Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Metal Gear Solid V
Five graphics cards compared, from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Metal Gear Solid V sits well within what current cards offer, and the same card also covers heavier games in your library. Every pick cost $600 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain's official PC requirements list NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 and 8GB of RAM for the recommended tier (source: Steam store page). Matching brand to brand, the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G are a newer generation than the GTX 760. The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB can't be matched directly against that list.
Our comparison rests on published figures for GPU, VRAM and memory; where a maker leaves out length, we say so, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Requirements source: Steam store page
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)
Lowest Recommended Power Supply
ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming D 4GB OC
The lowest recommended power supply here (400W).
Best for: Buyers who put recommended power supply first.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming D 4GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB Twin Edge OC
Two 90mm BladeLink fans.
Best for: Buyers who want two 90mm BladeLink fans.
Our take Check price for ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB Twin Edge OC (opens in a new tab)
Largest Video Memory
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC
The largest video memory here (16GB).
Best for: Buyers who put video memory first.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G
A WINDFORCE cooling system.
Best for: Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooling system.
Our take Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G (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
- 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 needs two 8-pin connectors and a 650W power supply. On video memory it ties with the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G at 8GB. Its 2.4-slot cooler thickness is the thickest in this group; the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB leads at 2-slot.
On recommended power supply it trails the group at 650W, while the ASRock RX 6500 XT offers 400W. You get an arc A580 gpu here, which sets it apart from the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G and its an RTX 5060 Ti gpu. Like the ASRock RX 6500 XT and ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, it has GDDR6 memory, while the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB uses GDDR7 memory. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the ASRock RX 6500 XT was closest.
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
- Cooler thickness trails the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB (2-slot)
Lowest Recommended Power Supply2 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 put recommended power supply first.
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 RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB leads at 16GB. Its 400W recommended power supply is the lowest here; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes next at 550W.
No other pick in this guide offers an RX 6500 XT gpu; compare the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, which has an RX 9060 XT gpu. It shares GDDR6 memory with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB; the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G goes with GDDR7 memory. You also get 0dB silent cooling at light load and a metal backplate. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the pricier Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB, 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 ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB (16GB)
- No published cooler thickness
Also Consider3 of 5
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB Twin Edge OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB stands out for two 90mm BladeLink fans, and it adds a 2-slot SFF-ready body.
Best for
- Buyers who want two 90mm BladeLink 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
It also offers an 8GB video memory and offers a 2-slot cooler thickness. It matches the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G on video memory (8GB). On cooler thickness it ties with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at 2-slot.
It shares GDDR7 memory with the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G; the ASRock RX 6500 XT goes with GDDR6 memory. The Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB occupies 2 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 Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB with the maker.
Its price falls between the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, 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: RTX 5060 Ti
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR7
- Thickness: 2-slot
- SFF-Ready: Yes
- Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 2.1b, 1 x HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- Two 90mm BladeLink fans
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- No published recommended power supply
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
Largest Video Memory4 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 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
The maker offers a 550W power supply and a single 8-pin plug, so it drops into most existing builds. Its 16GB video memory is the largest here; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes next at 8GB. On cooler thickness it ties with the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB at 2-slot.
Its 550W recommended power supply ranks second of 3 here, behind the ASRock RX 6500 XT (400W) and ahead of the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger (650W). No other pick in this guide offers an RX 9060 XT gpu; compare the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB, which has an RTX 5060 Ti gpu. It shares GDDR6 memory with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and ASRock RX 6500 XT; the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G goes with GDDR7 memory. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB and the pricier Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G, at the time of writing.
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 Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
Strong Alternative5 of 5
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G brings to the table is a WINDFORCE cooling system, plus a 128-bit memory interface.
Best for
- Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooling system.
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
On video memory it ties with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB at 8GB. It shares an RTX 5060 Ti gpu with the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB; the ASRock RX 6500 XT goes with an RX 6500 XT gpu. Like the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB, it has GDDR7 memory, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB uses GDDR6 memory.
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G; 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 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G with the maker. There is no published card length figure, whereas the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes in at 249mm.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 5060 Ti
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR7
Pros
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- WINDFORCE cooling system
- 128-bit memory interface
- Video memory of 8GB, ahead of the ASRock RX 6500 XT
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- No published cooler thickness
- No published recommended power supply
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 card length as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 9 fields compared are stated for every pick, while card length and cooler thickness have gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G, state GPU, video memory and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock RX 6500 XT, the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G give no card length; the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G give no cooler thickness.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger ($150 to $250) to the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Metal Gear Solid V
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB tops video memory at 16GB and the ASRock RX 6500 XT sits lowest at 4GB. For less, the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger is the runner-up at 8GB ($150 to $250 tier).
Cooler thickness across these picks
Across these 3 picks cooler thickness spans 2.4-slot (the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger) to 2-slot (the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB). If cooler thickness is your first filter, the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB sets the ceiling at 2-slot. The ASRock RX 6500 XT and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G give no cooler thickness figure, so 3 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. If recommended power supply is your first filter, the ASRock RX 6500 XT sets the ceiling at 400W. The Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G give no recommended power supply figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
Memory
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB list GDDR6; the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G list GDDR7. Sort out memory before price: it splits 5 stated picks into groups of 3 and 2.
Power connector
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger lists 2 x 8-pin; the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB list 1 x 8-pin.
How to Choose a GPUs for Metal Gear Solid V
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 put recommended power supply first | ASRock RX 6500 XT | The lowest recommended power supply here (400W) |
| Buyers who want two 90mm BladeLink fans | Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB | Two 90mm BladeLink fans |
| Buyers who put video memory first | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | The largest video memory here (16GB) |
| Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooling system | Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G | A WINDFORCE cooling system |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at 8GB. "Not listed" marks card length where the ASRock RX 6500 XT, the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock Arc A580 Challenger | Arc A580 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 271mm |
| ASRock RX 6500 XT | RX 6500 XT | 4GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB | RTX 5060 Ti | 8GB | GDDR7 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 249mm |
| Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G | RTX 5060 Ti | 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 Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G at $500 to $1000; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, ASRock RX 6500 XT |
| About $500 to $1000 | Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB, ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will these cards run Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain at recommended settings?
In Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain's list, the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G meet the recommended card on brand, generation and model number. The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB are outside the brands the list names, so look for an equivalent on Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain's page. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain also lists 8GB of system RAM for that tier, which is separate from the card.
Is the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB ahead of the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger on video memory?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB leads at 16GB, with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at 8GB. The spread runs down to the ASRock RX 6500 XT at 4GB.
Which has the lowest recommended power supply: the ASRock RX 6500 XT or the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB?
The ASRock RX 6500 XT is lowest on recommended power supply at 400W; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB follows at 550W, 27% apart. The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger is at the other end of this group with 650W. The Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G don't state a recommended power supply figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 3 of 5 picks are ranked.
How does the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger compare with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB on card length?
Between the top two, it is 249mm on the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB against 271mm on the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, an 8% difference. No card length figure is published for the ASRock RX 6500 XT, the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
What makes the ASRock RX 6500 XT the Lowest Recommended Power Supply?
The label rests on the lowest recommended power supply here (400W). The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB is next on recommended power supply at 550W, so this pick's 400W is 27% further out. It gives up video memory (4GB against 8GB) to the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the cheapest pick. It suits anyone who puts recommended power supply 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 Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Gaming OC 8G use RTX 5060 Ti; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB uses RX 9060 XT.
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 the lowest recommended power supply here (400W), the Zotac 5060 Ti Twin Edge 8GB for two 90mm BladeLink fans and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB for the largest video memory here (16GB) if those matter more to you.
Put leftover budget toward a higher-refresh monitor or an SSD.