Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Arc Raiders
From the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB to the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X: five graphics cards ranked on video memory and card length, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Arc Raiders is a recent Unreal Engine 5 shooter, where current upscalers matter. Every pick is an RTX 50 or RX 9000 card with 12GB or more, so DLSS 4 or FSR 4 is available.
ARC Raiders' official PC requirements list NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT or Intel Arc B570 and 16GB of RAM for the recommended tier (source: ARC Raiders on Steam). Matching brand to brand, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC are a newer generation than the RX 5700 XT; the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X is a newer generation than the RTX 2070.
Our comparison rests on published figures for GPU, VRAM and memory; nothing here was tested in-house, and where a maker leaves out length, we say so.
Requirements source: ARC Raiders on Steam
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Slimmest Cooler Thickness
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OCThe slimmest cooler thickness here (2-slot).
Best for: Buyers who put cooler thickness first.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GBA dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles.
Best for: Buyers who want dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles.
Check price for ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ASRock Radeon RX 9070 Challenger 16GB OC56 compute units.
Best for: Buyers who want 56 compute units.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9070 Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 Gaming OC 16GA WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Best for: Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Check price for GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 Gaming OC 16G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
MSI Gaming RTX 5070 12G Ventus 3X OCThree TORX Fan 5.0 fans at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB costs less.
Check price for MSI Gaming RTX 5070 12G Ventus 3X OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Slimmest Cooler Thickness1 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC
ASRock's Challenger gives the RX 9060 XT a full 16GB of memory in a two-slot, 249mm card.
Best for
- Buyers who put cooler thickness first.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
The maker offers a 550W power supply and a single 8-pin plug, so it drops into most existing builds. It matches the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC on video memory (16GB). Its 2-slot cooler thickness is the slimmest here; the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB comes next at 2.5-slot.
You get a 3290MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger and its a 2520MHz boost clock. You also get 32 compute units and 0dB fan stop at light load. Power for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes through 1 x 8-pin, with 550W the maker's minimum PSU. It undercut the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 249mm
- Thickness
- 2-slot
- Recommended PSU
- 550W
- Power connector
- 1 x 8-pin
- Boost clock
- 3290MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Short 249mm length suits compact cases
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A modest 550W PSU recommendation
Also Consider2 of 5
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
The ASUS Dual RX 9060 XT 16GB offers a 3250MHz boost in OC mode with Quiet and Performance BIOS profiles and 0dB fan stop.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It matches the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC on video memory (16GB). On cooler thickness it ties with the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger at 2.5-slot. A 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X uses a 2557MHz boost clock.
The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB 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 9060 XT 16GB with the maker. Its price falls between the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Boost clock
- 3250MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles
- 0dB fan stop at light load
- 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
The catch
Buyers who need a confirmed card length should compare it with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, which comes in at 249mm.
Strong Alternative3 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9070 Challenger 16GB OC
ASRock's RX 9070 Challenger is the most completely documented card here: 290mm long, 2.5 slots, two 8-pin plugs and a 700W PSU.
Best for
- Buyers who want 56 compute units.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables.
Why we like it
Its 16GB of memory on a 256-bit bus suits 1440p at high settings. The card uses AMD's RDNA 4 architecture with 56 compute units and 3,584 stream processors, 3rd-gen ray tracing and 2nd-gen AI accelerators. Its game clock is 2070MHz, and the 16GB of GDDR6 runs at 20Gbps.
It measures 290 x 123 x 51mm, so verify case clearance before buying. It matches the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC on video memory (16GB). On cooler thickness it ties with the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB at 2.5-slot.
A 2520MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB uses a 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock. It also comes with a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop. Its price falls between the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9070
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 290mm
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Recommended PSU
- 700W
- Power connector
- 2 x 8-pin
- Boost clock
- 2520MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- 56 compute units
- 256-bit memory bus at 20Gbps
- Triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop
Cons
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- Cooler thickness trails the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB (2-slot)
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
The catch
If cooler thickness is your priority, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB (2-slot) is the stronger choice.
Worth a Look4 of 5
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 Gaming OC 16G
Gigabyte's RX 9070 Gaming OC is the lowest-cost card here, with 16GB of GDDR6 and a WINDFORCE cooler.
Best for
- Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Skip if
- Its cooler thickness is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
It leaves more of the budget for the CPU, board and memory. It matches the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger on video memory (16GB). It also offers server-grade thermal conductive gel and RGB lighting.
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RX 9070 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 RX 9070 Gaming OC with the maker. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper ASRock RX 9070 Challenger and the pricier MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9070
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans
- Server-grade thermal conductive gel
- RGB lighting
Cons
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its card length; if that figure matters, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes in at 249mm.
Premium Pick5 of 5
MSI Gaming RTX 5070 12G Ventus 3X OC
The Ventus 3X is MSI's plain take on the RTX 5070: three TORX fans, a copper baseplate and 12GB of GDDR7.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB costs less.
Skip if
- Skip it if video memory matters most to you; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB offers 16GB.
Why we like it
Three DisplayPort 2.1a outputs and one HDMI 2.1b cover most monitor setups. On video memory it trails the group at 12GB, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB offers 16GB. You get an RTX 5070 gpu here, which sets it apart from the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and its an RX 9070 gpu.
No other pick in this guide offers GDDR7 memory; compare the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger, which has GDDR6 memory. It is the only pick here with a 2557MHz boost clock; the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger has a 2520MHz boost clock instead. It also offers a vented metal backplate.
No dimensions are published for the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC the nearest cheaper option.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5070
- VRAM
- 12GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Boost clock
- 2557MHz
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 2.1a, 1 x HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Three TORX Fan 5.0 fans
- Nickel-plated copper baseplate
Cons
- Video memory trails the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB (16GB)
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
The catch
Video memory is its weakest area, and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB covers it better at 16GB.
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.
- What we compared
- 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 8 fields compared are stated for every pick, while card length and cooler thickness have gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB to the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X, state GPU, video memory and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X give no card length; the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X give no cooler thickness.
- Price range
- From the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB to the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X, all sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a GPUs for Arc Raiders
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB tops video memory at 16GB and the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X sits lowest at 12GB; 4 picks share the top figure. If video memory is your first filter, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB sets the ceiling at 16GB.
Cooler thickness across these picks
Across these 3 picks cooler thickness spans 2.5-slot (the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger) to 2-slot (the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB). Start with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB if cooler thickness decides it. The Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X give no cooler thickness figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card Card length across these picks
Here card length runs from 290mm on the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger to 249mm on the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, a 14% spread. Start with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB if card length decides it. The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X give no card length figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Memory
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC list GDDR6; the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X lists GDDR7. Settling memory first narrows 5 picks to 4 or 1.
Power connector
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB lists 1 x 8-pin; the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger lists 2 x 8-pin.
How to Choose a GPUs for Arc Raiders
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put cooler thickness first | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | The slimmest cooler thickness here (2-slot) |
| Buyers who want dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles | ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB | A dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles |
| Buyers who want 56 compute units | ASRock RX 9070 Challenger | 56 compute units |
| Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans | Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC | A WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB costs less | MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X | Three TORX Fan 5.0 fans at the highest price in the group |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB at 16GB. "Not listed" marks card length where the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 249mm |
| ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 9070 Challenger | RX 9070 | 16GB | GDDR6 | 290mm |
| Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC | RX 9070 | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X | RTX 5070 | 12GB | GDDR7 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will these cards run ARC Raiders at recommended settings?
In ARC Raiders' list, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger, the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X meet the recommended card on brand, generation and model number. ARC Raiders also lists 16GB of system RAM for that tier, which is separate from the card.
Is the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB ahead of the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB on cooler thickness?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes out best at 2-slot, with the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB at 2.5-slot. The Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X are left out of this ranking because their cooler thickness isn't stated; 3 of 5 picks are ranked.
Which has the shortest card length: the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB or the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB is lowest on card length at 249mm; the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger follows at 290mm, 14% apart. The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X don't state a card length figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
How does the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger compare with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB on recommended power supply?
Between the top two, it is 550W on the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB against 700W on the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger, a 21% difference. No recommended power supply figure is published for the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
Is the MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X worth paying more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB?
The MSI RTX 5070 Ventus 3X matches or trails the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB on video memory. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB leads on video memory (16GB). Both sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked, so choose on the features you need.
What makes the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB the Slimmest Cooler Thickness?
It carries the badge for the slimmest cooler thickness here (2-slot). The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB is next on cooler thickness at 2.5-slot, so this pick's 2-slot is 20% further out. It is aimed at anyone who puts cooler thickness first.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, chosen for the slimmest cooler thickness here (2-slot). Look at the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB for a dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles, the ASRock RX 9070 Challenger for 56 compute units and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC for a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans if those matter more to you.
Enable upscaling before lowering texture quality.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards for 1440p Gaming
- Related guideThe Best Budget Graphics Cards
- Lower budgetThe Best GPUs Under $300
- Higher budgetThe Best High-End GPUs
- ExplainerHow Much VRAM Do You Need?
- ExplainerGPU Power Connectors Explained
- Check compatibility: power suppliesPSU Power Spikes and ATX 3.x: What to Check Beyond Wattage
- Similar guideThe Best AMD GPUs
- Topic hubAll graphics cards guides
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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