A graphics card is certainly one of the most essential hardware components of a computer. If you want your PC to be performing smoothly while playing high-end games or using heavy software.
However, you need to give thought to selecting a good graphics card for your computer. Altogether, the best graphics card on a budget will enable you to receive the most enjoyment possible from your game.
Basically, the best graphics card for gaming helps you to enhance gaming performance and deliver the maximum possible video resolution.
Every gamer wants their gaming session to be more seamless while playing the latest games. It’s necessary to fulfill your video editing tasks while also having a good gaming experience.
It will not help your work if you select an excellent budget graphics card that fails to meet your basic requirements. Instead, you should pick a model with an excellent core CPU and a respectable clock speed.
What to Know Before Buying a Graphics Card
Buying a graphics card can be an overwhelming task, especially with the plethora of options available in the market. To ensure you get the best bang for your buck, here’s a comprehensive guide on what you need to know before making your purchase.
1. Define Your Purpose
Understanding why you need a graphics card will help narrow down your choices:
- Gaming: Look for high-performance GPUs with real-time ray tracing and high VRAM for smooth gameplay.
- Content Creation: Opt for GPUs with CUDA cores (NVIDIA) or high compute units (AMD) for faster rendering.
- AI/Deep Learning: Choose GPUs that support Tensor cores or equivalent technologies.
- Casual Use: A mid-range or entry-level GPU should suffice for light gaming and media consumption.
2. Check Your Budget
- Entry-Level GPUs: Suitable for 1080p gaming or casual use. Examples: NVIDIA GTX 1650, AMD RX 6500 XT.
- Mid-Range GPUs: Ideal for 1440p gaming and light content creation. Examples: NVIDIA RTX 3060, AMD RX 6700 XT.
- High-End GPUs: Best for 4K gaming and professional workloads. Examples: NVIDIA RTX 4090, AMD RX 7900 XTX.
3. Compatibility with Your System
a) Power Supply (PSU)
- Check the wattage requirement of the GPU and ensure your PSU meets or exceeds it.
- Verify the availability of the required power connectors (e.g., 6-pin, 8-pin).
b) Motherboard
- Ensure the motherboard has a PCIe x16 slot.
- Consider the PCIe generation for optimal performance (e.g., PCIe 4.0 or 5.0).
c) Physical Size
- Measure the GPU slot in your case to ensure it can fit the card’s length, height, and width.
- Check for adequate airflow to avoid overheating.
4. Performance Metrics to Look For
a) VRAM (Video RAM)
VRAM plays a crucial role in determining how well a graphics card can handle different resolutions and tasks. For gamers using 1080p resolution, a GPU with 4GB to 6GB of VRAM should be sufficient. However, if you’re targeting higher resolutions like 1440p or beyond, you’ll need a card with 8GB or more of VRAM to ensure smooth performance.
b) Clock Speeds
The clock speed of a GPU, including both base and boost clocks, directly impacts its performance. Higher clock speeds generally result in faster and smoother processing, making them an important factor to consider for gaming and other demanding applications.
c) Ray Tracing and DLSS/FSR
Modern GPUs come with cutting-edge features such as ray tracing and AI-based upscaling technologies like NVIDIA’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR. Ray tracing enhances visuals by simulating realistic lighting and shadows, while DLSS and FSR improve performance by upscaling lower-resolution images intelligently. These features significantly boost the overall gaming and visual experience.
d) Benchmarks
To ensure a graphics card meets your needs, consult third-party benchmarks. These benchmarks provide real-world performance insights, helping you make an informed decision based on how a GPU handles specific tasks or games.
5. NVIDIA vs. AMD: Which to Choose?
- NVIDIA: Known for features like DLSS, CUDA cores, and superior ray tracing.
- AMD: Offers competitive pricing, higher VRAM, and technologies like FSR.
- Choose based on your budget and specific needs.
6. Future-Proofing
- Invest in a GPU that can handle upcoming games or workloads for the next 3-5 years.
- Look for features like PCIe 5.0 support or higher VRAM capacity.
7. Cooling and Noise
- Air Cooling: Most GPUs come with built-in fans. Ensure proper case ventilation.
- Liquid Cooling: Provides better performance but is costlier and requires more maintenance.
- Check reviews for noise levels under load.
8. Warranty and Support
- Check the warranty duration and coverage (usually 2-3 years).
- Opt for brands with good customer support and a strong reputation.
9. Availability and Pricing
- Watch for stock shortages and inflated prices during high demand.
- Keep an eye on sales events like Black Friday or seasonal discounts.
Identically, there are many graphic cards on the market. It is usually challenging to determine among them which one is the best graphics card on a budget.
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3050 Twin Edge OC 8GB GDDR6
One thing all of the top graphics cards released in the past several years have in common is their high price. This is mostly due to the graphics card scarcity we have all been experiencing, but it is also a result of Nvidia and AMD’s protracted disregard for the market for low-cost graphics cards.
Overall measurements and weight of the Zotac RTX 3050 Twin Edge OC Edition GPU are 222x115x40mm and 600g, respectively. Even though it’s somewhat larger than many RTX 3050 graphics cards from other OEMs, it’s still rather tiny and portable.
The available RTX 3070s and 3080s, which are substantially larger, are incomparable to it. 1080p gaming is the primary emphasis of the Zotac GeForce RTX 3050 Twin Edge OC Edition.
It is attempting to effectively take the position of the previous 16-series graphics cards in the market for affordable GPUs.
Compared to the base RTX 3050, the boost clocks on this OC Edition of the RTX 3050 are a little bit higher at 1807MHz.
Fortunately, the Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 3050 is now priced cheaper. Compared to almost everything else in the current generation, this GPU is far more cheap. Using the RTX 3050, we were able to play almost all games at high settings.
Also, esports players will adore this card because it is reasonably priced(ish) and capable of running games smoothly.
| RAM Size | 8 GB |
| RAM Type | DDR6 |
| Clock Speed | 1807 MHz |
| Coprocessor | NVIDIA GFORCE 3050 |
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6GB GDDR6
The cost of Nvidia’s new GeForce GTX 1660 Super graphics cards is only a little higher than that of the company’s standard GeForce GTX 1660 models. They have upgraded with GDDR6 memory to improve performance. It certainly is one of the best graphics card 2023 has in the market.
The GeForce GTX 1660 Super has 336GB/s of bandwidth compared to the 192GB/s of bandwidth found in standard GeForce GTX 1660 graphics cards. This generally keeps the graphics processor better fueled with information, enhancing performance.
Furthermore, It is equipped with a dual-fan cooler which is mounted on an aluminum heatsink and has liquid-filled heat pipes that come into direct contact with the GPU. The GDDR6 VRAM is also actively cooled using the heatsink.
Since Zotac decided not to factory overclock this card, it runs at the 1,530MHz clock speed that Nvidia recommends. The boost clock for the GeForce GTX 1660 Super Twin Fan remains the same at 1,785MHz.
| RAM Size | 6 GB |
| RAM Type | DDR6 |
| Clock Speed | 1785 MHz |
| Coprocessor | NVIDIA GFORCE 1660 Super |
ASUS GeForce RTX 2060 Overclocked 6G GDDR6
A fantastic choice is the Asus GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER OC 8GB GDDR6 Graphics Card. It usually sells for roughly $250, although occasionally it goes on sale for about $200.
It’s a great option for playing the newest games on medium to high settings with silky smooth frame rates because it offers a lot of power for the price.
It has 8GB of video memory, which is more than enough for high-resolution gaming on today’s newest AAA titles.
Straightaway, It has a slim design that takes up little room within your case and dual-fan cooling, which offers effective airflow and keeps the card operating cool throughout extended gaming sessions.
Additionally, it includes software that enables real-time fan speed adjustments and performance optimization, preventing overheating during extended gaming sessions.
Overall, it’s a fantastic option for a mid-range, reasonably priced graphics card that is strong enough to play today’s games in ultra-quality mode at very high resolutions.
| RAM Size | 8 GB |
| RAM Type | DDR6 |
| Clock Speed | 1785 MHz |
| Coprocessor | NVIDIA GFORCE 2060 Super |
XFX Radeon RX 580 GTS XXX Edition
The XFX RX 580 series graphics cards use the most recent Polaris technology, especially for extra speed and economy, which has 4th generation GCN GPU cores, a brand-new display processor, and new multimedia CPUs.
However, the bare minimum power required is 500 watts. Memory clock: 8.0GHz real, 8.1GHz boost
Accordingly, there are several factory GPU overclocking settings, including 1366 MHz real clock and 1386 MHz OC. Additionally, Premium AMD VR ready – Utilize the Radeon RX GTS graphics card in conjunction with the top VR headsets to experience the latest generation of captivating virtual reality content.
Besides, it is crucial that the Radeon RX GTS graphics card and AMD LiquidVR technology work together to provide a practically stutter-free, low-latency experience.
| RAM Size | 8 GB |
| RAM Type | DDR5 |
| Clock Speed | 1379 MHz |
| Coprocessor | AMD Radeon RX 580 |
AMD Radeon RX 6600
The performance gap between the AMD Radeon RX 6600 and the RX 6600 XT isn’t all that great, but this scaled-down Navi 23 GPU is a far more enticing choice for a dedicated capital-B Budget Build.
This card can play the top PC games at 1080p with frame rates north of 30 fps, if not closer to 60 fps on some medium-lift titles, on high or maximum settings, thanks to some very decent 1080p performance and support for features like AMD Radeon Super Resolution.
Although it’s a tiny bit slower, the 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 128-bit bus is still more than adequate for the 1080p resolution this card is designed for. Its peak bandwidth is 224GB/s.
As a result, AMD is not marketing its graphics card as a high-end showpiece, but rather as a device for playing the newest games at 1080p, which makes sense given that this is still the most common resolution.
| RAM Size | 8 GB |
| RAM Type | DDR6 |
| Clock Speed | 1626-2491 MHz |
| Coprocessor | AMD Radeon RX 6600 |
ASUS GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Phoenix Fan Edition
Especially, If you’re looking for the best budget graphics card, you can’t go wrong with the ASUS GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Phoenix Fan Edition 4GB GDDR5 Graphics Card. It has proven to be one of the best graphics card on a budget
It’s an Nvidia card, so you’ll get great graphics performance, plus you’ll be able to play all the latest games. It comes packed with 4GB of RAM, which best graphics card gives you plenty of memory for all your games.
Meanwhile, It features a blower-style cooler, which will keep it nice and cool. Hence, Its compact size is perfect for smaller builds.
Secondly, great frames-per-second support for gaming is provided by the ASUS Phoenix Fan Edition Graphics Card. It supports 60 frames per second, so even if you stick with 1080p, games will run smoothly.
However, for simple graphics, the device doesn’t need PCIe power connectors. The video transition is therefore seamless and has no impact whatsoever on performance.
This is the gadget to choose if you want to experience lag-free gaming graphics. It has components made of aerospace-grade super alloy power II that is more stable.
| RAM Size | 4 GB |
| RAM Type | DDR5 |
| Clock Speed | 1392 MHz |
| Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 |
Gigabyte GeForce GT 710
The Gigabyte GeForce GT 710 boasts a 64-bit memory interface, which significantly boosts clock speed.
Presently, there is an interface and a 954 MHz core clock. Nonetheless, thanks to the memory interface’s speed of 500–10 MHz, your PC should be able to complete multiple tasks quickly and without any lag.
As a result, you may depend on the best budget Nvidia graphics card to perform a helpful task. Moreover, according to consumer reviews, the outstanding integrated DDR5 GPU processor of the Gigabyte GeForce GT 710 exiles in performance.
However, this product’s low-profile design makes it easy to integrate into any CPU system. It can therefore be included in any specific CPU design.
| RAM Size | 2 GB |
| RAM Type | DDR5 |
| Clock Speed | 954 MHz |
| Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 |
Which one is the best graphics card on a budget? & which one is the best graphics card for gaming?
The graphics card is the most important component of any PC or gaming console setup. Without any streaming lag, you may enjoy your favorite games and 4K movies.
When you play anything with a higher resolution, your graphics card must generate more output. With the aid of the finest budget graphics card, it will go without a hitch.
The ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6GB GDDR6 meets all the criteria needed to be the best graphics card for gaming at a very good price of only $230. It surprisingly performs very well with all the games.
However, if you are willing to get performance on both gaming and workload, The best graphics card on a budget will be Zotac 3050
The slightly high/mid-ranged GPU allows you to perform competitively better than the others within its price range.
