Buying Guide
The Best Current-Generation Graphics Cards
From the Arc B570 Challenger to the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna: five graphics cards ranked on video memory and GPU, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
The current generation brings RTX 50-series, Radeon RX 9000 and Intel Arc B-series cards. Every pick is from those lines, ordered from the lowest listed price.
Our comparison rests on published figures for GPU, VRAM and memory; nothing here was tested in-house, and where a maker leaves out boost clock, we say so.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OCA lower price than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Keeping the cost under $500.
Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB OC32 compute units with third-generation ray tracing.
Best for: Buyers who want 32 compute units with third-generation ray tracing.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Acer Nitro Intel Arc B570 OC 10GBA dual-fan Frostblade cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want dual-fan Frostblade cooler.
Check price for Acer Nitro Intel Arc B570 OC 10GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB OCA triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
Best for: Buyers who want triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Sparkle Intel Arc B570 Guardian Luna OCThe top of this price range, adding 10GB of GDDR6.
Best for: Spending more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Check price for Sparkle Intel Arc B570 Guardian Luna OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
ASRock Intel Arc B570 Challenger 10GB OC
The Arc B570 is the B580's cheaper sibling with 10GB of memory on a 160-bit bus.
Best for
- Keeping the cost under $500.
Skip if
- Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
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 dual striped axial fans stop completely at low load, and the card supports Intel XeSS 2 upscaling. It matches the Acer Nitro Arc B570 and the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna on video memory (10GB).
Like the Acer Nitro Arc B570 and Sparkle Arc B570 Luna, it has an arc B570 gpu, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB uses an RX 9060 XT gpu. You get a 2600MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and its a 3320MHz boost clock. 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 undercut the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key 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
Also Consider2 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB OC
ASRock's RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB brings AMD's RDNA 4 architecture to a budget card with 32 compute units.
Best for
- Buyers who want 32 compute units with third-generation ray tracing.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 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. It matches the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend on video memory (8GB). Like the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, it has an RX 9060 XT gpu, while the Acer Nitro Arc B570 uses an arc B570 gpu.
You get a 3290MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and its a 3320MHz boost clock. You also get 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. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper Arc B570 Challenger and the pricier Acer Nitro Arc B570, at the time of writing.
Key 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
- 3290MHz boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the Arc B570 Challenger at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
Acer Nitro Intel Arc B570 OC 10GB
What the Acer Nitro Arc B570 brings to the table is a dual-fan Frostblade cooler, plus 18 Xe2 cores.
Best for
- Buyers who want dual-fan Frostblade cooler.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Arc B570 Challenger, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 10GB video memory. On video memory it ties with the Arc B570 Challenger and the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna at 10GB. It shares an arc B570 gpu with the Arc B570 Challenger and Sparkle Arc B570 Luna; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend goes with an RX 9060 XT gpu.
No dimensions are published for the Acer Nitro Arc B570; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Acer Nitro Arc B570 with the maker. It was priced above the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and below the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- Arc B570
- VRAM
- 10GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
Pros
- 10GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- Dual-fan Frostblade cooler
- 18 Xe2 cores
Cons
- Costs more than the Arc B570 Challenger at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB OC
ASRock's RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB uses a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop and a reinforced metal backplate.
Best for
- Buyers who want triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
Its 3320MHz boost is the highest among these cards. It matches the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB on video memory (8GB). Like the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB, it has an RX 9060 XT gpu, while the Acer Nitro Arc B570 uses an arc B570 gpu.
A 3320MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB uses a 3290MHz boost clock. It also comes with 20Gbps memory on a 128-bit bus. No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend; 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 Steel Legend with the maker. Its price falls between the Acer Nitro Arc B570 and the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 3320MHz
- Outputs
- DisplayPort 2.1a, HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- Triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop
- Reinforced metal backplate
- 20Gbps memory on a 128-bit bus
- 3320MHz boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory trails the Arc B570 Challenger (10GB)
- Costs more than the Arc B570 Challenger at the time of writing
The catch
If video memory is your priority, the Arc B570 Challenger (10GB) is the stronger choice.
Premium Pick5 of 5
Sparkle Intel Arc B570 Guardian Luna OC
The Sparkle Arc B570 Luna stands out for 10GB of GDDR6, and it adds 1 x HDMI and 3 x DisplayPort outputs.
Best for
- Spending more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Arc B570 Challenger, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 10GB video memory. On video memory it ties with the Arc B570 Challenger and the Acer Nitro Arc B570 at 10GB. It shares an arc B570 gpu with the Arc B570 Challenger and Acer Nitro Arc B570; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend goes with an RX 9060 XT gpu.
No dimensions are published for the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna with the maker. Only the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks.
Key specs
- GPU
- Arc B570
- VRAM
- 10GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
Pros
- 10GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- 10GB of GDDR6
- 1 x HDMI and 3 x DisplayPort outputs
- The top of this price range, adding 10GB of GDDR6
Cons
- Costs more than the Arc B570 Challenger at the time of writing
How We Chose These Current-Generation Graphics Cards
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.
- How these picks were ranked
- We compared five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and boost clock as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 5 fields compared are stated for every pick, while boost clock and outputs have gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the Arc B570 Challenger to the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Acer Nitro Arc B570 and the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna give no boost clock; the Acer Nitro Arc B570 and the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna give no outputs.
- Price range
- From the Arc B570 Challenger to the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna, all sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a Current-Generation Graphics Card
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 ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend to 10GB on the Arc B570 Challenger, a 25% spread. Start with the Arc B570 Challenger if video memory decides it.
Boost clock
The Arc B570 Challenger lists 2600MHz; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB lists 3290MHz; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend lists 3320MHz. Settling boost clock first narrows 3 picks to 1 or 1 or 1.
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card Fit and compatibility
No dimensions are published for the Arc B570 Challenger; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Features beyond the spec table
The Acer Nitro Arc B570: 18 Xe2 cores. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend: a reinforced metal backplate. The Sparkle Arc B570 Luna: 1 x HDMI and 3 x DisplayPort outputs.
How much to spend
Price does little to separate these 5: the Arc B570 Challenger through the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna all landed in the $250 to $500 tier, which leaves video memory to decide it.
How to Choose a Current-Generation Graphics Card
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the cost under $500 | Arc B570 Challenger | A lower price than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers who want 32 compute units with third-generation ray tracing | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB | 32 compute units with third-generation ray tracing |
| Buyers who want dual-fan Frostblade cooler | Acer Nitro Arc B570 | A dual-fan Frostblade cooler |
| Buyers who want triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop | ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend | A triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop |
| Spending more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend costs for the fullest feature set in this group | Sparkle Arc B570 Luna | The top of this price range, adding 10GB of GDDR6 |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Arc B570 Challenger leads on video memory at 10GB, ahead of the Acer Nitro Arc B570 at 10GB. "Not listed" marks boost clock where the Acer Nitro Arc B570 and the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Boost clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arc B570 Challenger | Arc B570 | 10GB | GDDR6 | 2600MHz |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB | RX 9060 XT | 8GB | GDDR6 | 3290MHz |
| Acer Nitro Arc B570 | Arc B570 | 10GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend | RX 9060 XT | 8GB | GDDR6 | 3320MHz |
| Sparkle Arc B570 Luna | Arc B570 | 10GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Arc B570 Challenger the Lowest Price Here?
It carries the badge for a lower price than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and the rest when we checked. It makes sense for keeping the cost under $500.
Do the Arc B570 Challenger and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB differ on GPU?
The Arc B570 Challenger, the Acer Nitro Arc B570 and the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna use Arc B570; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend use RX 9060 XT.
What should I check before buying the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna?
No dimensions are published for the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna with the maker. In this guide it ranks fifth of 5, as our Premium Pick, and third of 5 on video memory (10GB).
Beyond the specs, what sets the Arc B570 Challenger and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB apart?
The Arc B570 Challenger: a 160-bit memory bus at 19Gbps. The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB: 32 compute units with third-generation ray tracing. The Acer Nitro Arc B570: a dual-fan Frostblade cooler.
Who should choose the Sparkle Arc B570 Luna?
The Sparkle Arc B570 Luna carries our Premium Pick label for the top of this price range, adding 10GB of GDDR6. It ranks fifth of 5 here and sat in the $250 to $500 tier at our last price check; it suits spending more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Arc B570 Challenger, chosen for a lower price than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB and the rest when we checked. Look at the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 8GB for 32 compute units with third-generation ray tracing, the Acer Nitro Arc B570 for a dual-fan Frostblade cooler and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend for a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop if those matter more to you.
New cards may use a 12V-2x6 connector; check your power supply.
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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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