Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Against the Storm
From the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC: five graphics cards ranked on video memory and cooler thickness, with who should skip each one.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Against the Storm runs on almost any current graphics card, so the choice comes down to price, memory and outputs. Every pick has at least 8GB of video memory and cost $600 or less, ordered by memory.
Our comparison rests on published figures for GPU, VRAM and memory; nothing here was tested in-house, and where a maker leaves out thickness, we say so.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Also Consider
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC
A white-and-silver Steel Legend finish.
Best for: Buyers who want white-and-silver Steel Legend finish.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G
Three WINDFORCE fans at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger costs less.
Our take Check price for Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC
A lower price than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Getting 256-bit memory bus for the least money.
Our take Check price for ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB OC
A triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
Best for: Buyers who want triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 7600 EVO OC Edition 8GB
0dB fan stop at light load.
Best for: Buyers who want 0dB fan stop at light load.
Our take Check price for ASUS Dual Radeon RX 7600 EVO OC Edition 8GB (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Also Consider1 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Steel Legend adds a white-and-silver finish and a 2520MHz boost, and it has a 700W recommended power supply.
Best for
- Buyers who want white-and-silver Steel Legend finish.
Skip if
- Pass on it if needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
On video memory it ties with the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC at 16GB. You get an RX 7800 XT gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO and its an RX 7600 gpu. It is the only pick here with a 2520MHz boost clock; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend has a 3320MHz boost clock instead.
No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Power for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend comes through 2 x 8-pin, with 700W the maker's minimum PSU. When we checked, only the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO and cheaper picks cost less, and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC cost more. If you want a confirmed cooler thickness, look to the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger instead: it comes in at 2.4-slot, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7800 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Recommended PSU: 700W
- Power connector: 2 x 8-pin
- Boost clock: 2520MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- White-and-silver Steel Legend finish
- 700W recommended PSU
- RX 7800 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
Premium Pick2 of 5
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC stands out for three WINDFORCE fans, and it adds a 128-bit memory interface.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger costs less.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 16GB video memory. It matches the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend on video memory (16GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RX 7600 XT gpu; compare the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, which has an RX 9060 XT gpu.
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC; 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 7600 XT Gaming OC with the maker. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the rest. The maker doesn't give its cooler thickness; if that figure matters, the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes in at 2.4-slot.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7600 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Three WINDFORCE fans
- 128-bit memory interface
- RX 7600 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here3 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
- Getting 256-bit memory bus for the least money.
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
It needs two 8-pin connectors and a 650W power supply. On video memory it ties with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO at 8GB. You get an arc A580 gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO and its an RX 7600 gpu.
It also offers 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 ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend was closest. What it gives up: video memory of 8GB, behind the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB); by contrast, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend offers 16GB.
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
- Slimmest cooler thickness of the picks (2.4-slot)
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- Video memory of 8GB, behind the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB)
Strong Alternative4 of 5
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 triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
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. It matches the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO on video memory (8GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RX 9060 XT gpu; compare the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, which has an arc A580 gpu.
You get a 3320MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO and its a 2715MHz 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.
On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the pricier ASUS Dual 7600 EVO, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its cooler thickness; if that figure matters, the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes in at 2.4-slot.
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
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
Worth a Look5 of 5
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 7600 EVO OC Edition 8GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASUS Dual EVO RX 7600 offers a 2715MHz boost with 0dB fan stop on a 2.5-slot cooler.
Best for
- Buyers who want 0dB fan stop at light load.
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
On video memory it ties with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend at 8GB. An RX 7600 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC uses an RX 7600 XT gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 2715MHz boost clock; compare the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, which has a 2520MHz boost clock.
The ASUS Dual 7600 EVO 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 7600 EVO with the maker. It was priced above the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and below the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing. It gives ground on video memory, where the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend offers 16GB.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7600
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Thickness: 2.5-slot
- Boost clock: 2715MHz
Pros
- 0dB fan stop at light load
- 2715MHz boost clock
- 2.5-slot dual-fan cooler
- RX 7600 gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory trails the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB)
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 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 set side by side five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and cooler thickness as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 8 fields compared are stated for every pick, while cooler thickness and recommended power supply have gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend to the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend give no cooler thickness; the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO give no recommended power supply.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger ($150 to $250) to the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Against the Storm
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend tops video memory at 16GB and the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO sits lowest at 8GB; 2 picks share the top figure. The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend is the pick for video memory.
Cooler thickness across these picks
Across these 2 picks cooler thickness spans 2.5-slot (the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO) to 2.4-slot (the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger). If cooler thickness is your first filter, the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger sets the ceiling at 2.4-slot. The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend give no cooler thickness figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Recommended power supply across these picks
Here recommended power supply runs from 700W on the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend to 650W on the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, a 7% spread. If recommended power supply is your first filter, the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger sets the ceiling at 650W. The Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO give no recommended power supply figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Setup checks
No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Measure for 271mm and 2.4 slots before ordering the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger. The ASUS Dual 7600 EVO occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case.
Features beyond the spec table
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger: 0dB silent cooling at light load. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend: a reinforced metal backplate. The ASUS Dual 7600 EVO: a 2715MHz boost clock.
How to Choose a GPUs for Against the Storm
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who want white-and-silver Steel Legend finish | ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | A white-and-silver Steel Legend finish |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger costs less | Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC | Three WINDFORCE fans at the highest price in the group |
| Getting 256-bit memory bus for the least money | ASRock Arc A580 Challenger | A lower price than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers who want triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop | ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend | A triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop |
| Buyers who want 0dB fan stop at light load | ASUS Dual 7600 EVO | 0dB fan stop at light load |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC at 16GB. "Not listed" marks cooler thickness where the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC | RX 7600 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock Arc A580 Challenger | Arc A580 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 2.4-slot |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend | RX 9060 XT | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS Dual 7600 EVO | RX 7600 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 2.5-slot |
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 Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC at $250 to $500; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | ASRock Arc A580 Challenger |
| About $250 to $500 | ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, ASUS Dual 7600 EVO, ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO compare with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger on cooler thickness?
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes out best at 2.4-slot, with the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO at 2.5-slot. The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend don't state a cooler thickness figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
Is the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger ahead of the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend on recommended power supply?
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger is lowest on recommended power supply at 650W; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend follows at 700W, 7% apart. No recommended power supply figure is published for the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
Is the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC worth paying more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger?
The spec sheets show video memory (16GB against 8GB) in its favour. The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger sat in the $150 to $250 tier and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if video memory decides your purchase.
What makes the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC the Premium Pick?
It earns the label for three WINDFORCE fans at the highest price in the group. The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the cheapest pick, sat in the $150 to $250 tier against $250 to $500 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It makes sense for buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger costs less.
Do the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC differ on GPU?
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend uses RX 7800 XT; the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC uses RX 7600 XT; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger uses Arc A580; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend uses RX 9060 XT; the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO uses RX 7600.
What should I check before buying the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend?
No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Power for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend comes through 2 x 8-pin, with 700W the maker's minimum PSU. In this guide it ranks first of 5, and first of 5 on video memory (16GB).
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, chosen for a white-and-silver Steel Legend finish. Look at the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC for three WINDFORCE fans at the highest price in the group, the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger for a lower price than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and the rest when we checked and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend for a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop if those matter more to you.
Check the card's power connector against your power supply before ordering.