Best Budget Graphics Cards 2018 Updated

Best Budget Graphics Cards

Budget cards are the cheapest graphics cards that you can get. They are often compact and focus on achieving acceptable framerates of around 30 FPS in 1080p with most titles. They are hardly fit for the latest AAA games, so who are they for?
In essence, they represent a middle ground between integrated graphics and dedicated graphics cards. Usually, these are intended for e-sports enthusiasts, as those games are far less demanding and can even run decently on integrated graphics. A budget graphics card such as the ones listed here, however, make them much more enjoyable.
Below, you will find the two best budget graphics cards that you can get at the moment, one from AMD and one from Nvidia.

• Gigabyte Radeon RX 550 D5

About the Graphics Card

To start off our list, we have the Gigabyte Radeon RX 550 D5, a highly reliable budget GPU from just as reliable a manufacturer.
This model is a compact graphics card with a single-fan cooler. The exterior looks quite good and not at all cheap. It is made of quality black plastic and is complemented with orange highlights which are seen in most Gigabyte graphics cards.

Specifications and Features

Base clock	1100 MHz
Boost clock	1195 MHz
Memory type	GDDR5
Memory capacity	2 GB
Memory clock	7000 MHz
Memory bus	128 bit
Connectivity options	1x DisplayPort 1.4 1x HDMI 2.0b 1x Dual-Link DVI-D

• Aorus Graphics EngineThe Aorus Graphics Engine is a control panel designed by Gigabyte in order to serve as an easy-to-use overclocking utility for their graphics cards.

What Performance to Expect

Seeing as it is a budget graphics card, do not expect the RX 550 to do wonders in modern games. For the most part, it will be able to achieve 30 FPS in Full HD, but some settings will have to be bumped down.
What’s important is that this affordable graphics card is a great step up from any integrated graphics cards, making it an ideal GPU both for those on a tight budget and those who are merely looking for extra performance in the less-demanding titles.

• Gigabyte GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile

About the Graphics Card

Next up, we have another Gigabyte card, although it is an Nvidia GPU – the GT 1030. This particular model is dubbed “low profile”, and for an obvious reason: it’s compact size and diminutive cooler.
That said, the card will have little aesthetic appeal and it looks quite dated due to the abovementioned design choice. However, it actually performs quite well in its price range.

Specifications and Features

Base clock	1227 MHz
Boost clock	1506 MHz
Memory type	GDDR5
Memory capacity	2 GB
Memory clock	6008 MHz
Memory bus	64 bit
Connectivity options	1x HDMI 2.0b 1x DVI-D

• Aorus Graphics EngineJust like the previous Gigabyte-made Radeon card, this GT 1030 model comes with the Aorus Graphics Engine for convenient overclocking.

What Performance to Expect

With GT 1030, it is pretty much the same deal as with the RX 550. It will greatly outperform integrated graphics and is particularly great for small computer cases. As for how it fares against its primary Radeon competitor, it lags behind due to the narrower 64-bit memory bus.

Best Entry-level Graphics Cards

Entry-level cards are more powerful than the budget ones, are slightly more expensive and will be more than enough to run most games which are out now at 30-60 FPS in 1080p.
As you might guess, their primary shortcoming is that they are bound to become obsolete very quickly and are thus poor long-term solution – especially if you take into account the advent of 2K and 4K gaming.
Ultimately, if you are on a tight budget but want solid Full HD performance, then you will find the following two entry-level cards to be ideal choices for you.

• MSI Radeon RX 560 AERO

About the Graphics Card

We will start off with the Radeon RX 560, a very cost-efficient entry-level gaming solution. The specific model comes from the well-known hardware manufacturer MSI, in the form of the Radeon RX 560 AERO.
Living up to the “Aero” moniker, this graphics card is light and compact, able to fit into the smallest computer cases or external GPU enclosures. That said, it is not much to look at and the plain exterior will not capture anyone’s eye, but in terms of cost-effectiveness, this little graphics card is unmatched.

Specifications and Features

Base clock	1196 MHz
Boost clock	1320 MHz
Memory type	GDDR5
Memory capacity	4 GB
Memory clock	7000
Memory bus	128-bit
Connectivity options	1x DisplayPort 1.4 1x HDMI 2.0 1x Dual-Link DVI-D

• MSI AfterburnerThe MSI Afterburner is some of the most popular overclocking software out there, and for a good reason. It is very stable and comes with a breadth of features that go beyond overclocking, such as benchmarking, video recording and the customization of fan profiles.

What Performance to Expect

As stated in the introduction, the RX 560 is an entry-level gaming GPU. That said, it targets primarily 1080p resolutions. It is also quite capable of running the latest AAA titles at a stable 30 FPS, possibly more depending on how much you overclock it, if at all. The only reason you might want to drop the settings down would be to achieve 60 FPS, but that is a matter of preference.

• ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 Mini

About the Graphics Card

As for the other entry-level option, we have Nvidia’s GTX 1050. This GPU is relatively on-par with the RX 560, although there are a couple of key differences.
The model we have picked is the ZOTAC GTX 1050 Mini, yet another compact graphics card with a single fan that can fit into any case. Not many are likely to find the textured plastic exterior appealing, though, as it looks quite cheap at first glance.

Specifications and Features

Base clock	1354 MHz
Boost clock	1455 MHz
Memory type	GDDR5
Memory capacity	2 GB
Memory clock	7000 MHz
Memory bus	128-bit
Connectivity options	1x DisplayPort 1.4 1x HDMI 2.0b 1x Dual-Link DVI-D

What Performance to Expect

In terms of performance, we have the same situation with the GTX 1050 and the RX 560 as with the pair of budget graphics cards above. The two are mostly on even terms, although the RX 560 leads in the memory department. Not only does it use more advanced memory, but the capacity is also twice that offered by the GTX 1050.
Don’t be fooled, though! This Nvidia card can definitely hold its own even today, and it can achieve 60 FPS in a number of games, although it will stick to around 30 FPS with newer titles that require more VRAM.

Best Mid-Range Graphics Cards

Unlike the entry-level variants, mid-range cards have their sights set on the future. There is a bigger price gap, but also a bigger performance gap. Not only will a mid-range graphics card offer near-flawless 1080p performance, but it will also be capable of tackling even 2K resolutions and VR gaming.
That said, if you absolutely need to hit that 60 FPS mark or have 2K/VR ambitions, then any of the following three mid-range graphics cards could be a great buy.

• Sapphire Radeon NITRO+ RX 570

About the Graphics Card

Sapphire are often hailed as one of the best Radeon graphics card manufacturers today, so it’s no wonder that one of their products has found its way onto this list: the Sapphire Radeon NITRO+ RX 570.
You can tell you’re dealing with a well-made graphics card by the high-quality plastic exterior, its rounded corners, as well as the black-and-white metal backplate which all give it remarkable aesthetic appeal. This is all topped off with an RGB-lit Sapphire logo.
It’s not all about the looks, though, as the NITRO+ is equipped with two powerful ball-bearing 95mm fans which built to last and provide excellent cooling with minimal noise.

Specifications and Features

Base clock	1340 MHz
Boost clock	1425MHz
Memory type	GDDR5
Memory capacity	4 GB
Memory clock	7000 MHz
Memory bus	256 bit
Connectivity options	2x DisplayPort 1.42x HDMI 2.0b 1x Dual-Link DVI-D

• VR ReadyVR is the next big thing in gaming, coming hand in hand with 2K and 4K resolutions, and this card is ready to take on VR rendering. Not only is it powerful enough to do so, but it also incorporates two HDMI ports into its design with the sole purpose of enabling users to have a monitor and a VR headset connected at the same time.

What Performance to Expect

The RX 570 aims to deliver nothing less than 60 FPS in all the latest games when running them in Full HD. Moreover, it is also one quite reliable card when it comes to 2K performance, as it will manage to consistently achieve over 30 FPS in these resolutions with the more demanding titles.

• ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX 580 O8G Gaming OC Edition

About the Graphics Card

This GPU is the pinnacle of the RX 5-series, the RX 580. Moreover, the version we’ve picked is one of the most powerful ones out there, one manufactured by Asus: the RoG Strix Radeon RX 580.
The card has a sleek black plastic exterior, a dark metal backplate, RGB lighting, and three powerful fans that help keep the card cool as well as enable some extreme overclocking.

Specifications and Features

Base clock	1257 MHz
Boost clock	1380 MHz
Memory type	GDDR5
Memory capacity	8 GB
Memory clock	8000 MHz
Memory bus	256-bit
Connectivity options	2x DisplayPort 2x HDMI 2.0 1x Dual-Link DVI-D

• Asus GPU Tweak IIAs the name suggests, this piece of software is Asus’ own overclocking utility designed around their graphics cards. It allows users to customize everything about the card, as well as easily cycle between pre-made and custom profiles.

• Fully VR ReadyAs with the above RX 570, this RX 580 model also incorporates dual HDMI ports so as to allow players to have their monitor and a VR headset connected simultaneously. On top of that, the RX 580 is more powerful, meaning that it will be able to deliver better VR performance than the RX 570.

What Performance to Expect

If you intend on gaming in 1080p, you will never find a fault in this card’s performance, as it will consistently deliver over 60 FPS in that resolution. What’s more important to note is that it offers very good performance in 2K, often nearing but never quite hitting 60 FPS in newer games with maxed out settings.
And finally, it should be noted that the RX 580 can also handle some games in 4K. It will be able to achieve around 30 FPS with the better-optimized or older games, but it is by no means a true 4K gaming graphics card.

• ZOTAC GTX 1060 AMP Edition

About the Graphics Card

Next up, we have the 1050’s big brother, the GTX 1060. It is a powerful, 2K-capable mid-range GPU. The model we have picked is made by Zotac, the same company who manufactured the GTX 1050 we listed above. Unlike the GTX 1050 Mini, the Zotac GTX 1060 AMP Edition is anything but small.
For the most part, the card follows Zotac’s general design philosophy, with a good-looking black and silver cooler, albeit without any sort of backplate. It also utilizes the company’s Icestorm cooling technology which, as they put it, relies on “brute force” as a means of keeping the graphics card at an optimal temperature.

Specifications and Features

Base clock	1556 MHz
Boost clock	1771 MHz
Memory type	GDDR5
Memory capacity	6 GB
Memory clock	8000 MHz
Memory bus	192 bit
Connectivity options	3x DisplayPort 1.4 1x HDMI 2.0b 1x Dual-Link DVI-D

What Performance to Expect

Like the Radeon RX 580, which is its primary competitor, the GTX 1060 aims to deliver framerates as close to the 60 FPS mark in 2K as possible. And much like the RX 580, it can also produce decent 4K framerates.
The only real difference in performance between the two cards is the very same one that we always see when comparing Nvidia and AMD: the AMD card offers better memory performance but the Nvidia card does better when it comes to shading, physics etc. The difference is, once again, mostly negligible and the choice between the two cards comes down to personal preference and/or pricing.

Best High-End Graphics Card

The high-end graphics card is yet another clear notch above the preceding category. While mid-range cards strive to master 1080p, a high-end card strives to do the same with 1440p – or 2K, as it is most commonly known. On top of that, it also offers decent 4K performance.
We have only listed one graphics card here that comes from Nvidia, as they dominate the high-end market.
But what about Radeon RX Vega? Unfortunately, we have decided against including the Vega GPUs here simply because they present extremely poor value. Due to the advanced HBM memory used in their design, they are extremely expensive and come with 4-digit price tags, all the while offering performance similar to a graphics cards that’s more than twice as cheap.
That said, the only way to get your hands on a decently priced Vega card is either by getting it used or from a reseller, which we hardly recommend, especially given the much more viable alternative listed below.

• EVGA GTX 1070 Ti SC GAMING

About the Graphics Card

Finally, we come to one of Nvidia’s heavy hitters, the GTX 1070 Ti. This GPU is a revision of the regular GTX 1070 characterized by a much higher core count and overall superior performance capable of rivaling that of the GTX 1080.
The model that we chose is one made by EVGA, another long-term Nvidia partner that is held in the highest regard by fans as the most reliable manufacturer of Nvidia graphics cards. The EVGA GTX 1070 Ti SC GAMING lives up to that reputation, as it comes with a stylish exterior, a metal backplate, and two powerful fans.

Specifications and Features

Base clock	1607 MHz
Boost clock	1683 MHz
Memory type	GDDR5
Memory capacity	8 GB
Memory clock	8000 MHz
Memory bus	256 bit
Connectivity options	3x DisplayPort 1x HDMI 1x DVI

What Performance to Expect

The GTX 1070 Ti is quite an improvement on the base GTX 1070. It can easily achieve 60 FPS in 4K, as long as we’re talking about the better-optimized games. For the latest AAA titles, a 30+ FPS 4K performance is a more realistic expectation, but you can rest assured that it won’t dip below 30.

As the previous category, this one also has only a single Nvidia graphics card. While there are other cards that can match its performance such as the RX Vega 64 or Nivida’s own Titan XP, they once again present extremely poor value.
Now, if you have 4K gaming ambitions, you will love this one.

• ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1080 Ti AMP Extreme Core Edition

About the Graphics Card

And for the final entry on this list, we have the most powerful mainstream graphics card of them all: the GTX 1080 Ti. This GPU was designed by Nvidia as a means of taking on 4K gaming. Zotac then packed it into the highly aesthetic and efficient graphics card that we are taking a look at here, ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1080 Ti AMP Extreme Core Edition.
In terms of external appearance, this card has all the signature traits of Zotac design: dark grey metal exterior and backplate, complemented with yellow highlights. It is a massive graphics card with a triple-fan cooler which allows you to push this card’s already high limits even further.

Specifications and Features

Base clock	1607 MHz
Boost clock	1721 MHz
Memory type	GDDR5X
Memory capacity	11 GB
Memory clock	11200 MHz
Memory bus	352-bit
Connectivity options	3 x DisplayPort 1.4 HDMI 2.0b DL-DVI-D

• GDDR5X MemoryCurrently, the only card to employ this technology, GDDR5X VRAM has a much higher bandwidth than regular GDDR5.

What Performance to Expect

Just like the 1070 Ti, the 1080 Ti improves on the original model in every regard. It is the only card adequately priced graphics card capable of running games in 4K and with 60 FPS. If that is your ultimate goal, then the GTX 1080 Ti is your only real choice.

 

Hardware Compatibility

There’s always the question of whether components will be compatible with one another, regardless of whether you’re building a new PC from scratch or upgrading your old one.
As for the GPU, what does it need to be compatible with?

• The motherboardFirst and foremost, you should make sure that the motherboard has an accessible PCIe x16 slot for the graphics card. If you have an older motherboard, also make sure to check whether the PCIe version used is 2.0 or 3.0, as the latter is the standard for modern GPUs.
  Next, if you plan on a multi-GPU setup, you should ensure both that the motherboard has the necessary PCIe slots and whether it supports Nvidia’s or AMD’s respective multi-GPU technologies, SLI and CrossFire.

• The power supplyAs we have concluded in some of the above entries, certain graphics cards have a very high power draw. This is exceptionally true for Radeon cards.
  Generally, a power supply of 500 watts is enough for most single-GPU gaming desktops, but you should always consider the power draw if you plan on installing multiple GPUs and/or if you plan on overclocking either it/them or the CPU.

• The caseA fairly simple but sometimes overlooked compatibility question is whether the graphics card will actually be able to physically fit in the computer case.
  This is not something you need to worry about with “mini” graphics cards, but anything that has a dual or triple-fan stock cooler should be checked for length, as they might simply be too large for the regular Midi Tower case.

The Display

Naturally, you should make sure that your monitor and your graphics card have matching specifications. After all, there is no point in having a great graphics card and a monitor that can’t do its capabilities justice, and vice versa. On top of that, you should keep connectivity in mind, too.
Now, what should you pay attention to?

1. The resolution – It goes without saying that you should make sure to get a monitor with a resolution that the graphics card can reproduce with framerates acceptable to you.
2. The refresh rate – If you plan on hitting framerates above 60 FPS, then the monitor needs to have a refresh rate that is higher than 60 Hz or it won’t be able to display all of those “extra” frames.
3. Connectivity – There are several options when it comes to connectivity: HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, and VGA. A graphics card and a monitor will always have at least one of these in common, but connectivity should be kept in mind especially when planning for multi-monitor setups.

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