Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Cocoon
From the Arc B580 Challenger to the XFX Swift 9060 XT White: 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
Cocoon does not need a high-end card, which leaves room to choose on price, memory and video outputs. Every pick has at least 12GB of video memory and cost $650 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
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.
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Spending as little as possible, with the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT the next step up.
Our take Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASRock Radeon RX 7700 XT Challenger 12GB OC
0dB silent cooling at light loads.
Best for: Buyers who want 0dB silent cooling at light loads.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7700 XT Challenger 12GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
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)
Worth a Look
ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB OC Edition
A dual BIOS switch.
Best for: Buyers who want dual BIOS switch.
Our take Check price for ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB OC Edition (opens in a new tab)
Solid Runner-Up
XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White Triple Fan 16GB
A white triple-fan SWFT cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want white triple-fan SWFT cooler.
Our take Check price for XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White Triple Fan 16GB (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Intel's Arc B580 brings 12GB of GDDR6 to the entry tier, more than the 8GB common at this price.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible, with the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT the next step up.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: video memory of 12GB, behind the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB).
Why we like it
ASRock's Challenger version is 249mm long and needs one 8-pin plug and a 650W PSU. It matches the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT on video memory (12GB). No other pick in this guide offers an arc B580 gpu; compare the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB, which has an RX 9060 XT gpu.
You get a 2740MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the XFX Swift 9060 XT White and its a 3320MHz boost clock. It also comes with a 192-bit memory bus at 19Gbps and dual-fan cooling with 0dB fan stop. Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the Arc B580 Challenger.
It undercut the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The main gap: video memory of 12GB, behind the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB). If that matters, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend offers 16GB.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: Arc B580
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Length: 249mm
- Thickness: 2-slot
- Recommended PSU: 650W
- Power connector: 1 x 8-pin
- Boost clock: 2740MHz
- Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 2.1, 1 x HDMI 2.1a
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Short 249mm length suits compact cases
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A single 8-pin power connector
Cons
- Video memory of 12GB, behind the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB)
Also Consider2 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 7700 XT Challenger 12GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT stands out for 0dB silent cooling at light loads.
Best for
- Buyers who want 0dB silent cooling at light loads.
Skip if
- Skip it if video memory matters most to you; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend offers 16GB.
Why we like it
It also offers a 12GB video memory. It matches the Arc B580 Challenger on video memory (12GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RX 7700 XT gpu; compare the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB, which has an RX 9060 XT gpu.
No dimensions are published for the ASRock Challenger 7700 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 ASRock Challenger 7700 XT with the maker. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper Arc B580 Challenger and the pricier ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, at the time of writing. The trade-off is video memory; for more, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend offers 16GB.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7700 XT
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR6
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- 0dB silent cooling at light loads
- RX 7700 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Video memory trails the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB)
- Costs more than the Arc B580 Challenger at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 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
- Look at the others if this bothers you: needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables.
Why we like it
On video memory it ties with the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White at 16GB. An RX 7800 XT gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT uses an RX 7700 XT gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 2520MHz boost clock; compare the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB, which has a 3330MHz (OC mode) boost clock.
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. It was priced above the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT and below the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB at the time of writing. There is no published cooler thickness figure, whereas the Arc B580 Challenger comes in at 2-slot.
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 Arc B580 Challenger at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB brings to the table is a dual BIOS switch, plus dual ball fan bearings.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual BIOS switch.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Arc B580 Challenger, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 16GB video memory and offers a 2.5-slot cooler thickness. On video memory it ties with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White at 16GB. It shares an RX 9060 XT gpu with the XFX Swift 9060 XT White; the Arc B580 Challenger goes with an arc B580 gpu.
No other pick in this guide offers a 3330MHz (OC mode) boost clock; compare the Arc B580 Challenger, which has a 2740MHz boost clock. The ASUS Prime 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 Prime 9060 XT 16GB with the maker. There is no published recommended power supply figure, whereas the Arc B580 Challenger offers 650W.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9060 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Thickness: 2.5-slot
- Boost clock: 3330MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Dual BIOS switch
- Dual ball fan bearings
- 3330MHz (OC mode) boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the Arc B580 Challenger at the time of writing
Solid Runner-Up5 of 5
XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White Triple Fan 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The XFX Swift 9060 XT White stands out for a white triple-fan SWFT cooler, and it adds a boost clock of up to 3320MHz.
Best for
- Buyers who want white triple-fan SWFT cooler.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Arc B580 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 and the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB on video memory (16GB). Like the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB, it has an RX 9060 XT gpu, while the Arc B580 Challenger uses an arc B580 gpu.
A 3320MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend uses a 2520MHz boost clock. No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift 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 Swift 9060 XT White with the maker. Buyers who need a confirmed cooler thickness should compare it with the Arc B580 Challenger, which comes in at 2-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 SWFT cooler
- Boost clock of up to 3320MHz
Cons
- Costs more than the Arc B580 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 compared five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and cooler thickness as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 7 fields compared are stated for every pick, while cooler thickness and recommended power supply have gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the Arc B580 Challenger to the XFX Swift 9060 XT White, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White give no cooler thickness; the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White give no recommended power supply.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Arc B580 Challenger ($250 to $500) to the XFX Swift 9060 XT White ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Cocoon
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory
Across these 5 picks video memory spans 12GB (the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT) to 16GB (the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend). The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend is the pick for video memory.
How much cooler thickness you need
Here cooler thickness runs from 2.5-slot on the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB to 2-slot on the Arc B580 Challenger, a 20% spread. If cooler thickness is your first filter, the Arc B580 Challenger sets the ceiling at 2-slot. The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White 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 Arc B580 Challenger, a 7% spread. Start with the Arc B580 Challenger if recommended power supply decides it. The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White give no recommended power supply figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Power connector
The Arc B580 Challenger lists 1 x 8-pin; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend lists 2 x 8-pin. Settling power connector first narrows 2 picks to 1 or 1.
Fit and compatibility
Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the Arc B580 Challenger. No dimensions are published for the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. The ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB 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 Cocoon
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible, with the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT the next step up | Arc B580 Challenger | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who want 0dB silent cooling at light loads | ASRock Challenger 7700 XT | 0dB silent cooling at light loads |
| Buyers who want white-and-silver Steel Legend finish | ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | A white-and-silver Steel Legend finish |
| Buyers who want dual BIOS switch | ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB | A dual BIOS switch |
| Buyers who want white triple-fan SWFT cooler | XFX Swift 9060 XT White | A white triple-fan SWFT cooler |
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 ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB at 16GB. "Not listed" marks cooler thickness where the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arc B580 Challenger | Arc B580 | 12GB | GDDR6 | 2-slot |
| ASRock Challenger 7700 XT | RX 7700 XT | 12GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 2.5-slot |
| XFX Swift 9060 XT White | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the Arc B580 Challenger, sat in the $250 to $500 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the XFX Swift 9060 XT White at $500 to $1000; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $250 to $500 | Arc B580 Challenger, ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend |
| About $500 to $1000 | ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB, XFX Swift 9060 XT White |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB compare with the Arc B580 Challenger on cooler thickness?
Between the top two, it is 2-slot on the Arc B580 Challenger against 2.5-slot on the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB, a 20% difference. The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White are left out of this ranking because their cooler thickness isn't stated; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
Is the Arc B580 Challenger ahead of the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend on recommended power supply?
The Arc B580 Challenger comes out best at 650W, with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at 700W. The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White don't state a recommended power supply figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
Is the XFX Swift 9060 XT White worth paying more than the Arc B580 Challenger?
The spec sheets show video memory (16GB against 12GB) in its favour. The Arc B580 Challenger sat in the $250 to $500 tier and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if video memory decides your purchase.
What makes the Arc B580 Challenger 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, with the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT the next step up.
Do the Arc B580 Challenger and the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT differ on GPU?
The Arc B580 Challenger uses Arc B580; the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT uses RX 7700 XT; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend uses RX 7800 XT; the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White use RX 9060 XT.
What should I check before buying the XFX Swift 9060 XT White?
No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift 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 Swift 9060 XT White with the maker. In this guide it ranks fifth of 5, and third of 5 on video memory (16GB).
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Arc B580 Challenger, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT for 0dB silent cooling at light loads, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend for a white-and-silver Steel Legend finish and the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB for a dual BIOS switch if those matter more to you.
Install the latest driver from the maker after the card arrives.