Top Affordable GPUs of 2025: Best Value for Money

Graphics cards have seen a notable price hike in recent years, but the landscape is shifting with the return of budget-friendly options. My top pick, the Intel Arc B580, launched at $249 and has set a new standard for performance in the sub-$300 category. This is a game-changer for budget gamers, offering a compelling alternative to the pricier options that have dominated the market. Even a $450 card like the RTX 5060 Ti is a steal compared to the $999 starting price of the RTX 5080, which powers the best gaming PCs today, and remains a solid budget choice by current standards.

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

These budget options can deliver an excellent gaming experience, even if you adjust your expectations slightly. The RTX 5060 Ti, for example, may not be suited for 4K gaming, but it excels at 1080p and 1440p, making it ideal for the most common display resolutions according to the latest Steam Hardware Survey. So, building a great gaming PC in 2025 doesn't require a fortune, despite the higher costs compared to the past.

As a seasoned reviewer of graphics cards, I can confidently vouch for the performance of each GPU on this list, especially considering 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 high-end Nvidia models reaching up to $2,000 and even budget cards costing hundreds. Previously, a budget GPU around $200 could handle 1080p gaming smoothly, but times have changed. Today, something like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, which costs $399, might be considered a budget option. The definition of a budget GPU is relative; if a top-tier card is around $1,000 and a mid-range like the AMD Radeon RX 9070 is $449, then a budget GPU falls in the $200 to $300 range. While you can find cheaper, last-generation cards, you'll need to make some compromises, but they can still offer great performance at 1080p. The key question to ask is whether you really need the latest ray tracing features—often, you can get by without them.

Intel Arc B580 – Photos

View 5 Images1. Intel Arc B580

The Best Budget Graphics Card

### Intel Arc B580

4The Intel Arc B580 stands out as 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 problems at launch

For a long time, it seemed like budget GPUs were an afterthought for manufacturers. Nvidia, for instance, hasn't followed up the GTX 1660 Ti, leaving budget-conscious buyers to settle for last year's models. Thankfully, Intel has entered the arena with its second-generation GPUs, offering a fantastic entry point for PC gaming. The Intel Arc B580 is a standout, providing unmatched value for its price.

Priced at $249, this card comes equipped with 12GB of VRAM, outstripping the 8GB found in competitors like the RTX 4060 and Radeon RX 7600. While extra VRAM is beneficial at 1080p, it's crucial for higher resolutions where the frame buffer fills up quickly. My tests showed that the Arc B580 outperforms other budget cards at 1440p, largely due to its robust VRAM.

Intel Arc B580 – Benchmarks

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

Surprisingly, the B580 also excels in ray tracing, even outperforming Nvidia's hardware in games like Cyberpunk 2077. At 1440p with Ray Tracing Ultra and XeSS set to Balanced, it delivers a smooth 60fps average, compared to the RTX 4060's 49fps.

However, as a second-generation product, the B580 still has some bugs to iron out. For example, in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the benchmark ran without rendering the gun in the player's hand. This issue was consistent across all tested Intel GPUs, including the Arc A770 and A750, suggesting 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 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 highlight of this generation is Multi-Frame Generation (MFG), which uses AI to generate up to three interpolated frames per rendered frame, boosting frame rates at the cost of some latency. This feature is best avoided in fast-paced games like Marvel Rivals.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti – Benchmarks

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My tests revealed that the RTX 5060 Ti is about 23% faster than the RTX 4060 Ti and 43% faster than the RTX 3060 Ti, making it 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 one with 8GB. Given the increasing memory demands of modern games, the 8GB model is best 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

Opting for a budget graphics card often involves compromise. The AMD Radeon RX 7600, for instance, isn't ideal for ray tracing but excels at traditional 1080p gaming. For games like Phasmophobia, you don't need fancy ray tracing to have a good time. My review showed that while the RX 7600 may struggle with some demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077, it can easily hit over 60fps at 1080p in games like Total War: Warhammer 3. At around $250, it's a solid choice for budget gaming.

The RX 7600 comes with 8GB of VRAM, which is sufficient for most 1080p gaming needs. Its strength lies in running popular games smoothly, even if ray tracing needs to be toned down occasionally. That's a compromise I can live with.

4. MSI GeForce RTX 3050 Gaming X

Best Budget GPU Under $200

### MSIGeForce RTX 3050 Gaming X

1The RTX 3050 might be last-gen, but it remains 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 VRAM

The RTX 3050 is part of the last-generation 3000-series, and Nvidia hasn't released a direct follow-up yet. Despite its age, the RTX 3050 offers excellent value, delivering solid 1080p performance across most games. However, you might need to adjust quality settings for more demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Horizon: Forbidden West. Currently available for $179 on Amazon, it's the most cost-effective way to dive into PC gaming, aside from used options.

The RTX 3050 benefits from Nvidia's third-generation Tensor cores, enabling DLSS 2.0, which helps boost performance in supported games. However, I wouldn't recommend enabling ray tracing on this card—it can run, but the experience won't be optimal. This GPU shines in traditional gaming workloads and is ideal for esports or 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 offers exceptional 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 GPU

Though not strictly a budget GPU, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 is the best value under $600, particularly once stock levels stabilize. It's the entry point to mid-range performance, offering excellent 1440p gaming with more VRAM than typically found in this price range.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks

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In my review, the Radeon RX 9070 outperformed the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 in games with heavy ray tracing, like Cyberpunk 2077, achieving 93fps at 1440p with Ray Tracing Ultra and FSR set to balanced. This performance is close to the RTX 5070's 90fps with similar settings, showing AMD's improvements in ray tracing. The RX 9070's 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM gives it an edge 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 can handle 4K gaming for just $50 more—a small premium for those with 4K displays.

How to Pick the Best GPU on a Budget

Choosing the best budget GPU involves understanding your needs and balancing performance with cost. Consider what you'll use the GPU for, focusing on frame rates, resolution capabilities, and hardware compatibility. If you have a specific game in mind, check its system requirements for guidance. Keep an eye out for sales, discounts, and bundle deals, as prices can vary. Older models often drop in price after new releases, offering great value. By combining a quality GPU with a good deal, you can maximize your investment.

FAQs about Cheaper GPUs

How much should I budget for a GPU?

For less demanding games, a budget-friendly GPU can suffice. You can find a decent graphics card for 1080p gaming within $200 to $400. However, for 1440p or 4K gaming, expect to spend well over $500.

What is the best budget GPU for content creation?

For content creators on a budget, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti is a top choice. It has enough CUDA cores to handle most creative tasks in Adobe Premiere or Blender and includes fourth-generation Tensor cores for DLSS, which is increasingly integrated into content creation software.