Buying Guide
The Best Graphics Cards for Baldur's Gate 3
Six current cards above Larian's recommended Baldur's Gate 3 specification, compared on memory, size and price.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read6 products evaluated

Larian offers an NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super or AMD RX 5700 XT with 8GB of memory as the recommended graphics card for Baldur's Gate 3. Crowded city areas lean on the CPU as well.
Baldur's Gate 3's official PC requirements list Nvidia 2060 Super / RX 5700 XT / Intel Arc A580 and 16GB of RAM for the recommended tier (source: Baldur's Gate 3 on Steam). Matching brand to brand, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend are a newer generation than the RX 5700 XT; the Arc B580 Challenger is a newer generation than the Arc A580; the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce and the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce are a newer generation than the 2060 Super. The source cites 8GB of video memory for the recommended tier, and every pick with a stated figure has at least that (16GB, 12GB and 8GB).
We do not quote frame rates; performance depends on resolution, settings and the rest of the PC. We compared listed specifications from the card makers and retailer listings; we did not benchmark these cards.
Requirements source: Baldur's Gate 3 on Steam
Quick Picks
Which of the 6 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.

Best Match for Baldur's Gate 3
XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 16GBA 16GB RX 9060 XT.
Best for: 1080p and 1440p play.
Check price for XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget Pick
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC12GB of VRAM on a 249mm card.
Best for: Budget 1080p builds.
Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Compact NVIDIA Pick
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge OCA 2-slot, 16GB RTX 5060 Ti.
Best for: Small cases.
Check price for ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best for 1440p
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OCA 16GB RX 7800 XT.
Best for: 1440p at high settings.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Entry NVIDIA Pick
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 WINDFORCE OC 8GAn 8GB RTX 5060.
Best for: 1080p with DLSS.
Check price for GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 WINDFORCE OC 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Previous-Gen NVIDIA
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC 12GA 12GB RTX 4070.
Best for: 1440p on NVIDIA.
Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC 12G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Match for Baldur's Gate 31 of 6
XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 16GB
XFX's Swift RX 9060 XT is the cheapest 16GB card in this guide, with a dual-fan cooler and a 3320MHz boost.
Best for
- 1080p and 1440p play.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the Arc B580 Challenger cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It suits 1440p at medium to high settings. On video memory it ties with the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge and the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at 16GB. You get an RX 9060 XT gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and its an RX 7800 XT gpu.
Like the Arc B580 Challenger and ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, it has GDDR6 memory, while the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce uses GDDR6X memory. It is the only pick here with a 3320MHz boost clock; the Arc B580 Challenger has a 2740MHz boost clock instead. No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB; 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 RX 9060 XT 16GB with the maker.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 3320MHz
- Outputs
- 1 x HDMI, 2 x DisplayPort
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler
- RX 9060 XT gpu, the only one here
- 3320MHz boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the Arc B580 Challenger at the time of writing
The catch
If you want a confirmed cooler thickness, look to the Arc B580 Challenger instead: it comes in at 2-slot, while this one gives no figure.
Best Budget Pick2 of 6
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC
Intel's Arc B580 brings 12GB of GDDR6 to the entry tier, more than the 8GB common at this price.
Best for
- Budget 1080p builds.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: video memory of 12GB, behind the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB (16GB).
Why we like it
ASRock's Challenger version is 249mm long and needs one 8-pin plug and a 650W PSU. On video memory it ties with the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce at 12GB. You get an arc B580 gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and its an RX 7800 XT gpu.
Like the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, it has GDDR6 memory, while the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce uses GDDR6X memory. Like the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge, it has a 1 x 8-pin power connector, while the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend uses a 2 x 8-pin power connector. You also get a 192-bit memory bus at 19Gbps and dual-fan cooling with 0dB fan stop.
Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the Arc B580 Challenger. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce was closest.
Key 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 XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB (16GB)
The catch
What it gives up: video memory of 12GB, behind the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB (16GB); by contrast, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB offers 16GB.
Best Compact NVIDIA Pick3 of 6
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge OC
Zotac's RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge OC is a 2-slot, SFF-Ready card powered by a single 8-pin connector.
Best for
- Small cases.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Arc B580 Challenger was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
On video memory it ties with the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at 16GB. An RTX 5060 Ti gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce uses an RTX 4070 gpu. Like the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, it has GDDR7 memory, while the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB uses GDDR6 memory.
Like the Arc B580 Challenger, it has a 1 x 8-pin power connector, while the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend uses a 2 x 8-pin power connector. It also offers two 90mm fans with FREEZE fan stop and a metal backplate. The Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. It was priced above the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and below the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5060 Ti
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Thickness
- 2-slot
- Power connector
- 1 x 8-pin
- SFF-Ready
- Yes
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 2.1b, 1 x HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A single 8-pin power connector
Cons
- Costs more than the Arc B580 Challenger at the time of writing
The catch
There is no published recommended power supply figure, whereas the Arc B580 Challenger offers 650W.
Best for 1440p4 of 6
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC
The Steel Legend adds a white-and-silver finish and a 2520MHz boost, and it has a 700W recommended power supply.
Best for
- 1440p at high settings.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables is a problem.
Why we like it
It matches the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge on video memory (16GB). It is the only pick here with an RX 7800 XT gpu; the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce has an RTX 4070 gpu instead. It shares GDDR6 memory with the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and Arc B580 Challenger; the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce goes with GDDR7 memory.
You get a 2 x 8-pin power connector here, which sets it apart from the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge and its a 1 x 8-pin power connector. No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Power for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend comes through 2 x 8-pin, with 700W the maker's minimum PSU. Its price falls between the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce and the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, based on our last check.
Key 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
- Costs more than the Arc B580 Challenger at the time of writing
The catch
Buyers who need a confirmed cooler thickness should compare it with the Arc B580 Challenger, which comes in at 2-slot.
Best Entry NVIDIA Pick5 of 6
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 WINDFORCE OC 8G
Gigabyte's RTX 5060 Windforce is the budget route to DLSS 4 and GDDR7 memory.
Best for
- 1080p with DLSS.
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 length and power needs on Gigabyte's spec page before buying. Its 8GB video memory is the smallest in this group; the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB leads at 16GB. No other pick in this guide offers an RTX 5060 gpu; compare the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, which has an RX 7800 XT gpu.
It shares GDDR7 memory with the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge; the Arc B580 Challenger goes with GDDR6 memory. It also offers 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. On price it sat second of 6, between the cheaper Arc B580 Challenger and the pricier ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, at the time of writing.
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
- Video memory trails the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB (16GB)
- Costs more than the Arc B580 Challenger at the time of writing
The catch
The trade-off is video memory; for more, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB offers 16GB.
Best Previous-Gen NVIDIA6 of 6
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC 12G
This Gigabyte Windforce OC RTX 4070 adds a dual BIOS switch and an anti-sag bracket, and it was the least expensive RTX 4070 here at the time of writing.
Best for
- 1440p on NVIDIA.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Arc B580 Challenger, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It supports DLSS 3 frame generation, and third-generation RT cores give up to twice the ray tracing performance. On video memory it ties with the Arc B580 Challenger at 12GB. You get an RTX 4070 gpu here, which sets it apart from the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and its an RX 9060 XT gpu.
No other pick in this guide offers GDDR6X memory; compare the Arc B580 Challenger, which has GDDR6 memory. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 4070 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 4070 Windforce with the maker. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge the nearest cheaper option.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 4070
- VRAM
- 12GB
- Memory
- GDDR6X
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Dual BIOS switch
- Anti-sag bracket in the box
- RTX 4070 gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the Arc B580 Challenger at the time of writing
The catch
If you want a confirmed cooler thickness, look to the Arc B580 Challenger instead: it comes in at 2-slot, while this one gives no figure.
How We Chose
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.

- What we compared
- We compared six cards on GPU, video memory, memory and cooler thickness as the makers state them. These are research figures, not bench results: 4 of 6 picks leave out cooler thickness.
- What every pick has in common
- All 6, from the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB to the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce, state GPU, video memory and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce and the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce give no cooler thickness; the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce and the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce give no recommended power supply.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Arc B580 Challenger ($250 to $500) to the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Baldur's Gate 3
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
Here video memory runs from 8GB on the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce to 16GB on the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, a 100% spread. Start with the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB if video memory decides it.
Recommended power supply
Across these 2 picks recommended power supply spans 700W (the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend) to 650W (the Arc B580 Challenger). If recommended power supply is your first filter, the Arc B580 Challenger sets the ceiling at 650W. The XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce and the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce give no recommended power supply figure, so 2 of 6 picks are compared here.

A graphics card's bare circuit board around the GPU die Memory
The XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, the Arc B580 Challenger and the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend list GDDR6; the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge and the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce list GDDR7; the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce lists GDDR6X.
Power connector
The Arc B580 Challenger and the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge list 1 x 8-pin; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend lists 2 x 8-pin. Settling power connector first narrows 3 picks to 2 or 1.
What to check at home
No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the Arc B580 Challenger. The Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case.
How to Choose a GPUs for Baldur's Gate 3
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p and 1440p play | XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB | A 16GB RX 9060 XT |
| Budget 1080p builds | Arc B580 Challenger | 12GB of VRAM on a 249mm card |
| Small cases | Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge | A 2-slot, 16GB RTX 5060 Ti |
| 1440p at high settings | ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | A 16GB RX 7800 XT |
| 1080p with DLSS | Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce | An 8GB RTX 5060 |
| 1440p on NVIDIA | Gigabyte 4070 Windforce | A 12GB RTX 4070 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge at 16GB. "Not listed" marks cooler thickness where the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce and the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Arc B580 Challenger | Arc B580 | 12GB | GDDR6 | 2-slot |
| Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge | RTX 5060 Ti | 16GB | GDDR7 | 2-slot |
| ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce | RTX 5060 | 8GB | GDDR7 | Not listed |
| Gigabyte 4070 Windforce | RTX 4070 | 12GB | GDDR6X | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Arc B580 Challenger was the lowest-priced pick ($250 to $500) and the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce the highest ($500 to $1000) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $250 to $500 | Arc B580 Challenger, Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend |
| About $500 to $1000 | XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge, Gigabyte 4070 Windforce |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will these cards run Baldur's Gate 3 at recommended settings?
In Baldur's Gate 3's list, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, the Arc B580 Challenger, the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge, the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce and the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce meet the recommended card on brand, generation and model number. Every pick also reaches the 8GB the source cites. Baldur's Gate 3 also lists 16GB of system RAM for that tier, which is separate from the card.
Is the Arc B580 Challenger ahead of the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend on recommended power supply?
The Arc B580 Challenger is lowest on recommended power supply at 650W; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend follows at 700W, 7% apart. No recommended power supply figure is published for the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce and the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce, which leaves 2 of 6 picks ranked here.
Why is the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend our Best for 1440p pick?
It carries the badge for a 16GB RX 7800 XT. The price of that: the Arc B580 Challenger, the cheapest pick, still beats it on recommended power supply (650W against 700W). It makes sense for 1440p at high settings.
Do the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the Arc B580 Challenger differ on GPU?
The XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB uses RX 9060 XT; the Arc B580 Challenger uses Arc B580; the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge uses RTX 5060 Ti; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend uses RX 7800 XT; the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce uses RTX 5060; the Gigabyte 4070 Windforce uses RTX 4070.
Will the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge work with my setup?
The Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Power for the Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge comes through 1 x 8-pin. In this guide it ranks third of 6, as our Best Compact NVIDIA Pick, and second of 6 on video memory (16GB).
What extras do the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the Arc B580 Challenger include?
The XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB: an XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler. The Arc B580 Challenger: a 192-bit memory bus at 19Gbps. The Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge: two 90mm fans with FREEZE fan stop.
Bottom Line
XFX's 16GB RX 9060 XT is the best-matched card for Baldur's Gate 3 here. The Arc B580 is the budget pick, Zotac's RTX 5060 Ti 16GB suits small cases, and the RX 7800 XT is the choice for 1440p.
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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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