Buying Guide
The Best Graphics Card for 1080p Gaming
Five graphics cards compared, from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge, with the trade-offs of each named.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
1080p gaming needs a mid-range card with 8GB to 12GB of VRAM. Every pick fits that range, ordered from the lowest listed price.
Our comparison rests on published figures for GPU, VRAM and memory; where a maker leaves out length, we say so, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OCA lower price than the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Getting 256-bit memory bus for the least money.
Check price for ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Recommended Power Supply
ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming D 4GB OCThe lowest recommended power supply here (400W).
Best for: Buyers who put recommended power supply first.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming D 4GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASRock Radeon RX 7600 Challenger Pro 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 7600 Challenger Pro 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Largest Video Memory
ASRock Radeon RX 7700 XT Challenger 12GB OCThe largest video memory here (12GB).
Best for: Buyers who put video memory first.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7700 XT Challenger 12GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Slimmest Cooler Thickness
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OCThe slimmest cooler thickness here (2-slot).
Best for: Buyers who put cooler thickness first.
Check price for ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC
ASRock's Arc A580 Challenger has 8GB on a 256-bit bus and supports XeSS upscaling.
Best for
- Getting 256-bit memory bus for the least money.
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 needs two 8-pin connectors and a 650W power supply. On video memory it ties with the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge at 8GB. Its 2.4-slot cooler thickness ranks second of 3 here, behind the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge (2-slot) and ahead of the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro (2.5-slot).
On recommended power supply it trails the group at 650W, while the ASRock RX 6500 XT offers 400W. You get an arc A580 gpu here, which sets it apart from the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge and its an RTX 5050 gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 2 x 8-pin power connector; compare the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, which has a 1 x 8-pin power connector. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the ASRock RX 6500 XT was closest.
Key specs
- GPU
- Arc A580
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 271mm
- Thickness
- 2.4-slot
- Recommended PSU
- 650W
- Power connector
- 2 x 8-pin
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 2.0, 1 x HDMI 2.0b
Pros
- 256-bit memory bus
- 0dB silent cooling at light load
- XeSS upscaling support
- Video memory of 8GB, ahead of the ASRock RX 6500 XT
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- Recommended power supply trails the ASRock RX 6500 XT (400W)
The catch
Recommended power supply is its weakest area, and the ASRock RX 6500 XT covers it better at 400W.
Lowest Recommended Power Supply2 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming D 4GB OC
ASRock's RX 6500 XT has only 4GB of memory and states a 400W minimum power supply.
Best for
- Buyers who put recommended power supply first.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 4GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It suits light esports titles rather than recent AAA games. Its 4GB video memory is the smallest in this group; the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT leads at 12GB. Its 400W recommended power supply is the lowest here; the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro comes next at 550W.
No other pick in this guide offers an RX 6500 XT gpu; compare the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, which has an RX 7700 XT gpu. It shares a 1 x 8-pin power connector with the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro and Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger goes with a 2 x 8-pin power connector. You also get 0dB silent cooling at light load and a metal backplate. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the pricier ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, at the time of writing.
Key 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 ASRock Challenger 7700 XT (12GB)
- No published cooler thickness
The catch
The trade-off is video memory; for more, the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT offers 12GB.
Also Consider3 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 7600 Challenger Pro 8GB OC
The RX 7600 is a previous-generation chip, but ASRock's Challenger Pro version asks only for a 550W power supply and uses a triple-fan cooler.
Best for
- Buyers who want triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
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 PCIe 4.0 x8 link is worth noting on older PCIe 3.0 boards. It matches the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge on video memory (8GB). On cooler thickness it trails the group at 2.5-slot, while the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge comes in at 2-slot.
Its 550W recommended power supply ranks second of 3 here, behind the ASRock RX 6500 XT (400W) and ahead of the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger (650W). It shares a 1 x 8-pin power connector with the ASRock RX 6500 XT and Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger goes with a 2 x 8-pin power connector. It also comes with 32MB of Infinity Cache and a metal backplate.
Measure for 303mm and 2.5 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro. Its price falls between the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7600
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Length
- 303mm
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Recommended PSU
- 550W
- Power connector
- 1 x 8-pin
- Boost clock
- 2695MHz
- Outputs
- 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1 x HDMI 2.1
Pros
- A modest 550W PSU recommendation
- A single 8-pin power connector
- Triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop
- 32MB of Infinity Cache
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Cooler thickness trails the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge (2-slot)
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
The catch
If cooler thickness is your priority, the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge (2-slot) is the stronger choice.
Largest Video Memory4 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 7700 XT Challenger 12GB OC
The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT stands out for 0dB silent cooling at light loads.
Best for
- Buyers who put video memory first.
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 12GB video memory. Its 12GB video memory is the largest here; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes next at 8GB. No dimensions are published for the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT; 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 Challenger 7700 XT with the maker. Its price falls between the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed card length should compare it with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, which comes in at 271mm.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7700 XT
- VRAM
- 12GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- 0dB silent cooling at light loads
- RX 7700 XT gpu, the only one here
- The largest video memory here (12GB)
Cons
- No published cooler thickness
- No published recommended power supply
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
Slimmest Cooler Thickness5 of 5
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OC
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 put cooler thickness first.
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
It is the smallest NVIDIA option here for a compact case. On video memory it ties with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro at 8GB. Nothing else here matches its 2-slot cooler thickness; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes closest at 2.4-slot.
You get an RTX 5050 gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT and its an RX 7700 XT gpu. Like the ASRock RX 6500 XT and ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, it has a 1 x 8-pin power connector, while the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger uses a 2 x 8-pin power connector. It also offers 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. At our last price check it topped the group, with the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT the nearest cheaper option.
Key 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
- No published recommended power supply
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
The catch
If you want a confirmed card length, look to the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger instead: it comes in at 271mm, while this one gives no figure.
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.
- How these picks were ranked
- We lined up five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and card length from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and card length and cooler thickness are missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the ASRock Arc A580 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 6500 XT, the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge give no card length; the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT give no cooler thickness.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger ($150 to $250) to the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a Graphics Card for 1080p Gaming
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT tops video memory at 12GB and the ASRock RX 6500 XT sits lowest at 4GB. For less, the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger is the runner-up at 8GB ($150 to $250 tier).
Cooler thickness across these picks
Across these 3 picks cooler thickness spans 2.5-slot (the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro) to 2-slot (the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge). The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes second at 2.4-slot, in the $150 to $250 tier against $250 to $500 for the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge. The ASRock RX 6500 XT and the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT give no cooler thickness figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card Recommended power supply across these picks
Here recommended power supply runs from 650W on the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to 400W on the ASRock RX 6500 XT, a 38% spread. Start with the ASRock RX 6500 XT if recommended power supply decides it. The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge give no recommended power supply figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
Power connector
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger lists 2 x 8-pin; the ASRock RX 6500 XT, the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge list 1 x 8-pin. Sort out power connector before price: it splits 4 stated picks into groups of 3 and 1.
Setup checks
Measure for 271mm and 2.4 slots before ordering the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger. No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 6500 XT; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Measure for 303mm and 2.5 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro.
How to Choose a Graphics Card for 1080p Gaming
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Getting 256-bit memory bus for the least money | ASRock Arc A580 Challenger | A lower price than the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers who put recommended power supply first | ASRock RX 6500 XT | The lowest recommended power supply here (400W) |
| Buyers who want triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop | ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro | A triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop |
| Buyers who put video memory first | ASRock Challenger 7700 XT | The largest video memory here (12GB) |
| Buyers who put cooler thickness first | Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge | The slimmest cooler thickness here (2-slot) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT leads on video memory at 12GB, ahead of the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at 8GB. "Not listed" marks card length where the ASRock RX 6500 XT, the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock Arc A580 Challenger | Arc A580 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 271mm |
| ASRock RX 6500 XT | RX 6500 XT | 4GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro | RX 7600 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 303mm |
| ASRock Challenger 7700 XT | RX 7700 XT | 12GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge | RTX 5050 | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, sat in the $150 to $250 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge at $250 to $500; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, ASRock RX 6500 XT |
| About $250 to $500 | ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT ahead of the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger on video memory?
The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT leads at 12GB, with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at 8GB. The spread runs down to the ASRock RX 6500 XT at 4GB.
Which has the slimmest cooler thickness: the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge or the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger?
The Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge is lowest on cooler thickness at 2-slot; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger follows at 2.4-slot, 17% apart. The ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro is at the other end of this group with 2.5-slot. The ASRock RX 6500 XT and the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT don't state a cooler thickness figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 3 of 5 picks are ranked.
How does the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro compare with the ASRock RX 6500 XT on recommended power supply?
Between the top two, it is 400W on the ASRock RX 6500 XT against 550W on the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, a 27% difference. The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger is at the other end of this group with 650W. No recommended power supply figure is published for the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge, which leaves 3 of 5 picks ranked here.
Is the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge worth paying more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger?
On paper it adds cooler thickness (2-slot against 2.4-slot). The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger sat in the $150 to $250 tier and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if cooler thickness decides your purchase.
What makes the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge the Slimmest Cooler Thickness?
It carries the badge for the slimmest cooler thickness here (2-slot). The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger is next on cooler thickness at 2.4-slot, so this pick's 2-slot is 17% further out. The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the cheapest pick, sat in the $150 to $250 tier against $250 to $500 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It is aimed at anyone who puts cooler thickness first.
Do the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the ASRock RX 6500 XT differ on GPU?
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger uses Arc A580; the ASRock RX 6500 XT uses RX 6500 XT; the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro uses RX 7600; the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT uses RX 7700 XT; the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge uses RTX 5050.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, chosen for a lower price than the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the rest when we checked. Look at the ASRock RX 6500 XT for the lowest recommended power supply here (400W), the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro for a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop and the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT for the largest video memory here (12GB) if those matter more to you.
For 1080p at high refresh rates, the CPU matters too.
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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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