Buying Guide
The Best Graphics Cards Under $450
Six cards priced under $450 at the time of writing, compared on memory, cooler and size.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read6 products evaluated
Between $400 and $450 at the time of writing, the choice is mostly between 8GB cards: RTX 4060 Ti, RTX 4060, RTX 5050 and RX 7600.
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
Which of the 6 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Fastest GPU Under $450
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 Ti WINDFORCE OC 8GAn RTX 4060 Ti, the highest-tier chip in this list.
Best for: High-refresh 1080p.
Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 Ti WINDFORCE OC 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best for Small Cases
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti V2 OC Edition 8GBA 2-slot SFF-Ready RTX 4060 Ti.
Best for: Compact builds.
Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti V2 OC Edition 8GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best RTX 4060 Pick
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 V2 OC EditionA dual-fan RTX 4060 with HDMI 2.1a.
Best for: Efficient 1080p builds.
Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 V2 OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best ASUS RTX 5050
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5050 8GB OCAn ASUS Dual RTX 5050.
Best for: Current-generation NVIDIA on a budget.
Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5050 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best AMD Under $450
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 7600 EVO OC Edition 8GBAn RX 7600 with 0dB fan stop.
Best for: Quiet Radeon builds.
Check price for ASUS Dual Radeon RX 7600 EVO OC Edition 8GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price at Writing
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5050 WINDFORCE OC 8GThe least expensive card here at the time of writing.
Best for: Budget-first buyers.
Check price for GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5050 WINDFORCE OC 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Fastest GPU Under $4501 of 6
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 Ti WINDFORCE OC 8G
Gigabyte's Windforce OC is a factory-overclocked dual-fan RTX 4060 Ti.
Best for
- High-refresh 1080p.
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 was the least expensive 4060 Ti here at the time of writing. It carries 8GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit memory interface and a two-fan WINDFORCE cooling system. A metal back plate protects the card, and the maker lists DLSS 3 support with fourth-generation Tensor cores.
Like the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2, it has an RTX 4060 Ti gpu, while the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO uses an RX 7600 gpu. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 4060 Ti 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 4060 Ti Windforce with the maker. On price it sat fifth of 6, between the cheaper ASUS Dual RTX 5050 and the pricier ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 4060 Ti
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
Pros
- Dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler
- 128-bit memory bus
- Factory overclock
- An RTX 4060 Ti, the highest-tier chip in this list
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its cooler thickness; if that figure matters, the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 comes in at 2-slot.
Best for Small Cases2 of 6
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti V2 OC Edition 8GB
The ASUS Dual V2 is a 2-slot, SFF-Ready RTX 4060 Ti with 0dB fan stop and a 2595MHz boost in OC mode.
Best for
- Compact builds.
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 0dB fan mode keeps it quiet during light games, and it supports DLSS 3. It matches the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 on cooler thickness (2-slot). It shares an RTX 4060 Ti gpu with the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce; the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce goes with an RTX 5050 gpu.
The ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 with the maker. SFF-Ready is NVIDIA's size guideline, not a guarantee the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 fits every small case. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce the nearest cheaper option.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 4060 Ti
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Thickness
- 2-slot
- Boost clock
- 2595MHz (OC mode)
- SFF-Ready
- Yes
Pros
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- 0dB fan stop at light load
- 2595MHz boost clock in OC mode
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce at the time of writing
Best RTX 4060 Pick3 of 6
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 V2 OC Edition
The ASUS Dual V2 offers a 2535MHz boost in OC mode and an HDMI 2.1a output on a dual-fan RTX 4060.
Best for
- Efficient 1080p builds.
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 supports DLSS 3 frame generation, and its OC mode boosts to 2,535MHz. Axial-tech fans keep the dual-fan cooler compact. Axial-tech fans with longer blades and a barrier ring push more air down onto the heatsink.
No other pick in this guide offers an RTX 4060 gpu; compare the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO, which has an RX 7600 gpu. You get a 2535MHz (OC mode) boost clock here, which sets it apart from the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO and its a 2715MHz boost clock. No dimensions are published for the ASUS Dual 4060 V2; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 with the maker. On price it sat third of 6, between the cheaper ASUS Dual 7600 EVO and the pricier ASUS Dual RTX 5050, at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 4060
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Boost clock
- 2535MHz (OC mode)
Pros
- 2535MHz boost clock in OC mode
- HDMI 2.1a output
- Dual-fan cooler
- RTX 4060 gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- No published cooler thickness
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce at the time of writing
The catch
The maker doesn't give its cooler thickness; if that figure matters, the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 comes in at 2-slot.
Best ASUS RTX 50504 of 6
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5050 8GB OC
The ASUS Dual RTX 5050 is the least expensive GeForce here, a two-slot card with a dual BIOS and 0dB fan stop.
Best for
- Current-generation NVIDIA on a budget.
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 brings DLSS 4 to budget builds, with 8GB of GDDR6. It matches the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 on cooler thickness (2-slot). It shares an RTX 5050 gpu with the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce; the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 goes with an RTX 4060 Ti gpu.
No other pick in this guide offers a 2677MHz (OC mode) boost clock; compare the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2, which has a 2595MHz (OC mode) boost clock. You also get dual-ball fan bearings. The ASUS Dual RTX 5050 occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case.
Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 with the maker. It was priced above the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 and below the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5050
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Thickness
- 2-slot
- Boost clock
- 2677MHz (OC mode)
- SFF-Ready
- Yes
Pros
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- Quiet/performance dual BIOS
- 0dB fan stop
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce at the time of writing
Best AMD Under $4505 of 6
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 7600 EVO OC Edition 8GB
The ASUS Dual EVO RX 7600 offers a 2715MHz boost with 0dB fan stop on a 2.5-slot cooler.
Best for
- Quiet Radeon builds.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
Its 2.5-slot cooler thickness is the thickest in this group; the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 leads at 2-slot. An RX 7600 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce uses an RTX 5050 gpu. No other pick in this guide offers a 2715MHz boost clock; compare the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2, which has a 2595MHz (OC mode) boost clock.
The ASUS Dual 7600 EVO occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO with the maker. It was priced above the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce and below the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7600
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Boost clock
- 2715MHz
Pros
- 0dB fan stop at light load
- 2715MHz boost clock
- 2.5-slot dual-fan cooler
- RX 7600 gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Cooler thickness trails the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 (2-slot)
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce at the time of writing
The catch
It gives ground on cooler thickness, where the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 comes in at 2-slot.
Lowest Price at Writing6 of 6
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5050 WINDFORCE OC 8G
Gigabyte's RTX 5050 Windforce is the cheapest way into DLSS 4 here.
Best for
- Budget-first buyers.
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
The maker publishes few details, so confirm size and power needs on Gigabyte's page. Like the ASUS Dual RTX 5050, it has an RTX 5050 gpu, while the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce uses an RTX 4060 Ti gpu. It also offers 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 cheapest of the group when we checked; the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO was the next step up. If video memory is your priority, the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce (8GB) is the stronger choice.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5050
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
Pros
- Dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler
- PCIe 5.0 interface
- The least expensive card here at the time of writing
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- No published cooler thickness
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 six cards on GPU, video memory, memory and cooler thickness from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and cooler thickness and boost clock are missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 6, from the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce to the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce, the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 and the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce give no cooler thickness; the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce and the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce give no boost clock.
- Price range
- From the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce to the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2, all sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a GPUs Under $450
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Cooler thickness across these picks
Here cooler thickness runs from 2.5-slot on the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO to 2-slot on the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2, a 20% spread. For less, the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 is the runner-up at 2-slot. The Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce, the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 and the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce give no cooler thickness figure, so 3 of 6 picks are compared here.
Boost clock
The ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 lists 2595MHz (OC mode); the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 lists 2535MHz (OC mode); the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 lists 2677MHz (OC mode); the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO lists 2715MHz. Sort out boost clock before price: it splits 4 stated picks into groups of 1, 1, 1 and 1.
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card Setup checks
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. The ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case.
Features beyond the spec table
The ASUS Dual RTX 5050: 0dB fan stop. The ASUS Dual 7600 EVO: a 2715MHz boost clock. The Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce: a PCIe 5.0 interface.
How much to spend
Price does little to separate these 6: the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce through the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 all landed in the $250 to $500 tier, which leaves cooler thickness to decide it.
How to Choose a GPUs Under $450
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| High-refresh 1080p | Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce | An RTX 4060 Ti, the highest-tier chip in this list |
| Compact builds | ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 | A 2-slot SFF-Ready RTX 4060 Ti |
| Efficient 1080p builds | ASUS Dual 4060 V2 | A dual-fan RTX 4060 with HDMI 2.1a |
| Current-generation NVIDIA on a budget | ASUS Dual RTX 5050 | An ASUS Dual RTX 5050 |
| Quiet Radeon builds | ASUS Dual 7600 EVO | An RX 7600 with 0dB fan stop |
| Budget-first buyers | Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce | The least expensive card here at the time of writing |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 leads on cooler thickness at 2-slot, ahead of the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 at 2-slot. "Not listed" marks cooler thickness where the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce, the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 and the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce | RTX 4060 Ti | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 | RTX 4060 Ti | 8GB | GDDR6 | 2-slot |
| ASUS Dual 4060 V2 | RTX 4060 | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS Dual RTX 5050 | RTX 5050 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 2-slot |
| ASUS Dual 7600 EVO | RX 7600 | 8GB | GDDR6 | 2.5-slot |
| Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce | RTX 5050 | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 the Best RTX 4060 Pick?
It carries the badge for a dual-fan RTX 4060 with HDMI 2.1a. It is aimed at efficient 1080p builds.
Do the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce and the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 differ on GPU?
The Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce and the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 use RTX 4060 Ti; the ASUS Dual 4060 V2 uses RTX 4060; the ASUS Dual RTX 5050 and the Gigabyte RTX 5050 Windforce use RTX 5050; the ASUS Dual 7600 EVO uses RX 7600.
What should I check before buying the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2?
The ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 with the maker. In this guide it ranks second of 6, as our Best for Small Cases pick, and first of 3 on cooler thickness (2-slot).
Beyond the specs, what sets the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce and the ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2 apart?
The Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce: a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler. The ASUS Dual 4060 Ti V2: 0dB fan stop at light load. The ASUS Dual 4060 V2: a 2535MHz boost clock in OC mode.
Who should choose the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce?
The Gigabyte 4060 Ti Windforce carries our Fastest GPU Under $450 label for an RTX 4060 Ti, the highest-tier chip in this list. It ranks first of 6 here and sat in the $250 to $500 tier at our last price check; it suits high-refresh 1080p.
Bottom Line
Gigabyte's RTX 4060 Ti Windforce is the fastest card under $450, and the ASUS Dual V2 suits small cases. Pick the ASUS RX 7600 EVO for a quiet AMD build.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards Under $400
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards Under $500
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards for 1080p Gaming
- Similar guideThe Best Graphics Cards Under $250
- Similar guideThe Best Graphics Cards Under $300
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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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