Top Budget GPUs of 2025: Cost-Effective Picks

It's no secret that graphics cards have become more expensive over time, but there's good news for budget-conscious gamers: affordable GPUs are making a strong comeback. My top pick, the Intel Arc B580, launched at just $249 and outperforms any other card in its price range. This means budget gamers no longer have to settle for outdated options like the GTX 1070 Ti, which debuted at a similar price back in 2014. Meanwhile, the RTX 5060 Ti, priced at $450, remains a more affordable alternative to the $999 RTX 5080, positioning it as a budget-friendly option 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 lower price tag, you can still enjoy a fantastic gaming experience, though you might need to adjust your expectations slightly. For example, the RTX 5060 Ti may not be ideal for 4K gaming, but it excels at 1080p and 1440p, making it an excellent choice for those using the most popular display resolutions, as per the latest Steam Hardware Survey. So, you don't need to spend a fortune to build a great gaming PC in 2025, despite the slight increase in costs over the years.

Having reviewed graphics cards for years, 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 some Nvidia models reaching up to $2,000, while even the more affordable options still cost hundreds of dollars. Previously, a budget graphics card around $200 could 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 $449, a budget GPU typically falls between $200 and $300. While you can find cheaper, last-generation GPUs, you'll need to make some compromises. However, cards like the RTX 3060 or RTX 2060 still offer excellent 1080p performance, even if they lack some modern features.

Consider whether you truly need the latest ray tracing effects; 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 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 issues at launch

For years, it seemed like graphics card manufacturers had forgotten about budget options. Nvidia, for example, hasn't released a successor to the GTX 1660 Ti, leaving budget gamers to rely on last year's models. Thankfully, Intel has entered the market, and its second-generation graphics cards offer an excellent entry point into PC gaming. The Intel Arc B580 is the best budget graphics card we've seen in years.

Priced at $249, the Arc B580 comes with 12GB of VRAM, significantly more than the 8GB found in the RTX 4060 and Radeon RX 7600. While 8GB is sufficient for 1080p, higher resolutions like 1440p and 4K benefit greatly from the extra frame buffer. In my review, the Intel Arc B580 delivered superior performance at 1440p compared to other cards in its class, largely due to its ample VRAM.

Intel Arc B580 – Benchmarks

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Across eight benchmarked games, the Intel Arc B580 offered the lowest cost per frame. On average, it costs just $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 the best value for budget-conscious gamers.

Surprisingly, the B580 handles ray tracing well, even outperforming Nvidia's hardware in some games like Cyberpunk 2077. At 1440p with the Ray Tracing Ultra preset and XeSS set to Balanced, you can expect a smooth 60fps average, compared to the RTX 4060's 49fps.

However, as this is only Intel's second generation of graphics cards, there are still some bugs to iron out. For instance, 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 fixable and was present across all Intel GPUs I tested, 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 has struggled to follow up its RTX 4000 series, but the RTX 5060 Ti marks a significant improvement over the RTX 4060 Ti. This performance boost comes from a larger chip with 36 compute units, up from 34, and the introduction of Blackwell's features, including DLSS 4.

The standout feature of this generation is the next iteration of Frame Generation, with the RTX 5060 Ti supporting Multi-Frame Generation (MFG) through DLSS 4. This AI-driven technology can generate up to three interpolated frames for each rendered frame, significantly boosting frame rates. However, this comes at the cost of increased latency, so it's not recommended for games requiring quick reactions, like Marvel Rivals.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti – Benchmarks

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In my review, the RTX 5060 Ti was about 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 settings maxed out.

Note 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, it's best to avoid 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 performance

Choosing a more affordable graphics card often involves compromise. The AMD Radeon RX 7600, while not ideal for ray tracing, excels at traditional 1080p gaming. For those who prioritize gameplay over advanced graphics technologies, this card is a great choice. In my review, the RX 7600 delivered over 60fps in many games at 1080p, such as Total War: Warhammer 3, where it achieved up to 83fps.

With 8GB of VRAM, the RX 7600 is well-suited for most 1080p gaming scenarios. It's a reliable option for running popular games smoothly, even if you need to adjust ray tracing settings occasionally.

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 remains one of the best options for budget 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, part of Nvidia's last-generation 3000-series, is still a great value. With no direct successor yet from Nvidia, the RTX 3050 offers solid 1080p gaming performance at a budget-friendly price. You might need to adjust quality settings for demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Horizon: Forbidden West, but at $179, it's an affordable entry point into PC gaming.

Thanks to Nvidia's third-generation Tensor cores, the RTX 3050 supports DLSS 2.0, enhancing its value and performance in compatible games. However, it's not recommended for ray tracing due to its limited capabilities in this area. Instead, it's perfect for traditional gaming, especially 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 offers 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 GPU

The AMD Radeon RX 9070, while not strictly a budget GPU, offers the best value under $600. It's the entry point to mid-range performance, delivering excellent 1440p gaming with ample VRAM. Once stock stabilizes, it will be an even better deal.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks

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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. At 1440p with the ray tracing ultra preset and FSR set to balanced, it achieved 93fps, compared to the RTX 5070's 90fps. 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 can handle 4K gaming for just $50 more. However, if you're focused on 1440p gaming, the RX 9070 is a solid choice.

How to Pick the Best GPU on a Budget

Selecting the best budget GPU involves understanding your needs and balancing performance with cost. Consider what you'll use the GPU for, focusing on factors like frame rates, resolution capabilities, and compatibility with your existing hardware. If you have a specific game in mind, check its system requirements to guide your choice.

Keep an eye out for sales, discounts, and bundle deals, as prices can fluctuate. If a new GPU is released, older models often see price drops, offering better 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 at 1080p, you can find a decent graphics card between $200 and $400. For 1440p or 4K gaming, prices can exceed $500.

What is the best budget GPU for content creation?

For content creation on a budget, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti is a strong choice. It offers enough CUDA cores for most creative workloads in applications like Adobe Premiere or Blender, and its 4th-generation Tensor cores support DLSS, which is increasingly used in content creation software.