The Best Graphics Card for Gaming

It needs two 8-pin connectors and a 650W power supply. On video memory it ties with the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D, the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro and the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce at 8GB. On card length it sits mid-pack at 271mm: the Arc B580 Challenger comes in at 249mm, and the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro comes in at 303mm.

Its 2.4-slot cooler thickness ranks second of 3 here, behind the Arc B580 Challenger (2-slot) and ahead of the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro (2.5-slot). An arc A580 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the Arc B580 Challenger uses an arc B580 gpu. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D the next step up. What it gives up: video memory of 8GB, behind the Arc B580 Challenger (12GB); by contrast, the Arc B580 Challenger offers 12GB.

It is a previous-generation 8GB card still sold new. It supports AMD FSR upscaling for higher frame rates in supported games. Its single 8-pin connector suits older power supplies.

On video memory it ties with the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro and the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce at 8GB. On card length it sits mid-pack at 269mm: the Arc B580 Challenger comes in at 249mm, and the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro comes in at 303mm. You get an RX 6600 gpu here, which sets it apart from the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce and its an RTX 5050 gpu. 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.

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 Arc A580 Challenger comes closest at 8GB. Its 249mm card length is the shortest here; the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D comes next at 269mm.

Its 2-slot cooler thickness is the slimmest here; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes next at 2.4-slot. It matches the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger on recommended power supply (650W). No other pick in this guide offers an arc B580 gpu; compare the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, which has an RX 7600 gpu.

On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D and the pricier ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro, at the time of writing. The trade-off is recommended power supply; for more, the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro offers 550W.

Its PCIe 4.0 x8 link is worth noting on older PCIe 3.0 boards. It matches the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D and the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce on video memory (8GB). Its 303mm card length is the longest in this group; the Arc B580 Challenger leads at 249mm.

On cooler thickness it trails the group at 2.5-slot, while the Arc B580 Challenger comes in at 2-slot. Nothing else here matches its 550W recommended power supply; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes closest at 650W. No other pick in this guide offers an RX 7600 gpu; compare the Arc B580 Challenger, which has an arc B580 gpu. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper Arc B580 Challenger and the pricier Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce, at the time of writing.

The maker publishes few details, so confirm size and power needs on Gigabyte's page. It matches the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D and the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro on video memory (8GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RTX 5050 gpu; compare the Arc B580 Challenger, which has an arc B580 gpu.

You also get a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler and a PCIe 5.0 interface. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce with the maker. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the ASRock RX 7600 Challenger Pro and the rest.