This will cover graphics cards across a range of prices, from under $200 to around $1,000.
Best Graphics Cards under $200
- The Intel Arc a750 graphics card is a good value for gaming at under $200.
- The Intel Arc a750 is recommended over the a580 and a770 models.
- Used graphics cards, such as the RTX 2070, 3070, RX 6650 XT, 6700, or 6700 XT, offer better value than new cards under $200.
Best Graphics Cards under $300
- The RTX 4060, while available for around $280, is not recommended due to its 8GB VRAM buffer, which has been shown to hinder performance in recent benchmarks, sometimes even performing worse than the older RTX 3060 with 12GB of VRAM.
- The RX 6750 XT and 6700 XT, available for $300 and $290 respectively on Amazon, are recommended over the RTX 4060 due to their 12GB VRAM and overall performance.
- The RX 7600, while previously a good deal at under $250 during Prime Day sales, is no longer recommended at its current price of over $250, especially considering the availability of the RX 6750 XT and 6700 XT for a slightly higher price.
RTX 4060 and RX 7600 Pricing
The RTX 4060 launched at $299, a $30 price decrease from its predecessor the RTX 3060.
The price of the RTX 4060 has dropped to around $280 in 2024.
The RX 7600 has remained at a consistent price of $270.
The performance of the RX 7600 and RTX 4060 are very similar with the RTX 4060 costing approximately 10% more than the RX 7600.
RTX 4060 and RX 7600 Performance Comparison
The RTX 4060 performed better in Assassin’s Creed Mirage at 1080p with no upscaling, achieving 104 FPS compared to the RX 7600’s 97 FPS.
In Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p with FSR 2.1 enabled, the RTX 4060 outperformed the RX 7600 with 115 FPS compared to 113 FPS.
When tested in Fortnite at 1080p with TSR upscaling set to high, the RX 7600 significantly outperformed the RTX 4060 with an average of 114 FPS compared to 93 FPS.
Both the RX 7600 and RTX 4060 have comparable upscaling technology.
RTX 4060 and RX 7600 Power Consumption
The total system power draw of the RTX 4060 averages around 205 Watts while the RX 7600 averages 253 Watts
Best Graphics Cards under $500
The RTX 4060, in both 8GB and 16GB models, is not recommended due to its poor performance and limited VRAM.
The RX 6800 is a highly recommended graphics card in the under $500 category, offering excellent value, performance, and 16GB of VRAM, making it suitable for 1440p and budget 4K gaming.
The RX 7800 XT, priced under $500, is a powerful graphics card capable of handling 1440p and some 4K gaming, making it a future-proof option for gamers.
Best Graphics Cards under $700
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 should be avoided in this price range, as the superior 4070 Super can be purchased for a similar price.
The Radeon RX 7900 GRE offers excellent performance and value at around $530, making it a strong contender in this price bracket.
The Radeon RX 7900 XT has become a compelling option under $700, boasting 20GB of VRAM and strong performance, particularly for 4K gaming.
Best Graphics Cards under $1000
The RTX 470 TI Super, priced at $800, offers a good balance between performance and hardware, featuring 16 GB of VRAM and strong ray tracing capabilities.
The RX 7900 XT, available for around $920, presents a compelling option with performance comparable to the RTX 4090 in some games, boasting 24 GB of VRAM, and delivering moderate ray tracing at 4K resolution.
While the RTX 4080 Super offers superior ray tracing compared to the RX 7900 XT, it’s recommended to wait for the potential release of the RTX 5090, which could impact pricing and availability.