Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Project Zomboid
Three graphics cards ranked on video memory and recommended power supply, where the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger has the largest video memory, and it also costs the least.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
11 min read3 products evaluated
Project Zomboid is light on the GPU; a budget card is plenty. Every pick cost $300 or less.
Rankings weigh GPU, VRAM and memory as the makers state them; if a maker skips recommended PSU, the guide says so rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Which of the 3 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Largest Video Memory
ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OCThe largest video memory here (8GB).
Best for: Buyers who put video memory first.
Check price for ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming D 4GB OC0dB silent cooling at light load.
Best for: Buyers who want 0dB silent cooling at light load.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming D 4GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
MSI GeForce RTX 3050 Ventus 2X 6G OCTwo HDMI 2.1a outputs 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.
Check price for MSI GeForce RTX 3050 Ventus 2X 6G OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The largest video memory here (8GB). | Buyers who put video memory first. | Check price for ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| 0dB silent cooling at light load. | Buyers who want 0dB silent cooling at light load. | Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming D 4GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Two HDMI 2.1a outputs at the highest price in the group. | Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger costs less. | Check price for MSI GeForce RTX 3050 Ventus 2X 6G OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Largest Video Memory1 of 3
ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC
ASRock's Arc A580 Challenger has 8GB on a 256-bit bus and supports XeSS upscaling.
Best for
- Buyers who put video memory first.
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. Nothing else here matches its 8GB video memory; the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X comes closest at 6GB. It is the only pick here with an arc A580 gpu; the ASRock RX 6500 XT has an RX 6500 XT gpu instead.
It also offers 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. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the ASRock RX 6500 XT was the next step up.
Key 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
- Largest video memory of the picks (8GB)
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)
The catch
The main gap: recommended power supply of 650W, behind the ASRock RX 6500 XT (400W). If that matters, the ASRock RX 6500 XT offers 400W.
Also Consider2 of 3
ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming D 4GB OC
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. On video memory it trails the group at 4GB, while the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger offers 8GB. An RX 6500 XT gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X uses an RTX 3050 gpu.
It also comes with 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. It was priced above the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and below the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X at the time of writing.
Key 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
The catch
It gives ground on video memory, where the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger offers 8GB.
Premium Pick3 of 3
MSI GeForce RTX 3050 Ventus 2X 6G OC
MSI's RTX 3050 Ventus 2X 6G OC has two HDMI 2.1a outputs and one DisplayPort, with DLSS support.
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 6GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It is built on the Ampere architecture with 6GB of GDDR6 at 14Gbps on a 96-bit interface and a 1492MHz boost clock. Its single DisplayPort output is version 1.4a, and the card carries two HDMI 2.1a ports. On video memory it sits mid-pack at 6GB: the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger offers 8GB, and the ASRock RX 6500 XT comes in at 4GB.
You get an RTX 3050 gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 6500 XT and its an RX 6500 XT gpu. It also comes with a dual-fan Ventus cooler. No dimensions are published for the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X with the maker. At our last price check it topped the group, with the ASRock RX 6500 XT the nearest cheaper option.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 3050
- VRAM
- 6GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 1492MHz
- Outputs
- 1 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 2 x HDMI 2.1a
Pros
- Two HDMI 2.1a outputs
- Dual-fan Ventus cooler
- DLSS support
- Video memory of 6GB, ahead of the ASRock RX 6500 XT
Cons
- 6GB 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
The catch
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.
How We Chose
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- What we compared
- We set side by side three cards on GPU, video memory, memory and recommended power supply from manufacturer specifications. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 7 fields compared are stated for every pick, while recommended power supply and power connector have gaps.
- What every pick has in common
- All 3, from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X gives no recommended power supply; the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X gives no power connector.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger ($150 to $250) to the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Project Zomboid
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory across these picks
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger tops video memory at 8GB and the ASRock RX 6500 XT sits lowest at 4GB. The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger is the pick for video memory.
How much recommended power supply you need
Here recommended power supply runs from 650W on the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to 400W on the ASRock RX 6500 XT, a 38% spread. Start with the ASRock RX 6500 XT if recommended power supply decides it. The MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X gives no recommended power supply figure, so 2 of 3 picks are compared here.
A graphics card's bare circuit board around the GPU die 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.
What to check at home
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.
Extras that separate them
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger: 0dB silent cooling at light load. The ASRock RX 6500 XT: a metal backplate. The MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X: a dual-fan Ventus cooler.
How to Choose a GPUs for Project Zomboid
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put video memory first | ASRock Arc A580 Challenger | The largest video memory here (8GB) |
| Buyers who want 0dB silent cooling at light load | ASRock RX 6500 XT | 0dB silent cooling at light load |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor, since the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger costs less | MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X | Two HDMI 2.1a outputs 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 MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X at 6GB. "Not listed" marks recommended power supply where the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X leaves 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 |
| MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X | RTX 3050 | 6GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger was the lowest-priced pick ($150 to $250) and the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X the highest ($250 to $500) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, ASRock RX 6500 XT |
| About $250 to $500 | MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X compare with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger on video memory?
Between the top two, it is 8GB on the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger against 6GB on the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X, a 33% difference. 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 Arc A580 Challenger?
The ASRock RX 6500 XT is lowest on recommended power supply at 400W; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger follows at 650W, 38% apart. The MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X is left out of this ranking because its recommended power supply isn't stated; 2 of 3 picks are ranked.
What does the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X add over the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger?
The MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X matches or trails the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger on video memory, so pay more only for a feature the spec sheet doesn't cover. The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger leads on video memory (8GB). On our last price check the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger was in the $150 to $250 tier and the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X in the $250 to $500 tier, with 1 other pick between them.
Why is the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger our Largest Video Memory pick?
It earns the label for the largest video memory here (8GB). On video memory it leads the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X, 8GB against 6GB, a 33% margin. 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 MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X uses RTX 3050.
Will the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X work with my setup?
No dimensions are published for the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X with the maker. In this guide it ranks third of 3, as our Premium Pick, and second of 3 on video memory (6GB).
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, chosen for the largest video memory here (8GB). Look at the ASRock RX 6500 XT for 0dB silent cooling at light load and the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X for two HDMI 2.1a outputs at the highest price in the group if those matter more to you.
The CPU matters more with big hordes.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards for 1440p Gaming
- Related guideThe Best Budget Graphics Cards
- Lower budgetThe Best GPUs Under $300
- Higher budgetThe Best High-End GPUs
- ExplainerHow Much VRAM Do You Need?
- ExplainerGPU Power Connectors Explained
- Check compatibility: power suppliesHow to choose a power supply for a PC build
- Similar guideThe Best AMD GPUs
- Topic hubAll graphics cards guides
About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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