Buying Guide
The Best Graphics Card for Gaming
Five graphics cards compared, from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, with the trade-offs of each named.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
A gaming graphics card should match your resolution and budget. These are ordered from the lowest listed price.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: GPU, VRAM and memory come from each maker's published specs; a missing length is flagged, not filled in, 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)
Largest Video Memory
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OCThe largest video memory here (12GB).
Best for: Buyers who put video memory first.
Check price for ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
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)
Premium Pick
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB OCThe highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop.
Best for: Buyers who want a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop and can spend more than the Acer Nitro Arc B570 costs.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 8GB 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 9060 XT Steel Legend at 8GB. On recommended power supply it ties with the Arc B580 Challenger at 650W.
An arc A580 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the Arc B580 Challenger uses an arc B580 gpu. It also offers a 256-bit memory bus and 0dB silent cooling at light load. Measure for 271mm and 2.4 slots before ordering the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger.
Power for the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes through 2 x 8-pin, with 650W the maker's minimum PSU. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the ASRock RX 6500 XT the next step up.
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
- Video memory of 8GB, behind the Arc B580 Challenger (12GB)
The catch
What it gives up: video memory of 8GB, behind the Arc B580 Challenger (12GB); by contrast, the Arc B580 Challenger offers 12GB.
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
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 4GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
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 Arc B580 Challenger leads at 12GB. Its 400W recommended power supply is the lowest here; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes next at 650W.
It shares a 1 x 8-pin power connector with the Arc B580 Challenger; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger goes with a 2 x 8-pin power connector. A 2820MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend uses a 3320MHz boost clock. You also get 0dB silent cooling at light load and a metal backplate.
No dimensions are published for the ASRock RX 6500 XT; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its price falls between the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger and the Arc B580 Challenger, based on our last check.
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 Arc B580 Challenger (12GB)
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
The catch
If video memory is your priority, the Arc B580 Challenger (12GB) is the stronger choice.
Largest Video Memory3 of 5
ASRock Intel Arc B580 Challenger 12GB OC
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
- Skip it if recommended power supply matters most to you; the ASRock RX 6500 XT offers 400W.
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 Acer Nitro Arc B570 comes closest at 10GB. 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 Acer Nitro Arc B570, which has an arc B570 gpu. It shares a 1 x 8-pin power connector with the ASRock RX 6500 XT; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger goes with a 2 x 8-pin power connector. You get a 2740MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend and its a 3320MHz boost clock. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper ASRock RX 6500 XT and the pricier Acer Nitro Arc B570, at the time of writing.
Key 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
- Recommended power supply trails the ASRock RX 6500 XT (400W)
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
The catch
The trade-off is recommended power supply; for more, the ASRock RX 6500 XT offers 400W.
Also Consider4 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
- Pass if a published recommended power supply matters; this one has none.
Why we like it
It also offers a 10GB video memory. On video memory it sits mid-pack at 10GB: the Arc B580 Challenger offers 12GB, and the ASRock RX 6500 XT comes in at 4GB. An arc B570 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 6500 XT uses an RX 6500 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 Arc B580 Challenger 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
- Arc B570 gpu, the only one here
Cons
- No published recommended power supply
- Costs more than the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger at the time of writing
The catch
There is no published card length figure, whereas the Arc B580 Challenger comes in at 249mm.
Premium Pick5 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 a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop and can spend more than the Acer Nitro Arc B570 costs.
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 3320MHz boost is the highest among these cards. It matches the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger on video memory (8GB). A 3320MHz boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the Arc B580 Challenger uses a 2740MHz 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. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Acer Nitro Arc B570.
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
- Video memory of 8GB, ahead of the ASRock RX 6500 XT
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
Buyers who need a confirmed card length should compare it with the Arc B580 Challenger, which comes in at 249mm.
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.
- The figures behind the order
- We lined up five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and card length, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 3 of 5 picks leave out card length.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock RX 6500 XT, the Acer Nitro Arc B570 and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend give no card length; the ASRock RX 6500 XT, the Acer Nitro Arc B570 and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend give no cooler thickness.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger ($150 to $250) to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a Graphics Card for Gaming
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
Here video memory runs from 4GB on the ASRock RX 6500 XT to 12GB on the Arc B580 Challenger, a 200% spread. If video memory is your first filter, the Arc B580 Challenger sets the ceiling at 12GB.
Recommended power supply across these picks
The ASRock RX 6500 XT tops recommended power supply at 400W and the Arc B580 Challenger sits lowest at 650W. Start with the ASRock RX 6500 XT if recommended power supply decides it. The Acer Nitro Arc B570 and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend give no recommended power supply figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card Card length
The Arc B580 Challenger tops card length at 249mm and the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger sits lowest at 271mm. The Arc B580 Challenger is the pick for card length. The ASRock RX 6500 XT, the Acer Nitro Arc B570 and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend give no card length figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Power connector
The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger lists 2 x 8-pin; the ASRock RX 6500 XT and the Arc B580 Challenger list 1 x 8-pin. Sort out power connector before price: it splits 3 stated picks into groups of 2 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 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the Arc B580 Challenger.
How to Choose a Graphics Card for 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 put video memory first | Arc B580 Challenger | The largest video memory here (12GB) |
| Buyers who want dual-fan Frostblade cooler | Acer Nitro Arc B570 | A dual-fan Frostblade cooler |
| Buyers who want a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop and can spend more than the Acer Nitro Arc B570 costs | ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a triple-fan cooler with 0dB fan stop |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Arc B580 Challenger leads on video memory at 12GB, ahead of the Acer Nitro Arc B570 at 10GB. "Not listed" marks card length where the ASRock RX 6500 XT, the Acer Nitro Arc B570 and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 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 |
| Arc B580 Challenger | Arc B580 | 12GB | GDDR6 | 249mm |
| Acer Nitro Arc B570 | Arc B570 | 10GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend | RX 9060 XT | 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 ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend 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 | Arc B580 Challenger, Acer Nitro Arc B570, ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Arc B580 Challenger ahead of the Acer Nitro Arc B570 on video memory?
The Arc B580 Challenger tops video memory at 12GB; the Acer Nitro Arc B570 follows at 10GB, 20% apart. The ASRock RX 6500 XT is at the other end of this group with 4GB.
Which has the lowest recommended power supply: the ASRock RX 6500 XT or the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger?
Between the top two, it is 400W on the ASRock RX 6500 XT against 650W on the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, a 38% difference. No recommended power supply figure is published for the Acer Nitro Arc B570 and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, which leaves 3 of 5 picks ranked here.
Which has the shortest card length: the Arc B580 Challenger or the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger?
Between the top two, it is 249mm on the Arc B580 Challenger against 271mm on the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, an 8% difference. No card length figure is published for the ASRock RX 6500 XT, the Acer Nitro Arc B570 and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
What makes the ASRock RX 6500 XT the Lowest Recommended Power Supply?
It carries the badge for the lowest recommended power supply here (400W). The ASRock Arc A580 Challenger is next on recommended power supply at 650W, so this pick's 400W is 38% further out. It gives up video memory (4GB against 8GB) to the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger, the cheapest pick. It makes sense for anyone who puts recommended power supply 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 Arc B580 Challenger uses Arc B580; the Acer Nitro Arc B570 uses Arc B570; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Steel Legend uses RX 9060 XT.
What should I check before buying the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger?
Measure for 271mm and 2.4 slots before ordering the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger. Power for the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger comes through 2 x 8-pin, with 650W the maker's minimum PSU. In this guide it ranks first of 5, as our Lowest Price Here pick, and third of 5 on video memory (8GB).
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 Arc B580 Challenger for the largest video memory here (12GB) and the Acer Nitro Arc B570 for a dual-fan Frostblade cooler if those matter more to you.
Check your PSU's recommended wattage before upgrading.
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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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