Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for The Last of Us Part I
Four graphics cards compared, from the Arc B580 Challenger to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read4 products evaluated
The Last of Us Part I names 8GB of video memory for its recommended tier, and higher texture presets use more. Every pick has at least 12GB and cost $520 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
The Last of Us Part I's official PC requirements list AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (8 GB), AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT (8 GB), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER (8 GB), or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (8 GB) and 16GB of RAM for the recommended tier (source: Steam store page). Matching brand to brand, the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB are a newer generation than the RX 5700 XT. The list names no Intel card we can rank, so the Arc B580 Challenger can't be matched against it directly. The source cites 8GB of video memory for the recommended tier, and every pick with a stated figure has at least that (12GB and 16GB).
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 4 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Spending as little as possible, with the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT the next step up.
Our take Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASRock Radeon RX 7700 XT Challenger 12GB OC
0dB silent cooling at light loads.
Best for: Buyers who want 0dB silent cooling at light loads.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7700 XT Challenger 12GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC
A white-and-silver Steel Legend finish.
Best for: Buyers who want white-and-silver Steel Legend finish.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Recommended Power Supply
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC
The lowest recommended power supply here (550W).
Best for: Buyers who put recommended power supply first.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 4
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Intel's Arc B580 brings 12GB of GDDR6 to the entry tier, more than the 8GB common at this price.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible, with the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT the next step up.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: video memory of 12GB, behind the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB).
Why we like it
ASRock's Challenger version is 249mm long and needs one 8-pin plug and a 650W PSU. It matches the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT on video memory (12GB). Its 650W recommended power supply ranks second of 3 here, behind the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB (550W) and ahead of the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (700W).
It is the only pick here with an arc B580 gpu; the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT has an RX 7700 XT gpu instead. It shares a 1 x 8-pin power connector with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend goes with a 2 x 8-pin power connector. A 2740MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB uses a 3290MHz boost clock. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT was the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: Arc B580
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Length: 249mm
- Thickness: 2-slot
- Recommended PSU: 650W
- Power connector: 1 x 8-pin
- Boost clock: 2740MHz
- Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 2.1, 1 x HDMI 2.1a
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Short 249mm length suits compact cases
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A single 8-pin power connector
Cons
- Video memory of 12GB, behind the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB)
Also Consider2 of 4
ASRock Radeon RX 7700 XT Challenger 12GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT stands out for 0dB silent cooling at light loads.
Best for
- Buyers who want 0dB silent cooling at light loads.
Skip if
- Skip it if video memory matters most to you; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend offers 16GB.
Why we like it
It also offers a 12GB video memory. It matches the Arc B580 Challenger on video memory (12GB). It is the only pick here with an RX 7700 XT gpu; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB has an RX 9060 XT gpu instead.
No dimensions are published for the ASRock Challenger 7700 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 ASRock Challenger 7700 XT with the maker. Its price falls between the Arc B580 Challenger and the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, based on our last check. If video memory is your priority, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB) is the stronger choice.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7700 XT
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR6
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- 0dB silent cooling at light loads
- RX 7700 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Video memory trails the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB)
- No published card length
- No published cooler thickness
Strong Alternative3 of 4
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Steel Legend adds a white-and-silver finish and a 2520MHz boost, and it has a 700W recommended power supply.
Best for
- Buyers who want white-and-silver Steel Legend finish.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables is a problem.
Why we like it
On video memory it ties with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at 16GB. On recommended power supply it trails the group at 700W, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB offers 550W. You get an RX 7800 XT gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT and its an RX 7700 XT gpu.
No other pick in this guide offers a 2 x 8-pin power connector; compare the Arc B580 Challenger, which has a 1 x 8-pin power connector. It is the only pick here with a 2520MHz boost clock; the Arc B580 Challenger has a 2740MHz boost clock instead. When we checked, only the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT and cheaper picks cost less, and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB cost more. If you want a confirmed card length, look to the Arc B580 Challenger instead: it comes in at 249mm, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7800 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Recommended PSU: 700W
- Power connector: 2 x 8-pin
- Boost clock: 2520MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- White-and-silver Steel Legend finish
- 700W recommended PSU
- RX 7800 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- No published card length
- No published cooler thickness
Lowest Recommended Power Supply4 of 4
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 recommended power supply first.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Arc B580 Challenger 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. It matches the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend on video memory (16GB). On recommended power supply it leads this guide at 550W, ahead of the Arc B580 Challenger (650W).
No other pick in this guide offers an RX 9060 XT gpu; compare the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, which has an RX 7700 XT gpu. It shares a 1 x 8-pin power connector with the Arc B580 Challenger; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend goes with a 2 x 8-pin power connector. You get a 3290MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and its a 2520MHz boost clock. It was the highest-priced of the 4 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the rest.
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 Arc B580 Challenger at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We compared four cards on GPU, video memory, memory and card length, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 2 of 4 picks leave out card length.
- The shared baseline
- All 4, from the Arc B580 Challenger to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT and the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend give no card length; the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT and the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend give no cooler thickness.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Arc B580 Challenger ($250 to $500) to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a GPUs for The Last of Us Part I
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend tops video memory at 16GB and the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT sits lowest at 12GB; 2 picks share the top figure. The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend is the pick for video memory.
How much recommended power supply you need
Across these 3 picks recommended power supply spans 700W (the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend) to 550W (the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB). The Arc B580 Challenger comes second at 650W, in the $250 to $500 tier against $500 to $1000 for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB. The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT gives no recommended power supply figure, so 3 of 4 picks are compared here.
Power connector
The Arc B580 Challenger and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB list 1 x 8-pin; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend lists 2 x 8-pin. Sort out power connector before price: it splits 3 stated picks into groups of 2 and 1.
What to check at home
Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the Arc B580 Challenger. No dimensions are published for the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB.
Features beyond the spec table
The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT: 0dB silent cooling at light loads. The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend: a 700W recommended PSU. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB: 20Gbps memory on a 128-bit bus.
How to Choose a GPUs for The Last of Us Part I
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible, with the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT the next step up | Arc B580 Challenger | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who want 0dB silent cooling at light loads | ASRock Challenger 7700 XT | 0dB silent cooling at light loads |
| Buyers who want white-and-silver Steel Legend finish | ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | A white-and-silver Steel Legend finish |
| Buyers who put recommended power supply first | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | The lowest recommended power supply here (550W) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at 16GB. "Not listed" marks card length where the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT and the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arc B580 Challenger | Arc B580 | 12GB | GDDR6 | 249mm |
| ASRock Challenger 7700 XT | RX 7700 XT | 12GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 249mm |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the Arc B580 Challenger, sat in the $250 to $500 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at $500 to $1000; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $250 to $500 | Arc B580 Challenger, ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend |
| About $500 to $1000 | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will these cards run The Last of Us Part I at recommended settings?
In The Last of Us Part I's list, the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB meet the recommended card on brand, generation and model number. The Arc B580 Challenger is outside the brands the list names, so look for an equivalent on The Last of Us Part I's page. Every pick also reaches the 8GB the source cites. The Last of Us Part I also lists 16GB of system RAM for that tier, which is separate from the card.
How does the Arc B580 Challenger compare with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB on recommended power supply?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes out best at 550W, with the Arc B580 Challenger at 650W. The spread runs down to the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at 700W. No recommended power supply figure is published for the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, which leaves 3 of 4 picks ranked here.
Is the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB worth paying more than the Arc B580 Challenger?
On paper it adds video memory (16GB against 12GB) and recommended power supply (550W against 650W). The Arc B580 Challenger sat in the $250 to $500 tier and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked, with 2 other picks between them; pay the difference only if video memory and recommended power supply decide your purchase.
What makes the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB the Lowest Recommended Power Supply?
The label rests on the lowest recommended power supply here (550W). The Arc B580 Challenger is next on recommended power supply at 650W, so this pick's 550W is 15% further out. The Arc B580 Challenger, the cheapest pick, sat in the $250 to $500 tier against $500 to $1000 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It suits anyone who puts recommended power supply first.
Do the Arc B580 Challenger and the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT differ on GPU?
The Arc B580 Challenger uses Arc B580; the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT uses RX 7700 XT; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend uses RX 7800 XT; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB uses RX 9060 XT.
What should I check before buying the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT?
No dimensions are published for the ASRock Challenger 7700 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 ASRock Challenger 7700 XT with the maker. In this guide it ranks second of 4, and fourth of 4 on video memory (12GB).
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Arc B580 Challenger, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT for 0dB silent cooling at light loads, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend for a white-and-silver Steel Legend finish and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB for the lowest recommended power supply here (550W) if those matter more to you.
Watch the in-game memory meter when you raise texture quality.