Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Fallout
Five graphics cards compared, from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to the ASUS Dual 5060 White, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Fallout runs on almost any current graphics card, so the choice comes down to price, memory and outputs. Every pick cost $600 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: GPU, VRAM and memory come from each maker's published specs; a missing thickness is flagged, not filled in, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC
A lower price than the ASRock RX 6500 XT 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)
Also Consider
ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming D 4GB OC
0dB silent cooling at light load.
Best for: Buyers who want 0dB silent cooling at light load.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming D 4GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8G
A WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Best for: Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Our take Check price for GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8G (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC
Axial-tech fans with a barrier ring.
Best for: Buyers who want axial-tech fans with a barrier ring.
Our take Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB White OC Edition
A white finish 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 ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB White OC Edition (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 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
- 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
It needs two 8-pin connectors and a 650W power supply. On video memory it ties with the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the ASUS Dual 5060 White at 8GB. An arc A580 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB uses an RX 9060 XT gpu.
Like the ASRock RX 6500 XT and Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB, it has GDDR6 memory, while the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 uses GDDR7 memory. It also comes with a 256-bit memory bus and 0dB silent cooling at light load. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the ASRock RX 6500 XT the next step up. What it gives up: recommended power supply of 650W, behind the ASRock RX 6500 XT (400W); by contrast, the ASRock RX 6500 XT offers 400W.
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
- Video memory of 8GB, ahead of the ASRock RX 6500 XT
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- Recommended power supply of 650W, behind the ASRock RX 6500 XT (400W)
Also Consider2 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming D 4GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASRock's RX 6500 XT has only 4GB of memory and states a 400W minimum power supply.
Best for
- Buyers who want 0dB silent cooling at light load.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 4GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
It suits light esports titles rather than recent AAA games. Its 4GB video memory is the smallest in this group; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger leads at 8GB. It shares GDDR6 memory with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB; the ASUS Dual 5060 White goes with GDDR7 memory.
It also offers 0dB silent cooling at light load and a metal backplate. No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 6500 XT; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Power for the ASRock RX 6500 XT comes through 1 x 8-pin, with 400W the maker's minimum PSU. Its price falls between the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 6500 XT
- VRAM: 4GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Recommended PSU: 400W
- Power connector: 1 x 8-pin
- Boost clock: 2820MHz
Pros
- A modest 400W PSU recommendation
- A single 8-pin power connector
- 0dB silent cooling at light load
- Metal backplate
Cons
- 4GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory trails the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger (8GB)
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Gigabyte's RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB is the entry to AMD's RDNA 4 generation, with Hawk fans and RGB lighting.
Best for
- Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games is a problem.
Why we like it
Its 8GB of memory suits 1080p more than 1440p. It matches the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the ASUS Dual 5060 White on video memory (8GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RX 9060 XT gpu; compare the ASUS Dual RTX 5060, which has an RTX 5060 gpu.
It also offers server-grade thermal conductive gel. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB; 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 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB with the maker.
On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper ASRock RX 6500 XT and the pricier ASUS Dual RTX 5060, 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
Pros
- WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans
- Server-grade thermal conductive gel
- RGB lighting
- Video memory of 8GB, ahead of the ASRock RX 6500 XT
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 Look4 of 5
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 is a 2.5-slot, SFF-Ready card with GDDR7 memory and DisplayPort 2.1b.
Best for
- Buyers who want axial-tech fans with a barrier ring.
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
Its 8GB of memory is best matched to a 1080p monitor. It matches the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB and the ASUS Dual 5060 White on video memory (8GB). It shares GDDR7 memory with the ASUS Dual 5060 White; the ASRock RX 6500 XT goes with GDDR6 memory.
You also get axial-tech fans with a barrier ring. The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 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 RTX 5060 with the maker.
Its price falls between the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB and the ASUS Dual 5060 White, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed recommended power supply should compare it with the ASRock RX 6500 XT, which offers 400W.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 5060
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR7
- Thickness: 2.5-slot
- Boost clock: 2565MHz (OC mode)
- SFF-Ready: Yes
- Outputs: HDMI 2.1b, DisplayPort 2.1b
Pros
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- Axial-tech fans with a barrier ring
- Video memory of 8GB, ahead of the ASRock RX 6500 XT
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
Premium Pick5 of 5
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB White OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the ASUS Dual 5060 White brings to the table is a white finish, plus a dual BIOS switch.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger costs less.
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
It also offers an 8GB video memory. It matches the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB and the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 on video memory (8GB). No dimensions are published for the ASUS Dual 5060 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 ASUS Dual 5060 White with the maker. SFF-Ready is NVIDIA's size guideline, not a guarantee the ASUS Dual 5060 White fits every small case. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the ASUS Dual RTX 5060. Buyers who need a confirmed cooler thickness should compare it with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, which comes in at 2.4-slot.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 5060
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR7
- SFF-Ready: Yes
Pros
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- White finish
- Dual BIOS switch
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
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 from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and cooler thickness and recommended power supply are missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to the ASUS Dual 5060 White, state GPU, video memory and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock RX 6500 XT, the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB and the ASUS Dual 5060 White give no cooler thickness; the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the ASUS Dual 5060 White 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 ASUS Dual 5060 White ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Fallout
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory
Across these 5 picks video memory spans 4GB (the ASRock RX 6500 XT) to 8GB (the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger). If video memory is your first filter, the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger sets the ceiling at 8GB.
How much cooler thickness you need
Here cooler thickness runs from 2.5-slot on the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 to 2.4-slot on the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, a 4% spread. Start with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger if cooler thickness decides it. The ASRock RX 6500 XT, the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB and the ASUS Dual 5060 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 650W on the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to 400W on the ASRock RX 6500 XT, a 38% spread. The ASRock RX 6500 XT is the pick for recommended power supply. The Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the ASUS Dual 5060 White give no recommended power supply figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Memory
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB list GDDR6; the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the ASUS Dual 5060 White list GDDR7.
Power connector
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger lists 2 x 8-pin; the ASRock RX 6500 XT lists 1 x 8-pin. Settling power connector first narrows 2 picks to 1 or 1.
How to Choose a GPUs for Fallout
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Getting 256-bit memory bus for the least money | ASRock Arc A580 Challenger | A lower price than the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers who want 0dB silent cooling at light load | ASRock RX 6500 XT | 0dB silent cooling at light load |
| Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans | Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB | A WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans |
| Buyers who want axial-tech fans with a barrier ring | ASUS Dual RTX 5060 | Axial-tech fans with a barrier ring |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger costs less | ASUS Dual 5060 White | A white finish at the highest price in the group |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger leads on video memory at 8GB, ahead of the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB at 8GB. "Not listed" marks cooler thickness where the ASRock RX 6500 XT, the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB and the ASUS Dual 5060 White leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock Arc A580 Challenger | Arc A580 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 2.4-slot |
| ASRock RX 6500 XT | RX 6500 XT | 4GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB | RX 9060 XT | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS Dual RTX 5060 | RTX 5060 | 8GB | GDDR7 | 2.5-slot |
| ASUS Dual 5060 White | RTX 5060 | 8GB | GDDR7 | Not listed |
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 ASUS Dual 5060 White at $250 to $500; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, ASRock RX 6500 XT |
| About $250 to $500 | Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB, ASUS Dual RTX 5060, ASUS Dual 5060 White |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 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 RTX 5060 at 2.5-slot. No cooler thickness figure is published for the ASRock RX 6500 XT, the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB and the ASUS Dual 5060 White, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
Is the ASRock RX 6500 XT ahead of the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger on recommended power supply?
The ASRock RX 6500 XT is lowest on recommended power supply at 400W; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger follows at 650W, 38% apart. The Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the ASUS Dual 5060 White are left out of this ranking because their recommended power supply isn't stated; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
What makes the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger the Lowest Price Here?
The label rests on a lower price than the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the rest when we checked. It is aimed at getting 256-bit memory bus for the least money.
Do the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the ASRock RX 6500 XT differ on GPU?
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger uses Arc A580; the ASRock RX 6500 XT uses RX 6500 XT; the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB uses RX 9060 XT; the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the ASUS Dual 5060 White use RTX 5060.
What should I check before buying the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB?
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB; 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 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB with the maker. In this guide it ranks third of 5, and second of 5 on video memory (8GB).
Beyond the specs, what sets the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the ASRock RX 6500 XT apart?
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger: a 256-bit memory bus. The ASRock RX 6500 XT: 0dB silent cooling at light load. The Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB: a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, chosen for a lower price than the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the rest when we checked. Look at the ASRock RX 6500 XT for 0dB silent cooling at light load, the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB for a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans and the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 for axial-tech fans with a barrier ring if those matter more to you.
Check the card's power connector against your power supply before ordering.