white shroud for light-themed builds if those matter more to you.
Compare the exact memory size; some models in a family have 8GB and others 16GB.