Buying Guide
The Best GPUs Under $300
We weighed three graphics cards on video memory and recommended power supply; the Arc B570 Challenger has the largest video memory, and the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
Under $300, the choice is between a few chips with different memory sizes. Every pick cost $300 or less when we checked, ordered by video memory.
Rankings weigh GPU, VRAM and memory as the makers state them; we did not test these graphics cards ourselves, and if a maker skips recommended PSU, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Largest Video Memory
ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC
The largest video memory here (10GB).
Best for: Buyers who put video memory first.
Our take Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC (opens in a new tab)
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)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The largest video memory here (10GB). | Buyers who put video memory first. | Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC (opens in a new tab) |
| 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) |
Our Picks
Largest Video Memory1 of 3
ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Arc B570 is the B580's cheaper sibling with 10GB of memory on a 160-bit bus.
Best for
- Buyers who put video memory first.
Skip if
- Skip it if you need to know its recommended power supply before buying; the maker doesn't publish one.
Why we like it
It was the least expensive card here at the time of writing and still offers three DisplayPort 2.1 outputs. Its dual striped axial fans stop completely at low load, and the card supports Intel XeSS 2 upscaling. Nothing else here matches its 10GB video memory; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes closest at 8GB.
You get an arc B570 gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 6500 XT and its an RX 6500 XT gpu. Like the ASRock RX 6500 XT, it has a 1 x 8-pin power connector, while the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger uses a 2 x 8-pin power connector. At our last price check it topped the group, with the ASRock RX 6500 XT the nearest cheaper option. 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.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: Arc B570
- VRAM: 10GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Power connector: 1 x 8-pin
- Boost clock: 2600MHz
- Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 2.1, 1 x HDMI 2.1a
Pros
- 10GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- A single 8-pin power connector
- 160-bit memory bus at 19Gbps
- 0dB fan stop
Cons
- No published recommended power supply
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here2 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 game rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It needs two 8-pin connectors and a 650W power supply. Its 8GB video memory ranks second of 3 here, behind the Arc B570 Challenger (10GB) and ahead of the ASRock RX 6500 XT (4GB). You get a 2 x 8-pin power connector here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 6500 XT and its a 1 x 8-pin power connector.
It also comes with 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 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 Arc B570 Challenger (10GB)
Also Consider3 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
- 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. On video memory it trails the group at 4GB, while the Arc B570 Challenger offers 10GB. An RX 6500 XT gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger uses an arc A580 gpu.
Like the Arc B570 Challenger, it has a 1 x 8-pin power connector, while the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger uses a 2 x 8-pin power connector. 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. It was priced above the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and below the Arc B570 Challenger at the time of writing.
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 Arc B570 Challenger (10GB)
- 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 lined up three cards on GPU, video memory, memory and recommended power supply, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and recommended power supply and boost clock are missing for at least one pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 3, from the Arc B570 Challenger to the ASRock RX 6500 XT, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Arc B570 Challenger gives no recommended power supply; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger gives no boost clock.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger ($150 to $250) to the Arc B570 Challenger ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a GPUs Under $300
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
The Arc B570 Challenger tops video memory at 10GB and the ASRock RX 6500 XT sits lowest at 4GB. The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes second at 8GB, in the $150 to $250 tier against $250 to $500 for the Arc B570 Challenger.
Recommended power supply
Here recommended power supply runs from 650W on the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to 400W on the ASRock RX 6500 XT, a 38% spread. If recommended power supply is your first filter, the ASRock RX 6500 XT sets the ceiling at 400W. The Arc B570 Challenger gives no recommended power supply figure, so 2 of 3 picks are compared here.
Power connector
The Arc B570 Challenger and the ASRock RX 6500 XT list 1 x 8-pin; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger lists 2 x 8-pin.
Fit and compatibility
No dimensions are published for the Arc B570 Challenger; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Measure for 271mm and 2.4 slots before ordering the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger.
Extras that separate them
The Arc B570 Challenger: 0dB fan stop. The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger: 0dB silent cooling at light load. The ASRock RX 6500 XT: a metal backplate.
How to Choose a GPUs Under $300
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put video memory first | Arc B570 Challenger | The largest video memory here (10GB) |
| 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 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Arc B570 Challenger leads on video memory at 10GB, ahead of the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at 8GB. "Not listed" marks recommended power supply where the Arc B570 Challenger leaves the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Recommended PSU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arc B570 Challenger | Arc B570 | 10GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock Arc A580 Challenger | Arc A580 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 650W |
| ASRock RX 6500 XT | RX 6500 XT | 4GB | GDDR6 | 400W |
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 Arc B570 Challenger 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 | Arc B570 Challenger |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the largest video memory: the Arc B570 Challenger or the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger?
Between the top two, it is 10GB on the Arc B570 Challenger against 8GB on the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, a 25% difference. The ASRock RX 6500 XT is at the other end of this group with 4GB.
Is the ASRock RX 6500 XT ahead of the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger on recommended power supply?
The ASRock RX 6500 XT is lowest on recommended power supply at 400W; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger follows at 650W, 38% apart. No recommended power supply figure is published for the Arc B570 Challenger, which leaves 2 of 3 picks ranked here.
What does the Arc B570 Challenger add over the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger?
What it brings is video memory (10GB against 8GB). On our last price check the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger was in the $150 to $250 tier and the Arc B570 Challenger in the $250 to $500 tier, with 1 other pick between them; pay the difference only if video memory decides your purchase.
Why is the Arc B570 Challenger our Largest Video Memory pick?
It carries the badge for the largest video memory here (10GB). On video memory it leads the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, 10GB against 8GB, a 25% margin. The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the cheapest pick, sat in the $150 to $250 tier against $250 to $500 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It makes sense for anyone who puts video memory first.
Do the Arc B570 Challenger and the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger differ on GPU?
The Arc B570 Challenger uses Arc B570; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger uses Arc A580; the ASRock RX 6500 XT uses RX 6500 XT.
Will the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger work with my setup?
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. In this guide it ranks second of 3, as our Lowest Price Here pick, and second of 3 on video memory (8GB).
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Arc B570 Challenger, chosen for the largest video memory here (10GB). Look at the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger for a lower price than the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the rest when we checked and the ASRock RX 6500 XT for 0dB silent cooling at light load if those matter more to you.
Check the 8-pin or 16-pin power connector against your PSU.