Buying Guide
The Best Graphics Cards
Five graphics cards ranked on video memory and GPU; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB is the cheapest route in.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Current RTX 50 and RX 9000 cards cover every budget from 1080p to 4K. Every pick is one of those that cost $1,300 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
Rankings weigh GPU, VRAM and memory as the makers state them; if a maker skips boost clock, the guide says so rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB OCThe cheapest way into this group, below the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend.
Best for: Spending as little as possible, with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend the next step up.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB OCA triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
Best for: Buyers who want triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5050 WINDFORCE OC 8GA dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler.
Check price for GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5050 WINDFORCE OC 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 8GBA dual-fan SWFT cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want dual-fan SWFT cooler.
Check price for XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 8GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 WINDFORCE OC 8GThe highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler and can spend more than the XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB costs.
Check price for GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 WINDFORCE OC 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB OC
ASRock's RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB brings AMD's RDNA 4 architecture to a budget card with 32 compute units.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible, with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend the next step up.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games is a problem.
Why we like it
Its 8GB of memory is the compromise; the 16GB version costs more. It shares an RX 9060 XT gpu with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB; the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce goes with an RTX 5060 gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 3290MHz boost clock; compare the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, which has a 3320MHz boost clock.
You also get a dual-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop. No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB; 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 RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB with the maker. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend the next step up.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 3290MHz
- Outputs
- DisplayPort 2.1a, HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- 32 compute units with third-generation ray tracing
- Dual-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop
- 20Gbps memory on a 128-bit bus
- 3290MHz boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
Also Consider2 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB OC
ASRock's RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB uses a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop and a reinforced metal backplate.
Best for
- Buyers who want triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games is a problem.
Why we like it
Its 3320MHz boost is the highest among these cards. It shares an RX 9060 XT gpu with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB; the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce goes with an RTX 5060 gpu. Like the XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB, it has a 3320MHz boost clock, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB uses a 3290MHz boost clock.
You also get 20Gbps memory on a 128-bit bus. No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend; 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 RX 9060 XT Steel Legend with the maker. When we checked, only the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB cost less, and the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce cost more.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 3320MHz
- Outputs
- DisplayPort 2.1a, HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- Triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop
- Reinforced metal backplate
- 20Gbps memory on a 128-bit bus
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5050 WINDFORCE OC 8G
Gigabyte's RTX 5050 Windforce is the cheapest way into DLSS 4 here.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler.
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
The maker publishes few details, so confirm size and power needs on Gigabyte's page. An RTX 5050 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend uses an RX 9060 XT gpu. It also comes with a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler and a PCIe 5.0 interface.
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce; 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 RTX 5050 Windforce with the maker. It was priced above the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and below the XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5050
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
Pros
- Dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler
- PCIe 5.0 interface
- RTX 5050 gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 8GB
What the XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB brings to the table is a dual-fan SWFT cooler, plus a boost clock of up to 3320MHz.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual-fan SWFT cooler.
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 also offers an 8GB video memory. Like the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, it has an RX 9060 XT gpu, while the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce uses an RTX 5050 gpu. It shares a 3320MHz boost clock with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB goes with a 3290MHz boost clock.
No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB with the maker. Its price falls between the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce and the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 3320MHz
Pros
- Dual-fan SWFT cooler
- Boost clock of up to 3320MHz
- RX 9060 XT gpu
- 8GB video memory
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 WINDFORCE OC 8G
Gigabyte's RTX 5060 Windforce is the budget route to DLSS 4 and GDDR7 memory.
Best for
- Buyers who want a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler and can spend more than the XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB costs.
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
The maker publishes few details, so confirm length and power needs on Gigabyte's spec page before buying. It is the only pick here with an RTX 5060 gpu; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB has an RX 9060 XT gpu instead. You get GDDR7 memory here, which sets it apart from the XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB and its GDDR6 memory.
You also get a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler and a PCIe 5.0 interface. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce; 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 RTX 5060 Windforce with the maker. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5060
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
Pros
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler
- PCIe 5.0 interface
- RTX 5060 gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB at the time of writing
The catch
If video memory is your priority, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB (8GB) is the stronger choice.
How We Chose These Graphics Cards
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- The figures behind the order
- We set side by side five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and boost clock, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and boost clock and outputs are missing for at least one pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB to the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, state GPU, video memory and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce and the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce give no boost clock; the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce, the XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB and the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce give no outputs.
- Price range
- From the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB to the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, all sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Graphics Card
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Memory
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce and the XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB list GDDR6; the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce lists GDDR7. Sort out memory before price: it splits 5 stated picks into groups of 4 and 1.
Boost clock
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB lists 3290MHz; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and the XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB list 3320MHz. Settling boost clock first narrows 3 picks to 2 or 1.
A graphics card's bare circuit board around the GPU die Setup checks
No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Extras that separate them
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend: a reinforced metal backplate. The Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce: a PCIe 5.0 interface. The XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB: a boost clock of up to 3320MHz.
Budget
All 5 sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked, from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB at the low end to the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce at the top, so decide on features first.
How to Choose a Graphics Card
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible, with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend the next step up | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB | The cheapest way into this group, below the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend |
| Buyers who want triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop | ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend | A triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop |
| Buyers who want dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler | Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce | A dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler |
| Buyers who want dual-fan SWFT cooler | XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB | A dual-fan SWFT cooler |
| Buyers who want a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler and can spend more than the XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB costs | Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and the rest, as their makers list them.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Boost clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB | RX 9060 XT | 8GB | GDDR6 | 3290MHz |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend | RX 9060 XT | 8GB | GDDR6 | 3320MHz |
| Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce | RTX 5050 | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB | RX 9060 XT | 8GB | GDDR6 | 3320MHz |
| Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce | RTX 5060 | 8GB | GDDR7 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB our Lowest Price Here pick?
It earns the label for the cheapest way into this group, below the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend. It is aimed at spending as little as possible, with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend the next step up.
Do the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce differ on GPU?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and the XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB use RX 9060 XT; the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce uses RTX 5050; the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce uses RTX 5060.
Will the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB work with my setup?
No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB; 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 RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB with the maker. In this guide it ranks first of 5, as our Lowest Price Here pick.
What extras do the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend include?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB: 32 compute units with third-generation ray tracing. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend: a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop. The Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce: a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler.
Should I pick the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB or the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB suits spending as little as possible, with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend the next step up; the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce suits buyers who want a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler and can spend more than the XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB costs.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB, chosen for the cheapest way into this group, below the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend. Look at the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend for a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop, the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce for a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler and the XFX Swift 9060 XT 8GB for a dual-fan SWFT cooler if those matter more to you.
Match the card to your monitor resolution.
Related Guides
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- Lower budgetThe Best GPUs Between $280 and $400
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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