Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Minecraft
Three graphics cards ranked on video memory and card length, where the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB has the lowest recommended power supply; the Arc B580 Challenger is the cheapest route in.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
Minecraft with shaders is the only version that needs a strong card; vanilla runs on almost anything. Every pick has at least 8GB and cost $260 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
The order reflects GPU, VRAM and memory from maker specifications; a missing length is flagged, not filled in rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Spending as little as possible.
Our take Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC
A white-and-silver Steel Legend finish.
Best for: Buyers who want white-and-silver Steel Legend finish.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Recommended Power Supply
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC
The lowest recommended power supply here (550W).
Best for: Buyers who put recommended power supply first.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price of the group at our last check. | Spending as little as possible. | Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC (opens in a new tab) |
| A white-and-silver Steel Legend finish. | Buyers who want white-and-silver Steel Legend finish. | Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC (opens in a new tab) |
| The lowest recommended power supply here (550W). | Buyers who put recommended power supply first. | Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Intel's Arc B580 brings 12GB of GDDR6 to the entry tier, more than the 8GB common at this price.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible.
Skip if
- Skip it if video memory matters most to you; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend offers 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 trails the group at 12GB, while the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend offers 16GB. On recommended power supply it sits mid-pack at 650W: the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB offers 550W, and the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend comes in at 700W.
An arc B580 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB uses an RX 9060 XT gpu. Like the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, 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 cost the least of the 3 picks at the time of writing, with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend the next step up.
Key dimensions & 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 trails the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB)
Also Consider2 of 3
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Steel Legend adds a white-and-silver finish and a 2520MHz boost, and it has a 700W recommended power supply.
Best for
- Buyers who want white-and-silver Steel Legend finish.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when needs two 8-pin PCIe power cable is a problem.
Why we like it
It matches the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB on video memory (16GB). Its 700W recommended power supply is the highest in this group; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB leads at 550W. No other pick in this guide offers an RX 7800 XT gpu; compare the Arc B580 Challenger, which has an arc B580 gpu.
A 2 x 8-pin power connector is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB uses a 1 x 8-pin power connector. You get a 2520MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and its a 3290MHz boost clock. On price it sat second of 3, between the cheaper Arc B580 Challenger and the pricier ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its card length; if that figure matters, the Arc B580 Challenger comes in at 249mm.
Key dimensions & 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
- No published card length
- No published cooler thickness
Lowest Recommended Power Supply3 of 3
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASRock's Challenger gives the RX 9060 XT a full 16GB of memory in a two-slot, 249mm card.
Best for
- Buyers who put recommended power supply first.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Arc B580 Challenger, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
The maker offers a 550W power supply and a single 8-pin plug, so it drops into most existing builds. On video memory it ties with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at 16GB. Its 550W recommended power supply is the lowest here; the Arc B580 Challenger comes next at 650W.
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, 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 is the only pick here with a 3290MHz boost clock; the Arc B580 Challenger has a 2740MHz boost clock instead.
It also comes with 32 compute units and 0dB fan stop at light load. At our last price check it topped the group, with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend the nearest cheaper option.
Key dimensions & 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
Cons
- Costs more than the Arc B580 Challenger at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We compared three cards on GPU, video memory, memory and card length from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 3, from the Arc B580 Challenger to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend gives no card length; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend gives no cooler thickness.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Arc B580 Challenger ($250 to $500) to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Minecraft
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory
Here video memory runs from 12GB on the Arc B580 Challenger to 16GB on the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend. Start with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend if video memory decides it.
Recommended power supply across these picks
Here recommended power supply runs from 700W on the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend to 550W on the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB. For less, the Arc B580 Challenger is the runner-up at 650W.
Power connector
The Arc B580 Challenger and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB list 1 x 8-pin; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend lists 2 x 8-pin.
Fit and compatibility
Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the Arc B580 Challenger. No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB.
Extras that separate them
The Arc B580 Challenger: dual-fan cooling with 0dB fan stop. The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend: a 700W recommended PSU. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB: 20Gbps memory on a 128-bit bus.
How to Choose a GPUs for Minecraft
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible | Arc B580 Challenger | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who want white-and-silver Steel Legend finish | ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | A white-and-silver Steel Legend finish |
| Buyers who put recommended power supply first | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | The lowest recommended power supply here (550W) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at 16GB. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arc B580 Challenger | Arc B580 | 12GB | GDDR6 | 249mm |
| ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 249mm |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Arc B580 Challenger was the lowest-priced pick and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $250 to $500 | Arc B580 Challenger, ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend |
| About $500 to $1000 | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the lowest recommended power supply: the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB or the Arc B580 Challenger?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes out best at 550W, with the Arc B580 Challenger at 650W. The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend is at the other end of this group with 700W.
What does the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB add over the Arc B580 Challenger?
On paper it adds video memory (16GB against 12GB) and recommended power supply (550W against 650W). The Arc B580 Challenger was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if those gains matter to you.
Why is the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB our Lowest Recommended Power Supply pick?
It earns the label for the lowest recommended power supply here (550W). It suits anyone who put recommended power supply first.
Do the Arc B580 Challenger and the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend differ on GPU?
The Arc B580 Challenger uses Arc B580; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend uses RX 7800 XT; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB uses RX 9060 XT.
Will the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB work with my setup?
Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB. Power for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes through 1 x 8-pin, with 550W the maker's minimum PSU. In this guide it ranks third of 3, as our Lowest Recommended Power Supply pick.
What extras do the Arc B580 Challenger and the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend include?
The Arc B580 Challenger: a 192-bit memory bus at 19Gbps. The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend: a white-and-silver Steel Legend finish. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB: 32 compute units.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Arc B580 Challenger, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend for a white-and-silver Steel Legend finish and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB for the lowest recommended power supply here (550W) if those matter more to you.
Use Distant Horizons or render distance changes before buying a bigger card.