Finding the best GPUs under $500 can be difficult at the moment, as the graphic card market is filled with high-quality options. The new Nvidia RTX 4000 series and AMD RX 7000 series GPUs have already settled in the market. This price segment is a sweet spot for most gamers as it is somewhat affordable and promises high performance. Moreover, some old-generation flagship GPUs are frequently available now in this price range.
Therefore, it is one of the best times to build a new PC or upgrade your old graphics card with a new GPU under $500. In this article, we discuss five good GPUs one can currently get under $500.
Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions.
Best GPUs under $500 to buy in 2024
1) Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060
The first graphic card on our list is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, which is currently one of the highest-selling GPUs in 2024. The GPU was initially scrutinized a lot at its launch because of the lower 8GB VRAM it offered compared to its predecessor, the RTX 3060. That said, it was appreciated by most consumers after a few months, because of its low power demand.
It is an ideal budget-midrange GPU in 2024 and can be used to play most modern games at 1080p resolution. Additionally, its DLSS3 support ensures you get the best experience with up to a 40% increase in FPS in all the latest gaming titles.
Pros
- Mostly available under $300.
- Has support for DLSS3.
- Less than 150W power consumption.
Cons
- It is not a big upgrade over its predecessor, the RTX 3060.
2) AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT
Next, we have the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT, which is one of the cheapest graphic cards currently with 16GB VRAM. This means that GPU can also be used for high-resolution 2K (1440p) resolution gaming and it also has a total power draw of less than 200W.
It has a memory speed of up to 18 Gbps and a 128-bit memory interface, ensuring you get great performance in most modern titles. It also supports FSR 2 or 3 Quality upscaling with most AAA games released in the last few years, ensuring you get higher FPS while upscaling at your desired resolution.
Pros
- Comes with 16GB VRAM.
- It can be even used for 2K gaming.
- Mostly available for less than $320.
Cons
- Does not provide a great FPS boost over the RX 7600.
3) AMD Radeon RX 6800
Although the AMD Radeon RX 6800 is from the older 6000-series from AMD, it's still one of the best and most powerful GPUs under $500 currently because of its higher performance than other graphic cards in its price range. Additionally, you get 16 GB GDDR6 VRAM which ensures that you can expect up to 4K resolution gaming, without any hiccups.
Hence, this GPU is easily capable of playing all the latest titles at 1440p resolution, or with a few tweaks at 4K resolution as well. It also has 60 RT cores, which ensure you get great raytracing support with popular games like Cyberpunk 2077.
Pros
- Currently available at its lowest price since launch.
- Has higher raw performance than other GPUs in its price range.
- Capable of 4K gaming.
Cons
- Very limited encoders support
4) Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is available in 8GB and 16GB VRAM options and is a great card for up to 1440p gaming. It also has much lower power demands, than most other GPUs in its price range and can be used with a 550W PSU.
Although the 4060 Ti is not recommended for 4K gaming, with DLSS 3 support, you can expect stable playable frame rates from this GPU at that resolution as well. It also has great Ray Tracing support, and its higher 16GB VRAM variant is certainly a great competitor to the RX 7800 XT.
Pros
- Can be used with cheap power supplies.
- Great raytracing performance.
- DLSS3 support is present in most games.
Cons
- The 8GB VRAM variant stutters while playing games in 2K or higher resolutions.
5) AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT
Lastly, the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is the last entry on our list. It comes with 16GB VRAM and 3840 shading units, which ensure that you can even use it for 4K gaming at more than 60 FPS. It also maintains its performance, even when put under heavy stress, and matches power with the $600 RTX 4070.
In various benchmarking tests, the RX 7800 XT has shown it can maintain consistent performance and can currently generate the highest frame rates among all the other cards in this list.
Pros
- Capable of playing 4K games at native resolution.
- It has FSR3 support.
- One of the best GPUs in terms of price to performance.
Cons
- Has a high power demand of more than 250W.
This concludes our list of the best GPUs under $500 you can buy currently in 2024. All of these graphic cards are easily available at popular PC stores and can be used for many years to come, without any worries.