Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Arc Raiders
From the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB to the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger: five graphics cards ranked on video memory and GPU, with who should skip each one.
By The PC Journal editorial team
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.
Our comparison rests on published figures for GPU, VRAM and memory; nothing here was tested in-house, and where a maker leaves out boost clock, we say so.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Spending as little as possible.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 16GB
An XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler.
Our take Check price for XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 16GB (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 Gaming OC 16G
A WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Best for: Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Our take Check price for GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 Gaming OC 16G (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16G
A WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Best for: Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Our take Check price for GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16G (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
ASRock Radeon RX 9070 XT Challenger 16GB OC
64 compute units at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9070 XT Challenger 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASRock's Challenger gives the RX 9060 XT a full 16GB of memory in a two-slot, 249mm card.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible.
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. Like the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, it has an RX 9060 XT gpu, while the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC uses an RX 9070 XT gpu. You get a 3290MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger and its a 2970MHz 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 XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & 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
XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
XFX's Swift RX 9060 XT is the cheapest 16GB card in this guide, with a dual-fan cooler and a 3320MHz boost.
Best for
- Buyers who want XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It suits 1440p at medium to high settings. Like the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, it has an RX 9060 XT gpu, while the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC uses an RX 9070 gpu. A 3320MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger uses a 2970MHz boost clock.
No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB; 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 Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB with the maker. Its price falls between the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9060 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Boost clock: 3320MHz
- Outputs: 1 x HDMI, 2 x DisplayPort
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler
- 3320MHz boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 Gaming OC 16G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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
- Price-first buyers should look at the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It leaves more of the budget for the CPU, board and memory. No other pick in this guide offers an RX 9070 gpu; compare the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC, which has an RX 9070 XT gpu. 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 third of 5, between the cheaper XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the pricier Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & 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
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Gigabyte's RX 9070 XT Gaming OC pairs AMD's top RDNA 4 chip with 16GB of GDDR6 and a WINDFORCE cooler.
Best for
- Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
At the time of writing it cost about half as much as the RTX 5080 cards we researched, which makes it the strongest value in the upper tiers. It shares an RX 9070 XT gpu with the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger; the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB goes with an RX 9060 XT gpu. It also offers server-grade thermal conductive gel and RGB lighting.
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RX 9070 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 RX 9070 XT Gaming OC with the maker. When we checked, only the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and cheaper picks cost less, and the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9070 XT
- 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
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9070 XT Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASRock's RX 9070 XT Challenger gives an all-AMD build 16GB of memory on a 256-bit bus and a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Three DisplayPort 2.1a outputs suit high-refresh monitors. It uses the RDNA 4 architecture with 64 compute units and boosts up to 2970MHz on a 256-bit memory bus. The triple-fan cooler stops its fans at idle for silent desktop use.
Like the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC, it has an RX 9070 XT gpu, while the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC uses an RX 9070 gpu. A 2970MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB uses a 3320MHz boost clock. No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC. If video memory is your priority, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB (16GB) is the stronger choice.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9070 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Boost clock: 2970MHz
- Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 2.1a, 1 x HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- 64 compute units
- 256-bit memory bus
- Triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We set side by side five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and boost clock as the makers state them. We did not test them in-house.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB to the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC give no boost clock; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC and the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC give no outputs.
- Price range
- From the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB to the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger, 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.
Boost clock
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB lists 3290MHz; the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB lists 3320MHz; the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger lists 2970MHz.
Fit and compatibility
Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB. No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Features beyond the spec table
The XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB: an XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler. The Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC: server-grade thermal conductive gel. The ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger: a 256-bit memory bus.
How much to spend
All 5 sat in one tier when we checked, from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the low end to the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger at the top, so decide on features first.
Match the pick to your priority
Spending as little as possible: the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB. Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor: the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger.
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.
How to Choose a GPUs for Arc Raiders
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who want XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler | XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB | An XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler |
| Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans | Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC | A WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans |
| Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans | Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC | A WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor | ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger | 64 compute units 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, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the rest, as their makers list them.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Boost clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 3290MHz |
| XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 3320MHz |
| Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC | RX 9070 | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC | RX 9070 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger | RX 9070 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 2970MHz |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB the Lowest Price Here?
It earns the label for the lowest price of the group at our last check. It suits spending as little as possible.
Do the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC differ on GPU?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB use RX 9060 XT; the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC uses RX 9070; the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC and the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger use RX 9070 XT.
What should I check before buying the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger?
No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 9070 XT Challenger; 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 9070 XT Challenger with the maker. In this guide it ranks fifth of 5, as our Premium Pick pick.
Beyond the specs, what sets the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB apart?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB: 32 compute units. The XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB: an XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler. The Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC: a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
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.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB for an XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler, the Gigabyte RX 9070 Gaming OC for a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans and the Gigabyte RX 9070 XT Gaming OC for a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans if those matter more to you.
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