Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Morrowind
Five graphics cards compared, from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to the ASUS TUF 5060 OC, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
For Morrowind, the card matters less than the monitor, memory and storage around it, so compare price and memory first. Every pick cost $600 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
We sorted these picks by GPU, VRAM and memory, working from the makers' own data; if a maker skips thickness, the guide says 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.
Slimmest Cooler Thickness
ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC
The slimmest cooler thickness here (2.4-slot).
Best for: Buyers who put cooler thickness first.
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 GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB OC Edition
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 GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB OC Edition (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti White OC Edition 8GB
A white finish.
Best for: Buyers who want white finish.
Our take Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti White OC Edition 8GB (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC Edition
The top of this price range, adding military-grade components with a protective PCB coating.
Best for: Spending more than the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Our take Check price for ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC Edition (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Slimmest Cooler Thickness1 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
- Buyers who put cooler thickness first.
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
It needs two 8-pin connectors and a 650W power supply. On video memory it ties with the ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB, the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White and the ASUS TUF 5060 OC at 8GB. On cooler thickness it leads this guide at 2.4-slot, ahead of the ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB (2.5-slot).
An arc A580 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB uses an RTX 5060 Ti gpu. Like the ASRock RX 6500 XT and ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White, it has GDDR6 memory, while the ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB uses GDDR7 memory. 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: recommended power supply of 650W, behind the ASRock RX 6500 XT (400W); by contrast, the ASRock RX 6500 XT offers 400W.
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
- Recommended power supply of 650W, behind the ASRock RX 6500 XT (400W)
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
- 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 Arc A580 Challenger leads at 8GB. It shares GDDR6 memory with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White; the ASUS TUF 5060 OC goes with GDDR7 memory.
A 2820MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASUS TUF 5060 OC uses a 2677MHz (OC mode) boost clock. It also offers 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 5060 Ti 8GB, 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 ASRock Arc A580 Challenger (8GB)
- No published cooler thickness
Strong Alternative3 of 5
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB is built around a dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles, with 0dB fan stop at light load on top.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles.
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
On the spec sheet, it offers an 8GB video memory and offers a 2.5-slot cooler thickness. On video memory it ties with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White and the ASUS TUF 5060 OC at 8GB. Its 2.5-slot cooler thickness ranks second of 3 here, behind the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger (2.4-slot) and ahead of the ASUS TUF 5060 OC (3.1-slot).
An RTX 5060 Ti gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 6500 XT uses an RX 6500 XT gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 2632MHz (OC mode) boost clock; compare the ASRock RX 6500 XT, which has a 2820MHz boost clock. You also get dual ball fan bearings.
It was priced above the ASRock RX 6500 XT and below the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White at the time of writing. There is no published recommended power supply figure, whereas the ASRock RX 6500 XT offers 400W.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 5060 Ti
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR7
- Thickness: 2.5-slot
- Boost clock: 2632MHz (OC mode)
- SFF-Ready: Yes
Pros
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- Dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles
- 0dB fan stop at light load
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
Worth a Look4 of 5
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti White OC Edition 8GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White brings to the table is a white finish, plus an Axial-tech fan design.
Best for
- Buyers who want white finish.
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
It also offers an 8GB video memory. It matches the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB and the ASUS TUF 5060 OC on video memory (8GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RTX 4060 Ti gpu; compare the ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB, which has an RTX 5060 Ti gpu.
It shares GDDR6 memory with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and ASRock RX 6500 XT; the ASUS TUF 5060 OC goes with GDDR7 memory. No dimensions are published for the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB and the pricier ASUS TUF 5060 OC, 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: RTX 4060 Ti
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
Pros
- White finish
- Axial-tech fan design
- Video memory of 8GB, ahead of the ASRock RX 6500 XT
- RTX 4060 Ti gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASUS TUF 5060 OC stands out for military-grade components with a protective PCB coating, and it adds ASUS GPU Guard support hardware.
Best for
- Spending more than the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
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 and offers a 3.1-slot cooler thickness. It matches the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB and the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White on video memory (8GB). On cooler thickness it trails the group at 3.1-slot, while the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes in at 2.4-slot.
It shares GDDR7 memory with the ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB; the ASRock RX 6500 XT goes with GDDR6 memory. A 2677MHz (OC mode) boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB uses a 2632MHz (OC mode) boost clock. The ASUS TUF 5060 OC occupies 3.1 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 5060
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR7
- Thickness: 3.1-slot
- Boost clock: 2677MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Military-grade components with a protective PCB coating
- ASUS GPU Guard support hardware
- Video memory of 8GB, ahead of the ASRock RX 6500 XT
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Its 3.1-slot cooler covers the slots below
- Cooler thickness trails the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger (2.4-slot)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We lined up five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and cooler thickness, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 2 of 5 picks leave out cooler thickness.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to the ASUS TUF 5060 OC, state GPU, video memory and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock RX 6500 XT and the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White give no cooler thickness; the ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB, the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White and the ASUS TUF 5060 OC 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 ASUS TUF 5060 OC ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Morrowind
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory
Here video memory runs from 4GB on the ASRock RX 6500 XT to 8GB on the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, a 100% spread. The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger is the pick for video memory.
How much cooler thickness you need
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger tops cooler thickness at 2.4-slot and the ASUS TUF 5060 OC sits lowest at 3.1-slot. If cooler thickness is your first filter, the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger sets the ceiling at 2.4-slot. The ASRock RX 6500 XT and the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White give no cooler thickness figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
Recommended power supply across these picks
The ASRock RX 6500 XT tops recommended power supply at 400W and the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger sits lowest at 650W. Start with the ASRock RX 6500 XT if recommended power supply decides it. The ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB, the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White and the ASUS TUF 5060 OC 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 and the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White list GDDR6; the ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB and the ASUS TUF 5060 OC 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 lists 1 x 8-pin. Sort out power connector before price: it splits 2 stated picks into groups of 1 and 1.
How to Choose a GPUs for Morrowind
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put cooler thickness first | ASRock Arc A580 Challenger | The slimmest cooler thickness here (2.4-slot) |
| 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 5060 Ti 8GB | A dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles |
| Buyers who want white finish | ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White | A white finish |
| Spending more than the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White costs for the fullest feature set in this group | ASUS TUF 5060 OC | The top of this price range, adding military-grade components with a protective PCB coating |
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 ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB at 8GB. "Not listed" marks cooler thickness where the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White 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 5060 Ti 8GB | RTX 5060 Ti | 8GB | GDDR7 | 2.5-slot |
| ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White | RTX 4060 Ti | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS TUF 5060 OC | RTX 5060 | 8GB | GDDR7 | 3.1-slot |
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 TUF 5060 OC 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 5060 Ti 8GB, ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White, ASUS TUF 5060 OC |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the slimmest cooler thickness: the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger or the ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB?
Between the top two, it is 2.4-slot on the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger against 2.5-slot on the ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB, a 4% difference. The ASUS TUF 5060 OC is at the other end of this group with 3.1-slot. The ASRock RX 6500 XT and the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White are left out of this ranking because their cooler thickness isn't stated; 3 of 5 picks are ranked.
How does the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger compare with the ASRock RX 6500 XT on recommended power supply?
The ASRock RX 6500 XT comes out best at 400W, with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at 650W. The ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB, the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White and the ASUS TUF 5060 OC don't state a recommended power supply figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
Is the ASUS TUF 5060 OC worth paying more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger?
The ASUS TUF 5060 OC matches or trails the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger on video memory and cooler thickness, so the extra spend buys only what the spec sheet doesn't show. It does not win everywhere: the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger still leads on cooler thickness (2.4-slot). The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger sat in the $150 to $250 tier and the ASUS TUF 5060 OC in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them.
What makes the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger the Slimmest Cooler Thickness?
It carries the badge for the slimmest cooler thickness here (2.4-slot). The ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB is next on cooler thickness at 2.5-slot, so this pick's 2.4-slot is 4% further out. It makes sense for anyone who puts cooler thickness 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 ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB uses RTX 5060 Ti; the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White uses RTX 4060 Ti; the ASUS TUF 5060 OC uses RTX 5060.
What should I check before buying the ASUS TUF 5060 OC?
The ASUS TUF 5060 OC occupies 3.1 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 TUF 5060 OC with the maker. In this guide it ranks fifth of 5, as our Premium Pick, and fourth of 5 on video memory (8GB).
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, chosen for the slimmest cooler thickness here (2.4-slot). Look at the ASRock RX 6500 XT for 0dB silent cooling at light load, the ASUS Dual 5060 Ti 8GB for a dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles and the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti White for a white finish if those matter more to you.
Put leftover budget toward a higher-refresh monitor or an SSD.