Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Return of the Obra Dinn
Five graphics cards compared, from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Return of the Obra Dinn 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 lowest price.
Our comparison rests on published figures for GPU, VRAM and memory; where a maker leaves out thickness, 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
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
A dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles.
Best for: Buyers who want dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles.
Our take Check price for ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 16GB
An XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler.
Our take Check price for XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 16GB (opens in a new tab)
Solid Runner-Up
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5060 Ti WINDFORCE OC 8G
A WINDFORCE cooling system.
Best for: Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooling system.
Our take Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5060 Ti WINDFORCE 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 Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G at 8GB. An arc A580 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB uses an RX 9060 XT gpu.
You also get 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 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: video memory of 8GB, behind the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB (16GB); by contrast, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB 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 ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB (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
- Pass on it if 4GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games rules it out for your setup.
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 ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB leads at 16GB. It is the only pick here with an RX 6500 XT gpu; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger has an arc A580 gpu instead.
A 2820MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB uses a 3320MHz boost clock. 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. Its price falls between the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, 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 ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB (16GB)
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASUS Dual RX 9060 XT 16GB offers a 3250MHz boost in OC mode with Quiet and Performance BIOS profiles and 0dB fan stop.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It matches the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB on video memory (16GB). Like the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, it has an RX 9060 XT gpu, while the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger uses an arc A580 gpu. You get a 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock here, which sets it apart from the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and its a 3320MHz boost clock.
The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB 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 9060 XT 16GB with the maker. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper ASRock RX 6500 XT and the pricier XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, 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 9060 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Thickness: 2.5-slot
- Boost clock: 3250MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles
- 0dB fan stop at light load
- 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
XFX's Swift RX 9060 XT is the cheapest 16GB card in this guide, with a dual-fan cooler and a 3320MHz boost.
Best for
- Buyers who want XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It suits 1440p at medium to high settings. It matches the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB on video memory (16GB). Like the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, it has an RX 9060 XT gpu, while the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G uses an RTX 5060 Ti gpu.
You get a 3320MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and its a 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock. No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the pricier Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G, 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: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Boost clock: 3320MHz
- Outputs: 1 x HDMI, 2 x DisplayPort
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler
- 3320MHz boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
Solid Runner-Up5 of 5
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5060 Ti WINDFORCE OC 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G stands out for a WINDFORCE cooling system, and it adds a 128-bit memory interface.
Best for
- Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooling system.
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
On video memory it ties with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at 8GB. An RTX 5060 Ti gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 6500 XT uses an RX 6500 XT gpu. It is the only pick here with GDDR7 memory; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger has GDDR6 memory instead.
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 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 Windforce 8G with the maker. There is no published cooler thickness figure, whereas the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes in at 2.4-slot.
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
- 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.
- How these picks were ranked
- 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 Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G, state GPU, video memory and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock RX 6500 XT, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G give no cooler thickness; the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G 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 Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Return of the Obra Dinn
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB tops video memory at 16GB and the ASRock RX 6500 XT sits lowest at 4GB; 2 picks share the top figure. The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB is the pick for video memory.
Cooler thickness across these picks
Across these 2 picks cooler thickness spans 2.5-slot (the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB) to 2.4-slot (the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger). If cooler thickness is your first filter, the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger sets the ceiling at 2.4-slot. The ASRock RX 6500 XT, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G give no cooler thickness figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Recommended power supply
Across these 2 picks recommended power supply spans 650W (the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger) to 400W (the ASRock RX 6500 XT). Start with the ASRock RX 6500 XT if recommended power supply decides it. The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G 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, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB list GDDR6; the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G lists GDDR7. Settling memory first narrows 5 picks to 4 or 1.
Power connector
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger lists 2 x 8-pin; the ASRock RX 6500 XT lists 1 x 8-pin.
How to Choose a GPUs for Return of the Obra Dinn
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 with Quiet and Performance profiles | ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB | A dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles |
| Buyers who want XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler | XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB | An XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler |
| Buyers who want WINDFORCE cooling system | Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G | A WINDFORCE cooling system |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB at 16GB. "Not listed" marks cooler thickness where the ASRock RX 6500 XT, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G 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 |
| ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 2.5-slot |
| XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 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 Windforce 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 | ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger ahead of the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB on cooler thickness?
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes out best at 2.4-slot, with the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB at 2.5-slot. The ASRock RX 6500 XT, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G are left out of this ranking because their cooler thickness isn't stated; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
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 ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G don't state a recommended power supply figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
What makes the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger the Lowest Price Here?
It carries the badge for a lower price than the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the rest when we checked. It makes sense for 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 ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB use RX 9060 XT; the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G uses RTX 5060 Ti.
What should I check before buying the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 8G?
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 5060 Ti Windforce 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 Windforce 8G with the maker. In this guide it ranks fifth of 5, and fourth 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 ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB: a dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles.
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 ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB for a dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles and the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB for an XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler if those matter more to you.
Install the latest driver from the maker after the card arrives.