If you want to get the best GPUs for under $500, then we have you covered right here. Now, $500 is a point where affordability intersects with high performance, allowing you to experience the latest gaming titles at their graphical best or tackle demanding design tasks with ease. For a more thorough list of more expensive options, we recommend the best graphics cards which go through top-end offerings for 4K gaming.
So, with a $500 budget, you can expect to find graphics cards that offer robust performance, enabling smooth gameplay at 1440p and even dipping into 4K territory with some titles. These GPUs are not just about PC gaming; they’re also well-suited for professionals who require reliable performance for 3D rendering and video editing. With that being said, we have researched, reviewed, and picked what we think are the best GPUs for under $500.
- Best GPU Under $500
Zotac Gaming RTX 4060 Ti Twin Edge OC
- Best AMD GPU Under $500
Sapphire Radeon Pulse RX 7700 XT
- GPU: Navi 32
- Stream Processors: 3,456
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 432 GB/sec
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Base clock speed: 1,435 MHz
- Best Intel GPU Under $500
Acer Predator BiFrost Intel Arc A770 OC
- GPU: DG2-512
- GPU cores: 4,096
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6
- Memory bus width: 256-bit
- Base clock speed: 2100 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2400 MHz
- Best 1080p Under $500
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT OC
- GPU: Navi 33
- Stream Processors: 2,048
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 288.0 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 128-bit
- Base clock speed: 2029 MHz
How we picked the best GPUs under $500
When picking the best GPUs under $500, we’ve combed through publicly available benchmarks and reviews to understand the landscape. We’ve analyzed real-world performance across a variety of games and creative applications, looking for cards that offer the best balance of power, efficiency, and value. It’s not just raw speed we’re after; we’re also considering factors such as noise levels, power consumption, and extra features like overclocking potential and software suites that enhance the user experience.
Every graphics card in our buying guide has been thoroughly tested in-house and we recommend reading how we test GPUs so you can get the lowdown on our decision-making.
You have three brands to choose from
Fortunately, you can find high quality graphics cards from not only AMD and Nvidia but also Intel as the CPU manufacturer purely occupies this space. Our picks below go into more detail based on our own testing and hands-on experience.
- GPU: AD106
- CUDA cores: 4,352
- VRAM: 8GB / 16GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 288.0 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 128-bit
- Base clock speed: 2310 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2550 MHz
Whether you’re considering the 8GB or 16GB variants, the RTX 4060 Ti excels in 1080p and 1440p with even some light application in 4K, too. Our testing reveals that this video card offers remarkable value for money with framerates at or above the 60fps mark.
- You want excellent 1440p performance
- DLSS 3 is a must
- You want the choice of VRAM options
- You want to game in 4K
- You want leading productivity potential
The Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti takes the top spot for the best GPU under $500 and we haven’t made the decision lightly. It’s due in part to the mainstream Ada offering coming just under budget at $399 for the 8GB variant and $499 for the 16GB version, which gives you a choice as to how much memory you need from your graphics card. In our testing, we found that the card offers stellar performance, particularly in 1080p and 1440p where it’s most comfortable.
The Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti excels across the board in 1080p and 1440p with some impressive figures
Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti review – PC Guide
Our full RTX 4060 Ti review goes over all the specs, design, features, and performance but the cliff notes are as follows; if you primarily want to game in 1080p and 1440p at high or ultra settings without breaking the bank then this is the GPU for you. Such titles include Assassin’s Creed Mirage, The Finals, and Cyberpunk 2077 all at playable framerates when pushed to the limit.
- GPU: Navi 32
- Stream Processors: 3,456
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 432 GB/sec
- Memory bus width: 192-bit
- Base clock speed: 1,435 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2,544 MHz
The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is a leading 1440p graphics card from Team Red which offers exceptional performance for gamers and creatives alike.
- You’re after 60fps in 1440p
- You want to use Fluid Motion Frames
- You want a power-efficient GPU
- You want to push higher framerates
- You can find the RX 7800 XT for a similar price
The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT excels in 1440p with strong framerates in today’s latest games, especially when factoring in its humble price tag. This GPU comes in well under budget with its $449 MSRP, however, you can find this model as cheap as $400 from retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Newegg if you hunt around. Factoring this in, we’ve decided upon the 7700 XT over the 7800 XT, the latter of which creeps just over the line.
The RX 7700 XT largely delivers on AMD’s goals of providing framerates of or above 60fps when maxed out in 1440p
AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT review – PC Guide
For the most part, the RX 7700 XT actually leads in terms of pure rasterization performance when compared to the RTX 4060 Ti, but falls behind in terms of ray tracing, hence why it’s in second place here. You can max games like Cyberpunk 2077, Far Cry 6, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla at 60fps and above, with some Esports titles pushing way up passed the 100fps mark such as CS2 and Overwatch 2.
The Intel Arc A770 is the most powerful in the Alchemist lineup offering a staggering 16GB VRAM with incredibly fast clock speeds and high bandwidth for a price that undercuts its competition, just as long as you’ve got a CPU that can take advantage of ReBAR.
- You need a ton of VRAM for gaming and creating
- You want to utilize Intel XeSS AI upscaling
- You’re running a recent Intel CPU with ReBAR
- You’re running an older CPU without ReBAR
- You prefer to stick to a more established brand
Intel may be a leading name when it comes to the best CPUs for gaming, but Team Blue’s foray into the world of GPUs has been a little more checkered. By and large, most of the driver issues plaguing the Alchemist lineup have been resolved, meaning you can take advantage of 16GB GDDR6 VRAM with high clock speeds to run games a little better than some of its rivals. That’s when you enable Resizable Bar (ReBAR) from 10th-Gen Intel or 3rd-Gen AMD Ryzen chipsets.
While the Intel Arc A770 is far from a powerhouse graphics card, it offers excellent performance in 1080p with strong figures in 1440p
Intel Arc A770 review – PC Guide
The Arc A770’s place on this list is deliberate as both the RTX 4060 Ti and RX 7700 XT pull ahead of it in the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 and synthetic testing through 3DMark, but that’s before realizing the price. That’s because Intel’s top-end model sells for just $330 (or less) depending on the partner card in question. That positions this card significantly under budget and much cheaper than AMD and Nvidia’s mainstream options with a similar level of performance to boot.
- GPU: Navi 33
- Stream Processors: 2,048
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 288.0 GB/s
- Memory bus width: 128-bit
- Base clock speed: 2029 MHz
- Boost clock speed: 2539 MHz
While the RX 7600 XT isn’t going to be a leading option by any stretch, it largely achieves its goals of high-performance 1080p gameplay with tons of VRAM to spare.
- You want VRAM overhead
- You want to game in 1080p maxed out
- You aren’t bothered about 1440p
- You want to game in 1440p or 4K
- You want to use ray tracing extensively
If you’re solely interested in gaming in 1080p then the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT may be the right graphics card for you with its 16GB VRAM and respectable bandwidth. It’s far from a powerhouse offering and 1440p is more of a case-by-case basis than a guarantee, but you’ll have enough memory to max out games in Full HD all for around the $330 mark. In our testing, we found that this video card confidently hit its goals the majority of the time with a few exceptions.
The AMD RX 7600 XT holds up well in 1080p and can offer decent native 1440p performance
AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT review – PC Guide
In our full AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT review, we were impressed by the card’s 1080p functionality and 1440p is certainly possible if you’re smart with your settings sliders. Some more graphically demanding titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora don’t quite hit the mark natively, but that’s more of the exception rather than the rule. That’s why this GPU is further down the page than some others but it’s still worthy of praise given its price-to-performance ratio on offer.
How to pick the best GPU under $500
Here’s what you need to consider before buying a GPU for under $500. We’ve broken things down based on their performance, compatibility, motherboard clearance, and more to help you make an informed purchasing decision.
Performance
To start with, you need to decide on a resolution – 1080p, 1440p, or 4K and then determine your target framerate. With a $500 budget, you can expect to find GPUs that support 1080p and 1440p resolutions with decent framerates. If you are lucky, you might even find a card that handles entry-level 4K games well.
You can even research GPUs based on games. For instance, you can look for the best GPUs for AAA games or FPS games and then select the ones that meet your requirements the best.
Compatibility
Another important factor that you should consider is compatibility with the processor and the rest of your setup. To avoid bottlenecks, you need to make sure that your CPU works well with the GPU. Plus, the system should also have enough RAM to reach the GPU’s full potential and ensure smooth performance. And you’d also need a compatible PSU that supplies enough power to avoid any disruptions.
GPU clearance
Now, to actually use your GPU, you will need to fit it into the PC case. Most older GPUs are small, but the newer ones, like the NVIDIA RTX 40-series, are bulkier. So, your PC case should be big enough to fit in those cards. Further, the exact dimensions of a graphics card vary. For instance, the original RTX 4060 Ti card is different in size than the Gigabyte one.
Other features
While getting yourself a new GPU, you should also look for the extra features that a GPU offers. For instance, NVIDIA’s Ada Lovelace cards offer advanced ray tracing and DLSS. Or AMD offers Smart Access Memory and FSR. These features can significantly boost your gaming performance – so they’re worth looking into.
What can I expect from a GPU under $500?
A GPU under $500 will be best suited to gaming in 1080p and 1440p, and you’ll want to utilize AI upscaling to ensure you are using either Nvidia DLSS, AMD FSR, or Intel XeSS for higher framerates, but 60fps and above is more than possible natively.
Can I game in 4K on a GPU under $500?
Generally speaking, GPUs under $500 aren’t really able to do 4K to a playable standard even with AI upscaling, at least speaking to newer titles, as older games should have no problem upscaling to 2160p.
