Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Mass Effect
We weighed five graphics cards on video memory and card length, and the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Mass Effect 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.
We ranked these graphics cards on GPU, VRAM and memory using manufacturer specifications; we did not test these graphics cards ourselves, and where a maker leaves out length, we say so.
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 ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D 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
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC
32 compute units.
Best for: Buyers who want 32 compute units.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
ASRock Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8GB
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 6600 Challenger D 8GB (opens in a new tab)
Solid Runner-Up
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 V2 OC Edition
A 2-slot dual-fan design.
Best for: Buyers who want 2-slot dual-fan design.
Our take Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 V2 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 ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D costs less.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 16GB video memory. On video memory it ties with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at 16GB. An RX 7800 XT gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB 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 ASUS ATS 9070 GRE came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks. There is no published card length figure, whereas the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes in at 249mm.
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
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D 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 ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D 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. Its 12GB video memory ranks third of 5 here, behind the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT (16GB) and ahead of the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC (8GB). It is the only pick here with an RX 9070 GRE gpu; the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT has an RX 7800 XT gpu instead.
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 ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed card length should compare it with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, which comes in at 249mm.
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
- RX 9070 GRE gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 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
- Buyers who want 32 compute units.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
The maker offers a 550W power supply and a single 8-pin plug, so it drops into most existing builds. On video memory it ties with the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT at 16GB. You get an RX 9060 XT gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC and its an RTX 4060 gpu.
It also offers 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. When we checked, only the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC and cheaper picks cost less, and the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE cost more.
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
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASRock's RX 6600 Challenger D is 269mm long, uses one 8-pin connector and stops its fans at light load.
Best for
- Buyers who want 0dB silent cooling at light load.
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 is a previous-generation 8GB card still sold new. It supports AMD FSR upscaling for higher frame rates in supported games. Its single 8-pin connector suits older power supplies.
It matches the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC on video memory (8GB). It is the only pick here with an RX 6600 gpu; the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT has an RX 7800 XT gpu instead. You also get a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface and a dual-fan cooler.
The ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D is 269mm long; compare that with your case's GPU limit. Buyers who need a confirmed cooler thickness should compare it with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, which comes in at 2-slot.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 6600
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Length: 269mm
- Power connector: 1 x 8-pin
- Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.1
Pros
- A single 8-pin power connector
- 0dB silent cooling at light load
- PCIe 4.0 x8 interface
- Dual-fan cooler
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory of 8GB, behind the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT (16GB)
Solid Runner-Up5 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 2-slot dual-fan design.
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 also offers an 8GB video memory. It matches the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D on video memory (8GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RTX 4060 gpu; compare the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, which has an RX 9060 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. The trade-off is video memory; for more, the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT offers 16GB.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 4060
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
Pros
- 2-slot dual-fan design
- DLSS 3 support
- RTX 4060 gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- 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 card length from manufacturer specifications. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 6 fields compared are stated for every pick, while card length and cooler thickness have gaps.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT to the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT, the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE and the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC give no card length; the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT, the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D and the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC give no cooler thickness.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D ($250 to $500) to the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Mass Effect
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory across these picks
Across these 5 picks video memory spans 8GB (the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC) to 16GB (the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT). The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes second at 16GB, in the $500 to $1000 tier against $500 to $1000 for the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT.
How much card length you need
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB tops card length at 249mm and the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D sits lowest at 269mm. If card length is your first filter, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB sets the ceiling at 249mm. The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT, the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE and the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC give no card length figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
How much cooler thickness you need
Here cooler thickness runs from 2.5-slot on the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE to 2-slot on the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, a 20% spread. If cooler thickness is your first filter, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB sets the ceiling at 2-slot. The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT, the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D and the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC give no cooler thickness figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
What to check at home
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. Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB.
Extras that separate them
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB: 20Gbps memory on a 128-bit bus. The ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D: a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface. The ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC: DLSS 3 support.
How to Choose a GPUs for Mass Effect
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D 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 32 compute units | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | 32 compute units |
| Buyers who want 0dB silent cooling at light load | ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D | 0dB silent cooling at light load |
| Buyers who want 2-slot dual-fan design | ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC | A 2-slot dual-fan design |
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 ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at 16GB. "Not listed" marks card length where the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT, the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE and the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS ATS 9070 GRE | RX 9070 GRE | 12GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 249mm |
| ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D | RX 6600 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 269mm |
| ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC | RTX 4060 | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D was the lowest-priced pick ($250 to $500) and the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT the highest ($500 to $1000) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $250 to $500 | ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D, ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC |
| About $500 to $1000 | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, ASUS ATS 9070 GRE, PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D compare with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB on card length?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes out best at 249mm, with the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D at 269mm. The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT, the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE and the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC don't state a card length figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
Which has the slimmest cooler thickness: the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB or the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE?
Between the top two, it is 2-slot on the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB against 2.5-slot on the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE, a 20% difference. The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT, the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D and the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC are left out of this ranking because their cooler thickness isn't stated; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
What does the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT add over the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D?
The spec sheets show video memory (16GB against 8GB) in its favour. On our last price check the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D was in the $250 to $500 tier and the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT in the $500 to $1000 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if video memory decides your purchase.
Why is the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT our Premium Pick?
The label rests on 16GB of GDDR6 at the highest price in the group. The ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D, the cheapest pick, sat in the $250 to $500 tier against $500 to $1000 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It makes sense for buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D costs less.
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 uses RX 9070 GRE; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB uses RX 9060 XT; the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D uses RX 6600; the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 OC uses RTX 4060.
Will the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB work with my setup?
Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB. Power for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes through 1 x 8-pin, with 550W the maker's minimum PSU. In this guide it ranks third of 5, and second of 5 on video memory (16GB).
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 ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB for 32 compute units and the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D for 0dB silent cooling at light load if those matter more to you.
Match the card's video outputs to your monitor's HDMI or DisplayPort inputs.