Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Cabernet
We weighed five graphics cards on video memory and cooler thickness, and the ASUS TUF 5060 OC costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Cabernet does not need a high-end card, which leaves room to choose on price, memory and video outputs. Every pick cost $600 or less, ordered from the highest price.
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.
Premium Pick
PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB
16GB of GDDR6 at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASUS TUF 5060 OC costs less.
Our take Check price for PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASUS ATS Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12GB OC Edition
A 2.5-slot design.
Best for: Buyers who want 2.5-slot design.
Our take Check price for ASUS ATS Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12GB OC Edition (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
XFX Mercury AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White 16GB
A white triple-fan MERC cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want white triple-fan MERC cooler.
Our take Check price for XFX Mercury AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White 16GB (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9070 GRE EVO OC Edition
A phase-change GPU thermal pad.
Best for: Buyers who want phase-change GPU thermal pad.
Our take Check price for ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9070 GRE EVO OC Edition (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC Edition
A lower price than the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Keeping the cost under $1000.
Our take Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC Edition (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Premium Pick1 of 5
PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT is built around 16GB of GDDR6.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASUS TUF 5060 OC costs less.
Skip if
- Pass if a published cooler thickness matters; this one has none.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 16GB video memory. On video memory it ties with the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White at 16GB. An RX 7800 XT gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White uses an RX 9060 XT gpu.
No dimensions are published for the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT with the maker. Only the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks. There is no published cooler thickness figure, whereas the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE comes in at 2.5-slot.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7800 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- 16GB of GDDR6
- RX 7800 XT gpu, the only one here
- 16GB of GDDR6 at the highest price in the group
Cons
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the ASUS TUF 5060 OC at the time of writing
Also Consider2 of 5
ASUS ATS Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12GB OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE brings to the table is a 2.5-slot design, plus a dual BIOS switch.
Best for
- Buyers who want 2.5-slot design.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the ASUS TUF 5060 OC was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It also offers a 12GB video memory and offers a 2.5-slot cooler thickness. It matches the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE on video memory (12GB). On cooler thickness it ties with the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE at 2.5-slot.
Like the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE, it has an RX 9070 GRE gpu, while the ASUS TUF 5060 OC uses an RTX 5060 gpu. The ASUS ATS 9070 GRE 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 ATS 9070 GRE with the maker. Its price falls between the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9070 GRE
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Thickness: 2.5-slot
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- 2.5-slot design
- Dual BIOS switch
- Cooler thickness of 2.5-slot, ahead of the ASUS TUF 5060 OC
Cons
- Costs more than the ASUS TUF 5060 OC at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
XFX Mercury AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The XFX Mercury 9060 XT White is built around a white triple-fan MERC cooler, with a boost clock of up to 3320MHz on top.
Best for
- Buyers who want white triple-fan MERC cooler.
Skip if
- Pass if a published cooler thickness matters; this one has none.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 16GB video memory. On video memory it ties with the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT at 16GB. An RX 9060 XT gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE uses an RX 9070 GRE gpu.
No other pick in this guide offers a 3320MHz boost clock; compare the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE, which has a 2880MHz (OC mode) boost clock. No dimensions are published for the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White; 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 Mercury 9060 XT White with the maker. There is no published cooler thickness figure, whereas the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE comes in at 2.5-slot.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9060 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Boost clock: 3320MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- White triple-fan MERC cooler
- Boost clock of up to 3320MHz
- RX 9060 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the ASUS TUF 5060 OC at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9070 GRE EVO OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASUS Prime RX 9070 GRE has 12GB of GDDR6 and a 2880MHz boost in OC mode, with a phase-change thermal pad.
Best for
- Buyers who want phase-change GPU thermal pad.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the ASUS TUF 5060 OC, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
On video memory it ties with the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE at 12GB. It matches the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE on cooler thickness (2.5-slot). It shares an RX 9070 GRE gpu with the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE; the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White goes with an RX 9060 XT gpu.
It is the only pick here with a 2880MHz (OC mode) boost clock; the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White has a 3320MHz boost clock instead. It also comes with a dual BIOS switch. The ASUS Prime 9070 GRE 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 Prime 9070 GRE with the maker. When we checked, only the ASUS TUF 5060 OC cost less, and the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9070 GRE
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Thickness: 2.5-slot
- Boost clock: 2880MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Phase-change GPU thermal pad
- Dual BIOS switch
- Cooler thickness of 2.5-slot, ahead of the ASUS TUF 5060 OC
Cons
- Costs more than the ASUS TUF 5060 OC at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here5 of 5
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASUS TUF 5060 OC stands out for military-grade components with a protective PCB coating, and it adds ASUS GPU Guard support hardware.
Best for
- Keeping the cost under $1000.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games is a problem.
Why we like it
It also offers an 8GB video memory and offers a 3.1-slot cooler thickness. On video memory it trails the group at 8GB, while the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT offers 16GB. Its 3.1-slot cooler thickness is the thickest in this group; the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE leads at 2.5-slot.
You get an RTX 5060 gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE and its an RX 9070 GRE gpu. No other pick in this guide offers GDDR7 memory; compare the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White, which has GDDR6 memory. It is the only pick here with a 2677MHz (OC mode) boost clock; the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White has a 3320MHz boost clock instead.
The ASUS TUF 5060 OC occupies 3.1 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE was closest.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 5060
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR7
- Thickness: 3.1-slot
- Boost clock: 2677MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Military-grade components with a protective PCB coating
- ASUS GPU Guard support hardware
- RTX 5060 gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Its 3.1-slot cooler covers the slots below
- Video memory trails the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT (16GB)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We compared five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and cooler thickness from manufacturer specifications. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 5 fields compared are stated for every pick, while cooler thickness and boost clock have gaps.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT to the ASUS TUF 5060 OC, state GPU, video memory and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White give no cooler thickness; the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT and the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE give no boost clock.
- Price range
- From the ASUS TUF 5060 OC to the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT, all sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a GPUs for Cabernet
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT tops video memory at 16GB and the ASUS TUF 5060 OC sits lowest at 8GB; 2 picks share the top figure. The XFX Mercury 9060 XT White comes second at 16GB, in the $500 to $1000 tier against $500 to $1000 for the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT.
Cooler thickness
Here cooler thickness runs from 3.1-slot on the ASUS TUF 5060 OC to 2.5-slot on the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE, a 19% spread. For less, the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE is the runner-up at 2.5-slot ($500 to $1000 tier). The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White give no cooler thickness figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
Memory
The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT, the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE, the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White and the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE list GDDR6; the ASUS TUF 5060 OC lists GDDR7.
Boost clock
The XFX Mercury 9060 XT White lists 3320MHz; the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE lists 2880MHz (OC mode); the ASUS TUF 5060 OC lists 2677MHz (OC mode).
Fit and compatibility
No dimensions are published for the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. The ASUS ATS 9070 GRE occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case.
How to Choose a GPUs for Cabernet
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASUS TUF 5060 OC costs less | PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT | 16GB of GDDR6 at the highest price in the group |
| Buyers who want 2.5-slot design | ASUS ATS 9070 GRE | A 2.5-slot design |
| Buyers who want white triple-fan MERC cooler | XFX Mercury 9060 XT White | A white triple-fan MERC cooler |
| Buyers who want phase-change GPU thermal pad | ASUS Prime 9070 GRE | A phase-change GPU thermal pad |
| Keeping the cost under $1000 | ASUS TUF 5060 OC | A lower price than the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE and the rest when we checked |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White at 16GB. "Not listed" marks cooler thickness where the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS ATS 9070 GRE | RX 9070 GRE | 12GB | GDDR6 | 2.5-slot |
| XFX Mercury 9060 XT White | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS Prime 9070 GRE | RX 9070 GRE | 12GB | GDDR6 | 2.5-slot |
| ASUS TUF 5060 OC | RTX 5060 | 8GB | GDDR7 | 3.1-slot |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT add over the ASUS TUF 5060 OC?
The spec sheets show video memory (16GB against 8GB) in its favour. Both sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked, so the gains in video memory cost little extra by tier.
Why is the ASUS TUF 5060 OC our Lowest Price Here pick?
It earns the label for a lower price than the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE and the rest when we checked. It is aimed at keeping the cost under $1000.
Do the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT and the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE differ on GPU?
The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT uses RX 7800 XT; the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE and the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE use RX 9070 GRE; the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White uses RX 9060 XT; the ASUS TUF 5060 OC uses RTX 5060.
Will the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE work with my setup?
The ASUS Prime 9070 GRE 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 Prime 9070 GRE with the maker. In this guide it ranks fourth of 5, and fourth of 5 on video memory (12GB).
What extras do the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT and the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE include?
The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT: 16GB of GDDR6. The ASUS ATS 9070 GRE: a 2.5-slot design. The XFX Mercury 9060 XT White: a white triple-fan MERC cooler.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT, chosen for 16GB of GDDR6 at the highest price in the group. Look at the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE for a 2.5-slot design, the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White for a white triple-fan MERC cooler and the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE for a phase-change GPU thermal pad if those matter more to you.
Install the latest driver from the maker after the card arrives.