Best GPU for entry-level gaming
Searching for the best GPU for entry-level gaming can be a daunting task, especially with the wide variety of options available in the market. This article aims to make your decision easier by presenting our top picks in different categories, ensuring you get the most bang for your buck. We’ve carefully researched and tested numerous GPUs to bring you the best options, whether you’re looking for the Editor’s Choice, the best AMD GPU, the best value, or the best budget GPU. Let’s dive into the world of gaming and find the perfect graphics card for your entry-level gaming needs.
Products at a Glance
Features and Considerations
When looking for the best GPU for entry-level gaming, it’s important to think about a few key factors. It’s not just about finding the cheapest card out there; you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck. So, we’ve taken a close look at several GPUs and made our comparisons based on things like:
- Performance: You’ll want a GPU that can handle 1080p gaming with ease, giving you smooth gameplay at medium to high settings in most modern games. Frame rates should be solid, ensuring you have a great time playing.
- Power Consumption: It’s always nice to find a GPU that’s easy on your electricity bill. Plus, lower power consumption means less heat generated, which can help extend the life of your components.
- Price: We know you’re probably on a budget, so we’ve kept an eye out for GPUs that offer excellent performance without breaking the bank.
- Additional Features: Some GPUs come with bonus features like ray tracing, DLSS, or other technologies that can enhance your gaming experience. We’ve considered these extras when making our picks.
Remember to check out some of our other guides to GPUs, including the best graphics cards under $500.
Product Reviews
- Impressive ray tracing performance
- Supports NVIDIA DLSS
- Great for 1440p and some 4K gaming
- Higher power consumption
- May be overkill for strictly 1080p gaming
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is our Editor’s Choice for the best entry-level gaming GPU. This card offers a powerful combination of performance, features, and value, making it an excellent choice for gamers who want to enjoy the latest titles without breaking the bank.
For gamers who primarily play competitive eSports titles such as Fortnite, Valorant, and CS: GO, the RTX 3070 provides more than enough power to run these games at high frame rates and resolutions. This ensures smooth gameplay and quick response times, giving you a competitive edge in fast-paced matches.
If you’re into more visually demanding AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Red Dead Redemption 2, the RTX 3070 has you covered, as well. With its advanced ray-tracing capabilities, you’ll be able to experience realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows, elevating the immersive quality of your gaming experience.
Content creators will also appreciate the RTX 3070’s performance in applications like Adobe Premiere Pro and Blender. Its powerful CUDA cores and Tensor cores accelerate rendering and encoding tasks, saving valuable time and improving productivity.
- Excellent 1440p gaming performance
- Ray tracing support for enhanced visuals
- Power-efficient with a lower TDP
- Slightly more expensive than some competitors\
- No hardware support for NVIDIA DLSS
For those who prefer AMD’s ecosystem, the Radeon RX 6700 XT is the top choice for entry-level gaming. With its RDNA 2 architecture and 12GB of GDDR6 memory, this GPU offers a great mix of performance and value for gamers on a budget.
The RX 6700 XT shines in 1440p gaming, making it a perfect match for gamers who want to enjoy their favorite titles in higher resolutions without sacrificing performance. Games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Shadow of the Tomb Raider run smoothly, with detailed graphics and impressive visuals.
If you’re into eSports titles or older games, the RX 6700 XT can easily push high frame rates even at 4K resolution, giving you the flexibility to enjoy various types of games without any hiccups.
For gamers who use their PC for content creation or productivity tasks, the RX 6700 XT offers solid performance in applications like DaVinci Resolve and Autodesk Maya. Its Infinity Cache technology helps boost performance in memory-intensive tasks, ensuring smooth workflows and efficient multitasking.
- Excellent performance at 1080p
- More affordable than higher-end options
- Good for light content creation
- Limited ray tracing support
- Not as future-proof
- Struggles with higher resolution gaming
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super is an ideal GPU for those who mainly play at 1080p resolution. It offers excellent performance at a more affordable price point, making it a great option for budget-conscious gamers who still want a quality gaming experience.
With the GTX 1660 Super, you can enjoy popular games like Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Overwatch at high settings with smooth frame rates. This ensures an enjoyable gaming experience without any frustrating stutters or slowdowns.
For gamers who like to dabble in content creation or live streaming, the GTX 1660 Super also offers decent performance in applications like OBS Studio and Adobe Photoshop. While not as powerful as the RTX 3070 or RX 6700 XT, it still provides a good balance of performance and value for those who need a GPU for both gaming and productivity tasks.
- Budget-friendly price point
- Capable of 1080p gaming
- Decent for light content creation and productivity tasks
- Lacks ray tracing support
- Not ideal for gaming at higher resolutions
If you’re on a tight budget but still want to enjoy modern games, the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT is a solid choice for entry-level gaming. It delivers good performance at 1080p resolution without breaking the bank, making it an attractive option for gamers on a budget.
The RX 5500 XT is capable of running games like Fortnite, PUBG, and Rocket League at medium to high settings with smooth frame rates. This allows you to enjoy a decent gaming experience even if you don’t have the budget for a more powerful GPU.
In addition to gaming, the RX 5500 XT can handle light content creation and productivity tasks reasonably well. While not as powerful as the other GPUs on this list, it’s a good option for those who need a budget-friendly GPU for both gaming and everyday computing tasks.
Both the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super and the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT offer great performance at lower price points, making them excellent options for gamers looking for entry-level GPUs. Choose the one that best fits your budget and gaming preferences to get the most out of your gaming experience.
How we Picked the best GPU for entry-level gaming
Our choices were made by thoroughly researching and comparing a variety of GPUs in the market. We dove deep into the specifications, features, and real-world performance of each card, taking into account the different needs of gamers who are just starting their journey in the gaming world.
We consulted expert reviews from trusted sources in the industry, paying close attention to their insights and opinions on the performance, reliability, and overall value of each GPU. By understanding the pros and cons from experts, we were able to gain a broader perspective on what makes a GPU stand out in the entry-level gaming segment.
Lastly, we carefully considered the price of each GPU, ensuring that our recommendations are not only affordable but also provide excellent value for your money. We understand that entry-level gamers are often on a tight budget, so we made sure to find GPUs that strike a good balance between performance and cost.
Is GTX 1650 good for gaming?
The GTX 1650 is a decent option for entry-level gaming, especially if you’re on a tight budget. It is capable of running most modern games at 1080p with medium to high settings. However, it might struggle with more demanding titles and higher resolutions. Overall, the GTX 1650 is a good choice for casual gamers who primarily play older or less demanding games
Is GTX better than RTX?
The RTX series of GPUs is more advanced and powerful than the GTX series. RTX cards come with ray tracing capabilities and improved performance, which enables them to render more realistic lighting and reflections in games. This makes them better suited for higher-end gaming and more demanding titles. On the other hand, GTX cards typically have a lower price point and are still suitable for entry-level gaming and less demanding games. So, if you’re on a budget and don’t need the advanced features offered by RTX cards, a GTX card might be a better choice for you.
Our Verdict
In conclusion, finding the best GPU for entry-level gaming depends on your budget and gaming preferences. Our top picks include the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT as the Editor’s Choice, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 for those seeking ray tracing capabilities, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super as the best option for 1080p gaming, and the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT as the most budget-friendly choice. Each of these GPUs offers unique advantages and caters to different gaming scenarios. By understanding your gaming requirements and considering the pros and cons of each option, you can make an informed decision and enjoy a great gaming experience without breaking the bank.