Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for There Is No Game
Three graphics cards compared, from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
There Is No Game does not push current hardware, so this guide compares cards by price, memory and what they leave for other games. 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 recommended PSU, the guide says so, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 3 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)
Largest Video Memory
PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB
The largest video memory here (16GB).
Best for: Buyers who put video memory first.
Our take Check price for PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A lower price than the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the rest when we checked. | Getting 256-bit memory bus for the least money. | Check price for ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC (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 (opens in a new tab) |
| The largest video memory here (16GB). | Buyers who put video memory first. | Check price for PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
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
- 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 sits mid-pack at 8GB: the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT offers 16GB, and the ASRock RX 6500 XT comes in at 4GB. An arc A580 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT uses an RX 7800 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 3 picks at the time of writing, with the ASRock RX 6500 XT the next step up.
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 PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT (16GB)
Also Consider2 of 3
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 PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT 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.
You also get 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 PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT, 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 PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT (16GB)
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
Largest Video Memory3 of 3
PowerColor Fighter AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT is built around 16GB of GDDR6.
Best for
- Buyers who put video memory first.
Skip if
- Its recommended power supply is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 16GB video memory. Nothing else here matches its 16GB video memory; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes closest at 8GB. No other pick in this guide offers an RX 7800 XT gpu; compare the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, which has an arc A580 gpu.
No dimensions are published for the PowerColor Fighter 7800 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 PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT with the maker. It was the highest-priced of the 3 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the rest. 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 7800 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- 16GB of GDDR6
- RX 7800 XT gpu, the only one here
- The largest video memory here (16GB)
Cons
- No published recommended power supply
- 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 three cards on GPU, video memory, memory and recommended power supply from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and recommended power supply and power connector are missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT gives no recommended power supply; the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT gives no power connector.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger ($150 to $250) to the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a GPUs for There Is No Game
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT 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).
Recommended power supply across these picks
Across these 2 picks recommended power supply spans 650W (the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger) to 400W (the ASRock RX 6500 XT). The ASRock RX 6500 XT is the pick for recommended power supply. The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT gives no recommended power supply figure, so 2 of 3 picks are compared here.
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.
Features beyond the spec table
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger: 0dB silent cooling at light load. The ASRock RX 6500 XT: a metal backplate. The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT: 16GB of GDDR6.
How to Choose a GPUs for There Is No Game
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 put video memory first | PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT | The largest video memory here (16GB) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at 8GB. "Not listed" marks recommended power supply where the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT 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 |
| PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 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 PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT 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 | PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger compare with the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT on video memory?
Between the top two, it is 16GB on the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT against 8GB on the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, a 100% difference. The ASRock RX 6500 XT closes the ranking at 4GB.
Is the ASRock RX 6500 XT ahead of the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger on recommended power supply?
The ASRock RX 6500 XT comes out best at 400W, with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at 650W. The PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT doesn't state a recommended power supply figure, so it sits outside this comparison; 2 of 3 picks are ranked.
Is the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT worth paying more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger?
On paper it adds video memory (16GB against 8GB). The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger sat in the $150 to $250 tier and the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked, with 1 other pick between them; pay the difference only if video memory decides your purchase.
What makes the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT the Largest Video Memory?
It carries the badge for the largest video memory here (16GB). The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger is next on video memory at 8GB, so this pick's 16GB is 100% further out. The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the cheapest pick, sat in the $150 to $250 tier against $500 to $1000 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It makes sense for 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 PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT uses RX 7800 XT.
What should I check before buying the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT?
No dimensions are published for the PowerColor Fighter 7800 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 PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT with the maker. In this guide it ranks third of 3, as our Largest Video Memory pick, and first of 3 on video memory (16GB).
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 and the PowerColor Fighter 7800 XT for the largest video memory here (16GB) if those matter more to you.
Check the card's power connector against your power supply before ordering.