They aren’t cheap, but that doesn’t mean they’re not powerful. Due to Nvidia and AMD’s ongoing turf wars, GPUs have become more powerful over the years while falling in price. There are flagship models that make heads, but also budget entry models that are impressively robust.
Although they may not be as powerful as the highest-end graphics card , these cards are still affordable and can handle a variety of graphically demanding tasks. While most gamers are looking for higher-end models for gaming and content creation, there is still a way to get good performance without spending more than $1,000/PS1,000. Your needs will determine which model is best. These graphics cards are perfect if you are looking to run your favorite games , are comfortable lowering certain settings, and need light photo and video editing.
This list will have something for everyone, regardless of whether you are looking for a GeForce GPU or Radeon CPU. Take a look at these top-of-the-line budget graphics cards for 2022 and don’t forget to use our price comparison tool to get even more savings on the best GPU offers.
1. AMD Radeon 5700
SPECIFICATIONS
Stream Processors: 2,304
Core base clock: 1,465MHz
Core boost clock: 1,725 MHz
Memory: 8GB GDDR6
Memory clock: 14 Gbps
Connectors for power: 1 x 8 pin and 1 x 6-pin
Outputs: 1x DisplayPort 1.4 DSC and 1x HDMI with 4K60 support
The Radeon RX5700 is the best budget AMD graphics card. You won’t find a mid-range card that can deliver 1440p gaming at Ultra or Max settings.
It is not affordable without making some sacrifices. The Radeon RX 5700 does not include Ray Tracing. Budget-minded users will have to wait until that feature is available on even the most affordable graphics cards. Perhaps next year.
2. Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER
SPECIFICATIONS
Stream Processors: 1408
Core base clock 1.520 MHz
Core boost clock: 1,785MHz
Memory: 6GB GDDR6
Memory clock: 14 Gbps
Connectors for power: 1x 6-pin
Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1 x HDMI 2.0b, DL-DVI
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super replaces the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660. It is one of the most affordable graphics cards currently on the market. It can achieve nearly 80 FPS in Middle Earth : Shadow of War using Ultra graphics settings at 1080p, and a respectable 54 FPS at 1440p. It costs less than $250 (US$200, AU$400).
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super has its flaws. You can still use it with a DVI port instead of a second HDMI port or even a USB C. And while it does have DisplayPort, this card won’t allow you to run multiple displays. This budget graphics card does not have ray tracing cores. However, it is missing these cores. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better graphics card than the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660Super for the price.
3. AMD Radeon RX5600 XT
SPECIFICATIONS
Stream Processors: 2,304
Core base clock: 1,355MHz
Core boost clock: 1,560MHz
Memory: 6GB GDDR6
Memory clock: 14 Gbps
Power connectors: 1×8-pin
Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0
It can be difficult for gamers to choose the right card given the number of 1080p cards available. The AMD Radeon RX5600 XT is a great choice in a market saturated with Nvidia products. It can outperform some of the more expensive mid-range cards and still be a very affordable graphics card.
It is still an AMD card so it does not have ray tracing. For nearly $300 (about PS250 or AU$470), you might consider whether the Nvidia GeoForce 2060, which does have ray-tracing capabilities, is worth it. The AMD Radeon RX5600 XT may be the most affordable graphics card available.
4. Gigabyte GeForce GTX1660 OC 6G
SPECIFICATIONS
Stream Processors: 1,408
Core base clock: 1,530MHz
Memory: 6GB GDDR5
Memory clock: 8 Gbps
1x 8-pin power connector
Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0
Nvidia GeForce cards are more powerful on the top-end but don’t offer the same price-performance ratio as solid AMD offerings. Fortunately, not all GeForce cards are out of reach. The Gigabyte GeForce GTX1660 OC 6G offers the latest Nvidia Toring architecture to the budget-minded customer.
The GeForce GTX 1660 OC offers excellent gaming performance at 1080p and solid gaming at 1440p with the right settings. It is a great option for gamers looking to get more out of their graphics cards without spending a lot.
5. AMD Radeon RX5500 XT
SPECIFICATIONS
Stream Processors: 1,408
Core base clock: 1,717MHz
Core boost clock: 1,845MHz
Memory: 8GB GDDR6
Memory clock: 14 Gbps
1x 8-pincompu power connector
Outputs: 1x DisplayPort 1.4 (with DSC), 1x HDMI with 4K60
The AMD Radeon RX5500 XT is the best choice for 1080p gaming at a reasonable price. The Radeon RX 5500 XT isn’t aiming beyond its capabilities and delivers 1080p gaming at a price that is comparable to the GeForce GTX 1600, even when you consider the price.
The AMD Radeon RX5500 XT is capable of producing 60 FPS for most AAA titles but will struggle to compete with a Metro Exodus at high settings or ultra. It’ll be difficult to find a better graphics card for most games at this price.
