Top Affordable GPUs of 2025: Best Value for Money

It's clear that graphics cards are more expensive these days, but fortunately, budget options are making a strong comeback. My top pick, the Intel Arc B580, launched at just $249 and outperforms anything else under $300. This means budget gamers no longer have to settle for outdated cards like the GTX 1070 Ti, which launched at a similar price back in 2014. Even at $450, the RTX 5060 Ti is much more affordable than the $999 RTX 5080, which powers the top-tier gaming PCs, yet it still qualifies as a budget card in today's market.

TL;DR - These Are the Best Budget GPUs:

### Intel Arc B580

4See it at Newegg### PNY Dual Fan OC GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB

5See it at Newegg### Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 7600 OC

2See it at Amazon### MSIGeForce RTX 3050 Gaming X

1See it at Amazon### AMD Radeon RX 9070

0See it at NeweggWith a more modest price tag, you can still achieve an excellent gaming experience, albeit with some tempered expectations. The RTX 5060 Ti, for example, may not be ideal for 4K gaming, but it excels at 1080p and even 1440p resolutions, making it the perfect choice for gamers using the most popular display resolution according to the latest Steam Hardware Survey. Thus, you don't need to spend a fortune to build a great gaming PC in 2025, despite the higher costs compared to previous years.

Having reviewed graphics cards for years, I can confidently vouch for the performance and value of each GPU on this list.

Contributions by Kegan Mooney and Georgie Peru

What Do We Consider a "Budget GPU"?

In today's market, graphics cards are pricier than ever, with some Nvidia models reaching up to $2,000, while even budget options remain in the hundreds. Historically, a budget graphics card would cost around $200 and deliver a solid 1080p gaming experience, but that's no longer the case. For instance, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, considered a budget card by today's standards, costs $399.

It's all about perspective. With high-end cards around $1,000 and mid-range options like the AMD Radeon RX 9070 at about $449, a budget graphics card typically falls within the $200 to $300 range. While there are cheaper cards available, they often require you to use last-generation GPUs. However, these can still offer excellent 1080p performance, even if you miss out on some modern features.

Ultimately, it's worth considering whether you truly need advanced features like ray tracing. Chances are, you can do without them.

Intel Arc B580 – Photos

View 5 Images1. Intel Arc B580

The Best Budget Graphics Card

### Intel Arc B580

4The Intel Arc B580 is the best budget graphics card we've seen in years. Period.See it at NeweggProduct SpecificationsBase clock2,670MHz VRAM12GB GDDR6Output3 x DisplayPort 2.1, 1 x HDMI 2.1aShading cores2,560Compute units20PROSExcellent performance at 1440pVery affordableCONSSome driver issues at launchFor years, it seemed like graphics card manufacturers had abandoned the budget segment. Nvidia, for example, hasn't released a follow-up to the GTX 1660 Ti, leaving budget gamers with last year's models. Fortunately, Intel has stepped up, and its second-generation graphics cards offer an excellent entry point into PC gaming. The Intel Arc B580 is by far the best budget graphics card we've had in years.

Priced at $249 and equipped with 12GB of VRAM, it significantly outpaces the 8GB found in the RTX 4060 and Radeon RX 7600. This extra memory is crucial for higher resolutions like 1440p and 4K, where the frame buffer can fill up quickly. In my review, I found that the Intel Arc B580 delivers superior performance at 1440p compared to any other similar card, largely thanks to its ample frame buffer.

Intel Arc B580 – Benchmarks

View 15 ImagesIn my benchmarks across eight games, the Intel Arc B580 consistently offered the lowest cost per frame. Across the test suite, it averaged at $3.72 per frame at 1440p, compared to $4.39 for the RTX 4060 and $4.89 for the AMD Radeon RX 7600, based on retail prices. For its price, the B580 provides unmatched value for budget-conscious gamers.

What's particularly impressive is its ray tracing performance. Even in games traditionally favoring Nvidia's hardware, like Cyberpunk 2077, the Intel B580 holds its own. At 1440p with the Ray Tracing Ultra preset and XeSS set to Balanced, it achieves an average of 60fps, outperforming the more expensive RTX 4060, which manages 49fps.

However, as it's only the second generation of Intel's graphics cards, there are still some bugs to work out. For instance, in my tests with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the benchmark ran without rendering the player's gun. While this is an annoyance, it's something that can be fixed. This issue was consistent across all Intel GPUs I tested, including the last-gen Arc A770 and A750, so it's not unique to the B580.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti – Photos

View 5 Images2. Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti

Best Budget Graphics Card Under $450

### PNY Dual Fan OC GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB

5See it at NeweggProduct SpecificationsShaders 4608Compute units36Base Clock2407MHzVRAM16GB GDDR7 Output3 x DisplayPort 2.1b, 1 x HDMI 2.1bBus StandardPCIe 5.0PROSDLSS 4 compatibleIncredible 1080p performanceCONSStruggles at higher resolutionsNvidia has faced challenges following up its RTX 4000 series, but the RTX 5060 Ti marks a notable improvement over the RTX 4060 Ti. This boost in performance comes from a larger chip with 36 compute units instead of 34, and the introduction of Blackwell architecture features like DLSS 4.

The highlight of this generation is the next evolution of Frame Generation, with the RTX 5060 Ti supporting Multi-Frame Generation (MFG) through DLSS 4. This AI-driven feature can generate up to three interpolated frames from each rendered frame, dramatically increasing frame rates. However, it does increase latency, so I wouldn't recommend using it in games requiring quick reaction times, such as Marvel Rivals.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti – Benchmarks

View 12 ImagesIn my review, the RTX 5060 Ti proved to be about 23% faster than the RTX 4060 Ti across my test suite, and 43% faster than the RTX 3060 Ti. While not the most significant generational leap, it's capable of handling nearly any game at 1080p or 1440p with max settings.

It's worth noting there are two versions of the RTX 4060 Ti: one with 16GB of VRAM, which I reviewed, and another with 8GB. Given the increasing memory demands of modern games, I recommend avoiding the 8GB model.

Best Gaming PC Deals

Legion Tower 5 Gen 8 (AMD) with RX 7600- $1,049.99Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 (Intel) with RTX 4080 Super- $2,699.99Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 (Intel) with RTX 4070 Ti Super- $2,199.99Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5080 (32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) Gaming PC- $2,499.99### Radeon RX 7600

View 5 Images3. Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 7600 OC

Best Budget AMD GPU

### Gigabyte AMD Radeon RX 7600 OC

2See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsBase clock2655MHz VRAM8GB GDDR6Outputx2 HDMI 2.1, x2 DisplayPort 1.4aShading cores2,048Compute units32PROSSolid 1080p performanceCompetitively pricedCONSUnderwhelming ray tracing performanceChoosing a budget graphics card often involves compromise. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 isn't ideal for ray tracing enthusiasts, but it excels at traditional 1080p gaming. After all, not everyone needs advanced ray tracing technology when enjoying games like Phasmophobia with friends.

In my review, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 held its own, achieving over 60fps at 1080p in many games. In Total War: Warhammer 3, it managed up to 83fps at this resolution. While not as fast as cards twice its price, at around $250, it offers great value.

With 8GB of VRAM, it's more than sufficient for most 1080p gaming scenarios. The RX 7600 shines at running popular games smoothly, and you'll rarely find a modern game it can't handle, even if you need to dial back ray tracing occasionally. That's a trade-off I'm willing to make.

4. MSI GeForce RTX 3050 Gaming X

Best Budget GPU Under $200

### MSIGeForce RTX 3050 Gaming X

1The RTX 3050 may be last-gen, but it's one of the best options for affordable 1080p gaming.See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsBase Clock1507MHzVRAM6GB GDDR6Outputx2 HDMI 2.1, x1 DisplayPort 1.4aShading cores2304Compute units18PROSImpressive dual fan coolingGreat valueCONSOnly 6GB VRAMThe RTX 3050 is an older card, part of the last-generation 3000-series. Nvidia hasn't released a follow-up yet, three years into the Ada Lovelace generation, leaving us to wonder when we'll see a new budget-friendly option. Nevertheless, the RTX 3050 remains a fantastic value, delivering reliable 1080p gaming performance in nearly any game.

You may need to adjust quality settings for more demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Horizon: Forbidden West. At the time of writing, the EVGA RTX 3050 is available for $179 on Amazon, making it the most cost-effective entry point into PC gaming, aside from scouring used markets.

Thanks to Nvidia's third-generation Tensor cores, the RTX 3050 supports DLSS 2.0, enhancing its value and compensating for some performance gaps in supported games. However, I wouldn't recommend enabling ray tracing on this card, as it won't provide a satisfying experience.

This GPU is best suited for traditional gaming, especially for esports and indie titles.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 – Photos

View 4 Images5. AMD Radeon RX 9070

Best Mid-Range GPU

### AMD Radeon RX 9070

0While it's priced close to the RX 9070 XT, the Radeon RX 9070 is an excellent value for 1440p gaming. See it at NeweggProduct SpecificationsShading Units3584Base Clock1330 MHzBoost Clock2520 MHzVideo Memory16GB GDDR6Memory Bandwidth644.6 GB/sMemory Bus256-bitPower Connectors2 x 8-pinPROSExcellent 1440p performance16GB of VRAMCONSNot technically a budget GPUThough not typically considered a "budget graphics card," the AMD Radeon RX 9070 offers the best value under $600, especially once stock stabilizes in a few months. This card marks the entry point into the mid-range, delivering impressive 1440p performance with more VRAM than you'd expect at this price point.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks

View 11 ImagesIn my review, the Radeon RX 9070 outperformed the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 at the same price point, even in games with heavy ray tracing like Cyberpunk 2077. At 1440p with the ray tracing ultra preset and FSR set to balanced, it achieved 93fps, compared to 90fps on the RTX 5070 with similar settings. AMD has made significant strides in closing the gap in games that traditionally favored Nvidia.

With 16GB of GDDR6, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 offers more memory than the 12GB GDDR7 on the RTX 5070, which is crucial as games become more memory-intensive, especially at higher resolutions. The only drawback is its proximity in price to the RX 9070 XT, which can handle 4K gaming for just $50 more. While not insignificant, it's a small price to pay if you own a 4K display.

How to Pick the Best GPU on a Budget

Selecting the best budget GPU can be straightforward if you focus on key factors like frame rates, resolution capabilities, and compatibility with your existing hardware. If you have a specific game in mind, check its system requirements on your chosen gaming platform to guide your choice.

Keep an eye out for sales, discounts, and bundle deals, as prices can fluctuate. If a new GPU has been released, older models often become more affordable. By combining a quality GPU with a great deal, you can maximize your value.

FAQs about Cheaper GPUs

How much should I budget for a GPU?

For less demanding games, a budget GPU can suffice. For 1080p gaming, you can find a decent graphics card between $200 and $400. However, for 1440p or 4K gaming, prices can exceed $500.

What is the best budget GPU for content creation?

For content creation on a budget, consider the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti. It offers enough CUDA cores for most creative workloads in Adobe Premiere or Blender, and its 4th-generation Tensor cores support DLSS, increasingly integrated into popular content creation applications.