Buying Guide
The Best GPUs Between $280 and $400
We weighed three graphics cards on video memory and cooler thickness; the Arc B580 Challenger has the largest video memory, and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
Between $280 and $400 you move from entry cards to real 1440p options. Every pick cost between $280 and $400 with 8GB or more, ordered by memory size.
We ranked these graphics cards on GPU, VRAM and memory using manufacturer specifications; we did not test these graphics cards ourselves, and where a maker leaves out thickness, we say so.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Largest Video Memory
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC
The largest video memory here (12GB).
Best for: Buyers who put video memory first.
Our take Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB OC
The cheapest way into this group, below the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge.
Best for: Spending as little as possible.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OC
Two 90mm BladeLink fans.
Best for: Buyers who want two 90mm BladeLink fans.
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 largest video memory here (12GB). | Buyers who put video memory first. | Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC (opens in a new tab) |
| The cheapest way into this group, below the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge. | Spending as little as possible. | Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB OC (opens in a new tab) |
| Two 90mm BladeLink fans. | Buyers who want two 90mm BladeLink fans. | Check price for ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OC (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Largest Video Memory1 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
- Buyers who put video memory first.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
ASRock's Challenger version is 249mm long and needs one 8-pin plug and a 650W PSU. Nothing else here matches its 12GB video memory; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB comes closest at 8GB. You get an arc B580 gpu here, which sets it apart from the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge and its an RTX 5050 gpu.
It also comes with 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. Power for the Arc B580 Challenger comes through 1 x 8-pin, with 650W the maker's minimum PSU. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge the nearest cheaper option.
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
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here2 of 3
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASRock's RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB brings AMD's RDNA 4 architecture to a budget card with 32 compute units.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
Its 8GB of memory is the compromise; the 16GB version costs more. On video memory it ties with the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge at 8GB. You get an RX 9060 XT gpu here, which sets it apart from the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge and its an RTX 5050 gpu.
It also offers a dual-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop. No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB with the maker.
No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge was closest. 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.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9060 XT
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Boost clock: 3290MHz
- Outputs: DisplayPort 2.1a, HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- 32 compute units with third-generation ray tracing
- Dual-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop
- 20Gbps memory on a 128-bit bus
- RX 9060 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- No published cooler thickness
Also Consider3 of 3
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 two 90mm BladeLink fans.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
It is the smallest NVIDIA option here for a compact case. It matches the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB on video memory (8GB). It is the only pick here with an RTX 5050 gpu; the Arc B580 Challenger has an arc B580 gpu instead.
You also get 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.
Its price falls between the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and the Arc B580 Challenger, based on our last check. If video memory is your priority, the Arc B580 Challenger (12GB) is the stronger choice.
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
- Video memory trails the Arc B580 Challenger (12GB)
- Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB 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 set side by side three cards on GPU, video memory, memory and cooler thickness 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 Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB gives no cooler thickness; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB gives no power connector.
- Price range
- From the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB to the Arc B580 Challenger, all sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a GPUs Between $280 and $400
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory across these picks
Here video memory runs from 8GB on the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge to 12GB on the Arc B580 Challenger. Start with the Arc B580 Challenger if video memory decides it.
What to check at home
Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the Arc B580 Challenger. No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. The Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case.
Extras that separate them
The Arc B580 Challenger: dual-fan cooling with 0dB fan stop. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB: a dual-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop. The Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge: a pass-through airflow design.
Budget
All 3 sat in one tier when we checked, from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB at the low end to the Arc B580 Challenger at the top, so decide on features first.
Start from what matters most
Buyers who put video memory first: the Arc B580 Challenger. Spending as little as possible: the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB.
How to Choose a GPUs Between $280 and $400
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put video memory first | Arc B580 Challenger | The largest video memory here (12GB) |
| Spending as little as possible | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB | The cheapest way into this group, below the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge |
| Buyers who want two 90mm BladeLink fans | Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge | Two 90mm BladeLink fans |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Arc B580 Challenger leads on video memory at 12GB, ahead of the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB at 8GB. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arc B580 Challenger | Arc B580 | 12GB | GDDR6 | 2-slot |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB | RX 9060 XT | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge | RTX 5050 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 2-slot |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB compare with the Arc B580 Challenger on video memory?
The Arc B580 Challenger leads at 12GB, with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB at 8GB.
What does the Arc B580 Challenger add over the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB?
On paper it adds video memory (12GB against 8GB). The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB 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 8GB our Lowest Price Here pick?
It earns the label for the cheapest way into this group, below the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge. It suits spending as little as possible.
Do the Arc B580 Challenger and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB differ on GPU?
The Arc B580 Challenger uses Arc B580; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB uses RX 9060 XT; the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge uses RTX 5050.
Will the Arc B580 Challenger work with my setup?
Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the Arc B580 Challenger. Power for the Arc B580 Challenger comes through 1 x 8-pin, with 650W the maker's minimum PSU. In this guide it ranks first of 3, as our Largest Video Memory pick.
What extras do the Arc B580 Challenger and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB include?
The Arc B580 Challenger: a 192-bit memory bus at 19Gbps. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB: 32 compute units with third-generation ray tracing. The Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge: two 90mm BladeLink fans.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Arc B580 Challenger, chosen for the largest video memory here (12GB). Look at the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB for the cheapest way into this group, below the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge for two 90mm BladeLink fans if those matter more to you.
Prefer a 12GB or 16GB card if you plan to keep it for several years.