10 budget GPUs for Counter-Strike 2 (CS2)

It is officially the time to welcome Counter-Strike 2 and say goodbye to the most popular multiplayer first-person shooter, CS: GO. CS2 is now available on Steam for everyone, and Valve has specified the minimum and recommended system requirements for it. This game does not require all those expensive graphics cards, and having a budget GPU is more than enough to get a smooth lag-free experience.

This article will list the 10 best budget GPUs to play Counter-Strike 2, which will help you have a competitive advantage over other players.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the writer's views.

10 recommended budget GPUs for playing Counter-Strike 2

Here are the 10 most recommended budget GPUs for gamers:

1) AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT ($170)

If you don't want to spend too much on a GPU for Counter-Strike 2, this is an excellent option. It also has ray-tracing support for modern titles, and you can comfortably play at 1080p resolution and with respectable frame rates. The architecture is 64bit, and it has 4GB GDDR6 memory.

Specification	AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
Architecture	RDNA 2
Cuda Cores	1024
Memory	8/4 GB GDDR6
Base Clock Speed	2650 MHz
Boost Clock Speed	2815 MHz
Memory Interface Width	64-bit

2) AMD Radeon RX 6600 ($219)

For a price of $220, this graphics card is efficient enough to run multiple AAA titles. It draws power at 160W, which ensures that heavy games will not harm your power supply. Running games like GTA 5 or even Cyberpunk 2077 is within its capabilities.

Specification	AMD Radeon RX 6600
Architecture	RDNA 2
Cuda Cores	1792
Memory	8 GB GDDR6
Base Clock Speed	2044 MHz
Boost Clock Speed	2491 MHz
Memory Interface Width	128-bit

3) Intel Arc A750 Limited Edition ($220)

This is the only entry from Intel on this list, and is capable enough to compete with Nvidia and AMD for a similar price point. It has an 8GB GDDR6 memory and speeds up to 2400 MHz, which balances performance and value.

Its 175W power draw appeals to those on a tight budget, and support for DLSS improves supported titles like Counter-Strike 2.

Specification	Intel Arc A750 Limited Edition
Architecture	Xe HPG
Cuda Cores	3584
Memory	8GB GDDR6
Base Clock Speed	2050 MHz
Boost Clock Speed	2400 MHz
Memory Interface Width	128-bit

4) Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 ($230)

This is undoubtedly the best GPU for a price of $230. Playing games and even 3D rendering will feel smoother with this upgrade. The support for ray tracing enhances the gaming experience as a whole, and it is a recommended GPU for hardcore gamers.

Specification	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050
Architecture	Ampere
Cuda Cores	2560
Memory	8 GB GDDR6
Base Clock Speed	1.55 GHz
Boost Clock Speed	1.78 GHz
Memory Interface Width	128-bit

5) AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT ($250)

If you are an AMD fan, there are tons of options available in the market, including the Radeon RX 6650. It will give you a fluid 60+ fps experience even at 1440p settings when smashing enemies in Counter-Strike 2. It exhibits a good price-to-performance ratio, and comes with 180W power-draw mechanics.

Specification	AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT
Architecture	RDNA 2
Cuda Cores	2048
Memory	8GB GDDR6
Base Clock Speed	2055 MHz
Boost Clock Speed	2635 MHz
Memory Interface Width	128-bit

6) AMD Radeon RX 7600 ($270)

Those gamers who does not want to spend a fortune but want to have a dynamic gaming experience for titles like Counter-Strike 2, should definitely consider the Radeon RX 7600 as an upgrade. It is not as good as the more expensive options, but you can draw good performance if you tune the in-game settings.

Specification	AMD Radeon RX 7600
Architecture	RDNA 3
Cuda Cores	2048
Memory	8GB GDDR6
Base Clock Speed	2250 MHz
Boost Clock Speed	2655 MHz
Memory Interface Width	128-bit

7) Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 ($285)

This low-cost GPU, which features the Ampere architecture and 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, is a great choice for decent 1080p and 1440p gaming for almost all AAA titles.

It offers fantastic performance at both traditional as well as ray-tracing graphics for realistic visuals without breaking the bank. Additionally, the DLSS support significantly raises frame rates in games that use ray tracing.

Specification	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
Architecture	Ampere
Cuda Cores	3584
Memory	12/ 8 GB GDDR6
Base Clock Speed	1.32 GHz
Boost Clock Speed	1.78 GHz
Memory Interface Width	192-bit / 128-bit

8) Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 ($300)

The RTX 4060's energy efficiency and single 8-pin power requirement make it suitable for those with existing systems looking to get an upgrade. Gamers looking for an immersive 1080p gaming with ray-tracing capabilities in Counter-Strike 2 will appreciate the RTX 4060's performance punch without it being a load on their pockets.

Specification	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060
Architecture	Ampere
Cuda Cores	3072
Memory	8 GB GDDR6
Base Clock Speed	1.83 GHz
Boost Clock Speed	2.46 GHz
Memory Interface Width	128-bit

9) AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT ($350)

With 8GB GDDR6 memory and RDNA 2 architecture, this low-cost graphics card stands out as a top-tier 1080p option. While maintaining a cool touch, its effective 160W power draw offers fantastic 1080p and 1440p gaming experiences.

Even at lower resolutions, AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) technology enhances image quality.

Specification	AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT
Architecture	RDNA 2
Cuda Cores	2,048
Memory	8GB GDDR6
Base Clock Speed	2359 MHz
Boost Clock Speed	2589 MHz
Memory Interface Width	128-bit

10) AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT ($350)

Although a little on the pricey side, this GPU is still worthwhile if you can afford it. The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT has 2560 stream processors and 12GB of GDDR6 memory.

It is a top-tier RTX GPU for gamers on a budget who want stellar performance at 1080p and 1440p. It is incredibly energy-efficient, and uses only 230W when fully loaded. Hence, it can run Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) without any issues.

Specification	AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
Architecture	RDNA 2
Cuda Cores	2560
Memory	12GB GDDR6
Base Clock Speed	2321 MHz
Boost Clock Speed	2581 MHz
Memory Interface Width	192-bit

There are tons of other GPUs are available as well, and you should consider upgrading to one depending on your work-play balance. For more informative content, follow Sportskeeda's Gaming Tech hub.

Edited by Abu Amjad Khan