Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for First Builds
Four graphics cards ranked on video memory and GPU, where the Arc B570 Challenger has the largest video memory; the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D is the cheapest route in.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read4 products evaluated
A first GPU should be easy to power and fit. Every pick needs one 8-pin connector and cost $400 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
Our 4 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8GB
The lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing.
Best for: Getting 0dB silent cooling at light load for the least money.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8GB (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
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)
Premium Pick
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OC
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with two 90mm BladeLink fans.
Best for: Buyers who want the most complete package.
Our take Check price for ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OC (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing. | Getting 0dB silent cooling at light load for the least money. | Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8GB (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 (10GB). | Buyers who put video memory first. | Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with two 90mm BladeLink fans. | Buyers who want the most complete package. | Check price for ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OC (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 4
ASRock Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASRock's RX 6600 Challenger D is 269mm long, uses one 8-pin connector and stops its fans at light load.
Best for
- Getting 0dB silent cooling at light load for the least money.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent game is a problem.
Why we like it
It is a previous-generation 8GB card still sold new. It supports AMD FSR upscaling for higher frame rates in supported games. Its single 8-pin connector suits older power supplies.
It matches the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge on video memory (8GB). It is the only pick here with an RX 6600 gpu; the Arc B570 Challenger has an arc B570 gpu instead. You also get a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface and a dual-fan cooler.
The ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D is 269mm long; compare that with your case's GPU limit. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the ASRock RX 6500 XT was the next step up. The main gap: video memory of 8GB, behind the Arc B570 Challenger (10GB). If that matters, the Arc B570 Challenger offers 10GB.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 6600
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Length: 269mm
- Power connector: 1 x 8-pin
- Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.1
Pros
- A single 8-pin power connector
- 0dB silent cooling at light load
- PCIe 4.0 x8 interface
- Dual-fan cooler
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory of 8GB, behind the Arc B570 Challenger (10GB)
Also Consider2 of 4
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
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 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. You get an RX 6500 XT gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D and its an RX 6600 gpu.
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. When we checked, only the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D cost less, and the Arc B570 Challenger cost more.
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 RX 6600 Challenger D at the time of writing
Largest Video Memory3 of 4
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 price comes first: the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D cost less when we checked.
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 10GB video memory is the largest here; the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D comes next at 8GB. An arc B570 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D uses an RX 6600 gpu.
You also get 0dB fan stop. No dimensions are published for the Arc B570 Challenger; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Power for the Arc B570 Challenger comes through 1 x 8-pin. It was priced above the ASRock RX 6500 XT and below the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge at the time of writing.
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
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D at the time of writing
Premium Pick4 of 4
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Zotac's RTX 5050 Twin Edge is a two-slot, SFF-Ready card with two 90mm fans and one 8-pin plug.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most complete package.
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 is the smallest NVIDIA option here for a compact case. It matches the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D on video memory (8GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RTX 5050 gpu; compare the Arc B570 Challenger, which has an arc B570 gpu.
It also comes with a pass-through airflow design and a metal backplate. The Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. SFF-Ready is NVIDIA's size guideline, not a guarantee the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge fits every small case. It was the highest-priced of the 4 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Arc B570 Challenger and the rest.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 5050
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Thickness: 2-slot
- Power connector: 1 x 8-pin
- SFF-Ready: Yes
- Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 2.1b, 1 x HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A single 8-pin power connector
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- Two 90mm BladeLink fans
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Price tier
- We grouped picks by price at the time of writing rather than by listed clock speed.
- Cooling and extras
- We checked cooler design, fan-stop modes, dual BIOS, support brackets and display outputs.
- Fit
- We recorded length and slot thickness where the maker lists them, plus low-profile and SFF-Ready status.
- Power
- We noted the power connector and recommended power supply where listed.
What to Look for in a GPUs for First Builds
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Treat 8GB of VRAM as the floor
Some recent games already push past 8GB at high texture settings. Cards with 12GB or 16GB give more room, especially at 1440p and above.
Two versions of the same chip can differ only in memory; check the capacity in the exact model name.
Plan the power connector and PSU
Cards use one or two 8-pin PCIe plugs or a single 16-pin 12V-2x6 plug. Confirm your power supply has the right cables and meets the maker's recommended wattage.
Compare upscaling and encoders
NVIDIA cards support DLSS, AMD cards FSR and Intel cards XeSS. Each game supports a different mix, so check the titles you play.
Streamers should also compare hardware video encoders.
Cooler size affects noise
Larger triple-fan coolers usually run quieter under load than compact dual-fan designs. A 0dB mode stops the fans at light load.
Pair it with a balanced CPU
A fast card with an old CPU can stall at high frame rates, especially at 1080p. At 4K the GPU does most of the work, so the CPU matters less.
Match the card to your monitor
Resolution and refresh rate decide how much GPU you need. A 1080p screen at 144Hz asks far less than 1440p at 165Hz or 4K.
Buy for the monitor you use now or will buy soon, not for a resolution you may never run.
How to Choose a GPUs for First Builds
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Getting 0dB silent cooling at light load for the least money | ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D | The lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing |
| 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 | Arc B570 Challenger | The largest video memory here (10GB) |
| Buyers who want the most complete package | Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with two 90mm BladeLink fans |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Power connector |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D | RX 6600 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 1 x 8-pin |
| ASRock RX 6500 XT | RX 6500 XT | 4GB | GDDR6 | 1 x 8-pin |
| Arc B570 Challenger | Arc B570 | 10GB | GDDR6 | 1 x 8-pin |
| Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge | RTX 5050 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 1 x 8-pin |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
Prices change often; these tiers reflect Amazon prices when this guide was updated.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D, ASRock RX 6500 XT |
| About $250 to $500 | Arc B570 Challenger, Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which pick leads on video memory?
The Arc B570 Challenger, at 10GB. The ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D follows at 8GB, while the ASRock RX 6500 XT has 4GB.
Which pick costs the least here?
The ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D cost the least when we checked, and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge sat at the top of the range. Prices move often, so check the current listing before buying.
Will my CPU hold the card back?
It depends on resolution and the games you play. At 1080p and high refresh rates the CPU matters more; at 4K the GPU sets the limit.
Do I need a GPU support bracket?
Long, heavy cards can sag and stress the slot. Some come with a support stand or bracket; otherwise one is inexpensive to add.
Do partner cards of the same GPU perform differently?
Only slightly. Factory overclocks add a few percent at most; cooling, noise, size and price differ more.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D, chosen for the lowest price among these graphics cards at the time of writing. Look at the ASRock RX 6500 XT for 0dB silent cooling at light load, the Arc B570 Challenger for the largest video memory here (10GB) and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with two 90mm BladeLink fans if those matter more to you.
Install the latest driver from the GPU maker's site before playing.