Top Affordable GPUs of 2025: Best Value for Money

In today's market, it's no secret that graphics cards have become significantly more expensive than in previous years. However, there's good news for budget-conscious gamers: budget graphics cards are making a comeback. The standout option is the Intel Arc B580, which has just hit the market at a competitive $249. This card outperforms all others in its price range below $300, offering a refreshing alternative to the older, more expensive cards like the GTX 1070 Ti that launched back in 2014. Even a $450 card like the RTX 5060 Ti is a more affordable option compared to the $999 starting price of the RTX 5080, which powers the top-tier gaming PCs today. In this context, the RTX 5060 Ti can still be considered a budget-friendly choice.

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

Despite their lower price tags, these budget GPUs can deliver an excellent gaming experience if you set your expectations appropriately. For instance, the RTX 5060 Ti may not be ideal for 4K gaming, but it excels at 1080p and even 1440p, making it an excellent choice for users sticking with the most popular resolutions, as per the latest Steam Hardware Survey. This means you don't need to spend thousands to enjoy a great gaming PC in 2025, even if prices have risen over time.

As a seasoned reviewer of graphics cards, I've personally tested every GPU on this list and can vouch for their performance, particularly considering their price points.

Contributions by Kegan Mooney and Georgie Peru

What Do We Consider a "Budget GPU"?

With graphics cards reaching unprecedented prices, some Nvidia cards can cost up to $2,000, while even more affordable options are priced in the hundreds. In the past, a budget GPU would cost around $200 and offer solid 1080p gaming performance in the latest titles, but this is no longer the case. Today, a card like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, considered budget-friendly by current standards, costs $399.

It's all about perspective. If high-end cards are around $1,000 and mid-range options like the AMD Radeon RX 9070 are priced at $449, a budget GPU typically falls between $200 to $300. While there are ultra-cheap options below this range, they often require compromises, such as opting for last-generation GPUs. However, cards like the RTX 3060 or RTX 2060 can still provide excellent 1080p performance, even if you miss out on some modern features.

Ultimately, you need to 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 launchFor years, it felt like manufacturers had forgotten about the budget segment. Nvidia, for example, has not released a successor to the GTX 1660 Ti, leaving budget gamers to rely on last year's models. Fortunately, Intel has entered the fray with its second generation of graphics cards, providing 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, this card comes equipped with 12GB of VRAM, far surpassing the 8GB found in the RTX 4060 and Radeon RX 7600. While 8GB is sufficient for 1080p, higher resolutions like 1440p or 4K demand more memory, and the Arc B580 delivers. My tests showed that it provided superior performance at 1440p compared to other GPUs in its class, largely thanks to its ample frame buffer.

Intel Arc B580 – Benchmarks

View 15 ImagesAcross 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 an unbeatable value for budget-conscious gamers.

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

However, as this is only Intel's second generation of graphics cards, there are still some bugs to iron out. 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 resolutionsNvidia has faced challenges in following 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 architecture features like 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, such as Marvel Rivals.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti – Benchmarks

View 12 ImagesIn my review of the Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti, it proved to be about 23% faster than the RTX 4060 Ti and 43% faster than the RTX 3060 Ti across my test suite. While this isn't a dramatic generational leap, it's capable of handling most games at 1080p or 1440p with settings maxed out.

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, it's advisable to steer clear of 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 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 fancy graphics, this card is a great choice. In my review, the RX 7600 struggled in some games like Cyberpunk 2077, but it easily achieved over 60fps in others, such as Total War: Warhammer 3 at 1080p.

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 dial back 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 VRAMThe RTX 3050, part of Nvidia's last-generation 3000-series, is still a solid choice for budget gamers. With no direct successor yet from Nvidia, the RTX 3050 offers excellent value, delivering reliable 1080p performance across a wide range of games.

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 just $179 on Amazon, making it an affordable entry point into PC gaming.

The RTX 3050 also benefits from Nvidia's third-generation Tensor cores, supporting DLSS 2.0, which can enhance performance in compatible games. However, I wouldn't recommend enabling ray tracing on this card, as it won't provide a satisfactory experience. It's best suited for traditional gaming and esports 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 GPUThe AMD Radeon RX 9070, while not strictly a budget GPU, provides the best value under $600. It's an entry-level mid-range card that excels at 1440p gaming and comes with ample VRAM.

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 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 90fps for the RTX 5070.

The RX 9070's 16GB of GDDR6 memory 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 using a 4K display, the extra cost might be worthwhile.

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 be using the GPU for and focus 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 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 at 1080p, you can find a decent graphics card between $200 and $400. For 1440p or 4K gaming, expect to spend over $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 has enough CUDA cores to handle 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.