Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for the Core i5-14600K
From the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB to the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE: five graphics cards ranked on video memory and cooler thickness, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
The i5-14600K has enough per-core speed for mid- to upper-mid cards. Every pick is an RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5070, RX 9060 XT or RX 9070-class card with 12GB or more.
Our comparison rests on published figures for GPU, VRAM and memory; nothing here was tested in-house, and where a maker leaves out thickness, we say so.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Slimmest Cooler Thickness
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OCThe slimmest cooler thickness here (2-slot).
Best for: Buyers who put cooler thickness first.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GBA dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles.
Best for: Buyers who want dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles.
Check price for ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB OC EditionA dual BIOS switch.
Best for: Buyers who want dual BIOS switch.
Check price for ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White Triple Fan 16GBA white triple-fan SWFT cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want white triple-fan SWFT cooler.
Check price for XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White Triple Fan 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
ASUS ATS Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12GB OC EditionThe top of this price range, adding a 2.5-slot design.
Best for: Spending more than the XFX Swift 9060 XT White costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Check price for ASUS ATS Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12GB OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Slimmest Cooler Thickness1 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC
ASRock's Challenger gives the RX 9060 XT a full 16GB of memory in a two-slot, 249mm card.
Best for
- Buyers who put cooler thickness first.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
Why we like it
The maker offers a 550W power supply and a single 8-pin plug, so it drops into most existing builds. It matches the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White on video memory (16GB). Nothing else here matches its 2-slot cooler thickness; the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB comes closest at 2.5-slot.
A 3290MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB uses a 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock. It also offers 32 compute units and 0dB fan stop at light load. Power for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes through 1 x 8-pin, with 550W the maker's minimum PSU. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB was the next step up.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 249mm
- Thickness
- 2-slot
- Recommended PSU
- 550W
- Power connector
- 1 x 8-pin
- Boost clock
- 3290MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Short 249mm length suits compact cases
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A modest 550W PSU recommendation
Also Consider2 of 5
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
The ASUS Dual RX 9060 XT 16GB offers a 3250MHz boost in OC mode with Quiet and Performance BIOS profiles and 0dB fan stop.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It matches the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White on video memory (16GB). On cooler thickness it ties with the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB and the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE at 2.5-slot. You get a 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB and its a 3330MHz (OC mode) boost clock.
You also get 0dB fan stop at light load. The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB with the maker. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and the pricier ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Boost clock
- 3250MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles
- 0dB fan stop at light load
- 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB OC Edition
What the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB brings to the table is a dual BIOS switch, plus dual ball fan bearings.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual BIOS switch.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It also offers a 16GB video memory and offers a 2.5-slot cooler thickness. On video memory it ties with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White at 16GB. It matches the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE on cooler thickness (2.5-slot).
No other pick in this guide offers a 3330MHz (OC mode) boost clock; compare the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, which has a 3290MHz boost clock. The ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB with the maker.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Boost clock
- 3330MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Dual BIOS switch
- Dual ball fan bearings
- 3330MHz (OC mode) boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White Triple Fan 16GB
The XFX Swift 9060 XT White stands out for a white triple-fan SWFT cooler, and it adds a boost clock of up to 3320MHz.
Best for
- Buyers who want white triple-fan SWFT cooler.
Skip if
- The maker gives no cooler thickness, so skip it if that figure decides your choice.
Why we like it
It also offers a 16GB video memory. It matches the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB on video memory (16GB). A 3320MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB uses a 3290MHz boost clock.
No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift 9060 XT White; 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 White with the maker. Buyers who need a confirmed cooler thickness should compare it with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, which comes in at 2-slot.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 3320MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- White triple-fan SWFT cooler
- Boost clock of up to 3320MHz
Cons
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
ASUS ATS Radeon RX 9070 GRE 12GB OC Edition
What the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE brings to the table is a 2.5-slot design, plus a dual BIOS switch.
Best for
- Spending more than the XFX Swift 9060 XT White costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Skip if
- Skip it if video memory matters most to you; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB offers 16GB.
Why we like it
It also offers a 12GB video memory and offers a 2.5-slot cooler thickness. On video memory it trails the group at 12GB, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB offers 16GB. It matches the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB on cooler thickness (2.5-slot).
You get an RX 9070 GRE gpu here, which sets it apart from the XFX Swift 9060 XT White and its an RX 9060 XT gpu. The ASUS ATS 9070 GRE occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE with the maker. At our last price check it topped the group, with the XFX Swift 9060 XT White the nearest cheaper option.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9070 GRE
- VRAM
- 12GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- 2.5-slot design
- Dual BIOS switch
- RX 9070 GRE gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Video memory trails the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB (16GB)
- Cooler thickness trails the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB (2-slot)
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing
The catch
Video memory is its weakest area, and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB covers it better at 16GB.
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 lined up five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and cooler thickness, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 1 of 5 picks leave out cooler thickness.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB to the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The XFX Swift 9060 XT White gives no cooler thickness; the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE gives no boost clock.
- Price range
- From the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB to the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE, all sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a GPUs for the Core i5-14600K
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB tops video memory at 16GB and the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE sits lowest at 12GB; 4 picks share the top figure. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB is the pick for video memory.
How much cooler thickness you need
Across these 4 picks cooler thickness spans 2.5-slot (the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE) to 2-slot (the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB). If cooler thickness is your first filter, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB sets the ceiling at 2-slot. The XFX Swift 9060 XT White gives no cooler thickness figure, so 4 of 5 picks are compared here.
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card Boost clock
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB lists 3290MHz; the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB lists 3250MHz (OC mode); the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB lists 3330MHz (OC mode); the XFX Swift 9060 XT White lists 3320MHz. Sort out boost clock before price: it splits 4 stated picks into groups of 1, 1, 1 and 1.
What to check at home
Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB. The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift 9060 XT White; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Features beyond the spec table
The ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB: dual ball fan bearings. The XFX Swift 9060 XT White: a boost clock of up to 3320MHz. The ASUS ATS 9070 GRE: a dual BIOS switch.
How to Choose a GPUs for the Core i5-14600K
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put cooler thickness first | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | The slimmest cooler thickness here (2-slot) |
| Buyers who want dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles | ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB | A dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles |
| Buyers who want dual BIOS switch | ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB | A dual BIOS switch |
| Buyers who want white triple-fan SWFT cooler | XFX Swift 9060 XT White | A white triple-fan SWFT cooler |
| Spending more than the XFX Swift 9060 XT White costs for the fullest feature set in this group | ASUS ATS 9070 GRE | The top of this price range, adding a 2.5-slot design |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB at 16GB. "Not listed" marks cooler thickness where the XFX Swift 9060 XT White leaves the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 2-slot |
| ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 2.5-slot |
| ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 2.5-slot |
| XFX Swift 9060 XT White | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS ATS 9070 GRE | RX 9070 GRE | 12GB | GDDR6 | 2.5-slot |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB ahead of the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB on cooler thickness?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes out best at 2-slot, with the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB at 2.5-slot. The XFX Swift 9060 XT White doesn't state a cooler thickness figure, so it sits outside this comparison; 4 of 5 picks are ranked.
Is the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE worth paying more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB?
The ASUS ATS 9070 GRE matches or trails the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB on video memory and cooler thickness. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB leads on video memory (16GB) and cooler thickness (2-slot). Both sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked, so choose on the features you need.
What makes the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB the Slimmest Cooler Thickness?
It carries the badge for the slimmest cooler thickness here (2-slot). The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB is next on cooler thickness at 2.5-slot, so this pick's 2-slot is 20% further out. It makes sense for anyone who puts cooler thickness first.
Do the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE differ on GPU?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB, the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White use RX 9060 XT; the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE uses RX 9070 GRE.
What should I check before buying the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE?
The ASUS ATS 9070 GRE occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS ATS 9070 GRE with the maker. In this guide it ranks fifth of 5, as our Premium Pick, and fifth of 5 on video memory (12GB).
Beyond the specs, what sets the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB apart?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB: 32 compute units. The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB: a dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles. The ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB: a dual BIOS switch.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, chosen for the slimmest cooler thickness here (2-slot). Look at the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB for a dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles, the ASUS Prime 9060 XT 16GB for a dual BIOS switch and the XFX Swift 9060 XT White for a white triple-fan SWFT cooler if those matter more to you.
Update the motherboard BIOS for the latest 14th-gen microcode before installing a new GPU.
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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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