Buying Guide

The Best Graphics Cards Under $600

Six cards priced under $600 at the time of writing, most with 16GB, compared on size and power needs.

By , PC Hardware Editor

12 min read6 products evaluated

PC components laid out on a workbench ready for a build
Illustrative image

Under $600 at the time of writing, most cards carry 16GB of memory. The RX 7800 XT is the fastest chip here, while the RX 9060 XT cards are smaller and need less power.

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.

  1. Best 16GB RDNA 4 Card

    ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC

    A 249mm RX 9060 XT 16GB with a single 8-pin connector and a 550W PSU.

    Best for: Compact 1440p builds.

    Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
  2. Best for 1440p Under $600

    ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Challenger 16GB OC

    An RX 7800 XT, the fastest chip in this list.

    Best for: 1440p gaming.

    Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
  3. Best RX 9070 GRE

    ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9070 GRE EVO OC Edition

    A 2880MHz OC-mode boost with a phase-change pad.

    Best for: Buyers who want RDNA 4 above the 9060 XT.

    Check price for ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9070 GRE EVO OC Edition on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
  4. Best Quiet 9060 XT

    ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

    0dB fan stop with Quiet and Performance BIOS profiles.

    Best for: Quiet desktops.

    Check price for ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
  5. Best Output Layout

    Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G

    Two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs with 16GB.

    Best for: TV and monitor setups.

    Check price for Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Our Picks

Best 16GB RDNA 4 Card1 of 6

ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC

ASRock's Challenger gives the RX 9060 XT a full 16GB of memory in a two-slot, 249mm card.

Best for

Compact 1440p builds.

Skip if

Look at the other picks if you need a feature not covered above.
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC

Why we like it

The maker offers a 550W power supply and a single 8-pin plug, so it drops into most existing builds. On video memory it ties with the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC at 16GB. On cooler thickness it leads this guide at 2-slot, ahead of the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger (2.5-slot).

It is the only pick here with a 3290MHz boost clock; the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger has a 2475MHz boost clock instead. It also comes with 32 compute units and 0dB fan stop at light load. Power for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes through 1 x 8-pin, with 550W the maker's minimum PSU. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB was closest.

Key specs

GPU
RX 9060 XT
VRAM
16GB
Memory
GDDR6
Length
249mm
Thickness
2-slot
Recommended PSU
550W
Power connector
1 x 8-pin
Boost clock
3290MHz

Pros

  • 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
  • Short 249mm length suits compact cases
  • Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
  • A modest 550W PSU recommendation

Best for 1440p Under $6002 of 6

ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Challenger 16GB OC

ASRock's Challenger is a 267mm, 2.5-slot dual-fan RX 7800 XT with two 8-pin connectors and a 750W recommended power supply.

Best for

1440p gaming.

Skip if

Worth skipping when needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables is a problem.
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Challenger 16GB OC

Why we like it

On video memory it ties with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC at 16GB. It matches the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE and the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB on cooler thickness (2.5-slot). You get an RX 7800 XT gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and its an RX 9060 XT gpu.

It is the only pick here with a 2475MHz boost clock; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB has a 3290MHz boost clock instead. Power for the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger comes through 2 x 8-pin, with 750W the maker's minimum PSU. When we checked, only the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and cheaper picks cost less, and the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE cost more.

Key specs

GPU
RX 7800 XT
VRAM
16GB
Memory
GDDR6
Length
267mm
Thickness
2.5-slot
Recommended PSU
750W
Power connector
2 x 8-pin
Boost clock
2475MHz

Pros

  • 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
  • 267mm length
  • Dual-fan Challenger cooler
  • RX 7800 XT gpu, the only one here

Cons

  • Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
  • Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing

Best RX 9070 GRE3 of 6

ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9070 GRE EVO OC Edition

The ASUS Prime RX 9070 GRE has 12GB of GDDR6 and a 2880MHz boost in OC mode, with a phase-change thermal pad.

Best for

Buyers who want RDNA 4 above the 9060 XT.

Skip if

Skip it if video memory matters most to you; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB offers 16GB.
ASUS Prime Radeon RX 9070 GRE EVO OC Edition

Why we like it

On video memory it trails the group at 12GB, while the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB offers 16GB. It matches the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger and the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB on cooler thickness (2.5-slot). You get an RX 9070 GRE gpu here, which sets it apart from the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and its an RX 9060 XT gpu.

It is the only pick here with a 2880MHz (OC mode) boost clock; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB has a 3290MHz boost clock instead. It also comes with a dual BIOS switch. The ASUS Prime 9070 GRE occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. When we checked, only the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger and cheaper picks cost less, and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC cost more.

Key specs

GPU
RX 9070 GRE
VRAM
12GB
Memory
GDDR6
Thickness
2.5-slot
Boost clock
2880MHz (OC mode)

Pros

  • 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
  • Phase-change GPU thermal pad
  • Dual BIOS switch
  • RX 9070 GRE gpu, the only one here

Cons

  • Video memory trails the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB (16GB)
  • Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing

The catch

Video memory is its weakest area, and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB covers it better at 16GB.

Best XFX Pick4 of 6

XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 16GB

XFX's Swift RX 9060 XT is the cheapest 16GB card in this guide, with a dual-fan cooler and a 3320MHz boost.

Best for

XFX builds.

Skip if

Pass if a published cooler thickness matters; this one has none.
XFX Swift Radeon RX 9060 XT OC Gaming Edition 16GB

Why we like it

It suits 1440p at medium to high settings. On video memory it ties with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC at 16GB. It shares an RX 9060 XT gpu with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB; the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE goes with an RX 9070 GRE gpu.

No other pick in this guide offers a 3320MHz boost clock; compare the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE, which has a 2880MHz (OC mode) boost clock. No dimensions are published for the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. It was priced above the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and below the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger at the time of writing.

Key specs

GPU
RX 9060 XT
VRAM
16GB
Memory
GDDR6
Boost clock
3320MHz
Outputs
1 x HDMI, 2 x DisplayPort

Pros

  • 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
  • XFX SWFT dual-fan cooler
  • 3320MHz boost clock, the only one here
  • An XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB

Cons

  • No published cooler thickness
  • Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing

The catch

There is no published card length figure, whereas the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes in at 249mm.

Best Quiet 9060 XT5 of 6

ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

The ASUS Dual RX 9060 XT 16GB offers a 3250MHz boost in OC mode with Quiet and Performance BIOS profiles and 0dB fan stop.

Best for

Quiet desktops.

Skip if

Skip it if cooler thickness matters most to you; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB offers 2-slot.
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

Why we like it

On video memory it ties with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC at 16GB. It matches the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger and the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE on cooler thickness (2.5-slot). No other pick in this guide offers a 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock; compare the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE, which has a 2880MHz (OC mode) boost clock.

The ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB 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 9060 XT 16GB with the maker.

Key specs

GPU
RX 9060 XT
VRAM
16GB
Memory
GDDR6
Thickness
2.5-slot
Boost clock
3250MHz (OC mode)

Pros

  • 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
  • Dual BIOS switch with Quiet and Performance profiles
  • 0dB fan stop at light load
  • 3250MHz (OC mode) boost clock, the only one here

Cons

  • Cooler thickness trails the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB (2-slot)
  • Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing

The catch

There is no published card length figure, whereas the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes in at 249mm.

Best Output Layout6 of 6

Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G

Gigabyte's RX 7600 XT Gaming OC carries 16GB of GDDR6 under three Windforce fans, with two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs.

Best for

TV and monitor setups.

Skip if

Pass if a published cooler thickness matters; this one has none.
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G

Why we like it

On video memory it ties with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB at 16GB. An RX 7600 XT gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB uses an RX 9060 XT gpu. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC; 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 7600 XT Gaming OC with the maker. Only the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 6 picks.

Key specs

GPU
RX 7600 XT
VRAM
16GB
Memory
GDDR6
Outputs
2 x DisplayPort, 2 x HDMI

Pros

  • 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
  • Three WINDFORCE fans
  • Two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs
  • RX 7600 XT gpu, the only one here

Cons

  • No published cooler thickness
  • Costs more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at the time of writing

The catch

There is no published card length figure, whereas the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB 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 circuit board on the back of a graphics card
The circuit board on the back of a graphics card
How these picks were ranked
We lined up six cards on GPU, video memory, memory and card length as the makers state them. These are research figures, not bench results: 4 of 6 picks leave out card length.
What every pick has in common
All 6, from the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB to the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
Where the specs have gaps
The ASUS Prime 9070 GRE, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC give no card length; the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC give no cooler thickness.
Price range
From the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB to the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, all sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked.

What to Look for in a GPUs Under $600

Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.

  1. Video memory across these picks

    Across these 6 picks video memory spans 12GB (the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE) to 16GB (the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB). Start with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB if video memory decides it.

  2. How much cooler thickness you need

    The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB tops cooler thickness at 2-slot and the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB sits lowest at 2.5-slot. If cooler thickness is your first filter, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB sets the ceiling at 2-slot. The XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC give no cooler thickness figure, so 4 of 6 picks are compared here.

    A graphics card's bare circuit board around the GPU die
    A graphics card's bare circuit board around the GPU die
  3. How much card length you need

    Here card length runs from 267mm on the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger to 249mm on the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, a 7% spread. If card length is your first filter, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB sets the ceiling at 249mm. The ASUS Prime 9070 GRE, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC give no card length figure, so 2 of 6 picks are compared here.

  4. Power connector

    The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB lists 1 x 8-pin; the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger lists 2 x 8-pin. Sort out power connector before price: it splits 2 stated picks into groups of 1 and 1.

  5. Setup checks

    Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB. Measure for 267mm and 2.5 slots before ordering the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger. The ASUS Prime 9070 GRE occupies 2.5 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case.

How to Choose a GPUs Under $600

By priority

PriorityConsiderWhy
Compact 1440p buildsASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GBA 249mm RX 9060 XT 16GB with a single 8-pin connector and a 550W PSU
1440p gamingASRock 7800 XT ChallengerAn RX 7800 XT, the fastest chip in this list
Buyers who want RDNA 4 above the 9060 XTASUS Prime 9070 GREA 2880MHz OC-mode boost with a phase-change pad
XFX buildsXFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GBAn XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB
Quiet desktopsASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB0dB fan stop with Quiet and Performance BIOS profiles
TV and monitor setupsGigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OCTwo HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs with 16GB

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Key specs side by side

The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger at 16GB. "Not listed" marks card length where the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC leave the figure out.

CardGPUVRAMMemoryLength
ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GBRX 9060 XT16GBGDDR6249mm
ASRock 7800 XT ChallengerRX 7800 XT16GBGDDR6267mm
ASUS Prime 9070 GRERX 9070 GRE12GBGDDR6Not listed
XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GBRX 9060 XT16GBGDDR6Not listed
ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GBRX 9060 XT16GBGDDR6Not listed
Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OCRX 7600 XT16GBGDDR6Not listed

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB ahead of the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger on cooler thickness?

The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB is lowest on cooler thickness at 2-slot; the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger follows at 2.5-slot, 20% apart. No cooler thickness figure is published for the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, which leaves 4 of 6 picks ranked here.

How does the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger compare with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB on card length?

The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes out best at 249mm, with the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger at 267mm. The ASUS Prime 9070 GRE, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC don't state a card length figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 2 of 6 picks are ranked.

Which has the lowest recommended power supply: the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB or the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger?

Between the top two, it is 550W on the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB against 750W on the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger, a 27% difference. The ASUS Prime 9070 GRE, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB, the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC are left out of this ranking because their recommended power supply isn't stated; 2 of 6 picks are ranked.

Why is the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB our Best XFX Pick?

The label rests on an XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB. It makes sense for XFX builds.

Do the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger differ on GPU?

The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the XFX Swift RX 9060 XT 16GB and the ASUS Dual 9060 XT 16GB use RX 9060 XT; the ASRock 7800 XT Challenger uses RX 7800 XT; the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE uses RX 9070 GRE; the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC uses RX 7600 XT.

Will the ASUS Prime 9070 GRE work with my setup?

The ASUS Prime 9070 GRE 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 9070 GRE with the maker. In this guide it ranks third of 6, as our Best RX 9070 GRE pick, and sixth of 6 on video memory (12GB).

Bottom Line

ASRock's RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB is the compact pick, and the RX 7800 XT Challenger is the faster 1440p card. The ASUS RX 9070 GRE sits between them.

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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