Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
Five graphics cards compared, from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist does not push current hardware, so this guide compares cards by price, memory and what they leave for other games. Every pick cost $600 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
Our comparison rests on published figures for GPU, VRAM and memory; where a maker leaves out recommended PSU, we say so, 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 GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Eagle 8G
A dual BIOS switch.
Best for: Buyers who want dual BIOS switch.
Our take Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Eagle 8G (opens in a new tab)
Largest Video Memory
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G
The largest video memory here (16GB).
Best for: Buyers who put video memory first.
Our take Check price for Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 V2 OC Edition
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a 2-slot dual-fan design.
Best for: Buyers who want a 2-slot dual-fan design and can spend more than the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC costs.
Our take Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 V2 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
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: 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 4060 Ti Eagle and the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC at 8GB. You get an arc A580 gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC and its an RTX 4060 gpu.
It also comes with a 256-bit memory bus and 0dB silent cooling at light load. Measure for 271mm and 2.4 slots before ordering the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger. Power for the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes through 2 x 8-pin, with 650W the maker's minimum PSU.
No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the ASRock RX 6500 XT was closest. What it gives up: video memory of 8GB, behind the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC (16GB); by contrast, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC offers 16GB.
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
- Video memory of 8GB, behind the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC (16GB)
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
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 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 Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC leads at 16GB. No other pick in this guide offers an RX 6500 XT gpu; compare the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, which has an RX 7600 XT gpu.
You also get 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. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the pricier Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle, at the time of writing.
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 Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC (16GB)
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Eagle 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Gigabyte's Eagle puts three Windforce fans and a dual BIOS switch on the RTX 4060 Ti.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual BIOS switch.
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 supports DLSS 3 frame generation with fourth-generation Tensor cores. On video memory it ties with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC at 8GB. You get an RTX 4060 Ti gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC and its an RTX 4060 gpu.
It also comes with a 128-bit memory bus. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle; 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 4060 Ti Eagle with the maker.
When we checked, only the ASRock RX 6500 XT and cheaper picks cost less, and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC cost more. If you want a confirmed recommended power supply, look to the ASRock RX 6500 XT instead: it offers 400W, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 4060 Ti
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
Pros
- Dual BIOS switch
- Three WINDFORCE fans
- 128-bit memory bus
- 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
Largest Video Memory4 of 5
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC stands out for three WINDFORCE fans, and it adds a 128-bit memory interface.
Best for
- Buyers who put video memory first.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 16GB video memory. Nothing else here matches its 16GB video memory; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes closest at 8GB. No other pick in this guide offers an RX 7600 XT gpu; compare the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle, which has an RTX 4060 Ti gpu.
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 7600 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 7600 XT Gaming OC with the maker. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle and the pricier ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its recommended power supply; if that figure matters, the ASRock RX 6500 XT offers 400W.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7600 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Three WINDFORCE fans
- 128-bit memory interface
- RX 7600 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 V2 OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC brings to the table is a 2-slot dual-fan design, plus DLSS 3 support.
Best for
- Buyers who want a 2-slot dual-fan design and can spend more than the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC costs.
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
It also offers an 8GB video memory. On video memory it ties with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle at 8GB. You get an RTX 4060 gpu here, which sets it apart from the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and its an RX 7600 XT gpu.
No dimensions are published for the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 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 ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC with the maker. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC the nearest cheaper option. If you want a confirmed recommended power supply, look to the ASRock RX 6500 XT instead: it offers 400W, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 4060
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
Pros
- 2-slot dual-fan design
- DLSS 3 support
- Video memory of 8GB, ahead of the ASRock RX 6500 XT
- RTX 4060 gpu, the only one here
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.
- What we compared
- We compared five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and recommended power supply, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and recommended power supply and power connector are missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC give no recommended power supply; the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC give no power connector.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger ($150 to $250) to the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a GPUs for I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory across these picks
Here video memory runs from 4GB on the ASRock RX 6500 XT to 16GB on the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, a 300% spread. For less, the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger is the runner-up at 8GB ($150 to $250 tier).
Recommended power supply
The ASRock RX 6500 XT tops recommended power supply at 400W and the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger sits lowest at 650W. The ASRock RX 6500 XT is the pick for recommended power supply. The Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC give no recommended power supply figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Power connector
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger lists 2 x 8-pin; the ASRock RX 6500 XT lists 1 x 8-pin. Sort out power connector before price: it splits 2 stated picks into groups of 1 and 1.
Fit and compatibility
Measure for 271mm and 2.4 slots before ordering the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger. No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 6500 XT; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Features beyond the spec table
The Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle: three WINDFORCE fans. The Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC: a 128-bit memory interface. The ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC: DLSS 3 support.
How to Choose a GPUs for I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
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 dual BIOS switch | Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle | A dual BIOS switch |
| Buyers who put video memory first | Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC | The largest video memory here (16GB) |
| Buyers who want a 2-slot dual-fan design and can spend more than the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC costs | ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a 2-slot dual-fan design |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at 8GB. "Not listed" marks recommended power supply where the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Recommended PSU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock Arc A580 Challenger | Arc A580 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 650W |
| ASRock RX 6500 XT | RX 6500 XT | 4GB | GDDR6 | 400W |
| Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle | RTX 4060 Ti | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC | RX 7600 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC | RTX 4060 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 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 4060 V2 OC 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 4060 Ti Eagle, Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the largest video memory: the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC or the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger?
The Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC tops video memory at 16GB; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger follows at 8GB, 100% apart. The ASRock RX 6500 XT closes the ranking at 4GB.
How does the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger compare with the ASRock RX 6500 XT on recommended power supply?
Between the top two, it is 400W on the ASRock RX 6500 XT against 650W on the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, a 38% difference. No recommended power supply figure is published for the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
What makes the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC the Largest Video Memory?
The label rests on the largest video memory here (16GB). The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger is next on video memory at 8GB, so this pick's 16GB is 100% further out. The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the cheapest pick, sat in the $150 to $250 tier against $250 to $500 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It suits anyone who puts video memory first.
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 4060 Ti Eagle uses RTX 4060 Ti; the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC uses RX 7600 XT; the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC uses RTX 4060.
What should I check before buying the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle?
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle; 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 4060 Ti Eagle with the maker. In this guide it ranks third of 5, and third 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 4060 Ti Eagle: a dual BIOS switch.
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 4060 Ti Eagle for a dual BIOS switch and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC for the largest video memory here (16GB) if those matter more to you.
Confirm the card fits your case; many budget cards are compact but some are long.