The top affordable GPU of 2022 doesn’t skimp on performance just because they’re affordable. The continued rivalry between Intel, AMD and Nvidia has resulted in GPUs becoming more powerful while also becoming less expensive over the past few years. These graphics cards range from high-end models that turn heads with their performance to unexpectedly powerful budget options. The best inexpensive graphics cards available right now carry a lot more power than you could imagine and are more than capable of performing a variety of graphically demanding activities, even though they may pale in contrast to the highest-end graphics cards.
Although the majority of gamers seek out those more expensive models, you may get good performance for gaming or creating content without paying over a thousand dollars. Of course, your needs will determine what works best for you. One of these graphics cards is great if you want to run your favorite PC games, are willing to decrease the settings, and only need to do light photo and video editing. In spite of the fact that the six-core CPUs mentioned above are becoming increasingly popular these days, the majority of users (more than 50%) still use quad-core CPUs.
Additionally, the resolution used is primarily 1920 x 1080, which accounts for about 60% of the total, with 4K scarcely making a dent. With that said, today’s topic will be about the budget-friendly graphics cards available in 2022. if you’re trying to construct a cheap PC or a good gaming setup that can run the majority of games at 1080p without issue, you’ve come to the right spot. whether you purchase them new or investigate the used market, these GPUs will do their job nonetheless.
Choose an Affordable GPU from the List Below
We have curated a list of the top budget-friendly GPUs you can buy today;
XFX Radeon RX 580
Due to the XFX True Clock technology, which optimizes clock speed performance, many people believe the XFX Radeon RX 580 to be the greatest affordable graphics card. Despite the fact that the EX series graphics cards can be overclocked, this technology offers ultra-fast ideal speed. So we advise you to try the AMD Wattman application to verify your graphics card’s performance, which will measure the GPU’s speed and other specifications. This GPU can go for as low as $177 on Amazon.
AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
The AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT can play current games despite having a lower specification if you’re looking for a cheap graphics card from the current generation that’s specifically targeted at 1080p. The fact that RX 6500 XT stock is available in the US and UK for the respective starting MSRPs of $199 / £179 is this GPU’s biggest selling point. In order to fully benefit from the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT’s 2815 MHz total boost clock speed, pairing it with a Ryzen 3000 or Ryzen 5000 Series CPU is recommended.
MSI GeForce GTX 1650 VENTUS XS OC
This GPU performs superbly in well-known competitive and single-player games and is reasonably priced, just like the other GPUs on the list. Naturally, it performs slightly worse and has less VRAM than an RX570 or 580. However, you gain the advantage of less power usage. Even though it’s Nvidia G-Sync compatible, you probably won’t need this card only for that if you already have a high-refresh-rate display. The backplate, due to its mid-range price point budget GPU is not the same as the premium ones. However, no one can expect to own one, given the $200 price tag.
Given the restricted amount of available space, the MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 has a respectable size, so you won’t have to deal with annoying problems like GPU sag. This tiny monster can easily fit within any enclosure. Furthermore, its outstanding price-to-power ratio is this GTX unit’s main selling feature.
Gigabyte GTX 1050 Ti OC (Low Profile)
If you’re a budget gamer searching for a card that will meet your needs without breaking the bank, you can’t go wrong with the GTX 1050 Ti. Particularly the OC version from Gigabyte. It’s a card that costs under $200 and provides outstanding performance at a fair price. Even though notably less expensive Nvidia GPUs, like the GT 1030, are still readily available and give a respectable performance, they struggle to keep up with contemporary AAA games. Gamers from all around the community favor this product for this only reason. The hardware hasn’t changed much and is still up to date.
Despite this, there are no unsightly aspects of the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1050 Ti OC. It’s still a beautiful card. It won’t look exactly like your standard RTX model because of the fancy design changes. But for $200, it’s a give or take. It features more CUDA cores and texture units than the non-Ti version, which will increase your game’s frame rates.
ASUS ROG Strix RX570
The ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX570 should be the ideal choice for anyone looking for a top-tier budget card. It has built-in RGB headroom and respectable performance at 1080p. You can play the majority of games now available on the market if you downgrade the graphics in the configuration. A 1310MHz Boost clock on OC makes this particular model one of the fastest RX 570s currently available. The ASUS clocking utility must be installed, and OC mode must be turned on to reach this speed.
This GPU’s ability to operate without noise until the temperature rises above 55 degrees Celcius is another fantastic feature. Additionally, you might be able to play games without the fans turning on if you utilize it with Radeon Chill technology.
In relation to that, the ASUS ROG Strix Radeon RX570 features a four-pin fan header. You may utilize this to manage an external fan. You will therefore experience improved cooling if you incorporate an extra front or side fan.
Have You Found an Affordable GPU for You?
It’s difficult to choose the best cheap graphics card, just like any high-end model. You must take into account a variety of factors. It includes overall length, cooling system, manufacturer type, the quantity of VRAM, and the number of ports. Most of these items are typically not listed, which causes confusion among players when they utilize them. But it’s all about doing ample research. So for more guides like this one, stay tuned here in PlayPC.
