best GPU for gaming under $500
Are you wondering why, nowadays, more and more people can enjoy and enjoy immersive gaming experiences on their computers? The answer is simple. Graphic cards have become more affordable. Graphic card manufacturers are competing to produce affordable GPUs that are similar to high-end ones, just as expensive graphics cards offer top-notch specifications. The best GPU for gaming under $500 does not only meet the any of your needs but also exceeds everyone’s expectations through their outstanding performance.
With the advent of graphics cards, gamers can now afford to play their favorite video games without having to spend insane amounts of money. That said, there are still so many options to pick from, and it can be difficult to figure out which one to choose. In order to make it easier for you, we will take a look at some of the best graphics cards under $500 and discuss some of the factors to keep in mind when buying a graphics card.
We hope that after reading this article, you will be able to make an informed decision about what graphics card is right for you.
ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 ~best gpu for gaming and streaming
ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 OC Edition Graphics Card
With its reasonable price and good performance in all categories, the GeForce GTX 1650 is an excellent choice for gamers. It does well in rendering, live-streaming, and multitasking as well.
The GeForce GTX 1650 is designed to supercharge your favorite game with the Nvidia Turing Architecture for breakthrough graphics performance. Featuring a dual fan cooler and ultra-fast 4GB GDDR6 memory for high-speed gaming, this card will run most of your favorite games at 1080p with medium to low settings. It has a memory speed of 12GB/S.
In addition to being G-SYNC-ready, the monitor refresh rate will be synchronized and locked with the card’s output frame rate when used with a monitor with G-SYNC hardware. The syncing eliminates tearing and stuttering, providing a smoother user experience and faster response times to commands.
Pros
The 1080p performance is excellent
The price is reasonable
Cooler, quieter, and more energy-efficient
A fast GDDR6 video memory
A small size and a wide range of compatibility make it easy to store
Cons
Strix design with 2.4 slots is a bit thick
Ray tracing is not supported by RTX
The circuitry is exposed because it lacks a backplate
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660~best graphics card for non gamers
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 6GB GDDR5 192-bit Gaming Graphics Card, Super Compact, ZT-T16600K-10M
In addition to being the younger brother to the GTX 1660Ti, the GTX 1660 Twin Fan has slightly toned down specs and size, but it packs quite a punch. With a Turing architecture and a variant found in the 1660Ti, the GTX 1660 also comes with 6GB DDR6 vRAM, a sweet deal for gamers. It also has a base clock of 1530MHz and a memory clock of 2001MHz.
In terms of size, the card is no larger than a PCI bracket or hardly bigger than a mini-ITX motherboard. It fits in 99 percent of computer chassis.
In spite of its small size, this card is capable of running most modern games at 1080p and 60 frames per second at high settings, which is impressive. Of course, you won’t be maxing out every game, but you’ll still experience smooth and fast performance. Even at 1440p, you’ll get decent performance if you lower the settings. The card can also overclock well with good temperatures. Multiple projects can be supported.
Pros
In terms of price-to-performance, it’s competitive
A good ceiling for overclocking
VR and 4K support
G-SYNC compatibility
Cons
Ray tracing is not supported by RTX
The fan cannot be turned off when it is idle
ASUS GeForce GTX 1660 Super~best graphics card under 500 reddit
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Super Overclocked 6GB Edition HDMI DP DVI Gaming Graphics Card
It’s slightly older and more boosted up than the 1660, and it’s less expensive than the more expensive GTX 1660Ti. This factory-overclocked card delivers performance near the GTX 1660Ti, but at a lower cost.
As with other GTX Turing-based video cards, the ASUS GeForce GTX 1660 Super does not support RTX.
There is 6GB of DDR6 VRAM with a bandwidth of 336 gigabytes per second. The CPU clocks range from 1530-1845 MHz, so most titles run at 1080p with the settings maxed, but some games run at up to 60 frames per second at 1440p. In addition to offering a decent 4K experience, you’ll need to dial down the settings in order to get the most frames at 1440p and 4K. It’s also tiny, so you can fit it almost anywhere without worrying about clearance.
Pros
Overclocking by the factory
Quiet for the most part
Performance at 1080p is incredible
A cheaper alternative to the 1660Ti
Cons
Ray tracing is not supported by RTX
Price point that is crowded
There are only three display outputs
ASUS TUF Gaming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti~best graphics card under $600
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Super Overclocked 6GB Edition HDMI DP DVI Gaming Graphics Card
Asus TUF is one of popular best GPU for gaming under $500. As the upgraded version of the GTX 1660 and 1660 Super, the Asus TUF Gaming Nvidia GTX 1660Ti is much better than the GTX 1660 and 1660Ti. Although it is only slightly better than the 1660 Super, it guarantees better performance. There are more cores, a higher vRAM, and higher clock speeds in the GeForce 1660Ti. Additionally, it has better memory, power efficiency, and 3D power.
It has a total memory bandwidth of 288GB/s and can run at a base clock speed of 1815MHz or up to 2000MHz in overclock mode. Additionally, it supports 4K and is dual-fanned like its predecessor.
As well as its 1080p and 1440p gaming capabilities, it also features 3D rendering and audio editing capabilities. Not only is it super quiet, but it also allows you to edit videos in Premiere and After Effects without lag.
Graphic designers can also benefit from its 4K support. This card might not be everything gamers are looking for, but it does perform well on several performance tests.
Pros
Overclocked from the factory
VR and 4K support are available
Efficient use of power
There is no noise from it
Cons
Ray tracing is not supported by RTX
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3050 Twin Edge ~best GPU for gaming under $500
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3050 Twin Edge OC 8GB GDDR6 128-bit 14 Gbps PCIE 4.0 Gaming Graphics Card,
In spite of its slightly higher price tag than the previous cards, the RTX 3050 offers better performance and more vRAM. Featuring 8GB of GDDR6 vRAM, this card boasts 224GBps of memory bandwidth and 1552MHz of base clock speed. The card can also be boosted to 1777MHz.
In addition, it has an Ampere GPU architecture stack and is also RTX enabled to support ray tracing, which was not available on the previous cards. As a result, it is ideal for gaming at 1440p. However, it’s not a one-trick-only card. For crypto miners, the impressively high vRAM is also very attractive. The ray tracing capability allows it to render beautifully in 3D using blender, so it’s a great choice for them.
Additionally, the fan looks stunning, and it does a great job keeping the card cool.
Pros
Raytracing is supported by RTX
The vRAM is ample
Performance-to-price ratio is good
Overclocking is possible at a high level
Cons
The power consumption of this device is relatively high for its class
There is no backplate on it
ASUS GeForce RTX 2060~best gpu under $500
There is nothing like the ASUS GeForce RTX 2060 when it comes to performance and simplicity. While its price is higher than most cards, it packs a lot of power. A modified Turing architecture combines 6GB of GDDR6 vRAM with a base clock speed of 1680MHz, which can be boosted to 2600MHz.
The GPU supports ray tracing. You can enjoy excellent ray tracing performance at 1080p, or even 1440p with a little bit more compression.
Despite its slower frame rate of 30 frames per second, this GPU can handle some 4K games, render as well as mine. It has a lot to offer, so it’s fair to say that it’s the best budget GPU you can buy today.
Pros
1440p performance is good
Frame rates in gaming are greatly enhanced by DLSS
Low-temperature and quiet operation
Cons
At high settings, it’s not suitable for 4K gaming
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2060 Super~best GPU for gaming under $500
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 2060 Super 8GB GDRR6 256-Bit HDMI/DP G-Sync Turing Architecture Overclocked Graphics Card
Specifically, MSI has beefed up the GeForce RTX 2060. The GPU has an additional power phase, more memory, and is better equipped than the RTX 2060, while MSI also offers a custom PCB and a spectacular cooler.
The card’s Turing Architecture, 8GB of GDDR6 vRAM, and a clock speed of 1695MHz, which can be boosted to 2023MHz, make it a good replacement for its predecessor. This card is fantastic at 1440p gaming, and some games can even be maxed out. It’s also great at 4K, though the experience isn’t as good as at 1440p or 1080p.
With MSI, you have the option of overclocking the card further, thereby enhancing performance.
Pros
A strong performance in 1440p gaming and high-refresh gaming
Cards are beautifully built in this game
Raytracing support for RTX
Legacy monitors can be connected via DVI
Cons
High-resolution AAA games cannot be played on this computer
Power consumption is quite high
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 ~best graphics card under $500 2023
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX™ 3060 Ti
With the ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3060 Twin Edge OC 12GB GDDR6 192-bit 15 Gbps PCIE 4.0 Gaming Graphics Card, IceStorm 2.0 Cooling, Active Fan Control, and Freeze Fan Stop, the ZT-A30600H-10M transforms your game play into an immersive experience.
There are some key differences between this card and the GeForce 2060 Super, such as the vRAM and cooling system that are greatly improved. This card is an upgrade to the RTX 2060, offering more performance and memory as well as a higher price tag.
Aside from its superior performance in video editing and crypto mining, it is also a powerful mining GPU thanks to its massive vRAM. The 4K gaming experience is decent with varying frames per second, but you need to lower the settings.
With its smaller size and impeccable performance, it’s an ideal choice for playing most games at 1440p at high settings. Its RTX support preserved from previous generations ensures your games look sharp and beautiful.
Pros
GDDR6 memory of 12GB
Due to the size, there is high compatibility
Build quality is excellent
Overall, a good performance
Gaming experience in 4K is decent
Cons
Cooler with extra width
GPUs with similar prices are a little slower.
Frequently Asked Questions
GTX vs. RTX: what’s the difference?
Both the GTX and RTX are Nvidia GeForce cards. GTX stands for Giga Texel Shader eXtreme, and RTX stands for Ray Tracing Texel eXtreme. The GTX is designed to provide good performance by using the Turing architecture. RTX, on the other hand, offers better and more realistic performance by using Tensor cores and ray tracing.
Is there a graphics card that can run 4K?
4K graphics cards need large amounts of memory to store and process large amounts of information. This means the card should have at least 6GB of memory to support medium detail 4K. For higher detail, the card should have at least 8GB.
Is there a cheap GTX graphics card available?
As one of the most affordable GTX cards, the ASUS GeForce GTX 1650 offers some impressive features, such as a 6GB memory and a high performance at 1080p. It can also achieve 1440p at lower settings.
What is the best graphics card brand?
ASUS, Zotac, and MSI are some of the best tech brands worldwide that have partnered with Nvidia to manufacture high-quality and affordable graphics cards. EVGA, their best partner brand, manufactures high-performance GPUs, from high-end to budget models, along with excellent customer service and an extended warranty of up to ten years.
Are the Zotac graphics cards good?
They are rated highly by consumers around the globe. Even though Zotac isn’t a big brand, their graphics cards offer high performance, reliability, and affordability.
Conclusion on best GPU for gaming under $500
Based on our reviews, there is no shortage of affordable graphics cards in the market. They are also not compromising on performance. We have provided you with the best buying guide, so you can choose the GPU that best fits your needs.
We recommend the EVGA GeForce RTX 3050 if you are looking for the best value.
This GPU is highly customizable, has a high memory, supports ray tracing, and is capable of gaming at 1440p at high settings, gaming on high settings, mining, and video editing.