Buying Guide
The Best Graphics Cards Under $250
Four cards priced under $250 at the time of writing, compared on memory, power needs and features.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read4 products evaluated
Under $250 you are choosing between older or cut-down cards. Memory ranges from 4GB to 8GB, and power needs from 400W to 650W.
Prices move often, so check current listings. We compared listed specifications from the card makers and retailer listings; we did not benchmark these cards.
Quick Picks
Our 4 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best Under $250
ASRock Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8GB
8GB on a 269mm card with a single 8-pin connector.
Best for: Most budget 1080p builds.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8GB (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price at Writing
ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC
The least expensive card here at the time of writing, with 8GB on a 256-bit bus.
Best for: The tightest budgets with a 650W PSU.
Our take Check price for ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Best for DLSS
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6G
DLSS support on a 6GB RTX 3050.
Best for: Players who rely on NVIDIA features.
Our take Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6G (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Power Need
ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming D 4GB OC
A 400W minimum PSU.
Best for: Upgrading an older PC with a small PSU.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming D 4GB OC (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8GB on a 269mm card with a single 8-pin connector. | Most budget 1080p builds. | Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8GB (opens in a new tab) |
| The least expensive card here at the time of writing, with 8GB on a 256-bit bus. | The tightest budgets with a 650W PSU. | Check price for ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC (opens in a new tab) |
| DLSS support on a 6GB RTX 3050. | Players who rely on NVIDIA features. | Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6G (opens in a new tab) |
| A 400W minimum PSU. | Upgrading an older PC with a small PSU. | Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming D 4GB OC (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best Under $2501 of 4
ASRock Radeon RX 6600 Challenger D 8GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASRock's RX 6600 Challenger D is 269mm long, uses one 8-pin connector and stops its fans at light load.
Best for
- Most budget 1080p builds.
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
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 at 8GB. You get an RX 6600 gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASRock RX 6500 XT and its an RX 6500 XT gpu. Like the ASRock RX 6500 XT, it has a 1 x 8-pin power connector, while the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger uses a 2 x 8-pin power connector.
You also get a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface and a dual-fan cooler. When we checked, only the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger cost less, and the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce cost more. If you want a confirmed recommended power supply, look to the ASRock RX 6500 XT instead: it offers 400W, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 6600
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Length: 269mm
- Power connector: 1 x 8-pin
- Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.1
Pros
- A single 8-pin power connector
- 0dB silent cooling at light load
- PCIe 4.0 x8 interface
- Dual-fan cooler
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
Lowest Price at Writing2 of 4
ASRock Intel Arc A580 Challenger 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASRock's Arc A580 Challenger has 8GB on a 256-bit bus and supports XeSS upscaling.
Best for
- The tightest budgets with a 650W PSU.
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
It needs two 8-pin connectors and a 650W power supply. On video memory it ties with the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D at 8GB. An arc A580 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock RX 6500 XT uses an RX 6500 XT gpu.
It is the only pick here with a 2 x 8-pin power connector; the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D has a 1 x 8-pin power connector instead. You also get 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.
It cost the least of the 4 picks at the time of writing, with the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D the next step up. What it gives up: card length of 271mm, behind the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D (269mm); by contrast, the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D comes in at 269mm.
Key dimensions & 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 Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- Card length of 271mm, behind the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D (269mm)
Best for DLSS3 of 4
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Gigabyte's RTX 3050 Windforce OC V2 is the 6GB version of the RTX 3050, with DLSS support and a dual-fan cooler.
Best for
- Players who rely on NVIDIA features.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 6GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent game is a problem.
Why we like it
It has 6GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit interface and third-generation Tensor cores for DLSS. On video memory it sits mid-pack at 6GB: the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D offers 8GB, and the ASRock RX 6500 XT comes in at 4GB. An RTX 3050 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger uses an arc A580 gpu.
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 3050 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 3050 Windforce with the maker. It was priced above the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D and below the ASRock RX 6500 XT at the time of writing. There is no published card length figure, whereas the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D comes in at 269mm.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 3050
- VRAM: 6GB
- Memory: GDDR6
Pros
- Dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler
- DLSS support
- Second-generation RT cores
- Video memory of 6GB, ahead of the ASRock RX 6500 XT
Cons
- 6GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- No published card length
- No published recommended power supply
Lowest Power Need4 of 4
ASRock Radeon RX 6500 XT Phantom Gaming D 4GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASRock's RX 6500 XT has only 4GB of memory and states a 400W minimum power supply.
Best for
- Upgrading an older PC with a small PSU.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 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 ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D leads at 8GB. It is the only pick here with an RX 6500 XT gpu; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger has an arc A580 gpu instead.
It shares a 1 x 8-pin power connector with the ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D; the ASRock Arc A580 Challenger goes with a 2 x 8-pin power connector. It also comes with 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.
Power for the ASRock RX 6500 XT comes through 1 x 8-pin, with 400W the maker's minimum PSU. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce.
Key dimensions & 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 RX 6600 Challenger D (8GB)
- No published card length
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Power
- We noted the power connector and recommended power supply where listed.
- Price tier
- We grouped picks by price at the time of writing rather than by listed clock speed.
- Fit
- We recorded length and slot thickness where the maker lists them, plus low-profile and SFF-Ready status.
- GPU and memory
- We compared the chip, video memory capacity and memory type stated in each listing.
What to Look for in a GPUs Under $250
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Treat 8GB of VRAM as the floor
Some recent games already push past 8GB at high texture settings. Cards with 12GB or 16GB give more room, especially at 1440p and above.
Two versions of the same chip can differ only in memory; check the capacity in the exact model name.
Plan the power connector and PSU
Cards use one or two 8-pin PCIe plugs or a single 16-pin 12V-2x6 plug. Confirm your power supply has the right cables and meets the maker's recommended wattage.
Count the display outputs
Most cards offer three DisplayPort outputs and one HDMI, but some swap that balance. Check that the ports match your monitors, TV or VR headset.
Match the card to your monitor
Resolution and refresh rate decide how much GPU you need. A 1080p screen at 144Hz asks far less than 1440p at 165Hz or 4K.
Buy for the monitor you use now or will buy soon, not for a resolution you may never run.
Compare upscaling and encoders
NVIDIA cards support DLSS, AMD cards FSR and Intel cards XeSS. Each game supports a different mix, so check the titles you play.
Streamers should also compare hardware video encoders.
Pair it with a balanced CPU
A fast card with an old CPU can stall at high frame rates, especially at 1080p. At 4K the GPU does most of the work, so the CPU matters less.
How to Choose a GPUs Under $250
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most budget 1080p builds | ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D | 8GB on a 269mm card with a single 8-pin connector |
| The tightest budgets with a 650W PSU | ASRock Arc A580 Challenger | The least expensive card here at the time of writing, with 8GB on a 256-bit bus |
| Players who rely on NVIDIA features | Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce | DLSS support on a 6GB RTX 3050 |
| Upgrading an older PC with a small PSU | ASRock RX 6500 XT | A 400W minimum PSU |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock RX 6600 Challenger D | RX 6600 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 269mm |
| ASRock Arc A580 Challenger | Arc A580 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 271mm |
| Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce | RTX 3050 | 6GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 6500 XT | RX 6500 XT | 4GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an 8GB graphics card still enough?
For 1080p with tuned texture settings, often yes. For 1440p or high textures in new games, 12GB or 16GB is safer.
Do I need a GPU support bracket?
Long, heavy cards can sag and stress the slot. Some come with a support stand or bracket; otherwise one is inexpensive to add.
Will a PCIe 5.0 card work in a PCIe 4.0 or 3.0 slot?
Yes, the interface is backward compatible. Cards with a narrow x8 link can lose some performance on PCIe 3.0 boards.
Do partner cards of the same GPU perform differently?
Only slightly. Factory overclocks add a few percent at most; cooling, noise, size and price differ more.
How big a power supply do I need?
Use the maker's recommendation for your exact card, then add headroom if you run a high-power CPU. Also check the connectors, not just the wattage.
Should I choose AMD or NVIDIA?
Compare price and memory at your budget first, then features such as DLSS or FSR support in your games and hardware encoding if you stream.
Bottom Line
The RX 6600 is the balanced pick under $250. The Arc A580 was cheapest at the time of writing but needs more power, the RTX 3050 brings DLSS, and the RX 6500 XT suits PCs with small power supplies.