Top Budget GPUs of 2025: Best Value for Money

It's no secret that graphics cards have seen a significant price hike in recent years. Fortunately, budget-friendly options are making a strong comeback, and the Intel Arc B580, priced at just $249, has emerged as a standout performer in the sub-$300 category. This card offers a compelling alternative to pricier options like the GTX 1070 Ti, which launched at a similar price back in 2014. For gamers on a budget, the RTX 5060 Ti, at $450, represents a more affordable choice compared to the $999 RTX 5080, yet it still qualifies as a budget 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, these GPUs deliver a fantastic gaming experience, especially when tailored to your expectations. The RTX 5060 Ti, for example, may not be ideal for 4K gaming, but it excels at 1080p and 1440p resolutions, making it an excellent choice for those using the most common display resolutions according to the latest Steam Hardware Survey. You don't need to break the bank to enjoy a great gaming PC in 2025, despite the general increase in prices.

With years of experience reviewing graphics cards, 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 have reached unprecedented price points, with top-tier Nvidia models costing up to $2,000 and even budget options hovering in the hundreds. The days when a budget GPU could be found for around $200 and still deliver solid 1080p gaming performance are behind us. Now, a card like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, priced at $399, is considered budget-friendly by current standards.

It's all about perspective. With high-end cards around $1,000 and mid-range options like the AMD Radeon RX 9070 at $449, budget GPUs typically fall between $200 and $300. While there are even cheaper options available, these often require compromises, such as opting for last-generation models like the RTX 3060 or RTX 2060, which still offer strong 1080p performance but lack some modern features.

Consider whether you truly need the latest ray tracing effects. Often, you can enjoy gaming 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 budget graphics cards were an afterthought for manufacturers. Nvidia, for instance, hasn't released a successor to the GTX 1660 Ti, leaving budget-conscious gamers to rely on last year's models. Thankfully, Intel has entered the arena with its second-generation graphics cards, offering an excellent entry point into PC gaming. The Intel Arc B580, starting at $249, is a game-changer with its 12GB of VRAM, far surpassing the 8GB found in comparable cards like the RTX 4060 and Radeon RX 7600. This extra VRAM is crucial for higher resolutions, and my tests confirmed that the B580 delivers superior performance at 1440p.

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 well, even outperforming more expensive cards like the RTX 4060 in games like Cyberpunk 2077. At 1440p with the Ray Tracing Ultra preset and XeSS set to Balanced, it achieves a solid 60fps average.

However, as a second-generation product, the B580 isn't without its quirks. During testing with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, I encountered a bug where the gun in the player's hand didn't render. While this issue is likely fixable, it's worth noting that it affected all Intel GPUs I tested, not just 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 the RTX 4060 Ti, thanks to its 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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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. It's well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming with max settings. However, be aware that there are two versions of the RTX 4060 Ti: one with 16GB of VRAM and another 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

Choosing a budget graphics card often involves compromise. The AMD Radeon RX 7600, while not ideal for ray tracing, excels at traditional 1080p gaming. It's perfect for games like Phasmophobia, where ray tracing isn't a priority. In my review, the RX 7600 achieved over 60fps at 1080p in games like Total War: Warhammer 3, offering great value at around $250. With 8GB of VRAM, it's more than sufficient for most 1080p gaming needs.

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 solid choice for budget-conscious gamers. With no direct successor yet from Nvidia, the RTX 3050 offers excellent value, delivering strong 1080p performance. You might need to adjust settings for demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, but at $179, it's an affordable entry into PC gaming. The RTX 3050 also supports DLSS 2.0, enhancing its value, though it's not recommended for 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

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, is the best value under $600 for 1440p gaming. It offers superior performance and 16GB of VRAM, making it an excellent choice for gamers looking to step into the mid-range without breaking the bank.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT & 9070 – Benchmarks

View 11 Images

In my review, the Radeon RX 9070 outperformed the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 in several games, including Cyberpunk 2077, thanks to AMD's improved ray tracing pipeline. 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 VRAM is a significant advantage over the RTX 5070's 12GB, especially for future-proofing 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

Selecting the best budget GPU involves understanding your needs and balancing performance with cost. Consider what you'll be using the GPU for, focusing on frame rates, resolution capabilities, and compatibility with your existing hardware. Check the system requirements for specific games to guide your choice. Keep an eye out for sales, discounts, and bundle deals, as prices can fluctuate. Older models often become more affordable after new releases, offering great value for money.

FAQs about Cheaper GPUs

How much should I budget for a GPU?

For less demanding games at 1080p, a budget of $200 to $400 can secure a decent graphics card. For 1440p or 4K gaming, you'll need to budget 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 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 integrated into popular content creation software.