Buying Guide
The Best Graphics Cards Under $500
Six cards priced under $500 at the time of writing, including a 16GB RX 7800 XT, compared on memory and size.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read6 products evaluated
Under $500 at the time of writing, the RX 7800 XT with 16GB sits alongside newer 8GB RTX 5060 and RX 9060 XT cards.
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.
Most Memory Under $500
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC16GB on an RX 7800 XT.
Best for: 1440p gaming.
Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best RTX 5060 Value
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 WINDFORCE OC 8GAn RTX 5060 at a lower price than the ASUS models at the time of writing.
Best for: Current NVIDIA features at 1080p.
Check price for GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 WINDFORCE OC 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best RDNA 4 Under $500
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GAn 8GB RX 9060 XT Gaming OC.
Best for: Budget AMD builds.
Check price for GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best ASUS Dual RTX 5060
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OCAn ASUS Dual RTX 5060.
Best for: ASUS builds.
Check price for ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best ASUS Prime RTX 5060
ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5060 8GBAn ASUS Prime RTX 5060.
Best for: Matching ASUS Prime boards.
Check price for ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5060 8GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best Triple-Fan Under $500
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Eagle 8GThree Windforce fans on an RTX 4060 Ti.
Best for: Quieter cooling.
Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Eagle 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Most Memory Under $5001 of 6
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC
The Steel Legend adds a white-and-silver finish and a 2520MHz boost, and it has a 700W recommended power supply.
Best for
- 1440p gaming.
Skip if
- Pass on it if needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
On video memory it leads this guide at 16GB, ahead of the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce (8GB). An RX 7800 XT gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB uses an RX 9060 XT gpu. Like the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB and Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle, it has GDDR6 memory, while the ASUS Prime RTX 5060 uses GDDR7 memory.
No other pick in this guide offers a 2520MHz boost clock; compare the ASUS Dual RTX 5060, which has a 2565MHz (OC mode) boost clock. No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Power for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend comes through 2 x 8-pin, with 700W the maker's minimum PSU. It was priced above the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and below the ASUS Prime RTX 5060 at the time of writing.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 7800 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
- Recommended PSU
- 700W
- Power connector
- 2 x 8-pin
- Boost clock
- 2520MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- White-and-silver Steel Legend finish
- 700W recommended PSU
- RX 7800 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce at the time of writing
The catch
There is no published cooler thickness figure, whereas the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 comes in at 2.5-slot.
Best RTX 5060 Value2 of 6
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5060 WINDFORCE OC 8G
Gigabyte's RTX 5060 Windforce is the budget route to DLSS 4 and GDDR7 memory.
Best for
- Current NVIDIA features at 1080p.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games is a problem.
Why we like it
The maker publishes few details, so confirm length and power needs on Gigabyte's spec page before buying. On video memory it ties with the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060, the ASUS Prime RTX 5060 and the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle at 8GB. It also comes with a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler and a PCIe 5.0 interface.
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 5060 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 5060 Windforce with the maker. If you want a confirmed cooler thickness, look to the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 instead: it comes in at 2.5-slot, while this one gives no figure.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5060
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
Pros
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler
- PCIe 5.0 interface
- An RTX 5060 at a lower price than the ASUS models at the time of writing
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory of 8GB, behind the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB)
Best RDNA 4 Under $5003 of 6
GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8G
Gigabyte's RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB is the entry to AMD's RDNA 4 generation, with Hawk fans and RGB lighting.
Best for
- Budget AMD 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 8GB of memory suits 1080p more than 1440p. It matches the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060, the ASUS Prime RTX 5060 and the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle on video memory (8GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RX 9060 XT gpu; compare the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, which has an RX 7800 XT gpu.
It shares GDDR6 memory with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle; the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 goes with GDDR7 memory. It also comes with server-grade thermal conductive gel. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB; 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 RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB with the maker.
Key specs
- GPU
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
Pros
- WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans
- Server-grade thermal conductive gel
- RGB lighting
- RX 9060 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory of 8GB, behind the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB)
The catch
The maker doesn't give its cooler thickness; if that figure matters, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 comes in at 2.5-slot.
Best ASUS Dual RTX 50604 of 6
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 5060 8GB OC
The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 is a 2.5-slot, SFF-Ready card with GDDR7 memory and DisplayPort 2.1b.
Best for
- ASUS 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
Its 8GB of memory is best matched to a 1080p monitor. It matches the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB, the ASUS Prime RTX 5060 and the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle on video memory (8GB). A 2565MHz (OC mode) boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASUS Prime RTX 5060 uses a 2527MHz (OC mode) boost clock.
You also get axial-tech fans with a barrier ring. The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 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 RTX 5060 with the maker.
SFF-Ready is NVIDIA's size guideline, not a guarantee the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 fits every small case. Its price falls between the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB and the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, based on our last check.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5060
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Boost clock
- 2565MHz (OC mode)
- SFF-Ready
- Yes
- Outputs
- HDMI 2.1b, DisplayPort 2.1b
Pros
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- Axial-tech fans with a barrier ring
- 2565MHz (OC mode) boost clock, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce at the time of writing
Best ASUS Prime RTX 50605 of 6
ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5060 8GB
The ASUS Prime RTX 5060 is a well-rounded 1080p card: GDDR7 memory, a quiet/performance BIOS switch and 0dB fan stop in a 2.5-slot, SFF-Ready design.
Best for
- Matching ASUS Prime boards.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games is a problem.
Why we like it
It matches the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle on video memory (8GB). A 2527MHz (OC mode) boost clock is unique to it among these picks, while the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 uses a 2565MHz (OC mode) boost clock. It also comes with dual-ball fan bearings.
The ASUS Prime RTX 5060 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 Prime RTX 5060 with the maker. SFF-Ready is NVIDIA's size guideline, not a guarantee the ASUS Prime RTX 5060 fits every small case.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 5060
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR7
- Thickness
- 2.5-slot
- Boost clock
- 2527MHz (OC mode)
- SFF-Ready
- Yes
Pros
- Faster GDDR7 memory
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- Quiet/performance dual BIOS switch
- 0dB fan stop
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce at the time of writing
Best Triple-Fan Under $5006 of 6
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Eagle 8G
Gigabyte's Eagle puts three Windforce fans and a dual BIOS switch on the RTX 4060 Ti.
Best for
- Quieter cooling.
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 supports DLSS 3 frame generation with fourth-generation Tensor cores. On video memory it ties with the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the ASUS Prime RTX 5060 at 8GB. An RTX 4060 Ti gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce uses an RTX 5060 gpu.
Like the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB, it has GDDR6 memory, while the ASUS Prime RTX 5060 uses GDDR7 memory. You also get a 128-bit memory bus. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Only the ASUS Prime RTX 5060 came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 6 picks.
Key specs
- GPU
- RTX 4060 Ti
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Memory
- GDDR6
Pros
- Dual BIOS switch
- Three WINDFORCE fans
- 128-bit memory bus
- RTX 4060 Ti gpu, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory trails the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB)
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce at the time of writing
The catch
It gives ground on video memory, where the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend offers 16GB.
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.
- What we compared
- We compared six cards on GPU, video memory, memory and cooler thickness as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 6 fields compared are stated for every pick, while cooler thickness and boost clock have gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 6, from the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend to the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle, state GPU, video memory and memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB and the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle give no cooler thickness; the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB and the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle give no boost clock.
- Price range
- From the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce to the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle, all sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a GPUs Under $500
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
Here video memory runs from 8GB on the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle to 16GB on the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, a 100% spread. Start with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend if video memory decides it.
Memory
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB and the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle list GDDR6; the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the ASUS Prime RTX 5060 list GDDR7. Sort out memory before price: it splits 6 stated picks into groups of 3 and 3.
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card Boost clock
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend lists 2520MHz; the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 lists 2565MHz (OC mode); the ASUS Prime RTX 5060 lists 2527MHz (OC mode). Settling boost clock first narrows 3 picks to 1 or 1 or 1.
What to check at home
No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 occupies 2.5 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 5060: axial-tech fans with a barrier ring. The ASUS Prime RTX 5060: 0dB fan stop. The Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle: three WINDFORCE fans.
How to Choose a GPUs Under $500
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1440p gaming | ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | 16GB on an RX 7800 XT |
| Current NVIDIA features at 1080p | Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce | An RTX 5060 at a lower price than the ASUS models at the time of writing |
| Budget AMD builds | Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB | An 8GB RX 9060 XT Gaming OC |
| ASUS builds | ASUS Dual RTX 5060 | An ASUS Dual RTX 5060 |
| Matching ASUS Prime boards | ASUS Prime RTX 5060 | An ASUS Prime RTX 5060 |
| Quieter cooling | Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle | Three Windforce fans on an RTX 4060 Ti |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce at 8GB. "Not listed" marks cooler thickness where the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB and the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce | RTX 5060 | 8GB | GDDR7 | Not listed |
| Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB | RX 9060 XT | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASUS Dual RTX 5060 | RTX 5060 | 8GB | GDDR7 | 2.5-slot |
| ASUS Prime RTX 5060 | RTX 5060 | 8GB | GDDR7 | 2.5-slot |
| Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle | RTX 4060 Ti | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce compare with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend on video memory?
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend leads at 16GB, with the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce at 8GB.
What makes the ASUS Prime RTX 5060 the Best ASUS Prime RTX 5060?
It earns the label for an ASUS Prime RTX 5060. It suits matching ASUS Prime boards.
Do the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce differ on GPU?
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend uses RX 7800 XT; the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce, the ASUS Dual RTX 5060 and the ASUS Prime RTX 5060 use RTX 5060; the Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB uses RX 9060 XT; the Gigabyte 4060 Ti Eagle uses RTX 4060 Ti.
What should I check before buying the ASUS Dual RTX 5060?
The ASUS Dual RTX 5060 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 RTX 5060 with the maker. In this guide it ranks fourth of 6, as our Best ASUS Dual RTX 5060 pick, and fourth of 6 on video memory (8GB).
Beyond the specs, what sets the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce apart?
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend: a white-and-silver Steel Legend finish. The Gigabyte RTX 5060 Windforce: a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler. The Gigabyte RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 8GB: a WINDFORCE cooler with Hawk fans.
Bottom Line
ASRock's RX 7800 XT Steel Legend offers the most memory under $500 and suits 1440p. Gigabyte's RTX 5060 Windforce is the value NVIDIA pick, and the RX 9060 XT is the current AMD option.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards Under $450
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards Under $600
- Related guideThe Best Graphics Cards for 1440p Gaming
- Similar guideThe Best Graphics Cards Under $250
- Similar guideThe Best Graphics Cards Under $300
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- ExplainerGPU Power Connectors Explained
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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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