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 , PC Hardware Editor

12 min read6 products evaluated

PC components laid out on a workbench ready for a build
Illustrative image

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We do not quote frame rates; performance depends on resolution, settings and the rest of the PC.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.

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.
XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 16GB

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).
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC

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.
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Twin Edge OC

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.
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC

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.
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 WINDFORCE OC 8G

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.
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC 12G

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.

The circuit board on the back of a graphics card
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card
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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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
    A graphics card's bare circuit board around the GPU die
  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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

PriorityConsiderWhy
1080p and 1440p playXFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GBA 16GB RX 9060 XT
Budget 1080p buildsArc B580 Challenger12GB of VRAM on a 249mm card
Small casesZotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin EdgeA 2-slot, 16GB RTX 5060 Ti
1440p at high settingsASRock 7800 XT Steel LegendA 16GB RX 7800 XT
1080p with DLSSGigabyte RTX 5060 WindforceAn 8GB RTX 5060
1440p on NVIDIAGigabyte 4070 WindforceA 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.

CardGPUVRAMMemoryThickness
XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GBRX 9060 XT16GBGDDR6Not listed
Arc B580 ChallengerArc B58012GBGDDR62-slot
Zotac 5060 Ti 16GB Twin EdgeRTX 5060 Ti16GBGDDR72-slot
ASRock 7800 XT Steel LegendRX 7800 XT16GBGDDR6Not listed
Gigabyte RTX 5060 WindforceRTX 50608GBGDDR7Not listed
Gigabyte 4070 WindforceRTX 407012GBGDDR6XNot 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 tierCards
About $250 to $500Arc B580 Challenger, Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend
About $500 to $1000XFX 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.

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

View all articles