Top Affordable GPUs of 2025: Best Value Picks

It's no secret that graphics cards have become significantly more expensive in recent years. Thankfully, budget graphics cards are making a strong comeback, offering gamers more affordable options without sacrificing performance. My top pick, the Intel Arc B580, priced at just $249, outperforms any other card under $300. This means budget gamers no longer have to settle for outdated models like the GTX 1070 Ti, which launched at a similar price back in 2014. While a $450 card like the RTX 5060 Ti might seem steep, it's still much more affordable than the $999 RTX 5080, which powers the best gaming PCs on the market. Even at this price point, the RTX 5060 Ti is considered 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 Newegg

Even with a more modest price tag, these budget GPUs can deliver a fantastic gaming experience if you set your expectations appropriately. For example, while the RTX 5060 Ti may not be ideal for 4K gaming, it excels at 1080p and even 1440p, making it perfect for the most popular display resolutions according to the latest Steam Hardware Survey. So, you don't need to spend thousands of dollars to build a great gaming PC in 2025, despite the higher costs compared to the past.

As a seasoned graphics card reviewer, I've personally tested every GPU on this list and can confidently endorse their performance, especially given their price points.

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 the more affordable options cost several hundred dollars. Gone are the days when a budget GPU could be had for around $200 and still deliver solid 1080p performance in the latest games. For example, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, which could be considered a budget card by today's standards, costs $399.

It's all about perspective. If high-end graphics cards are around $1,000 and mid-range cards like the AMD Radeon RX 9070 are around $449, then a budget GPU would typically fall in the $200 to $300 range. There are certainly cheaper options available, but those would usually be last-generation GPUs. However, cards like the RTX 3060 or RTX 2060 still offer excellent 1080p performance, even if you miss out on some modern features.

Ultimately, it's worth asking yourself if you really need the latest ray tracing effects. Chances are, you can still enjoy a fantastic gaming experience without them.

Intel Arc B580 – Photos

View 5 Images1. Intel Arc B580

The Best Budget Graphics Card

### Intel Arc B580

4

The Intel Arc B580 stands out as the best budget graphics card we've seen in years. Period. At just $249, it offers exceptional value.

For a long time, it seemed like manufacturers had forgotten about budget-conscious gamers. Nvidia, for instance, hasn't released a follow-up to the GTX 1660 Ti, leaving budget buyers to make do with last year's models. Fortunately, Intel has stepped up with its second generation of graphics cards, providing a fantastic entry point for PC gaming. The Intel Arc B580 is a game-changer in the budget GPU market.

Priced at $249, the B580 comes with 12GB of VRAM, significantly more than the 8GB found in the comparable RTX 4060 and Radeon RX 7600. While 8GB might be sufficient for 1080p, 12GB is crucial for higher resolutions like 1440p or 4K. My testing of the Intel Arc B580 revealed superior performance at 1440p compared to other cards in its class, largely thanks to its ample frame buffer.

Intel Arc B580 – Benchmarks

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Across eight benchmarked games, the Intel Arc B580 offered the lowest cost per frame, averaging $3.72 per frame at 1440p, compared to $4.39 for the RTX 4060 and $4.89 for the AMD Radeon RX 7600. This makes the B580 an unbeatable value for budget-conscious gamers.

Surprisingly, the B580 also handles ray tracing impressively well. In games like Cyberpunk 2077, which typically favor Nvidia hardware, the B580 delivers a solid 60fps average at 1440p with the Ray Tracing Ultra preset and XeSS set to Balanced, outperforming the more expensive RTX 4060, which manages only 49fps.

However, as this is only Intel's second generation of graphics cards, some bugs remain. During my testing of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the benchmark ran without rendering the gun in the player's hand. This issue, while annoying, is likely fixable and was present across all tested Intel GPUs, including the last-gen Arc A770 and A750.

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 resolutions

Nvidia's RTX 5060 Ti marks a significant improvement over its predecessor, the RTX 4060 Ti, thanks to a larger chip with 36 compute units and the introduction of DLSS 4. The standout feature of this generation is the Multi-Frame Generation (MFG) technology, which uses AI to generate up to three interpolated frames, boosting frame rates at the cost of increased latency. While MFG can be beneficial, it's not recommended for games requiring quick reactions, such as Marvel Rivals.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti – Benchmarks

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In my review, the RTX 5060 Ti was 23% faster than the RTX 4060 Ti and 43% faster than the RTX 3060 Ti across my testing suite. While not a dramatic generational leap, it's capable of handling most games at 1080p or 1440p with max settings. It's worth noting that 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, the 8GB version should be avoided.

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 performance

Choosing a budget graphics card often involves some compromise. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 may not excel at ray tracing, but it's excellent for traditional 1080p gaming. If you're more interested in playing games like Phasmophobia with friends than in fancy ray tracing, this card is a great choice. In my review, the RX 7600 delivered over 60fps at 1080p in many games, including up to 83fps in Total War: Warhammer 3. At around $250, it's a solid performer.

The RX 7600 comes with 8GB of VRAM, which is typically sufficient for 1080p gaming. Its strength lies in running popular games smoothly, even if you need to turn down ray tracing settings occasionally.

4. MSI GeForce RTX 3050 Gaming X

Best Budget GPU Under $200

### MSIGeForce RTX 3050 Gaming X

1

The RTX 3050 might be last-gen, but it remains one of the best options for budget-conscious gamers looking for a 1080p graphics card.

As part of Nvidia's last-generation 3000-series, the RTX 3050 is still a great value, especially with no direct successor yet in the Ada Lovelace lineup. At $179 on Amazon, it's one of the most affordable ways to get into PC gaming. While you may need to adjust quality settings for more demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Horizon: Forbidden West, the RTX 3050 offers solid performance for esports and indie games. It also supports DLSS 2.0, enhancing its value, though I wouldn't recommend enabling ray tracing due to performance limitations.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 – Photos

View 4 Images5. AMD Radeon RX 9070

Best Mid-Range GPU

### AMD Radeon RX 9070

0

While not strictly a budget GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 offers excellent value for under $600. It's the entry point to the mid-range, providing strong 1440p performance backed by 16GB of VRAM.

In my review, the Radeon RX 9070 outperformed the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 at the same price point, even in ray tracing-heavy games like Cyberpunk 2077, thanks to improvements in AMD's ray tracing pipeline. At 1440p with the ray tracing ultra preset and FSR set to balanced, the RX 9070 achieved 93fps, compared to 90fps for the RTX 5070. The RX 9070's 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM is a significant advantage over the RTX 5070's 12GB, especially as games become more memory-intensive at higher resolutions. The only drawback is its proximity in price to the RX 9070 XT, which offers 4K gaming capabilities for just $50 more.

How to Pick the Best GPU on a Budget

Choosing the right budget GPU involves understanding your needs and balancing performance with cost. Consider what you'll be using the GPU for, focusing on factors like frame rates, resolution capabilities, and compatibility with your current setup. If you have a specific game in mind, check its system requirements on your chosen gaming platform to guide your decision.

Keep an eye out for sales, discounts, and bundle deals, as prices can fluctuate. If you're not in a rush, waiting for a good deal can maximize your value. Also, consider older models when new GPUs are released, as their prices often drop. A quality GPU paired with a great deal can significantly enhance your gaming experience on a budget.

FAQs about Cheaper GPUs

How much should I budget for a GPU?

For less demanding games at 1080p, you can find a decent graphics card for $200 to $400. For 1440p or 4K gaming, you might need to budget well over $500.

What is the best budget GPU for content creation?

For content creation without breaking the bank, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti is a solid choice. With enough CUDA cores to handle most creative workloads in Adobe Premiere or Blender, and 4th-generation Tensor cores for DLSS, it's increasingly compatible with popular content creation applications.